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Which Sleeping Pad for JMT


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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 26 total)
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  • #1257078
    Ryan Hart
    Member

    @drmguy

    Locale: Orange County

    Currently I own a Big Agnes insulated air core and a z-lite. I tried sleeping on the z-lite for the first time backpacking this weekend and did not find it to be the best experience as I am a side sleeper. The only reason I am even considering it over something like the neoair is that a z-lite would be far better than a popped neoair or anything else for that matter.

    On a side note, after poking around a bit I think I will settle for the Ultra 20 quilt if that changes anything as far as functionality goes.

    As always thanks for the help.

    #1592018
    Brandon Sanchez
    Member

    @dharmabumpkin

    Locale: San Gabriel Mtns

    in my experience, the longer your trip (ie more nights in a row you sleep on any given pad), the more easy it is to sleep in that pad. i took a ridgerest on the jmt and was waking my only about once a night by the end compared to many times a night at the beginning of the trip. Also I found that I wanted to hit the passes earlier in the day so I had the tendency to sleep at about 10,000ft or higher, but I sleep MUCH better at lower elevations.

    #1592198
    James Naphas
    BPL Member

    @naphas13

    Locale: SoCal

    Maybe try a gossamer gear nightlight. It's thicker and a little more comfy CCF pad than a z-rest; lighter, too. Big issue is that the full size rolls up to a cylinder about 9" around. You can cut one up into ten inch segments and join them with velcro to make a 3/4 length pad. The other option is to buy a neoair AND a repair kit.

    #1592199
    Jeff Jeff
    BPL Member

    @jeffjeff

    I took a ridge rest deluxe and would do so again.

    #1592214
    Nate Meinzer
    Member

    @rezniem

    Locale: San Francisco

    Side sleepers do not do well with CCF pads, since all of your body weight is distributed on your hips and shoulders.

    I'd highly recommend getting either a Neo-Air Short or a short Big agnes Air Core and placing a Gossamer Gear 1/8" pad beneath them to protect them from abrasion.

    The Neo-Airs are VERY prone to springing holes. I've seen two do it already. The Big Agnes Air Core will last a long time without leaking. Take some Gorilla Tape (around your trekking pole) in either case. It will repair both pads effectively.

    #1592227
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    …take the lightest standard Thermarest Prolite pad.

    Works for me. :)

    #1592322
    Jonathan Ryan
    BPL Member

    @jkrew81

    Locale: White Mtns

    My wife and I each had Prolite pads (XS and 3/4 size) and Goss Gear Nightlight Torso pads. The logic was to use the Prolites for comfortable sleeping and the Nightlights were used as sitpads, emergency backup or extra insulation if we ended up on very cold ground. This system may be alittle much for some people but we like being comfortable so it works for us.

    #1592365
    Lori P
    BPL Member

    @lori999

    Locale: Central Valley

    I like my NeoAir. Maybe it doesn't pop because I don't overinflate it? It seems easy to do…. It's less pressure on my hips to have it less full than would seem comfortable.

    #1592384
    Scott Bentz
    BPL Member

    @scottbentz

    Locale: Southern California

    My brother took a brand new Neo Air on our JMT hike. It had a slow leak. Hard to find on the trail. Fortunately, we were in Tuolomne on our second day and he picked a Ridgerest CCF I think. He later ditched the Neo Air at Red's when we met my wife there.

    I used a TorsoLite and have never had problems. I also pair it with a 1/8" Gossamer Gear Thin Light that I use as a sit pad and to place under my legs.

    #1592391
    Amy Lauterbach
    BPL Member

    @drongobird

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    I second this recommendation (the setup I currently use):
    Neo-Air Short and place a Gossamer Gear 1/8" pad beneath it to protect them from abrasion.

    #1592396
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    "My brother took a brand new Neo Air on our JMT hike. It had a slow leak… He later ditched the Neo Air at Red's"

    Did he really just ditch the pad instead of returning it to where he bought it for a refund?

    #1592400
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    I know I do this every time a sleeping pad thread pops up, but hey, why not promote the little guy?

    Check out KookaBay sleeping pads. Bender is a member here, and does custom work as well. I was originally going to get a small Neoair for is light weight (9 oz), but after discovering KookaBay, I will be getting a 60x20x2.5 mummy down air mat with an r-value of at least twice that of a neoair. The weight penalty? Bender says mine will come in at just over 11 ounces.

    My pad was made of a lighter 30D fabric not listed on his website. I expect to be able to use it in all 4 seasons without the need for an additional CCF pad. However, because of the lightweight fabric, I may take a thin CCF pad to prickly places such as the desert.

    #1592401
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    Nate,
    Do we know yet why Neoairs are leak-prone? Is it the seams? Punctures from tiny pricklies on the ground? Abuse from their owners?

    #1592416
    Derek Cox
    Spectator

    @derekcox

    Locale: Southeast

    i think there are just bad batches that were sent out and they will replace it for you if yours leaks. i havent ever had a problem with mine.

    #1592851
    John Drollette
    Member

    @tradja

    Locale: Central Oregon

    Scott writes: "I used a TorsoLite and have never had problems. I also pair it with a 1/8" Gossamer Gear Thin Light that I use as a sit pad and to place under my legs"

    That's the exact combo I'm going to use on the PCT this year (GG TorsoLite + 1/8" Nightlite). Not sure about it based on training hikes but reassuring that you like it. Seems great on paper and on my kitchen floor. After freezing on the CDT, I am way more concerned with insulation for the weight.

    For that hike, I used a Z-Rest — it was an upgrade from my previous pad and was a great packframe but I didn't like how it flattened out so fast, or how heavy it was for the limited warmth and longevity.

    For the JMT, may I suggest a cut-down RidgeRest Deluxe? No worries about repairs and my torso length+ weighs 7oz. Duct tape sticks tenaciously to Ridge Rest foam, so I cut mine into 3 panels and hinged it into a tri-fold with good quality 3M "premium" duct tape.

    #1592921
    Russell Swanson
    Member

    @rswanson

    Locale: Midatlantic

    After having three 2.5" thick inflatables (two Pacific Outdoor and one Big Agnes) develop leaks I've sworn this style of pad off for everything except overnighters. I know, I know- you haven't had a problem with yours. But I wouldn't feel very secure leaving for a 200 mile hike carrying one, even with a repair kit. And how do you find and repair leak in the field? Really tough to do, even in optimal conditions (my bathtub).

    I'm using a Montbell UL 90 with the pillow. Just under 13 ounces and the pillow is niiiiiiice. I also use two sections of a GG Nightlight torso pad as the back panel in my pack so it's pretty cushy and warm. So far, so good with durability and I'd bet no where near as difficult to diagnose or repair a leak as one of the tubed pads. I can't even imagine trying to find out which tube on a Neo Air has a leak in a back country lake. And who wants to lose the hiking time pulling that chore?

    #1592934
    Ryan Hart
    Member

    @drmguy

    Locale: Orange County

    After reading quite a few different posts I think the best solution would be a montbell pillow combo + some minimal ccf or a z-lite.

    I'm not sure yet but I will do more research.

    #1592961
    Russell Swanson
    Member

    @rswanson

    Locale: Midatlantic

    Having owned and used both I'd definitely choose the Gossamer Gear CCF pads over the ZLite. It would be fairly easy to adapt a CCF pad to use the toggle on the Montbell Pillow.

    #1592967
    John Drollette
    Member

    @tradja

    Locale: Central Oregon

    Russell writes: "Having owned and used both I'd definitely choose the Gossamer Gear CCF pads over the ZLite."

    Russell, can you elaborate on this a bit? Do the GG CCF pads have better warmth? Longevity? What? I froze on my ZLite and want to justify switching to GG pads this year, even though I only have 1 night on the GGs.

    #1593056
    Roleigh Martin
    BPL Member

    @marti124

    Locale: Founder & Lead Moderator, https://www.facebook.com/groups/SierraNorthPCThikers

    I've spent the last 11 years in the High Sierra and the last 2 years on the JMT and will redo the JMT this summer. I've tried a bunch of things but for the last 3 years and for the future, I swear by the 5 foot Montbell Sleeping pad (1" inflatable) with the Montbell Pillow which toggle-attaches to the sleeping pad, making it about 5'9" long. It comes with a repair kit but never had a puncture yet. Far more comfortable in my opinion than the NeoAir which I took back to REI. The Montbell is about 17 oz weight but a weight I can live with for the sleep I get.

    #1593066
    James Naphas
    BPL Member

    @naphas13

    Locale: SoCal

    "Russell, can you elaborate on this a bit? Do the GG CCF pads have better warmth? Longevity? What? I froze on my ZLite and want to justify switching to GG pads this year, even though I only have 1 night on the GGs."

    I'm not Russell, but I'll chime in here. The GG pad is thicker, with a more pronounced eggshell pattern. It's also made out of a material that is slightly softer than a z-rest or ridgerest. I find its comfort level somewhere between a ridgerest and a thermarest prolite 3. It also provides about the same amount of insulation as a ridgerest deluxe, so it's probably close to 50% better in that regard than a z-rest.

    The GG is also more durable than a z-rest, though not quite as good as a ridgerest in this regard. It will compress over time, but you're talking in PCT or AT thru-hike type of usage.

    #1593572
    Russell Swanson
    Member

    @rswanson

    Locale: Midatlantic

    James hit the nail on the head, pretty much. My GG pads have held up better over time and are more comfortable. Cheaper too I think. And a better fit for my backpack (ULA Conduit) as a back panel.

    Warmer than the ZLite? I haven't done any controlled experiments but it seems so to me. Richard Nisley will probably come along with lab tested data to prove me wrong, though. I'll just say this- if you were cold on the Zlite, I wouldn't depend on a single GG Nightlight pad to keep you warm on the JMT. As I stated in a previous post I usually use mine in conjunction with another pad. On trips where I don't expect temps below 40 degrees and I can be assured of not having to sleep on rock I've used the GG alone but that's fairly rare since the Montbell pad is so nice and under 10 ounces.

    #1593703
    Carl Zimmerman
    BPL Member

    @carlz993

    I've hiked it w/ a Ridgerest & a Z-rest on separate trips. I own a Neo Air. I've used it on a couple of hikes. If I were to do the JMT again, I'd probably take the Ridgerest again. I can tolerate some short-term aggravation of finding a leak in a Neo Air (which I've never experienced yet). Over a 'long hike' like the JMT, I'd prefer the simplicity and reliability of a CCF pad.

    #1593927
    Nate Meinzer
    Member

    @rezniem

    Locale: San Francisco

    I think the leaks are due to two things:

    1) Poor manufacturing. Hard to deny there was a bad batch since so many users experienced a leak right out of the box.

    2) Material is easily punctured. This was what happened to both of the ones I've seen. Personally, mine is a short and I used it in a chair kit in Yosemite Valley and that night it deflated, and I got the worst night sleep. The next morning I took it to the shop and they suggested I dunk it in the river but I decided to just use a soap and water mix and look for bubbles. I could hear the leak, luckily, and easily patched it up with Duct tape. I'm now very careful with it, but it wasn't as if I was rough with it to begin with. My AirCore was VERY abused and never sprung a leak like that.

    The second one was used on the bare ground without a foam pad underneat it and also developed a pinhole.

    Moral: use a GG foam pad under it, use a stuck sack to protect it, and don't use it in a chair kit.

    I wish I could swap it for a POE thermo 2/3.

    #1593943
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    Only use them in a tent. Not outside on the ground, and you'll be fine. Never seen an air mattress fail in a tent.

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