Budget Sleeping Pads

edit … seems heavy …

if the 4.2 R is real then it might work as a replacement for both the foam pad and an air pad

dont like it? … return it at rei

Agree about returning at REI…

And also agree about the weight. Although, I'd gladly carry a few extra ounces than not go at all.

Also for anyone, a few more details… I'm looking for a pad to get me through shoulder seasons. I'm neither equipped or experienced enough at this point to give full-blown winter hiking in the mountains a try.

If you have a good foam pad that serves you for summer, then all you need to add is one more layer of pad for the fall. Just about anything would work, but I would avoid the REI product that weighs nearly two pounds.

–B.G.–

If it were me, I’d watch for a good deal on the Gear Swap forum here- self-inflatable pads like the Prolite, Prolite 3, and BMW Torsolite come up here often enough. I got my Prolite (regular) here for more or less new for $55, and it included a stuff sack.

We’ve had some discussion of Stoic’s clone of the Prolite, available from Backcountry, and with the 30% off Stoic coupon in the thread, is very affordable at $35. It’s only torso length and the R-value isn’t explicitly stated- but considering the price and general quality of Stoic’s stuff it might be worth a shot. I’d assume it has an R-value of 2-2.5, very similar to the Prolite.

Anywho- get one of those pads, and use it along with your Z-Rest. They all weigh between 10-16 oz, depending on which one you went with and which size.

If you are comfortable on a Z-rest in the summer, then all you need is more insulation – just get a blue-foam pad for cheap to go under your z-rest and you are all set.

Aaron, thanks for the point to the Stoic Pad. Looks pretty cool.

And to all, thanks for the idea that an inflatable pad might not be required. I hear all the talk about them, and assumed I would be nuts in the mountains without them. (I'm a recently relocated midwesterner, so I've been in the mindset to err on the side of caution about the sierras)

I'll give another foam layer a shot, and see how that feels.

/ADHD on

You are doing it exactly correctly. Respect the Sierras and you'll come back alive and in one piece. My dad was a pararescueman in the Air Force. He spent alot of time training in Yosemite (is there better climbing anywhere ;)?

I got to hear about any time someone went into the back country and needed "rescuing." The most common problem was overconfidence in an individuals skill set.

/ADHD off

Am I the only person in the world who thinks a POE Ether Thermo 6 is a great pad?

http://tinyurl.com/2uhdelx

My wife purchased a couple of these as she does not like the CCF pad lack of comfort. They pack large and are heavy. I use either a short NeoAir (comfort) or filled Kooka Bay pad (comfort and insulation) with one of my CCF pads when I need more insulation underneath. I don't plan on much below 30 degrees and just want a little extra incase.

Everett- Thanks! There must be some horror stories in there. Any time I've talked to anyone involved in SAR, there is cause to take a quiet moment and rethink what I'm bringing with me, and what skills I need to improve on. As I mentioned further up in the thread I figure, I'm at a decent base weight for summer camping, but a few extra insurance ounces are an easy compromise for being safe when trying something new.

Joe- Not bad! About the same price as that REI one I posted and 10oz less for the 2/3rd size. If I decide to pull the trigger one one of these, that looks pretty good.

So:

I know I've seen a link for an R Value spreadsheet or calculator around here. The search thing didn't help me (Or I looked right over it)

Z-Rest – 10oz – R 2.2
Blue Foam – 7.5oz – R 1.4

Is it simply adding them together for total of R 3.6?

I LOVE my POE Ether thermo 6 2/3 length.
Use it sandwiched in a exped multimat (foam) in the winter down to 8 degrees so far.

POE is durable too, I am rough on my gear. Only complain is the insulation strips have shifted around a little.

+1 on POE Ether Thermo 6 from not only me but my wife and daughter too. Great price, weight, and repair kit included in stuff sack.

I like the Pacific Outdoor Ether Thermo 6. I used it with no other padding one night in the Enchantments when it got down into the 20s. With a 20-30 degree-rated sleeping bag and other layers I was slightly cold, but fine.

I may get a 2/3 length version to take on day hikes for emergency use. That weighs 14-16 ounces and should pack up pretty small. Right now I just carry my full length Ether Thermo 6 on every day hike. Saving 8-10 ounces will be nice. I just wonder if I could do better. I've looked around at pads a lot, and don't see any way to do better, short of getting custom work done.

The Big Agnes Air Core Sleeping Pad looks like a good option too. The R value seems slightly higher than the POE Ether Thermo 6. It's a bit hard to tell.

The POE Ether Elite pads are worth considering. Someone at POE told me they are going to increase the R value by about 10% next year (I think this would be without increasing the weight at all). The Elite pads use a thinner outer fabric and I suspect that they'd be more subject to puncture than the Ether Thermo 6.

If you're willing to carry a foam pad, the Thermarest Ridge Rest seems hard to beat. Carrying two of them might not be a bad option either in some cases. They are cheap, too.