Stomach Sleepers!!!!

I am a chronic stomach sleeper and I have not found a comfortable way to sleep on my stomach while hiking. I force myself to sleep on my back or side. If I'm having trouble sleeping I pop half a benadryl – it knocks me right out and helps with my awful allergies. The problem I have is my arms hang off my pad and it bugs. Maybe with a thinner pad it wouldn't bother me as much.

I currently use a BA insulated aircore for hot and cold nights, although I've been tempted to try a lighter foamy to see if I like it. I use an inflatable pillow, but I don't remember the brand. Recently, I made a lightweight down pillow I'm going to try out. I think I'll have to use it over clothing to get enough support out of it though.

I use a Te-wa custom quilt. I had it made a little wider than usual since I move around at night. It works well.

I currently use a BA IAC but soon to be a Kooka Bay custom 24 wide x 72 long mat. I have always used extra clothing as a pillow, but just today ordered a down pillow that I custom requested from Goosefeet. My sleeping bag is a WM Alder MF that zips out flat for weather below 50. Above 50 I use a Lafuma X600.

I've got a Large Prolite Plus (R: 3.8) that's 24" wide, 77" long, and an 1-1/2" thick, for a little over two pounds. I use that with a WM down pillow, and can sleep on my stomach for most of the night. Unless I had a very ambitious day, I'll be on my side by morning. The Prolite Plus and the pillow folded over are more than adequate for side sleeping. Though I'm always in down mummy bags–sometimes opened up, like a quilt–if the zip is all the way up, I'll just stick my head out on top of the hood, with the pillow on top of the hood. This causes the hood to clump up faster than the rest of the bag, but I assume most people experience this as well. I just hand-wash the hood more often than the rest of the bag.

Like Vince this belly sleeper sleeps on a full length Thermarest, the "Lite", their very 1st die-cut foam light mattress of over 10 years ago. I will get a Prolite next, when this one is irrepairable.

In summer my BEST sleep comes from using my WM Megalite bag unzipped, foot of the bag hooked over the foot of the mattress,the bag becoming a quilt. This is supreme comfort.

Otherwise I begin the night in my bag on my belly and often wake up on my side, stuff sack for a pillow.

I have been using a Regular Prolite with either a LaFuma X600 or Montbell Hugger #1 with ok results. I bunched up fleece has been my pillow for awhile. I pop a Benadryl for a little assistance as well.

Any suggestions on a pillow? Been looking at the Cocoon Hyperlite with inflatable core and stuffing. Anyone?

Going to REI and Campmor this weekend to test some out. I use a thin pillow at home and a lot of the times end up just sleeping on my arms anyway.

Thanks again.

Happy to see that I'm not alone out there.

n/m

I got a pillow from GooseFeet on the way. He custom made it for me when I was asking about pillows in the MYOG forum. He now sells them as part of his regular stock. I have not received it yet, but I will let you know how I like it.

I can also give Ben some suggestions if it needs any.

http://goosefeet.webs.com/products.htm

Neo air 3/4 and a Mont Bell pillow. I sleep better with a beanie or my hooded R1 over my head.

I'm in Texas so we have only cool camping and hot camping. For hot camping, I ditch the sleeping bag.

I sleep on my back, side(s) and stomach, switching back and forth throughout the night.

I've been using a size Med. NeoAir pad (add a GG thinlight pad when it's cold). This seems to work as well or better for me than other inflatable pads in the past with the benefit of being lighter and smaller to pack down.

Recently, I've started to use a quilt rather than a mummy bag. I'm pretty happy with this as the quilt stays put and I roll around inside of it. No more getting wrapped up in the bag or waking up feeling suffocated with my face in the hood of the bag. Currently using a Katabatic Sawatch.

For a pillow, I've gone back to the drawing board, so to speak, and am using extra clothes stuffed together in a sack until I can find a more comfortable (but still light) solution. I played around with some of those inflatable hospital pillows like BPL sells, but found them to be uncomfortable or hard to keep in place. I haven't tried a more substantial inflatable pillow like the Montbell or Kookabay yet, but might in the future. I usually stomach sleep with my head resting on my "pillow" propped up on one of my arms.

I'm intrigued by the down pillow a couple of you guys mentioned too.