Sleeping Pads/Sore Hips

Some mats seem to work better (for me) than others in finding that sweet spot of inflation where my hips and shoulders sink in (leaving my spine relatively parallel to the ground) and are on a relatively squishy surface but not quite on the ground. I never could find this point with the NeoAir. I haven't tried the Synmat, so can't help you there. Keep experimenting with the amount of inflation.

It's not true that Kooka Bay pads are more comfy only for those who've been using CCF pads (most of those I know went from CCF to the NeoAir, which for me is horrible). I have a Kooka Bay custom 3.5" thick Climashield insulated pad, which I only partially inflate, and it's really comfortable. It's also quite light, 12.8 oz. I have had some problems getting used to the mummy style with narrow bottom. If I were to do it over, I might forget the light weight and get a less tapered pad. I went there from a 2.5" thick POE insulated air pad, (the old InsulMat Max Thermo), which worked wonderfully for years but finally got a bit too thin (not because of the mat but because my joints got more sensitive). I'm still using the POE pad as a mattress pad in my bed at home.

Have you checked out the recent BPL article on insulated air pads? It should give you some ideas. Do note that, for those of us who like our air pads really squishy, the less we inflate our pads, the more the "R" value is reduced. My Kooka Bay pad's insulation is at least twice as thick as the insulation in my old POE pad, so I haven't had any problems getting cold with it. However, I haven't yet been out in any really cold (below 28*F) nights).

I also sometimes suffer from sore hips and multiple turns while backpacking.

Two things help me.

(1) Make sure I'm sleeping on flat ground as opposed to a hump. Sometimes there will be a depression in the ground where my hips are and that feels real good. Old time camping books suggested digging a depression under the tent where your hips would go. Digging such a depression is no longer pc but tells me that people have addressed this issue many years before me.

(2) Elevating my feet by placing them on shoes, pack, etc.

Hmm..the pit seems like a good idea. Maybe I can simulate it w/clothing under my pad except hip area?

I think I'll just keep futzing w/how I inflate this pad and then give Kookabay a shot before just accepting my fate.

Thanks for the input.

I'm also a fan of the hip pit.

Just a shot in the dark… But, are you sure your hips are sore because of your mattress, or is it from your pack?

I get sore hips sometimes, but they happen to be sore right were the hip belt of my pack puts all the weight. Of course, I am carrying a 35lb. pack fully loaded, so…

Thanks for the Kooka Bay custom info.

I am a side/stomach/toss & turner sleeper. Wife loves when I go backpacking so she doesn't have to deal with it.

I found POE to work amazing well for me. When I use my Z-Rest, I use my backpack as a foot rest to raise my feet. Seem to help a lot.

Also, Jameson helps tremendously!!!

@nick Larsen: Good thought but this happens to me when car camping too (as well as when I'm forced to sleep on a friends floor).

@Mark and Daryl: I'll definitely give foot elevation a shot. I could see that working. Also, I've tested various Whiskey's and none seem to help.

Good lord. Even 50 years ago we were taught in the BS about scraping out a shallow hip hole.
You don't have to actually scrape: just check for a slight depression.

Cheers

As an alternative to digging or finding a hip depression, Mike Clelland's mentions bringing a closed cell foam pad in a doughnut shape to alleviate hip pressure when sleeping.

Tip #93

http://books.google.com/books?id=6Ef1pz843nsC&lpg=PA68&ots=LXnN4g3SV4&dq=mike%20clelland%20doughnut%20pad&pg=PA68#v=onepage&q&f=false

Edit: Can't seem to link it. Copy and paste instead.

I’m a side sleeper. Big boney hips. :(

The NeoAir has been working for me although I see one poster above for whom it doesn’t seem to be working. I don’t inflate it until it’s hard, but rather to the point where my hip is about halfway to the ground from where the top of the mat would be without anyone on it. Much more comfortable for me than even a Prolite 4. YMMV.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

Eli, there’s a simple technique that weighs nothing that should help you reduce hip pain whichever sleep pad you use.

Hiking, especially with a pack, can significantly tighten muscles in the hip, legs and buttocks, especially transitioning from less active weekday work to weekend/holiday backpacking. Taking a little time to stretch hips and legs during a midday rest stop and when making camp in the evening, while your muscles are still warm, can make a huge difference in comfort. I do this nearly every day after training.

There are many excellent stretching guides online, just search hip stretches. Hold each at least 30-60 seconds at a time, when muscles are warm, and avoid bouncing.

Likewise there are some foot problems hikers often suffer from that often result from tight calves. Again regular stretching (in addition to proper shoes) can help prevent them.

Once I got my hips off the ground when sleeping on my side my hip problems mostly disappeared.  This only happened when inflatable pads took off.  Thin 1″ Prolite barely works, 1 1/2″ Thermorest works fine but is heavy, partially inflated 2″ Neoair 3/4 length works great (clothes and pack under my feet).  But I still toss and turn and typically don’t get a great night’s sleep, not sure why.

Non-inflatable foam pads never worked for me.