Winter pad setup… will it work in 0F?

I was overnight Saturday in 18F weather with a Thermarest Solite and an Exped Synmat 9. They were quite sufficient as I expected they would be. The Solite is a little bulky but ties easily to any pack.

Call me crazy but I don't get why anyone would flirt with being cold all night long to save a few ounces or bucks. That notion is absolutely foreign to me.

If you miscalculate, you're going to have a miserable night…at best.

Ok, I have several pads that I can make a combo out of …not sure which combinations are overkill or not.

New to winter camping, but have plenty of 3 season gear to make some combos happen.

Lets say….one trip with a low of 0f, and another with a low of 20, both sleeping on snow, with a bivy.

Foam Pads
1/8" Lawson foam pad
Ridgerest solite (full regular length and also a 3/4 length)

Inflatable pads
Exped synmat UL 7
Thermarest Xtherm

So…any suggestions for combos that are appropriate or just mix whatever I want here? Also, I've seen it go both ways….with foam pad on bottom of the inflatable, or on top? Both inside the bivy, or one out or ?

The Solite with either inflatable would do fine.
I use a full length Solite with an Exped Downmathe UL 7 normally, but
do remember a trip where I used a Solite
with a synmat ul7 and I was fine at -10f.

Stephen, was your Solite on top of or beneath the air mattress?

Ditto on the top/bottom question, but also, I would assume the 1/8" paired with the xtherm would be about the same rvalue as the solite/synmat combo, correct? The xtherm combo would be lighter overall but as a longtime synmat fan I bet the synmat would be more comfortable…(and quieter)

Bob,

The Solite was on the bottom, I find it more
comfortable that way.

John,

I have not used the Xtherm, but used an original
Neoair for a long while and always ended up coming off it at some stage,
Since using the synmat and downmat it's no issue.