Sleeping Pad R-value?

Vince,
for those colder temps you will want probably at least a 3 R-value. Most folks say you need an R-5 for frozen ground and snow. The ZRest Sol is 2.6 R-value. Here is a link to my piece of sleeping pads that includes a pretty complete chart of the lighter pads with R-values and a link to the exhaustive BPL 2011 SOTM report on inflatable pads.

I normally just use a 3/4 length z lite pad, but I have to say the exped ul7 is incredibly comfortable with an r value of about 3. I am also a side sleeper and I have pretty much decided to go with the exped and a thin pad underneath to protect it. I have slept on the exped down to about 15 degrees with a quilt and was comfortable. And I sleep cold. The only thing holding me up is I like the simplicity of flipping out the z lite and folding it back up to put in my pack pocket. Simplicity and no fail vs. comfort? I won't know till I actually pack up to go later this year.

Vince's estimations sound about right.

Also, if you are trying to maximize warmth while stacking pads, then you'll want to put your highest R-value pad closest to you (i.e. on top). Theoretically, this is the most efficient setup. I don't know how much of a difference it makes in practice though…

I also use an Exped UL7 and find its R-3 more than adequate for all 3-season conditions I've encountered (down to the upper 20s, not on snow or frozen ground). I'm about your age, also an active side sleeper. One advantage of being a side sleeper is the width of the pad is not critical. Back sleepers need something to keep their arms from falling to the ground.

I've used my NeoAir Xlite down to 18F (not on snow) and was snug as a bug…I feel like I could easily go to 10F. Admittedly, I was wearing all of my insulation clothing in a WM Megalite, but isn't that the way UL is supposed to work?

If I were looking to go lower, I'd probably look at augmenting the Xlite with a thin foam pad for <3 oz.

John,

Everything about the NeoAir is appealing to me except the "crinkly" surface. Is that as noisy as it seems in the store, or is it really not a factor in actual camping situations?

Read this thread… and you will still not have an answer one way or another… As far as the noise is concerned, it’s just like the pad… it varies from user to user…

Does anyone know if the newer Neoair XLites are significantly noisier than the original 2011 rectangular version? The 2011 is still available on Backcountryedge and Amazon. Reviews on Amazon seem to mention the noise issue less for the 2011 version than the XLites but I'm wondering if the reviews are better only because at the time the original came out, it was so much lighter than anything else, people overlooked the crinkle and still gave it great reviews.

I haven't noticed the neo air being all that noisy. Sure if you're laying on it without a bag it will make noise but once you climb into the bag it effectively mutes the crinkle to the point of not bothering me.

Vincent,

I really noticed the noise in the store, and honestly it concerned me. But in the field I remember wondering where all the noise went? Seemed perfectly quite to me with a bag on top…which by the way was what was missing in the store.

I also think the noise is primarily coming from the internals, not the surface, and I am guessing that it diminishes over time as that materials softens due to repeated inflation/deflation and flexing from folding.