Gossamer Gear NightLite pad…

I had a similar experience with back discomfort on my not-quite-so-young body. The only answer floating around here for a decent night's sleep seems to be Tylenol PM. I've converted over to hammocking now for the best wilderness sleep I've ever had. I still take the NightLite along for a pack frame support and as backup in case I need to go to ground.

Edit: Actually I do recall a Glenn V. comment on one of his podcasts recommending a small supplemental pad for the small of your back to increase the comfort level.

I have to be careful what the ground is I am sleeping on. I sleep just as comfortable with the Nightlite as I do with my Torsolite.

Sometimes I will flip it with the bumpy side down, helps a little sometimes.

Besides it is the perfect frame for my Amp pack.

I go with it bumpy side down and take a couple of Vitamin I before I hit the sack. I've been thinking about buying an 1/8" Thinlight for a little added padding plus insulation so I can use the system farther into the fall and winter months here.
I also remember hearing Glen talk about the small supplemental pad. I think it was in the podcast where he talks about his sub-3 lbs trip on the PCT.

Adam

I use the GG Nightlight Sleeping Pad (TORSO length) 3.5 – 3.8 oz. + GG ThinLight insulation pad 1/4 Inch 3.5 – 4.2 oz. Actually, the both of mine weigh 7.2 oz. together. I pack the Nightlight inside my Jam2 and the ThinLight will be attached to the bottom gear hauling loops. The ThinLight is great to lay on during a break. The combination of the two make for a great night sleep.

This combination was suggested to me on this forum about a year ago. It works great. I had previously used a Theramrest.

John

Yet another bumpy-side down + thinlight user here – I've had no problems on it, but I am a side sleeper. As others intimated, site selection is critical when using a pad that doesn't inflate…removing rocks, twigs, and such is critical to getting a good sleep on one…and making sure you're on sand, duff, or soil helps a lot – I don't think a NightLite on granite or slickrock would be a fun night…I was super skeptical at first, but I love this combo now.

I got caught up in the great Mt. Washington Pad Panic of '01. As some may remember, the Mt. Washington was the predecessor of the Nitelite. My experience with that pad mirrors that of several of the hikers in this post. Bumpy side down, use in combination with a thinner closed-cell pad, and careful site selection all help.

But I often sleep in high and rocky places where soft ground is difficult if not impossible to find. As a side sleeper, I could seldom get a good nights' sleep.

Later I tried the Tylenol PM idea and it worked to some extent. But it occurred to me that I could go even lighter by bringing an UL hypodermic needle and shooting up. Then, no pad would be required. Though I would be sleeping in the dirt, I really wouldn't care.

Ultimately, though, I just gave up on the Mt. Waahington and now get a good night's sleep with a Monbell 90 + 1/4" thinlite. Weight is 12 oz.

I'm also in the Nightlight bumpy side down + Thinlight group. I sleep about half the night on my side and half on my back, and I have found it helps a lot to roll up a piece of ensolite cut to fit in a stuff sack, stick it in the stuff sack, let it expand(partially unroll), stuff my hiking pants and rain gear in the interior empty space, and cinch the aperture of the stuff sack tight. I use this firm, but soft, cylinder as a pad/spacer between my knees when I am sleeping on my side to keep my back happy(a trick suggested to me by a wise old chiropractor years ago-I use a pillow at home). When I am sleeping on my back, the cylinder goes under my knees and keeps my spine from hyperextending slightly, which is what causes a lot of pain for back sleepers, again according to that wise old chiropractor. It has worked for me for years now. And one of mother's little helpers, Tylenol PM, don't hurt any, either. The ensolite pad does triple duty, as a pad in the lower half of my ULA Circuit, a sit pad around camp, and in the pillow; it weighs .8 oz. One related problem I have noticed with the Nightlight is that it tends to compress over time, too short a time IMO for a guy that weighs ~137#, and needs to be replaced-about 4 trips is max for me. Otherwise no amount of fiddling around or sleep aids will give me a good night's sleep

Dondo, your post had me LOL; and reminded me, if only I could learn the secret of the businessmen in suits I see sleeping on train station benches, even face down on concrete sidewalks, without even a Thinlight at their disposal.. that is UL hard-core. I think I would have to pack a liter of sake and chug it an hour before retiring..

I tried the Thinlight and the Nightlight, they are both too thin for me to get a good nights sleep, but they are GREAT insulation.
I use the Montbell inflatable 6-chamber air mattress, 120cm, 12oz, as my luxury 3-season mattress. Packs down to the size of a 24oz beer.
In winter sleeping on snow I use my Montbell 90cm UL solid foam mattress and the Thinlight as more insulation.

I like the Nightlite. I typically use it with extreme effort endeavours so I'm pretty beat by the time I crash out. Add a Tylenol PM and it's as sweet as an air pad.

Even without the pass out approach, I find the Nightlight to be not much more uncomfortable than a Torsolite. At least that's the story I tell myself.

I use a Big Agnes Aircore when I'm going for a more mild hike. Combing a 3/4 uninsulated Aircore with a GG Thinlight and you've got 18 oz, 2.5 inches of cush, and it's good to the 40s.

You know what's really sweet though? The Exped Downmat Short- 20 oz, sure, but it's 3" of down-filled warmth. I often splurg for this pad…it's my wife's so I have to steal it…

But the combo Nightlight/Thinlight is very interesting guys! I'll have to try that!

Doug

If you get off the ground the issue goes away! In the winter it will require a little more weight, but oh the sleep!