Sleeping wedge? Thoughts on how to do this…

[Sam R]

Hi All
I have been reading around on the community for ideas.. but with little luck. The GG tapered sleep pads are the closest I have come… but a 1" elevation is not enough. I am very open to creative ideas on how to accomplish a "sleeping wedge".

Background
A. I have some pretty serious lower back pain if I sleep on virtually any surface that is ~flat
B. I have sinus issues that kick my arse if I sleep on virtually any surface that is ~flat

At Home
I sleep on a normal mattress but I use a "wedge" such as:
http://www.amazon.com/InteVision-Wedge-Pillow-Quality-Removable/dp/B00AK3VZBA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416609680&sr=8-2&keywords=bed+wedge

That wedge weighs a lot (relative to backpacking gear of course) and it is bulky
The inflatable ones on the market also weight a lot

So, any creative ideas on how to accomplish a 6-8" graduated elevation from head to lower back (~24" down the pad)? Am I going to need to fabricate something most likely (30D heat seal materials)?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this
Riley

[Jerry Adams]

I often have a hard time finding a level spot, but a 6-8" slope is easily found. Only problem is, I end up sliding down.

[Sam R]

Unfortunately that wont work. The elevation needs to be from my head to my lower back.. not along my whole body length. Essentially bending at my waist. I guess I could dig one out in the ground every spot I stop though ;-)

[Bob Gross]

Carry a few pieces of closed cell foam pad. First, lay a one-foot piece down on the ground. Then lay a two-foot piece on top of it. Then lay a three-foot piece on top of that.

If the foam is soft enough, you won't notice that the slope isn't perfect. In fact, you could probably use one piece of open cell foam pad in the middle.

–B.G.–

[Peter J]

Hammock people- Couldn't you shorten the length of the fabric on one side of a hammock and pretty much get a custom angle? I know that this doesn't address how to make a wedge on the ground, but it might be an alternative.

[BlackHatGuy]

If you don't sleep in all of your clothes/jackets, could you pack your pack with extra clothes in such a way as to create a wedge?

or

could you sew a silnylon or cuben wedge cover, and then stuff it with leaves and other detritus where you camp?

[todd]

What about carrying a larger backpack and a dense CCF wedge. CCF weighs less than memory foam.

Not UL but if it gets you into the woods….

[Franco Darioli]

maybe something like this :

half a blue mat , a piece of shock cord, your pack and in my photo I have a pair of trousers and a sweater to make up the shape.
About 8" high , of course that will depend on your pack and the full size mat on top
Both the bottom of my mats and my tent floors are striped with silicone so they grub each other.
This is the size of the mat I used in the photo when rolled up :

it happens to be the leftover from something I was doing.
For the purpose of this thread it could be about a foot shorter so smaller in diameter than a Nalgene.
I don't think that the thinner types will absorb the inevitable uneven meat in the sandwich (pack and clothing)

[d k]

Or building on BG's idea, a thicker inflatable pad folded over two or three times, to accomplish mostly the same thing as the three ccf pads of varying sizes?

[Sam R]

I really like this idea.. thank you for the pictures and all. Exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for.
I do like the idea of making a slope of varying lengths of closed cell too.. but prob easier to roll this style up so less bulky.
Plus it could be my sit pad.. might have to give up carrying my Alite

[Franco Darioli]

Another way of doing it , depending on the pack and mat that you are already using, is this :


That Montbell pillow is just air , the size of an egg when stored, about 2oz with a rubber band around it.
It already has a bit of a slope .
Insert that into the back side up pack , add something to make the wedge , however it does not need to be precise because the pack stays/frame will keep the angle.
You then need to secure the pack to the mat soit does not slide (easier to do with the Neo Air mats) in a similar way to my set up (wrap a fleece or something soft over the buckle) or if you have a mat with eyelets at the top ,to attach a pillow, like the Exped, use those.
Your boots inside a plastic bag and inside the pack may also work.
If the set up slips for you, look into using one of those thin anti-slip mats sold for cups and glassware.

[Owen McMurrey]

I like Franco's idea, and sometimes strap my pack like that at the bottom to keep the pad from sliding around. Also use my shoes to level or raise the pad when using a full-length inflatable.
Really, side sleeping with my legs to the side that I normally have to stretch toward to get my back realigned has proven the best way to keep it from getting out of whack to begin with, but that's relative to my specific injury(actually my pelvis, which affects my back).

[Sam R]

Air pillow… even better! I'm going to start there for sure. I have a few of those laying around. HUGE thanks for the great ideas Franco!

[Franco Darioli]

here is a more elegant solution.
Make a sleeve out of an old silk liner or something light like that.
Build the wedge again out of an inflatable pillow and some clothing to make the pointy bit and insert those into the sleeve.
It should be tight.
If so it will stay in place.
(I tried that using my pillow case (also an old liner) and a smaller mat, it works…)
Using a modified silk liner for that and a Mont Bell pillow the total extra weight is about 3.5 oz.

my purple pillow case is narrower but longer than needed for this , so about the same weight/volume.

[Morgan Rucks]

I wonder if the guys luxurylite could build you a cot with a slant.

Or take half a packable cot with one end elevated and one on the ground

[John Almond]

Theoretically, maybe.

The problem (as with many of the comfort issues with hammock that aren't insulation related) is center of mass. Due to how the average human body is structured, you want your feet higher than your head in an hammock. This helps prevent heel/calf pressure issues and leads to a nicer night's sleep.

It would be difficult to structure an hammock to ONLY lift one's upper body, since gravity is going to pull one to the lowest point.

Hope it helps!

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