Foam Pad in the Winter?

Hey Max!
I use:
tyvek sheet, then a ccf pad, then a Thermarest Z-Lite Sol (full size) on snow, no bivy, tarp only. It worked great these last two weekends here at 7degrees and at 20degrees overnight.
The ccf is an Insulite full size pad from Lawson Outdoor Equip but they are out of stock or discontinued. Look into Gossamer Gear, they should have them in stock.
Have fun and stay outside!

I use a torso Thermorest as well.

When I researched this last winter, the most surprising article I found suggested sleeping on snow actually requires less of an R rating than on cold ground. The snow actually helps insulate. I tested this down to 14 degrees on snow and no snow and I'd say this is was accurate.

A tip I got from an AT thru hiker on the trail was to layer rainshells and any extra garmets under your sleeping pad for added cushion and warmth. Seems obvious, but i wasn't doing it before.

Rather than by an $80 winter pad, I bought an extra $8 foam pad. Was obviously bulky carrying two pads but if you're only doing 1 or 2 Winter trips/year its no big deal.

I don't use a ground sheet, but I noticed when i cowboy slept on 15" of snow last year I noticed that even after packing the snow before I slept, It still melted down an inch from my body heat. My sleeping bag did not feel wet from the melt, but it did make me think I need to get a tyvek ground cloth.

That's a good idea with the rain gear layering. Easy to do, and no reason not to do it. Does anyone else use this trick with success?

I do have tyvek! I'll keep using that.

Also, how much insulation do the Gossamer Gear pads provide? Worth it as an "extra" foam pad or will I not notice an increase in warmth?

1/4 inch foam is great when youre existing system is close but you just need an extra bump in ground insulation. I have used a Ridgerest down to about 25-30f, but when I need to drop below that, I supplement with 1/4 inch foam, since another Ridgerest would be overkill. Ive never been cold enough to require two Ridgerest pads, but I'm sure someone here can talk about those situatios.

I only use a foam pad in the winter. In the summer, it is uncomfortable for me.
But my GG Nightlight Pad (can’t find now on their website), with a GG Thinlight pad on top has been surprisingly comfortable for me in winter.

I layer as thus: snow, thermal blanket, tent, Nightlight bumps down, Thinlight.

Also in winter I switch to a WM Antelope GWS which also adds some more cush underneath and warmth everywhere. This works to 0F with me.

“Also, how much insulation do the Gossamer Gear pads provide? Worth it as an "extra" foam pad or will I not notice an increase in warmth?”

Even that 1/8” makes a surprising difference. I don’t know why when its R value is only like 0.2.

-Barry
-May everyone sleep warm

Max,

I've slept comfortably in winter with a ONLY 10" thick bed of dried leaves held in place with a frame of dead logs. At 14 F. I was comfy while other Scouts sat around the fire all night shivering. I asked them in the morning why they didn't use a bed of leaves and they said "it seemed like too much trouble".

Uh huh! There is no accounting for stupidity. Darwin awards time.

Layering with WPB shell under me is something I've done before when ground temp was colder than expected , but i'm much more likely to wear the waterproof layers to bed if it's colder than I planned for.

That said, in the gritty Southwest I treat my waterproof membranes ($$$ with finite lifespan) like gold, and started to fear that the severe compaction and slight friction/abrasion of sleeping (I roll over alot) on top of them would degrade their waterproofing. Even on ski trips it seems as if grit gets into my bivy or tent out here.

I use a regular xlite above 25F. I add a torso+ GG 1/8 pad (nice compact roll) on trips to ~15F. Full length Ridgecrest sol (sadly huge; wrap inside pack perimeter or huge external roll) below 15F and have never felt any bit of cold from below at -10F, on snow.

Foam pads always ON TOP of the xlite.

Edit: a compact way to go air + foam is to put a Klymit xframe type pad (mine is 9 oz and packs tiny) under your foam. That air space should boost a full length foam pad considerably.

Or, back to your OP, layer 2 foam pads. That's been the cheap best practice for a long time.

"started to fear that the severe compaction and slight friction/abrasion of sleeping (I roll over alot) on top of them would degrade their waterproofing"

Certainly it subtracts some durability, but I"m confident I am much harder on my rain shell during the day, sliding against itself, brush/thorns and sliding down boulders and snow fields. Being packed between a tyvek and a ccf, seems like it might not be that bad on it relatively.

So far I haven't sprung any leaks in my marmot precip (only 2 years old). I'm also thinking if I do and a $7 bottle of DWR doesn't fix it, then marmot would probably warranty it for me.

Ive used driduck jacket, and pants when i have them, under xlite for countless nights.

No problems.

Id rather have a pinhole in raingear than xlite.

Im always soaked inside raingear anyway.