Inflatable Pads, Cold Sleeping Help

I went from the Klymit Insulated to a Tensor Insulated and the difference in warmth for me was pretty dramatic, as was the packed size. I found the Klymit to be very comfortable to lay on, and the Tensor to be a little better.

I like the Extreme. Not the quietest but I wouldn’t call it noisy. I find it more comfortable than my Thermarest or my ZenBivy Flex. Slightly more than my Exped.. I’m 200 lbs. so that makes a difference. The Extreme is thicker and I can.let air out without bottoming out. I haven’t had it down below 40*, so I can’t verify the temperature rating.

You didn’t say what type of foam you used or how thick. Others may chime in on how effective the mylar was. I understand that it needs an air gap.
Using ccf pads that had a known R value of 1, possibly 1.1 stacked 5 high, I felt warm with a 10* quilt at around 26*. Removing one pad at a time, I started getting slightly chilled when down to 2 pads. R2, 2.2.  My guess would be the Nemo All-Season would be adequate at R5.4. for 20′.  If that’s accurate. Maybe slightly higher for women. An air mattress may loose heat faster than a ccf pad. That’s up for discussion. Backcountry dot com has the All Season on sale until tomorrow for 175 USD. I got my Extreme there for 20% off, but I don’t see them in stock. The Eclipse sounds like a better deal and a little warmer.

Foam is a bad choice of words, my mistake. This was the “foam” that. I used – double-sided Mylar-backed, bubble insulation, from a roll. The description says it’s .3125″ (5/16″, or 8mm) but that seems optimistic. It also says R3-21. Again, seems optimistic.

I cut this to fit my sleeping pad, and secured it to the pad via a few loops of shock cord. It worked OK. Was bulky in my pack, but for this trip, it wasn’t a big deal.

I’m not opposed to doing that again, but I still didn’t feel “warm”, moreso on my back/bottom, sleeping in the mid 20’s.

Thus, why asking about the warmer pads.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R-21-50-sq-ft-Unfaced-Reflective-Roll-Insulation-24-in-W-x-25-ft-L/3011904

I sleep on my side. When I get cold, I flip over.

The bubble wrap was worth a shot. Closed cell foam should give you a bit more warmth. You could leave it behind for caving. I have the Exped Flexmat which is rated R2.2. It’s bulky. Dimpled, but it adds a little more support to an inflatable. I cut 1/3rd of the length off. 25″ so it’s a little wide on top of the pack.

I like the Extreme. Overkill for me. Nice pad. A little thicker than my others, so it doesn’t need to be rock hard.

I don’t know if you saw the other thread under winter hiking, but you may find it useful.

Dual pads

I went to REI, and side-by-side compared the Big-Agnes Rapide-SL, and the Nemo Tensor All-Season. Both mattresses, are more comfortable with some air let out, but hands-down, the Rapide-SL is more comfortable, fully-inflated, or slighly de-flated. The Tensor-AS wasn’t bad though. Probably 80-90% of the comfort.

Our local shop is running a 30% off sale on the Tensor-AS. That makes it $168 before tax, and/or loyalty points. Awfully tempting. It is the smaller of the two mattresses, by a considerable margin.

ExpertVoice offers 35% off of Big Agnes. Making the Rapide-SL $137. Final sale though…

The Big Agnes Zoom-UL pad – the pad that I WANT to like the most, is $163 on ExpertVoice. Though it has the smallest weight & pack-size, reviews seem to say that it sleeps cold. Maybe OK in the cave, definitely not for colder outdoor camping down to the 20’s. (Though for Outdoor, I could add a pad underneath.)

I went from an Exped 5R to the Tensor All Season when I was looking for something smaller in packed size and lighter. I’ve been happy with the performance of both in the field. I’ve had the Tensor down to the high 20’s F with a quilt and haven’t felt cold but if I was expecting temps colder than freezing on a regular basis I might look at the Extreme.

If you can’t stand the crinkley “potato chip” sound of a Thermarest air mattress then get a Thermarest Trail Pro or the R value you need in a SeatoSummit insulated air mattress. I’m very skeptical Bif Agnes insulated air mattresses and tombs down on Klamat mattresses. This is from friends’ experience with both and their claimed R values.

In any case it may be time to just pony up for a brand new mattress. “Buy once Cry once”.

“Buy once Cry once” should be amended to Buy Once Cry Repeatedly.  Check out my experience with Thermarest over the years.  First pic shows a newish Trail Pro 3rd Generation pad during a long trip.  Oops, sorry about that.  Last pic shows a 40th Anniversary on left and a Trail pro 2nd Generation on right.  I have many more such models to share if interested.

Update to my debacle—I am currently using a new Trail Pro 3rd Generation pad for winter backpacking etc.  Thermy sent me it free of charge after my blowout.  Problem is, a great warranty means nothing in the field during a trip.  Better have backup solutions.  For the Trail Pro I believe the solution is to buy a new one once a year and hope for the best.  Btw, I consider this sleeping pad to be awesomely wonderful and comfy etc.  Hence my addiction.

Same here, several thermarests have delaminated.

But, it develops slowly.  When I first notice it, continue that trip, then get a new one.

And the other defect is pinhole leak I can’t find.  Then, I have to top it off at the beginning of each night.

Sometimes I’ve been able to find and repair a pinhole leak.

One might conclude thermarests aren’t a good buy.

I did handle one of the thin “ultralight” Thermasrests’ at REI last week. I heard the potato-chip bag sound at first-touch, and didn’t even pull it out of the rack to try.

I have no problem buying used, or waiting for a good deal. The Tensor All-Season’s are tempting, at 30% off at the local store. But, the Rapide SL is more comfortable, after several “trials” in-store.

My guy is telling me, take the packed-size penalty, and enjoy the greater comfort of the BA Rapide SL pad. It’s easier to stack foam pads underneath for more warmth, though it’s unlikely they’ll be as effective at adding comfort.

If ever my trekking evolves to needing something more “super ultra light,” experience can be a much better guide, at that point.

At least, that’s my guy feeling, at this day & time anyway. I could always be convinced otherwise I guess… LOL

I find the Tensor Extreme to be the most comfortable of the Tensor lineup.  It will definitely keep you warm.  I’ve had it in -5 degree weather and was just fine with no cold coming up through the pad.  I also have the All Season but do not find it as comfortable for some reason.

Thank you Jeff. A close friend has the Tensor-Extreme. It might be worth borrowing to try it out.

The lesser brand ratings are, well lesser. I don’t trust their R-ratings.  X-therm is the king and you can pick these up used for $100-150. Also, goes without saying, don’t leave your pad inflated in your tent during the day. Doesn’t take much to blow them up by the air expanding in the pad.