Sleepytime for snugglers.

Have you ruled out a DIY solution to connect 2 single pads of your choice? Seems like 3 or 4 1’ strips of velcro and some good adhesive would do the trick

1. I got this sheet from Thermarest. Synergy duo sheet. It keeps our 2 pads together rather comfortably.  I connect both pads with the pad connector straps ( sold separately) and then use the fitted sheet. It is meant for rectangle pads but we use it with mummy style pads and it works just fine. That is why it looks seperate near lower end by my ankles. It stays together in the middle perfect.  Maybe give it a try before spending money on a new double pad?

Have you ruled out a DIY solution to connect 2 single pads of your choice? Seems like 3 or 4 1’ strips of velcro and some good adhesive would do the trick.

No, I haven’t ruled that out…but I’m not sure how to make it comfortable.  We side-sleep right in the middle of the two pads, so it’s incredibly easy to slip between any gap in the two.  Thoughts on what to do, that being the case?

Synergy duo sheet.

That’s kind of what our sleeping bag does, but I guess the straps hold the pads better than the fabric sleeve.  I could probably rig up something similar to give the idea a test, but I’m concerned that the pads will still spread; I’m a pretty active sleeper, too, so it’s easy for me to toss and turn and screw things up.

I toss and turn when sleeping on ground as well. The pad straps keep our pads tight together.  The sheet then really helps fill in the gaps and makes it feel more like 1 big pad.  Again, for our torsos since we use mummy pads and not full rectangle.

We used two pads for years along with a double quilt. Even tried adding a third strap at the foot end to help stop the pads from spreading. Finally sucked it up and bought the Exped Duo Hyperlight. Works so much better and very surprising how much room there is. I think this is because you get less edge effect, that bit near the edge of the pad where you tend to roll off, especially bad on thermarest pads. We use with an EE Accomplice that has a nice roomy foot box so it’s easy to keep away from your partner’s sweaty feet. I don’t find the pad too bad against my skin but we often each carry a silk liner in really hot weather as a hot weather covering.

Chris, that is one of the trapezoidal models, is it not?  I know Exped has now upgraded it to the Synmat HL Duo in both standard and L/W models which has about an 8″ narrower footbox than shoulder; as mentioned in my earlier post, I worry that my feet would be hanging off the edges if I roll on to my back and start doing my starfish impression (which is not impressive at all, according to my partner).  That’s what was pointing me towards the Q-Core.  It’s R3.2 vs 2.9 and 36 oz. vs. 29.3 oz…but those extra 7-ish ounces seem heavy now that I have a gear spreadsheet that tabulates everything and tells me where I’m messing up.

I’ve looked at the Accomplice; haven’t had one in my hands yet, but it seems very nice.  How does the footbox width compare to the pad width at the foot?  Also, what’s the noise level of the Exped pad?  Maybe I’m being fussy, but loud pads keep me awake even when I’m dead tired.

So, I weighed the older Air Core pads that we normally use, just for funsies…

26 ounces.

Each.

They’re comfortable, but damn.  I didn’t know they were so heavy.

The footbox on our Accomplice is 32″ wide. This works fine for us but that may be because my wife often sleeps on her side curled up while I will often side sleep in the figure 4 position but even when both of us are on our backs we haven’t found it to be restrictive. Last week on a canoe trip with temperatures in the 80s we took two Costco down quilts instead though I only used mine one or two nights as it was so warm.

The Exped is very quite compared to the Thermarest.

We use two mats glued together (Seam Grip and DCF or Spinnaker tape). We have a Klymit Insulated Static V Lite and TAR X-Lites and Uberlites. It works well for us. The TARs do have a trough between them that an arm or leg can fall into, but we have a CCF pad underneath and cold hasn’t been a problem. There is also a trough with the Klymit but the design of the pad means it’s less pronounced.

Same setup as Chris R for my wife and I.  We both move around quite a bit throughout the night, going from fully stretched out,to fetal position and back.  Never found the quilt to be restrictive nor the pad too narrow.  Awesome setup!  I will add though that we purchased the pad right after they first came out and two baffles blew out at the head-end on one side.  Called Exped, they asked for the Lot # and shipped us a new pad right away.  I suppose there was an issue with the construction on the early models.  No issues since.

Chris: thanks for the answers on that.  I think we’re going to diagram out a trapezoidal mat and see if we can fit on it.

We use two mats glued together (Seam Grip and DCF or Spinnaker tape).

That is brilliant.  Why didn’t I think of just making two into one, permanently?!  I liked the Velcro idea, but I like the “glue the f*** out of it” too!  Might make for a bigger package, but I can deal with that.

Brett: thanks for the info.  My partner and I move around SO much that it’s ridiculous.  There have been many times when one or the other of us has moved the pad completely out from underneath ourselves and subsequently woken up on the hard ground.

You do not need to join the two mats permanently. That just make packing the mats up more difficult. It isn’t needed.

I carry two loops of silnylon fabric which are placed each night at the head and the foot of our (wife and I) two mats, to hold them tightly together. With one person lying on his/her mat while the other turns over, the second mat does not get to shift. It has worked very well for the last 10-15 years.

You could use string too, but I think the silnylon is lighter and more gentle on the mats.

Cheers
PS: snuggling is a lot warmer too.

PS: snuggling is a lot warmer too.

It’s more comfortable for both of us.  My partner is an ice cube and I’m a volcano, so we both act as heat sinks for each other.

It’s more comfortable for both of us.  My partner is an ice cube and I’m a volcano, so we both act as heat sinks for each other.

Same for us.  We’ve used the 20 deg Accomplice/Exped HL Duo combo down to just below freezing.  I’m in a med wt base layer while she’s got her puffy on.  Go figure.  The ability to snuggle is what attracted us to the system though.  Regardless of whether you go the Exped or BA pad route, I think you’ll be very pleased.  Well, except for the much lighter wallet!

Klymit makes a double pad that’s 47″ wide. The insulated version is 52oz, so not much of a weight savings.

Bear in mind that a double pad means that one person carries it, so you may want to either martyr yourself and carry it or work on the puppy-dog eyes…

“Might make for a bigger package…”

“That just make packing the mats up more difficult.”

I suppose it will depend on your rucksack and how you pack. We haven’t found it to be a problem. Our last trip, earlier this month, was 7 days with no resupply, mostly at about 3,000m in altitude. My wife had an Arc Blast and I had an Osprey Levity 45. I had the mat(s) in the bottom of my pack in with our 20 degree EE Accomplice, which fills in any gaps in the rolled up mat(s) nicely.

We’ve tried straps (not silnylon) but they didn’t work as well for us as our sleeping style could move the mats apart between the straps.

I think the biggest problem with gluing the mats together is that you void the guarantee.

Bear in mind that a double pad means that one person carries it, so you may want to either martyr yourself and carry it or work on the puppy-dog eyes…

Dear Lord, I carry both, pad and quilt!  What am I doing wrong here?

Regardless of whether you go the Exped or BA pad route, I think you’ll be very pleased. Well, except for the much lighter wallet!

Wait, aren’t we trying to make things lighter…?

Bear in mind that a double pad means that one person carries it, so you may want to either martyr yourself and carry it or work on the puppy-dog eyes…

Fun Fact: I have a Masters in Adorable Cuteness, having completed all necessary course hours and graduated with honors from the University of I Have A Pet Bunny.

We’ve tried straps (not silnylon) but they didn’t work as well for us as our sleeping style could move the mats apart between the straps.

That’s what our sleeping bag sleeves allow; they fit so tightly that it’s hard to get both mats into place unless they’re only barely inflated, and somehow we still push them apart in the center.  Usually with my elbow.

Dear Lord, I carry both, pad and quilt! What am I doing wrong here?

Whatever you’re doing, STOP.  It will only get worse with time.  I usually carry the entire sleep system, tent included… but that’s a legitimate split, because 1) I can comfortably carry quite a bit of weight due to the pack that I use, a and 2) that’s just how things best fit in our bags.  That may change with the new tent, though.

Wait, aren’t we trying to make things lighter…?

LOL!!!  Yeah.  Just mentioned it in the event that you find the taper of the Exped not to your liking.  We haven’t found it to be a problem but YMMV.

Whatever you’re doing, STOP.  It will only get worse with time.  I usually carry the entire sleep system, tent included… but that’s a legitimate split, because 1) I can comfortably carry quite a bit of weight due to the pack that I use, a and 2) that’s just how things best fit in our bags.  That may change with the new tent, though.

Sounds like we’re doing pretty much the same.  I carry the tent as well.  She keeps asking me to throw more weight her way and at some point I’m going to take her up on it.  The Lunar Duo can’t be split up (other than the stakes and possibly a ground sheet) so at some point a new tent will be in order but that’s a whole other topic.

Uhhh…I suppose I need to keep a closer eye on how much weight I’m carrying when she and I go together.  I just added up the weight of the pad, quilt, tent and stakes and it comes out to nearly 8 freaking pounds!  We have the Outfitter model of the Lunar Duo so its a no-brainer.  The pad and quilt aren’t going anywhere.  Tent must go and I’ll slip the pad in her pack next time.

I just added up the weight of the pad, quilt, tent and stakes and it comes out to nearly 8 freaking pounds!

Not to green-mushroom you, but I was at a higher weight than that…so I know how you feel.  Solution: down quilt, lighter pad(s), lighter tent.  I have to trim the fat from multiple directions at once.  Guess I’ll start with the wallet…

I was at a higher weight than that

Dude, if you were over that and you’re lookin’ at a Strat Li now, you could carry a Sleep Number bed and be just fine.  Bliss!

I have a Masters in Adorable Cuteness, having completed all necessary course hours and graduated with honors from the University of I Have A Pet Bunny.
Words fail me.
:)
:)

Cheers

Words fail me.

Her name is Bonbon! < sparkle face intensifies >

Dude, if you were over that and you’re lookin’ at a Strat Li now, you could carry a Sleep Number bed and be just fine. Bliss!

If I end up going with the Strat Li, the Exped Duo and a 30° Accomplice, I’ll end up at 6.3 pounds.  That would be a big reduction in weight for us.