Using a Prolite to gain head room in Hexamid or Aeon

I use a prolite

Comfortable enough.  Closed cell foam pads are not.

You’re only a couple inches lower than thick pads though.  Wouldn’t make that much difference.  Still, a little bit can be helpful.

Don’t put your hand on the pad with all your weight on it.  I think that’s caused a couple of my pads to delaminate.  My last pad I’ve been careful not to do that and it’s lasted better.  Also, I think they changed the construction to reduce delamination so maybe that’s why my last pad has lasted longer.

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Thanks Jerry. I’ve got the red/orange old valve. Used it one time and slept great. Comfy campsite tho. No rocks or snags.</p>

The general concept sounds weight inefficient, in the sense that you’re switching to a substantially heavier pad to only partially resolve a con that could be resolved more completely and with less weight addition by going to a shelter that offers the headroom you’re missing. My guess is that an extra ~1″ of headroom is not a win compared to the loss in comfort and 7oz gain in weight versus using your ~12oz X-Lite.

Thanks Dan. My thoughts exactly. You are spot on as usual. If you said heck yes I’d try it for sure.

I use a prolite in my Pocket Tarp. I’m 5’3″ and feel that there isn’t a lot of room in there. I can’t really sit up without hitting my head against the wall. There’s plenty of room for me lying down though. It’s good to be short.

Hey Diane, thanks for that bit. I’m 5’9 ish and bought the Prolite to use in my Ti Goat bug bivy which is too tight for a 2.5 inch Xlite and me, combined with my Pocket Tarp which was really tight with me and an Xlite and decent bag. In a fit of guilt and stupidity, I dumped the Pocket Tarp. I still have the Ti Goat bug bivy (never used) and the Prelate. One of these days I need to go out and try it. I actually sleep great on a Prolite if the ground is smooth. I grew up mountain climbing with 1/4 blue foam pads as deluxe comfort on snow. I was tough back then. I’m not tough anymore.

O..and I forgot to mention, Dan, that the Xlite Large (new valve) I’m using combined with the blow up stuff sack weighs exactly the same as the Prolite. I checked before writing this. So I’m not saving a gram using the Xlite versus the Prolite. The kicker is if the ground is rocky or rooted I’m screwed on the Prolite. But you know that.

Agree with Jerry. Prolite for me. Comfortable enough.

Thanks John, I may give it another shot this weekend with a grandkid outing. Love the bombproof simplicity and don’t have to pack an air bag.