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Post by trinity on Jan 8, 2016 9:51:47 GMT -8
I have used just the RidgeRest down to -16 as my sleeping pad in the winter. Wow, that's impressive! Good to know.
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Post by flyinion on Jan 8, 2016 10:31:53 GMT -8
I do have a ridgerest pad, but I bought it like 14 years ago (don't know if they break down over time) and I tried sleeping on it a couple of months ago and it was extremely uncomfortable (and that was sleeping on my back). Sounds like I need to try out a few pad types and sizes again to really narrow things down.
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Post by Coolkat on Jan 8, 2016 13:07:19 GMT -8
I have used just the RidgeRest down to -16 as my sleeping pad in the winter. I don't do winter backpacking but I've been on my Ridgerest down to 23 with no problems. It's a little bulky but it's only 14oz (I've measured it)
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 8, 2016 14:32:13 GMT -8
if there is a big temperature swing, the warm air from your breath when it cools down can contract in volume quite a bit, leaving you on or near the ground in the middle of the night. Tigger, did this not happen in Greenland? To be honest, there wasn't too much of a temp swing. It was pretty much always damn cold. It was daylight pretty much all the time so day vs. night really wasn't much of a swing - maybe 20 degree swing. I have used just the RidgeRest down to -16 as my sleeping pad in the winter. I will have to try that when I go to Greenland. I had several pads (Z-Rest, Ridgerest, Prolite Plus, and X-Lite) to choose from and will see what works/what doesn't in our temps.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 8, 2016 15:05:53 GMT -8
The temp swing is why I inflate the pad nice and tight first thing as I set up camp, and just toss it into the shelter or under my sleeping bag and then immediately before I go to sleep I top it back off to compensate for that reduction in pressure due to the temperature being reduced.
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johnnyray
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Post by johnnyray on Jan 8, 2016 16:07:06 GMT -8
I have used just the RidgeRest down to -16 as my sleeping pad in the winter. Interesting, is this on snow or bare frozen ground? Are you using a sleeping bag or quilt?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 16:40:05 GMT -8
I have used just the RidgeRest down to -16 as my sleeping pad in the winter. Interesting, is this on snow or bare frozen ground? Are you using a sleeping bag or quilt? Snow, sleeping bag.
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johnnyray
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Post by johnnyray on Jan 8, 2016 17:13:10 GMT -8
I hope this doesn't sound stupid. This has me wondering how cold is snow? If the temp is -20 or +20 does it make the snow any colder? I've slept on cold ground and if there has been a prolonged period of extreme cold it does indeed make a difference.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 8, 2016 17:47:27 GMT -8
I hope this doesn't sound stupid. This has me wondering how cold is snow? If the temp is -20 or +20 does it make the snow any colder? I've slept on cold ground and if there has been a prolonged period of extreme cold it does indeed make a difference. I don't think it's stupid. Snow is an insulator, right? We build igloos to capture the warmth. I did not notice a significant difference in cold from below at -40 than I normally do at temps near freezing. Once again, I call upon the scientist geeks to explain this.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 8, 2016 19:07:15 GMT -8
Okay I can't resist. Pop quiz: why is snow white? Hint. The same reason Polar Bear fur is white. And in both cases that trapped air in the spaces between the material that's scattering light and reflecting it all as "white" acts just like the trapped air in a down sleeping bag. The matrices of interlocking spaces inhibit air movement and overall act as an insulator: very slowly transferring heat energy from the warmer side of things: sleeping bag interior, igloo interior or bear skin surface (which is black btw) to the cooler side: since that's the direction of net heat flow. The added benefit is water has a rather high heat capacity by weight, so the thermal lag of the physical material itself is good. The downside is melting snow absorbs s LOT of heat energy, so if you get in contact with snow and raise the temperature to or close to the melting point then huge heat loss as you melt the ice/snow is going to get you chilled fast. Which is why it's popular to cover a snow cave floor with closed cell foam. So at anything below +32 f the walls of the snow cave stay solid and insulate. And +32 is rather toasty versus -40 right? And since snow block walls don't flex under wind loads the air in the interior isn't pumped in and out like when tent walls flex in that bellows effect. The zoo where I learned that. animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/polar-bearBut sure snow in contact with, say, -20 air is going to chill to -20 over time, but the insulation effect means the interior of the snowpack will be warmer. Which both plants and animals take advantage of.
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snappypepper
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Post by snappypepper on Jan 9, 2016 19:47:24 GMT -8
I have a Pro-lite plus and a Ridgerest Solite and both are about equally comfortable/warm. I am a side sleeper (and stomach)also, and if I get another pad (the Ridgerest is technically my dog's pad, but I use it for winter camping when he's not with us), I would get the Neo Air Trekker. I think it would be more comfortable for the way I sleep, as my hips tend to get a little sore with either of the above pads from side sleeping. I'm only 5'1" and 120 lbs, so I can imagine a taller and/or heavier person would have the same issue. The Passage 2 tent is what we use, and while it's nice and light for the value, it would get pretty heavy if I were backpacking solo and couldn't split up common gear. Since it sounds like you'll be carrying all your gear yourself, you may want to consider going for the lightest pad that you think will work. You didn't mention budget, but if it's not of much concern, I'd get this for car camping: www.rei.com/product/812005/exped-mega-mat-10-sleeping-pad I tried it in the store, and it's insane. Plus, with REI's return policy, if you have any issues, it's an easy fix.
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Post by flyinion on Jan 9, 2016 20:06:26 GMT -8
Thanks, yes I have an older ridgerest and that style is just not comfortable for me (even when it was new and I was lighter). I'm currently 5'11" and about 230 (and working on getting that down still). I suspect I'll be around 215 or less (hopefully) once I actually go for my first trip in a few months. I know the tent isn't the lightest, but if I get to a point where I'm going to start doing long multi-day trips then I'll look into something lighter. If I know bugs/weather are going to be good I can always just take it in the fly/footprint config and leave the actual tent home. I'm definitely looking for light pads for backpacking though.
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snappypepper
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Post by snappypepper on Jan 9, 2016 20:22:00 GMT -8
I hope it didn't sound like I was picking on your tent! We love it, and it truly is the lightest, nicest tent anywhere close to it's price range! I just know how much all the little things start to add pounds to your pack, so a few ounces (as someone pointed out earlier) can become a real PITA over miles. If you don't find the ridgerest comfortable, then I don't think the Prolite will be any different for you, I really don't prefer one over the other, they both are about the same comfort level. The nice thing about a pad with a higher R value, is you might (depending on other factors) get away with a lighter sleeping bag to help offset the weight.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 9, 2016 21:42:15 GMT -8
I'm just going to chime in here: as I've aged, I've had to get thicker and thicker pads. I'm a side sleeper, so that doesn't help--a thin pad can put real pressure on the hip bones. For cushioning comfort, I love my NeoAir (one of the originals). But it's not insulated, and when temps drop into the 20s and teens, I have to layer in some clothes or something. I use a 32-degree bag, so obviously that contributes. And, as I discovered a couple years ago when I did a trip without my spouse, I do depend to some degree on being able to back up to him for extra warmth. That mostly has to do with the bag, but the pad matters. I am considering carrying a closed-cell sit-pad that could at least add some insulation under my core.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Jan 10, 2016 6:31:28 GMT -8
I have a Pro-lite plus and a Ridgerest Solite and both are about equally comfortable/warm. I think that's only because you're so light (the "equally comfortable" part.) My son was the same way when he was smaller and actually preferred the Z-Lite over any of the inflatables. I love my Prolite plus but tried sleeping on the Z-lite recently... no way.
IMO, the X-Lite is a really good place to start. 16oz for the 25" wide size, R-value 3.2. Pairs well with a 20deg bag as a first 3-season sleep system.
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