zeke
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Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,869
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Post by zeke on Nov 12, 2020 8:34:48 GMT -8
The main reason I was asking is I'm thinking about buying a pad for my 9 year old (who's not really into camping) A $10 closed cell pad will work fine for the 9 yr old. Typically blue, but may be green. ETA: Check in on the Hiking With Kids section. may be able to find other tidbits of experience, possibly cheap used gear.
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Post by cweston on Nov 12, 2020 8:38:10 GMT -8
The main reason I was asking is I'm thinking about buying a pad for my 9 year old (who's not really into camping) and was trying to decide if I just wanted a second regular length pad OR go with a small pad and have the option to go with a lighter setup if desirable. What Zeke said. But also, my son needing some gear has been one of my primary rationalizations for buying new things for myself (and passing down my old gear to him). But he's nearly 30 and fully financially independent, so I guess that line of reasoning has pretty-well run its course for me :(
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markskor
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Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
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Post by markskor on Nov 12, 2020 11:09:32 GMT -8
Have been using a Thermarest Prolite+ shorty pad for the last 15 or so years...works fine for me Sierra. BTW, I also carry a CC blue pad...cut down to about 48" long. The Prolite+ is sturdy, reasonably light, has a great R-value...shoulders to knees...the blue pad is for under my feet at night or, can be used outside as a sitting pad.
Advantages for me: The deflated blow-up pad rolled up inside the CC pad - all carried external, horizintal, lashed to the bottom of my Gregory 60 liter pack. This keeps the thermarest pad (when moving along) safe, rolled up "inside" the blue pad...the "roll" makes a nice seat too when on trail breaks. BTW, the thermarest (much like my WM bag) never comes out unless inside the tent... This 2-pad, external-carry configuration gives me more room inside my backpack, especially helpful for a bearcan and/or on extended fishing trips.
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Post by cheaptentguy on Nov 12, 2020 17:03:00 GMT -8
The main reason I was asking is I'm thinking about buying a pad for my 9 year old (who's not really into camping) and was trying to decide if I just wanted a second regular length pad OR go with a small pad and have the option to go with a lighter setup if desirable. What Zeke said. But also, my son needing some gear has been one of my primary rationalizations for buying new things for myself (and passing down my old gear to him). But he's nearly 30 and fully financially independent, so I guess that line of reasoning has pretty-well run its course for me :( Yeah, eyeing my oldest daughter's 16th birthday. She's going to need a car, right?
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 12, 2020 18:52:00 GMT -8
Yeah, eyeing my oldest daughter's 16th birthday. She's going to need a car, right? Nope. Turning 16 does not mean you get a car. Of course, if you WANT her to have a car, and you need an excuse for a new car, go ahead. At 21 and 23, my boys declined my offer to give one of them the old Prius when I bought the new one. And they hadn’t even looked up how much it would cost to license and insure!
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jazzmom
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a.k.a. TigerFan
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Post by jazzmom on Nov 13, 2020 5:22:18 GMT -8
The main reason I was asking is I'm thinking about buying a pad for my 9 year old (who's not really into camping) and was trying to decide if I just wanted a second regular length pad OR go with a small pad and have the option to go with a lighter setup if desirable. My son used a Thermarest ZLite for camping/backpacking until he was in high school. The "egg carton" design is more comfortable than the straight closed foam but is as light/compact. I still use it for picnics as a sit pad/table. Definitely have gotten $35 worth of use.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Nov 13, 2020 5:58:23 GMT -8
The REI sale is on now with 20-25% (some pads, Thermarest NeoAir) off. Might be worth looking at.
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rangewalker
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Agitate, organize and educate.
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Post by rangewalker on Nov 14, 2020 17:27:52 GMT -8
Anyone here use a short sleeping pad setup, like in combination with a backpack or sitting pad? If so, pros and cons? I have a Z-Rest Sol cut down to 52" that I use a seat pad (on bear canister) and in winter for a sit or lay back pad hiking or cross country skiing. It has also found its way on some of my Wyoming Spring-Fall trips now to back up my Tensor inflatable pad that has no insulation. I am two decades now past getting by with just a CCF pad or even a foam self-inflation pads like the Pro-Lite. I always thought there was some cool in the ThermaRest chair kits that supposedly worked with their pads, but never bought one. Too much a gram weiner. I tried getting by with a slim short Neo_Air in a bivy sack but my experience in the confines of OR Highland bivy was like Westy . I always work up off of it and mad. It wound up on Backpacker Flea Market. Putting feet on top a pack to compensate for a short pad never worked for me either. My body demands a full suspension pack with frame or frame sheet and contoured hip belt. I also need a full length pad as in the March the night air temp my be in the 40's but the frost may still be coming up to surface.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Nov 15, 2020 15:22:49 GMT -8
I've done it in my hammock in the warmer months, but mostly use a 50 degree underquilt. I tried it on the ground. When on my side with my feet pulled up slightly it worked just fine. When stretching out it was a bit annoying to have my feet tangled in my jacket.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2020 16:50:42 GMT -8
No. Full length wide Exped UL inflatable pad. Fold it flat to fit inside my pack. One of the best investments I've made. I don't roll off of it, feet stay off the ground and I sleep like a baby. Well worth what some might think of as a 'weight penalty'. I tried short and 3/4 length pads. Just would not cut it as far as comfort is concerned. I'll save weight elsewhere.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Dec 5, 2020 18:14:03 GMT -8
I too need a long and extra wide mattress, but I favor Neoairs (I have really old ones.) Most of the time I succeed in keeping my arms clenched to my sides all night. For years now, I've thought there was an invention lurking inside this particular problem. Maybe a light strap with padded wrist straps at either end, and a way to keep it centered? Velcro? At 21 and 23, my boys declined my offer to give one of them the old Prius when I bought the new one. And they hadn’t even looked up how much it would cost to license and insure! I have read that there are people out there who drive Teslas, but only after adding a controllable accessory that produces the sound of an engine and exhaust. Maybe you should have had a shop add flames over the body paint and "straight pipes" on the engine exhaust? I've done it in my hammock in the warmer months, but mostly use a 50 degree underquilt. I tried it on the ground. When on my side with my feet pulled up slightly it worked just fine. When stretching out it was a bit annoying to have my feet tangled in my jacket. Oh, come on! You're just trying to get on "Out of Context"!
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 5, 2020 18:20:44 GMT -8
gabby, I should have made it clear that my boys didn’t want *any* car. Bikes do the job, and are better for the planet. We trained them well
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Post by cheaptentguy on Dec 7, 2020 19:13:48 GMT -8
I wish that were the case where we lived. A life goal is to eventually live in a situation where I don't rely on a car to do daily business.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Dec 7, 2020 23:25:30 GMT -8
I wish that were the case where we lived. A life goal is to eventually live in a situation where I don't rely on a car to do daily business. That would be greatly facilitated if we didn't do city/suburb design the way we do. Integration of neighborhoods in suburbs would go a long way toward making our lives less dependent on ICE vehicles, but I suspect nothing like this will ever come to pass as long as we remain largely uninformed and incurious. Christopher Alexander had some interesting things to say about this in his books on human-centered design - I was exposed to him while taking a course in computer program design, strangely enough.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 8, 2020 8:58:51 GMT -8
I wish that were the case where we lived. A life goal is to eventually live in a situation where I don't rely on a car to do daily business. Second Son is pretty committed to urban living, and pretty willing to ride where he has to, which not suprisingly scares the crap out of me if I think about it too much. Eldest Son likes less urban places, but a small city like Boulder suits him—and in Boulder, I don’t have to worry about him being on the streets much, thanks to an amazing system of bike paths. Fortunately, they don’t seem to have been traumatized about biking the same way I am. ETA: to return this to the original topic, ES is fine with a short pad, being slightly shorter than I am. SS is up at 5’10” or more, and is leaning towards full-length.
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