jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Mar 20, 2022 14:43:01 GMT -8
The bane of my existence. I have a hike coming up soon and I started putting gear and food together this weekend and, basically, my problem is that I'm (a) getting old, and (b) too wide. Getting older has meant that I'm sleeping colder and need more cushion to be comfortable. In the past 10 years, I've gone from a 1" Prolite to a 1.5" Prolite Plus to a 2" air-mattress to a 3" air-mattress. When the pad was only an inch thick, it didn't matter so much if my arms, feet spilled over it a bit, but at 3", it's sort of like falling out of bed. Backpacking gear manufacturers apparently feel that ALL 5'2" women should fit neatly on a 20" wide plank. I haven't been able to find any short pads (i.e., the 66" lengths that they usually label "women's") that also come in a "wide" version. There are some that make a "women's large" size, but those are actually 72" long. Gave up and got a cush rectangular wide pad -- one of the new Exped "Ultra's". It's a 6 oz penalty that I can't really afford (see (a) above) but at least I should sleep well.  |
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Post by cweston on Mar 21, 2022 8:02:57 GMT -8
Just a thought: have you looked at Sea-to-Summit air pads? Maybe they're not insulated enough for your requirements for shoulder seasons, but for summer, maybe? One thing I do like about them is that they are thinner than most inflatables. If you inflate it pretty firm, it stills holds you off the ground, but you don't have that "like falling out of the bed" feeling that you get with 3" tall pads. The etherlight might be of interest to you. The regular women's size is 22" wide, so at least slightly wider than 20". I use the ultralight insulated, which is a little more lightly insulated (R 3.1, vs 3.5 for the etherlight). I really like it down to around 30 deg, but I'm a fairly warm sleeper. seatosummit.com/products/ether-light-xt-insulated-womens-sleeping-pad?variant=12324935139431 |
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Mar 21, 2022 10:14:09 GMT -8
Just a thought: have you looked at Sea-to-Summit air pads? Yeah, I have. I have the ultralite insulated (mummy) one, probably exactly what you have since I don't think the women's version was an option when I got it. It's the bright orange one. At the time, it was the perfect pad and worth the 4oz hit over my Neoair. But now, it's just not quite thick enough. If I inflate it enough so that my shoulder/hip don't bottom out, I toss and turn all night and wake up kind of sore all over. I think that's my arthritis talking. The 3" pads are better but I need the width to go with the height. I did see the Ether Light pads but I guess I'm a little wary about these new pads that use these too-light-to-be-real materials, but maybe it's worth doing a little more research. I would still try to get the wide (25") version though. I think my downfall was getting one of the Exped megamats for paddling/car camping and realizing how much better I sleep on those. |
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Post by trinity on Mar 21, 2022 11:08:30 GMT -8
Gave up and got a cush rectangular wide pad -- one of the new Exped "Ultra's". Post up a review once you have a few nights on it. Looks nice, and a good night's sleep is well worth a few extra ounces. The bane of my existence. I hate to be that guy offering unsolicited advice, but if sleeping pads are the bane of your existence, you might look into hammocks. I'm sure you've already thought of that, but just in case.... |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Mar 21, 2022 11:36:03 GMT -8
I hate to be that guy offering unsolicited advice, Her closest trip has little in the way of hammock friendly campsites. Think rock and brush. |
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swiftdream
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the Great Southwest Unbound
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Post by swiftdream on Mar 21, 2022 14:39:06 GMT -8
A wide, thick Exped is the absolute most comfortable pad I’ve ever used. Mine was a bit heavier too. The new version sounds nice.
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rangewalker
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Post by rangewalker on Mar 21, 2022 19:19:12 GMT -8
I haven't been able to find any short pads (i.e., the 66" lengths that they usually label "women's") that also come in a "wide" version. There are some that make a "women's large" size, but those are actually 72" long. It is ridiculous. I have for years tried to get a short (52"-62") inflatable at 2" or better loft to work with my fastpacking bivy sacks. The mummy-shaped woman's petites are not even 20" wide on a hot day. My next frustration is getting a regular wide with a decent R-value for my winter camping. My Black Diamond First Light four-season UL tent is minimalist and will only take a 72 long regular length. I had to cut the winter CCF pad down from 78" long to fit. Right now I am still using an older Exped Synmat regular. It is a champ but like packing a canoe. I had the same journey to pad perdition. Teen years in the late 60's, pre-ensolite, was wobblies or poncho liners. Now to clown balloons for $230 US. What I am seeing on all the brands, Uberlite and the clones, is the limits of the tech are upon us. edited 3/22 |
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Mar 21, 2022 21:02:26 GMT -8
I hate to be that guy offering unsolicited advice, but if sleeping pads are the bane of your existence, you might look into hammocks. I'm sure you've already thought of that, but just in case.... I have, but I would still need a non-hammock solution since I'm usually somewhere in the desert southwest once or twice a year. I also just got my gear problem under control... :D |
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Post by trinity on Mar 22, 2022 5:25:20 GMT -8
I also just got my gear problem under control... :D  |
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Post by Coolkat on Mar 22, 2022 6:23:26 GMT -8
All this talk about sleeping pads again has gotten me looking at them again. I have an unused REI gift card and a couple of bucks in REI dividend. I've only once used a blow up pad but it was a really cheap knock-off (from amazon). My current ridgerest is 14oz with a 3.2r value. My current hesitation is trusting them to not get a hole & most of the time they are a full 8oz heavier.
However, everyone here seems to like them so I wills start investigating again.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Mar 22, 2022 6:37:06 GMT -8
Coolkat neo air in a Regular Wide (72 x 25) weighs 15 oz. R value of 4.2 Main drawback is they can be noisy if inflated too much. Seems to only bother those close by, not the one using it.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Mar 22, 2022 6:57:57 GMT -8
Boy, do I share jazzmom’s problem! I’d love even my old 42” pad in a 25” width. I ended up getting an XL Nemo for car-camping, but at well over a pound it’s not for backpacking. My solution there was a NeoAir women’s, which would be a whole lot better if it were just a rectangle instead of tapering. That taper isn’t great for side-sleepers. Here’s the pad I want: 60” long, 25” wide. 3” thick. R-value 4+. Weight under 14 oz. Based on the stats for my NeoAir, it’s completely doable. It’s just not being made because… I’m not really sure. Have the makers not gotten the message that many backpackers are aging? |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Mar 22, 2022 8:23:45 GMT -8
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Post by leadbelly on Mar 23, 2022 6:10:29 GMT -8
Neo air xtherm, winter pad, maybe. not much different from what you're already using.
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rangewalker
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Post by rangewalker on Mar 23, 2022 7:08:00 GMT -8
zeke : I have a Nemo Tensor Ultralight Regular and it is a favorite summer pad. Rectangular. Uninsulated. I swear, if possible, to have a negative R-value. I find it works like a radiator. Some sweltering summer nights I slept on it with a liner on top and it was great. Couple it with a hip or full-length CCF pad and it will go lower temps and be more pokey proof. Wide model won't fit my bivy sack. I do wish as in my comment above, it came in a short-short 50-54".
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