Sleeping Padsby Michael M
A good night's rest is a key ingredient for enjoyment of the outdoors. Whether you are car-camping, backpacking, kayaking or engaged in some other activity that requires you to sleep on the ground a good sleeping pad can make the difference between a sleepless night and a sound sleep.
Sleeping pads come in a wide variety of makes and styles: air mattresses, closed cell foam pads, rigid mats and inflatable foam mattresses. Choosing the one that is right for you is a matter of matching your physiology with the activities you engage in while keeping your budget in mind.
At the bottom of the list is the traditional air mattress. These are bulky, weighty, prone to damage and do not provide a good insulating layer between you and the ground.
Next is the closed cell "blue foam" pads. While virtually immune to damage and easy to stow on the outside of a pack these provide relatively poor insulation between you and the ground. They are, however, among the cheapest of the options.
Evazote? pads are superior to "blue foam" as they provide up to 34% more insulation. Both blue foam and Evazote are somewhat bulky and are probably best attached to the outside of your pack.
Another option is rigid mats. These typically fold up accordion style for packing and are made of closed cell polyethylene. They are designed to trap warm air and so are warmer than their ratings might suggest. These pads compete favorably in terms of price and warmth with Evazote.
A step up from rigid mats are inflatable foam mattresses. These include the "Thermarest"? brand. Luxury models can offer over 300% greater insulating values when compared to "blue foam" pads. While the most expensive and heaviest of the options these pads have become standard equipment for many backpackers. When deflated these pads can often be carried inside one's pack or strapped to the side.
Air core pads are the top of the line for comfort and insulation. On our recent trip to New Zealand we spent 43 nights sleeping on insulated air core pads, including 28 consecutive nights. This is something we would not have been able to do with the other pad options. Currently the major drawback of air core pads is that, for the most part, they are not self-inflating and some do not have pumps. This makes them less than ideal if you are changing camp often. They are also somewhat heavier than the other options.
When deciding what pad is right for you your physiology, stature and anticipated uses play the key factors. If you are a cold sleeper you will need a pad with greater insulating value. This also can determine whether or not you should opt for a 3/4 length or full length pad. The full size will keep your feet and lower legs warmer but many people opt to wear socks and/or put clothes under their feet. (Note: If you anticipate ever having to camp on snow opt for the full-length pad). Stature comes into the equation only in terms of needing to save weight when backpacking. For people who need to watch every ounce there are ultra light models and 3/4 length. The choice of these can cut the weight by up to 700 grams (although a figure of 300 is more realistic) at a sacrifice of approximately 40% of the insulating value.
If your activities do not include backpacking then weight is typically not a factor and you can opt for a thicker (and heavier) pad or even combine two pads for superior performance.