Touring - Big, thick sleeping pad

I saw a link to a big, thick sleeping pad, but now I can't find it. This thing was made from the egg crate stuff and the reviews said it was too big for backpacking, even though it is sold as a backpacking pad, but I am looking for one anyway. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Thanks.

Like this? (http://www.trunkoutlet.com/categories/7-bed-bath-and-bunk/products/48-egg-crate-foam-mattress-pad)...very bulky.

Like this? (http://www.trunkoutlet.com/categories/7-bed-bath-and-bunk/products/48-egg-crate-foam-mattress-pad)...very bulky.

Similar to that, but this one rolled up like a regular camping pad. In fact it is made for camping.

I have never used one, but have seen them. I am told that they take forever to dry if they get wet, so be careful to keep them dry.

I think they used to be more common for backpacking than they are now.

I've not tried one yet, but I'm told the self inflating down pads are great!

Like this one....

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442629244&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302701679&bmUID=1244582587810

It's good practice to use a "closed cell" foam mat, to avoid wicking moisture into or through the mat. I'd avoid a mat like you are describing.

I saw a link to a big, thick sleeping pad, but now I can't find it. This thing was made from the egg crate stuff and the reviews said it was too big for backpacking, even though it is sold as a backpacking pad, but I am looking for one anyway. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Thanks.

From Cabela's:

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_517409_imageset_01?$main-Medium$

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0013098517409a.shtml

Walmart also sells something similar to this for about $13. Walmart's version is 24" wide and less pronounced egg crate design -- not to be confused with their $6 version that has no egg crate bumps and is only 20" wide. I have the walmart version and it is certainly light enough for hiking/biking trips.

These are not egg crate, but are really comfortable!


http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/783024

I saw an egg crate style mat at wal-mart the other day for about 15 bucks. It was in with the sleeping bags.

Like was mentioned above. They will soak up water like crazy. That is why the better pads are closed cell material. You just wipe them off and your good to go. They don't soak up water if they get wet. As long as you keep them dry you should be good though.

Just keep it in mind.

I've not tried one yet, but I'm told the self inflating down pads are great!

Like this one....

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442629244&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302701679&bmUID=1244582587810


I have one of the above - it's great, but it's not "self-inflating".

I've not tried one yet, but I'm told the self inflating down pads are great!

Like this one....

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442629244&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302701679&bmUID=1244582587810

It's good practice to use a "closed cell" foam mat, to avoid wicking moisture into or through the mat. I'd avoid a mat like you are describing.


I have one of the above - it's great, but it's not "self-inflating".

I also have an Exped (http://www.rei.com/product/780368?cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-780368&mr:trackingCode=D83FD5C0-521A-DE11-B4E3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA), considerably more expensive than the egg crate style, but it's thick and wide and packs small (2.8"x 26")...and has a lifetime warranty.

for bike touring, check out the new Cascade Designs Thermarest, the Neo-Air.

2 3/4 inches thick, weighs under a pound! and rolls up to the size of a 1 liter bottle.

for bike touring, check out the new Cascade Designs Thermarest, the Neo-Air.

2 3/4 inches thick, weighs under a pound! and rolls up to the size of a 1 liter bottle.

+1 I used one on my recent tour and loved it!

for bike touring, check out the new Cascade Designs Thermarest, the Neo-Air.

2 3/4 inches thick, weighs under a pound! and rolls up to the size of a 1 liter bottle.

Finding those suckers in stock has been a real problem. I guess I should do a search and see if that has changed. My prolite 4 is getting a little long in the tooth and this pad looks sweet. Resist..... resist.

Thermarest (or clone) is still the best.

Big Agnes insulated air mattress type next in comfort (packability advantage over thermarest).

Ensolite was king back in the 70s and early 80s. Till Thermarest came along.

Ensolite and other closed cell and open cell foam types are the least comfortable and least insulating. If you've used both you'd not give foam a seconds thought, move directly to Therma or other.

Finding those suckers in stock has been a real problem. I guess I should do a search and see if that has changed. My prolite 4 is getting a little long in the tooth and this pad looks sweet. Resist..... resist.

yeah, the question is - do i really need a better pad than the prolite? I think there's no end to 'improved' gear and i try to resist new just because it's 'better' - but the new 6 ounce Marmot rainjackets are really tempting! resist, resist

Being a beta tester for all these sporting goods companies is an expensive and often frustrating experience. I prefer to wait till they're on generation 2 or 3 of product X.

I have a 1999 Therma Ultralite @15.9 oz, I hardly ever use it as I'd rather lug an extra pound and sleep better. Maybe if I was making an assault on Whitney I'd use it, but for carrying on a bike I find it easy to choose more comfort.

yeah, the question is - do i really need a better pad than the prolite? I think there's no end to 'improved' gear and i try to resist new just because it's 'better' - but the new 6 ounce Marmot rainjackets are really tempting! resist, resist
I think that when it is more comfortable, packs much smaller, and is much lighter it is hard to pass on, so I sprung for the NeoAir. I suspect prices will come down when production catches up with demand. I will pass on the Marmot Rain Jacket though.

Thermarest (or clone) is still the best.
That is not very useful statement since they make a wide variety of pads including the self inflating ones (like the Prolite 4), the new NeoAir inflatable, and a few different foam ones. I agree that they all tend to be good for what they are though.

All in all I think the Prolite 4 is excellent, but the NeoAir is even better for 3 season use and maybe even better for winter use if combined with one of the foam thermarests like the Z-Lite. The unknown at this point is the durability of the NeoAir since it has not been out long enough to be sure how it will hold up, but it appears to be made of durable material.

I used to think the Therma-rest air mattresses were so great, I don't think so anymore.

Quality closed cell foam is bulky, but I find it more comfortable, and will never fail. The key is "qaulity" closed cell foam, not the walmart pads.