pamaguahiker 

Looking for recommendations for a lightweight sleeping pad that can compact down relatively small. After a few extra s240s this summer, I am learning that i am not quite as young and where i would sleep on the ground in a bag in the past...i ache everywhere. So please share any recommendations. Thanks

Rifleman

Thermarest NeoAir 47x20x2in.fold up size,3x10in.weight 11oz.i paid $130 a couple years ago.


Kevin

dellwilson

On a recent backpacking trip, I took a Klymit Inertia X-Wave. It is about 12oz and about the size of a Coke can. For reference, I used my Marmot Nanowave 45deg bag and supplemented it with a Sea-to-Summit Reactor liner. We had nights as low as 35F. The X-Wave is trunk size, so I found I had to put my backpack under my lower legs because the ground really soaked through the bag and liner. As long as I did not let my legs lay on the ground, I was comfortable in underwear only down to 45F. In retrospect, I'll probably go with a Klymit O-Zone next time. It is thicker, full-length, and doesn't add much weight above the Inertia X-Wave.

Depending on your style of travel, you don't necessarily need to squeeze down quite as much as a backpack so more luxurious pads might be ok. On my last bike tour, I took a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Trekker. I think next bike tour or backpacking tour, I'll probably go with the O-Zone.

Blog post on my experience with the Klymit X-Wave here.

pamaguahiker 

Kevin, that definitely meets my requirements! I use a kelty lightweight sleeping bag that compacts down very tightly. When it gets a bit colder i have a SOL foil blanket. That think compacts down so small, it's amazing. So if it chills down, i place that overtop of my kelty. The only thing missing was a compact sleeping pad. Thanks for the feedback. It might take some saving on this one but, i think it will be worth it. Looking forward to any other recommendations too.

pamaguahiker 

Thanks for the share. i have looked at a few of the Klymit types. They seem nice. I have found dual purposes for some items. I have a windbreaker that i had made back when i was making some clothing that compact down tightly and when doing bike camping. i take some clothing items, shove them inside the windbreaker pocket and it serves nicely as a pillow. Which was my original intention back when i first designed the windbreaker.

Just a sidebar on your blog. I strap my crocs to the top of my bags and panniers because i use them for camp shoes. They are huge at size 13, and take up space. So i just strap them on the top. They're worth taking!

Tourist in MSN

I have used several different models of Thermarest short 3/4 length pads. Was happy with all of them.

Bike touring, I usually can get by with the thinnest ones (1 to 1.5 inch) because I was usually in formal campgrounds where the ground was reasonably level and flat. I prefer the short ones because my feet really do not need as much padding as everything else needs. Thus, I did not want to carry the extra weight and volume of a full length pad

Wilderness camping where the ground was more lumpy, I prefer a thicker pad (1.5 to 2 inch).

Last bike tour I used an air mattress of REI brand but a model that they no longer list on their website. (I think it was the Stratus?) It was 2.5 inches thick, full length. I liked it a lot - but it took more time to roll up to get all the air out of it than the Thermarest pads I used in the past. Maybe an extra 5 to 10 minutes to roll it up to be really compact. It was heavier than the Thermarest pads but when I did get all the air out of it, it was more compact in the panniers than the Thermarest pads.

I usually use a down sleeping bag, they have very little padding. If I use a synthetic bag that is rated for 20 degrees or colder, I can reduce my pad thickness by maybe a half inch since these bags have more padding. But if I sleep on snow, I need a thicker pad for extra insulation since my winter camping bags are down.

TGT1

Haven't done any bike tours yet, but decades of mountaineering with the same kind of weight volume restrictions.

The 1" X 3/4 length Thermarests are plenty adequate even on snow, but get a piece of 1/2" insullite foam about 16" square (Cut off a piece of a roll type pad)
Put that under your heels for sleeping, use it for a place to sit especially if it's cold or wet, and use it to pad the sharp or fragile objects in a pack or pannier.

dellwilson

I agree 100%. I have Crocs sandals and carry them in my "wet" pannier (where the tent goes) for bike touring. For that backpacking trip, I was whittling down the packing list and the didn't make the cut due to volume. That was a mistake that I won't make again.

TGT1

Aquasocks work great too and are a bit lighter and totally enclosed. (the cheap off brand ones weigh a ton!) If you stick some thin (black) Superfeet insoles in them you can walk around all day in them if need be.

Doug64

My wife, our 2 daughters and I all use Therm-a-rest ProLite Plus pads. We use them year around for summer and winter camping. If I really want to go light on a short trip, I'll use my 3/4 length Therm-a-rest. However, on longer trips good sleep is very important.

They are a good compromise between weight, comfort and price. If you do not need the 4 season capability, the regular ProLite is considerably lighter.

Winter camping


My wife's secret method of compressing a Therm-a-rest.

bwgride

Off-topic suggestion -- I ached too from ground sleeping then I moved to a hammock. Maybe that could help with your aches. Here's an image of my hammock and tarp from a trip two weeks ago.

Teleman73

I second the neo-air. I have one because I sleep upwards of 100 nights a year in a tent and I think its more comfortable than my mattress at home, yet packs down smaller than any other pad on the market.

veganbikes

When I am not sleeping like a baby in my hammock I would rest on a Therm-A-Rest. I have a Big Agnes currently but it has the tacoing effect and I want to upgrade and every T-A-R I have tested is always super comfortable and generally light (unless going for a dream or mondo king type) I actually had a Z-lite which is their folding foam pad and while not exactly what I wanted was quite nice

The X-Lite is small, light and easily inflated with their pump sack. The X-Therm is a touch heavier but can handle colder temps and the Trekker is decently light but lower price point model. Plus if you aren't as worried about having a mat for your legs and feet you can go with a shorter version and save space and weight that way.

The Therm-A-Rest's don't have the taco effect and are supremely durable. I had a customer who has one from the 70s that still is working just fine (and the dude is over 200lbs) the only problem he encountered was the cover that they used to use separated. I have talked with other folks who have older models that are still kicking and the T-A-R reps frequently talk about old ones they have or that the founders still use.

Everyone should use a sleeping pad, not only for back comfort but because heat is lost easily through the ground. The whole temp rating on sleeping bags is with a pad and not just the bag alone because the insulation is compressed at the bottom.

N00b_biker

I would reccomend the klymit static V2, it is a full coverage pad that packs down quite small and is great for a side sleeper like me, however the pad has no insulation so its not great for cold nights. Static V2 - Klymit only $60 to!

pamaguahiker 

I use an ENO hammock as well. I just recently tried the tent and ground because i mix it up on occasion. I def sleep better in my hammock. But I know once my wife joins me for the the camping/touring. I will have to get comfortable on the ground to keep the peace.

Tourist in MSN

A side note: If you get a thermarest, store it inflated. I know several people that have stored them rolled up and a year later they found that they did not self-inflate very well. I have several thermarests fully inflated right now that are standing up behind my bedroom door where I store them. I also blow a puff of air into them when I store them so they are slightly over-inflated.

MichaelW

+1. I stash my "sitmat" on the rear rack.

BigAura

Therm-a-rest NeoAir mine might be newer than the earlier post:

72 x 20 x 2.5, 12 ounces, 4x9 rolled.

Lightweight, compact, and very comfy. The only negative is price.

fietsbob

Exped Mats | Exped USA .. down insulated folds and rolls quite small ..


thicker the better , then ..

Booger1

I use a Exped Synmat and pillow pump....Love both.....Had an issue with the pillow,after about a year it got 100's of tiny holes.....Exped replaced it without question....Happy.

surfjimc

Like you, I find sleeping on a thin mat on the ground leaves me hurting. I went with an Exped downmat light. It isn't the smallest packing, nor the lightest, but it is very comfortable and I sleep well on it. I guess we each have to decide what is the best trade-off between weight, size and comfort. For me the downmat is the perfect combination. My goal was to keep tent, sleeping bag and pad under 10lbs. Right now it is at 8lbs, and is comfortable for any conditions I plan on encountering touring or backpacking.

irwin7638

I recently start using the Thermarest Trail Pro self-inflating. I think it's awesome, I hadn't expected to deflate and fold as effectively as it does.

Marc

staehpj1

+1 Great pad IMO. If you are OK with less than full length it will be even lighter and pack smaller. I splurge and use the Xlite 72x20 neoair.

Aushiker

Another comment on the Exped mats, in my case an Exped Synmat UL 7S. I have mixed feelings on the mat; when it is working as intended it is great, but when it is failing it is not so great and having had it fail on tour (and then get multiple holes later on) the jury is out for me. I am still using mine having been able to fix it the last time, but it now gets used in combination with a length of Aortha EVA Very Low Density 3 mm foam to improve its durability which does defeat the purpose of a having a lightweight compact mat.

It packs down small but ...



Andrew

Miles2go

Another Exped Fan. I do a lot of backpacking, search and rescue and touring and mine (one down and one regular) have been trouble free. One of those companies which remains a joy to work with, after the purchase, from everything I've heard. NeoAirs are really popular too but when I last shared a space with someone using one, I was wishing she had a quieter sleeping pad. Light though!