Questions tagged [sleeping-pads]

Questions about sleeping pads

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1 answer
766 views

self-inflatable mat damaged valve socket where to get replacement [closed]

I am looking for this plastic base cs I lost it for my self inflatable mat here is just valve https://www.openair.co.uk/camping-c11/thermarest-therm-a-rest-winglock-valve-repair-kit-p6229/s48371?cid=...
  • 9
5 votes
2 answers
320 views

Is Sleeping Pad R-Value Misleading for Winter Camping?

Most of the advice I see on sleeping pads is along the lines of "for cold weather, get a sleeping pad with an R-value of 5+." I've also read that R-value is additive—that is, if you stack ...
  • 721
3 votes
1 answer
272 views

How much air pressure are you supposed to apply to a sleeping mat?

I've purchased this air mattress and inflated it to the best of my abilities with my mouth. But it was still a bit soft and you could touch the ground if you put too much pressure on one section (it ...
  • 2,829
3 votes
1 answer
149 views

Design of a customized sleeping pad

I want to make a custom sleeping pad to fit a non-rectangular footprint. I have 3.5” - 4” of thickness to work with. Are there any guidelines/suggestions on what foam or combination of foams and their ...
  • 133
12 votes
4 answers
4k views

Sleeping pad slightly wider than tent?

I use the Jack Wolfskin ExoLight I tent, which is (by its official specs) only 60 cm wide inside. I'm looking to buy a colder-weather self-inflating sleeping pad to extend the season in the spring and ...
  • 229
3 votes
1 answer
511 views

How to remove leaking patch

I attempted to patch a leak on my air mattress using pieces of an old mattress and super glue. It didn't hold still leaking air but in my effort to fix leak I probably got 3 separate patches and an ...
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3 votes
3 answers
526 views

What temperature rating of sleeping bag, season of tent and R value of a pad are needed for autumn camping in Norway?

I'm currently planning a trekking trip in the north of Norway in September/early October. Because most of my current gear is way to heavy or only for hot weather I'm buying a new set of camping ...
6 votes
1 answer
200 views

Are sleeping system R-ratings additive? [duplicate]

When buying a sleep system it is important to consider the R-rating, referring to the thermal resistance of the product(s) and how that compares to the conditions that one will use them in. Some ...
  • 203
7 votes
1 answer
3k views

How can I fix an airbed valve that pops open?

I have an old six-reed inflatable camping mattress -- one of the ones with six long parallel chambers that you inflate with lung power. It looks similar to this one. The chambers are sealed with the ...
  • 3,742
14 votes
5 answers
2k views

Is there a simple at-home test to objectively measure the insulating value of a sleeping pad?

Does anyone know of a reasonably simple means of using household items to objectively measure the insulating value of a sleeping pad, in a way that accurately predicts that aspect of performance in ...
  • 3,486
12 votes
4 answers
3k views

Self inflatable mats: the more air, the more comfortable?

I always read that if a self inflatable mat feels too hard we should blow extra air in it (with the mouth) to make it softer, more comfortable. My 7.5cm thick Vango Adventure feels way too hard after ...
  • 223
8 votes
1 answer
561 views

Do self-inflating sleeping pads have to be kept dry during trips?

Context: I'm planning to take my self-inflating sleeping pad on a bike trip this year. The bike doesn't have any mounting points for a rack, so space is somewhat limited. Currently, my plan is to ...
  • 4,437
10 votes
3 answers
4k views

What is a good R value for a four-season sleeping pad?

I've been a Boy Scout for seven years now, and as I'm moving from high school to college I'd like to get into solo backpacking. I live in the lower peninsula of the state of Michigan. I don't foresee ...
  • 275
5 votes
3 answers
656 views

Down inside of a sleeping pad does it make a difference?

Several years ago I purchased an Exped down filled inflatable sleeping pad. It is a more comfortable pad than Thermarest pads I've used in the past, so I would still recommend it. That being said, ...
  • 9,628
10 votes
4 answers
5k views

How much of a temperature difference does a reflective sleeping pad make?

There are foam sleeping pads with a reflective surface on one side like this one with instructions to use the reflective side for maximum warmth. I don't doubt that it is warmer, but I do wonder by ...
14 votes
6 answers
10k views

What are the pros and cons of air pads vs foam pads for backpacking?

Backpacking sleeping pads come in two basic types, foam and air, with some of the air pads being self-inflating. What are the pros and cons of each and how would one decide which type to get?
3 votes
1 answer
387 views

What should go in an inflatable sleeping pad repair kit?

While backpacking with an inflatable or self-inflating sleeping pad one runs the risk of getting holes in it. This does happen fairly frequently, and while they do make kits, I would like to know ...
8 votes
4 answers
783 views

How to repurpose an old self inflating sleeping pad?

I have some damaged-beyond-repair self inflating sleeping pads. On one the hard gel housing the valve has completely disintegrated so it cannot be inflated at all. Two others have dozens of tiny ...
  • 4,003
7 votes
2 answers
360 views

Choosing a sleeping pad for camping

I currently own the most basic closed cell sleeping pad that one could buy. I'd like to upgrade to a better self inflating pad. I've narrowed it down to about two options: REI AirRail 1.5 REI Trekker ...
7 votes
5 answers
2k views

How can I get comfortable sleeping on my side (backpacking)?

I am a side sleeper. I use a v2 Klymite pad but my hip still hurts during the night because there isn't enough vertical room. I'm considering: Sleeping curled up a bit (so the angle from my hip to ...
  • 1,434
9 votes
2 answers
5k views

What are other alternatives to Sleeping pads?

What are alternate options that one can use as a sleeping pad if he/she doesn't have one along? P.S.: Lets assume that he/she has a tent. And we are not talking about any sorts of extreme weather and ...
  • 31.6k
6 votes
2 answers
24k views

Memory foam mattress topper for camping?

I bought a queen-sized four-inch memory topper and cut it into two halves to get two twin(ish)-sized toppers. I use one half on my bed at home, but that left me with another extra half. I've heard ...
  • 161
10 votes
3 answers
606 views

Are self-inflatable sleeping pads more slippery than other mats?

I was camping recently and someone was complaining that they were finding it hard to sleep, as their new self inflating mat was much more slippery than their old foam one. Is this a real effect, and ...
  • 7,079
11 votes
2 answers
4k views

Do "R" values add proportionally?

For winter camping it is recommended to use a sleeping pad with an R value greater than 5. Can you alternatively use two closed cell 2.5R pads one on top of each other? If using an inflatable pad ...
  • 4,465
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

Sleeping pad inside or outside bivy bag?

I have recently started trying out the backpackinglight.com mantra of a tarp and a water resistant breathable top bivy bag with a waterproof bathtub bottom (basically a shrunk inner tent). Assuming ...
9 votes
2 answers
658 views

What is the main purpose of the foam inside a self-inflating mat?

All self-inflating mats I have seen are self-inflating in the sense that you’re supposed to inflate them yourself. [That is, the mat self-inflates a bit, but mostly you have to breathe the air in.] ...
  • 4,983
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are the differences between high-end sleeping pads and cut to fit foam mats?

I'm pretty tall and I find that to purchase a brand-name sleeping pad means shelling out serious $$$. To solve this I have always just purchased a roll of foam padding that I could cut to make sure it ...
  • 3,515