I finally tried that 'ultra-light' sleeping pad everyone raves about

My buddy laughed and said I looked like a beached whale trying to get off the ground because it was so thin. I swapped it for a slightly heavier insulated one after that trip, and I actually slept through a cold night in the Adirondacks. Anyone have a good pad that's a balance between comfort and pack size?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_faith1mo ago

That "beached whale" feeling is way too real, I've been there. I chased the lightest gear for a while and my back paid for it. I ended up with a pad that has a bit of foam inside and an air layer, and it's the best middle ground I've found. It's not the smallest, but I actually sleep now. What kind of trips do you usually do?

jamie7701mo ago

My Exped Synmat is that exact combo.

janarivera1mo ago

So you're looking at those combo pads? I tried a few and the trick is the foam type. Some just feel like a crunchy chip bag inside. You want the foam to be open cell so it actually gives when you lay down, otherwise it's just a noisy air pad with extra steps. That Synmat Jamie mentioned is a solid pick, it was on my short list.