Sleeping mats opinions please

[pull the trigger]

Whats the best cheapest lightest biggest thickest warmest sleep mat you have camped on?

[w5pv]

A mat of pine straw or leaves about 8to 10 inches thick down here but in the cold country the same if possible to get.

[Junior1942]

A mat of pine straw or leaves about 8to 10 inches thick down here but in the cold country the same if possible to get.

Here in north Louisiana that mat would contain 10,000 creepy crawling critters--not counting fireants.

Re: opinions. The Cabela's Ultimate Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad Long is the best camping sleeping mat I've ever owned. It's also the most expensive at circa $150 but you get what you pay for. It's thick; it's more than long enough for a 6'1" guy like me, i.e., your feet won't hang off the end and rest on the cold, cold tent floor; and it's wide enough to enable you to sleep on your back without your elbows resting on the cold, cold tent floor. If Cabelas stops making them, mine isn't for sale

[wvmedic]

I have the Gander Mountain Guide Series Self-Inflating 78"X25" 4" thick, it does well. I've used it on night shift when we had down time, I wish I would have brought it with me when I was deployed for Supper Storm Sandy. I think it would have been better than 19 days on an ambulance stretcher.

Jeff

[garandsrus]

Therma-rest is probably the most popular sleeping pad for backpacking. They work great.

[dragon813gt]

Therma-rest is probably the most popular sleeping pad for backpacking. They work great.

This is what I've been using for years. Just make sure you get a full length one. The weight difference is negligible between the full length and 3/4 length. They take no time to inflate and are reasonably priced. But all they do is get you off the ground so you don't feel every rock and root. They are anything but an air matress. I have two that are close to fourteen years old and they work like the day I bought them. They aren't used as heavily as they used to be. But they still get used a few times a year.

[garandsrus]

The thermarest is also an insulating pad. I have slept in a tent on snow several times and stayed warm when using a thermarest.

[grampa243]

Thermarest Z Lite Sleeping Pad

can't poke a hole in it and is warm.

[monadnock#5]

I once read where Cowboys would dig a shallow hole for their hips to rest in. Then they would fold their blankets into thirds lengthwise, lay two layers on the ground and cover themselves with the top layer. No Cowboys here, just sayin'.

The most comfortable cold weather set up I've used was a canvas cot, assembly required. It stands about 6" off the tent floor. Steel segmented rods with wire legs that come apart and go into a 2-1/2' by 6" dia. bag. Definately NOT for backpacking, but if you can get your rig to within 150 yds of your campsite, it's what I'd use.

[Love Life]

A standard ISO-Mat. Light weight, and works. Add pile up leaves and stuff underneath if you want things to be a bit softer.

[Victor N TN]

I have an OLD thermo-rest knock off / store brand. It's 1 1/2" thick self inflating. But it's only 3/4 length. I agree with the statement above. Get the full length. I also used to carry with it one of the blue exercise mats / ground pad. When we were tent camping near the truck I would always go by Home Depot and get a bale or 2 of wheat straw and fluff it out where we were going to put the tent. I have a heavy piece of clear plastic I cut exactly the size of our bigger dome tent. I put it down where I want the tent and use it as a boundary and look under it for rocks and roots. Then spread the straw on top of it.

Some time when we were between big campers my wife bought a queen size air mattress. It was OK except when we had the 2 of us and 3 grandkids. Someone (usually me) ALWAYS ended up on the ground. Heavy people usually do that.

Decide what YOU want, then get the best YOU can afford.

Good luck.

[AllanD]

I'll vote for the Thermarest self-inflating. I have the largest one and it is only 1.5" thick (if that but it does the job)

reality is even in generally warm conditions you lose heat to the cold ground 3-4 times faster than to cool (50deg) air
So without a mattress like a Thermarest you will actually be warmer sleeping on a blanket, than you will be sleeping under one.

[zymguy]

xl thermo rest in mummy shape, add a cot if your not carying it

https://express.google.com/product/2...FUorTwod8dUFuw

i use this one, rolls up small and doubles as a pool toy on the few hot days ( it'll float my 160# ymmv)

[Mr_Sheesh]

One time I had the option of sleeping atop a couple pallets (arrived later at night than planned & camping partners had a shelter up already.) Surprisingly comfy, if the two had been tied together so they didn't rock around a bit independently it might have been a smidge better but it was good enough! I've considered making a low cot out of (free) pallet wood, keeps you off muddy cold ground which is nice.

I usually bring the foil sleeping mats I got from a local oriental store for camping; Car camping I add the Horror Fright moving blankets for a bit more padding. If you remove the boulders from your sleeping area those will do; Plan to move to a hammock once I get that built but it's going slow so far (other things take priority.)

[GhostHawk]

In my experience, cheapest in camping usually means most miserable.

Spend what you can afford to get decent quality.

If you spend 7 out of 9 hours awake, cold, in pain and miserable you are not going to enjoy the day that follows. Indulge your body a little, it will pay you back.

https://www.rei.com/product/829826/t...l-sleeping-pad

[Prcshooter]

We use the thermarest pro light.

[Bwana John]

Paco pad

https://www.jpwinc.com/product/silve...v=89d269ea9f2e

Buy once, cry once... Sleep well