Shoutout to the cheap foam pad I used for years before I finally got an inflatable one

I slept on that blue roll-up mat for a decade, but after a cold night in the White Mountains where I could feel every root, I spent $80 on a Thermarest. The difference in warmth and comfort is insane, and I'm kicking myself for not switching sooner. Anyone else hold onto a piece of gear way past its prime because it 'worked fine'?

2 comments

2 Comments

tyler61415d ago

Used to think a sleeping pad was just something to keep you off the dirt, so my old foam one was good enough. Then I borrowed a friend's proper inflatable on a fall trip and actually slept through the night without waking up cold. Realized I had been putting up with being miserable for years just to save a few bucks. That single trip completely changed how I see gear comfort.

ivan8214d ago

Man, that's so true. It's like we get stuck in this mindset that roughing it is part of the deal. I did the same thing with my old pack for years, a total brick on my back. Finally upgraded and felt like I could actually hike instead of just carrying weight. You don't know how much bad gear is dragging you down until you try the good stuff. It turns a chore into something you actually enjoy.