Warm vs cold sleeping pad debate I keep going back and forth on

I was totally convinced my old self-inflating pad was fine until I borrowed a buddy's down filled pad on a 28 degree night in Tahoe and slept like a rock. Now I'm wondering if I got lucky or if those expensive insulated pads are actually the real deal - anyone else flip flop on this?

2 comments

2 Comments

campbell.logan4d ago

Oh man, I gotta disagree a little. I've been totally fine with my old closed-cell foam pad down to 20 degrees, just have to layer it with a good ground sheet and make sure my bag is rated properly. I think folks blame the pad when it's really their whole sleep system (bag, clothing, tent draft) that's letting them down.

hart.ryan4d ago

I feel you on that flip flopping man, that 28 degree Tahoe night is a game changer. I was in the same boat with my old foam pad until I rented a nice insulated one and woke up actually warm for once instead of shivering by 3am. It's crazy how much a good pad can make or break a whole trip, now I'm scared to go back to the cheap stuff.