Posts Tagged ‘Pads’

A Little About Sleeping Pads

There are many options for different conditions to accommodate back country sleeping. Sleeping pads are more than just comfortable, they offer a barrier between you and the ground that won’t compress like your sleeping bag does. Because of this, it will still insulate, even with you laying on top of it. This makes a sleeping pad your best friend in the winter, or even just a chilly night. That being said, you may want one in summer also, they help protect your body from rocks and sticks, and they make sleeping in the woods a bit more enjoyable. There are three main categories of sleeping pads, each having different characteristics and best applications.

Inflatable pads. These were really the world’s first packable pad designs. They are kind of old school now. They were inflated with a pump or by your mouth. They offer pretty good insulation, but they are also sensitive to punctures, and become basically useless if punctured. Since the days of inflatable pads, some more technologically advanced types of pads have been developed. Read more…