Backpacking lessons from using a thin sleeping pad 

I had a ridgerest pad on my AT hike in 2016. By the time I was done, my fat ass had smashed that thing into an almost paper thin piece of foam. I left it with a guy who was going to cut it up into a bunch of butt pads to give to hikers starting their hike the next year.

I always find your videos very informative. They have changed my backpacking for the better. Thank you.

Thanks for the video. I use my Army issue green foam pad.

I use a Texsport convoluted pad I bought a long time ago. Fairly comfortable and I have a dog, so I don't use an inflatable. I've camped down to about 30 degrees f with it. I've thought about getting an inflatable to put on top, but it's an extra pound and I don't have that much trouble sleeping on it. Might try it sometime.

I sleep in a hammock. I carry 2 close foam pads. One is full length and one is 3/4 length. I use the shorter one to cross under my shoulders kind of forming a t in my hammock. This keeps my shoulders from touching the hammock and getting cold. Yes it adds weight, and Yes it adds bulk in my Osprey. I do however usually get a good nights rest. If there are no trees to hang in I go to ground and still use both pads. Works for me.

A new flatbrokeoutside vid! Great day! I keep going back to my closed cell too.

Excellent information, as always! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! 😁👊

Enjoyed your video, thanks 😊

Good to hear your voice again (I missed your last 2 videos). Hope this finds you healthy. I like your videos.

Oware sells ccf pads 1/8, 1/4, 1/2". Free shipping. I have combined 1/8 and 1/4 with a 20F quilt and baselayers down to 35F comfortably. MLD also has 1/8 and 1/4 ccf pads.

I enjoyed this video. I still camp but as I have aged into my 70's back packing is out. However, in the 1970's and 1980's while back packing I used a closed cell pad that was called Ensolite and was vanilla in color. They worked pretty good even down to temps in the 20's. Alas today, it's the Thermarest Luxury Map.

Bicycle tires, when left underinflated over the course of a winter or longer often in develop cracks, too, because the rubber shrinks. I always left my old Thermarest foam core pads inflated while in storage the 25 year old one has started to lose air slowly. The 15 year old one with a patch is still going strong. I hammock now, but carry a closed cell pad to stiffen my frameless pack and in case the weather is so bad that I have to use a shelter. I finished the AT in sections last fall, but haven't had enough. I'm starting a thruhike attempt on March 31st. Thanks for the information. It always helps someone. 👍

I’ve had the same thermarest xlite since I started my thru hike in 2017. It has never had a single hole in it despite many miles and years of service. I guess I am at an advantage since I’ve always been a tent camper. The floors in most tents offer some protection. I can’t say enough about the durability of the xlite. Also, the xlite is the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever slept on 😂. Yes it is very noisy if you move around on it. It is also hard to get the air pressure just right. Too low and you touch the ground. Too high and you feel like you’re going to roll off. You have to aim a bit high as your breath inside the pad will cool and reduce the pressure later on after inflation.

Thank you for the info. Will be going to fill up my air pads in storage.

I bring a Klymit Static V and a torso sized , cut down Zlite pad to go underneath. If all else fails, I still have the foam pad to fall back on. That said, the Klymit pads are much more durable than most expensive pads.

Those green foam pads can still be purchased through army surplus stores. I have a couple of them.

Always good to carry a ccf mat in winter! For 3 season stuff I usually do self inflating these days, still will work better than nothing If it gets a hole, and pretty comfortable.

Great video as always. your ensolite roll looks like what my wife I and I used 40 years ago to cycle tour Europe, I'll admit I've gotten soft as I got older.

I use Mondo King XXLs at home. One for family visits, the other is mine for sleeping on screened porch cot year round in cold climate. Top of the line for pad comfort and insulation. Easily replaces an ordinary bed. Neither have deflated because I never deflated them in the past 8 years. Otherwise for backpacking I have 2 Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol solid foam pads, stacked. 29 ounces, 1 1/2 inches of comfort. Impossible to leak, and R-4 value. A win-win solution.

Good stuff again. I use the Ridgerest classic myself for all these reasons.

Thank you for sharing your lessons from the School of Hard Knocks! I look forward to you videos. Well worth the time viewing and playing through the what-ifs. Having just bought my first inflatable pad, I have been thinking what my back-up plan would be to at least give me some minimal insulation from the cold ground. I settled on an 1/8” closed cell pad, and layering with any clothes I’m not wearing to bed (which is most of them).

Superb information as always !

a few yeras ago I went on my first backpacking Trip, I used a expensive inflatable lightweight mat, I hated the sounds and the air felling and just deflated it and went right to sleep. So now I just use closed foam pads. I have nor problems with them. My wife on the other hand needs a huge sleeping mat to get any rest even if that means extra pounds lol hey if you are willing to haul it then you deserve whatever luxury items you want.

I don't think I've ever owned anything incapable of failing. I've had shoes blow out on me with a couple of days left before I hit a town. If push comes to shove, I have a couple of bags in my pack that I can fill with leaves and pine needles. My empty pack can sere as a torso pad if need be. For the most part, I use a pad for comfort. Waking up after a bad night's sleep with a sore back and a crick in my neck isn't a useful preventative substitute. That being said, 90% of the time, I'm in a hammock with an underquilt under a tarp.

Appreciate the discussion

I get where you’re coming from. I really wanted to be on Team Foam, and bought several U.S. Army foam sleeping mats and even if you layer 3-4 on top of each other (as I did while moving/not having a bed), it is a rough go of it and wrecks your shoulders/hips/back. Especially if only using one pad. Tried a Big Agnes Rapide SL insulated and there’s honestly no going back. As for punctures, it is a fear, but one mitigated by putting a tyvek footprint down and carefully brushing/inspecting where I put the tent/tarp.

I mostly use my inflatables in a hammock, where I believe the risk of puncture is considerably lower as long as I'm very careful where I blow them up--but thank you for the valuable storage tip! Also for your great content in general. Good to see you on here. :)

your closed cell roll looks like what my wife and I used when we camped through Europe in 1983. It is not posh but it is very durable

My thin closed cell foam pad doubles as a knee protector while working on the ground .Trusty and reliable

I have a Ridgecrest Thermarest which I cut to 3/4 length. Only 9 oz and I use my empty back pack to go under my legs. It works ok, but best thing is using the pad at camp at the end of the day to lie on or sit on in some comfort, watching my fellow inflatable carriers squat on cold rocks or tree stumps

I have several inflatable pads and one of the coleman pads like yours. I used the coleman one a few years ago on a winter campout when it was below zero, it did a good job and has been my main solution since then.

Not sure how I missed this one!

I have one of those Ridge Rests!

I sure miss my orange 1cm thick sleeping pad I had for years! I was always comfortable on it.

Yeah, I have had many an invisible rock or tree root dig into my back at 2 AM. Didn't see it when setting up, but it sure showed up later.

Happy New Year!

I have a windshield sunscreen (the thickest one from Walmart) as a pad and fold it in half (double thickness) to use as torso pad.

I have had my pad fail too many times to not bring a closed cell as a back up. I generally only use only half of the thing anyway and instead of rolled up, it is a liner on the inside of my bag.

Other than holding air, the biggest problem I have with air mattresses is, they have a "sweet spot". Too much air, not comfortable, too little air, not comfortable.

Great video. How do you carry your closed cell-foam pad? On top? Away from your back (since it’s light), etc. I have a small 1/4 inch torso length that I use as a sit pad, porch when getting out of tent, even sat on it during a lightning storm. Love your videos keep them coming

I have a close cell pad I use under my air mattress

i had 3 big agnes air cores, all stored properly and they all failed at the worst times

I threw out my expensive inflatable pad after it developed a slow micro leak that I couldn't locate, even after submerging it entirely in water numerous times. Never again!