[at-l] Sleeping pad, My finaly decision... I think

[jmayer@rochester.rr.com (Jim Mayer)]

Hey,

When you try it out let me know how you carry it!  I have a 25" REI pad
that I bought for winter camping, but I was never able to figure out a
good way of carrying it.  It was too big to take inside my pack, and it
projected off the sides if I tried to carry it crossway outside (and
threatened to catch on everything).  I could have carried it vertically
on the back of my pack, but I needed that space for my snowshoes, and it
would have caught on stuff when crawling under trees (which happens a
lot in winter hiking).

I know exactly what you mean about wanting the extra five inches...
there's nothing like trying to sleep with two elbows planted firmly in
the snow!  And you're a lot taller than I am!

I ended up using a 20" pad and adding "wings" where my arms touched the
ground.  That worked fairly well.  The other theory, of course, is to
use your "extra" clothes for additional ground insulation...
unfortunately if I went that route I'd have to start carrying extra
"extra" clothes... there never seem to be enough to go around!

-- Jim

On Fri, 2002-03-29 at 01:15, jtwilkins@comcast.net wrote:
> Well a few days ago I posed the question of what sleeping pad to use. I
> think I am going to end up with the ridge rest 25 for my trip. Weight in at
> 19oz. I'm a big guy at 6'5'' 300# and their is going to be a lot hanging off
> on a 3/4 pad. But god knows how much I want to save weight. I have been
> using a z-rest pad but am unhappy with the dew it collects. I'm really into
> gaining that extra 5" with the ridge rest 25. I'm going to REI with my
> little notes and will give them a run through and compare comfort to weight.
> If I change my mind again I will confess.
> Thanks for all your help, I had tons of great posts to read.
> JTW