Heavy Duty Sleeping Pad

Hi. I’m a new hitchhiker from Davis, CA and I have a problem: I need my beauty sleep.
I’m hitchhiking across the country this summer, and while I plan to use Couchsurfing.com as much as possible, I want to have a pad for camping as a backup. Since sleeping comfort is pretty much my top priority, I’m willing to spend up to $300 on a good pad, particularly if it can stand up to abuse all summer. I’m definitely willing to sacrifice weight on the pad if it’s comfortable.
I’m 5’9” and 160lbs. What are some of the most comfortable and durable sleeping pad models out there if weight isn’t a big issue? I am going to be hauling it by pack though, so it cannot be too huge!

The Paco Pad by Jacks Plastics is the most comfy pad I have seen. They make several thicknesses. jpwinc.com/

Dreamtime by Thermarest.

If you find yourself in Minnesota (I live in Duluth, but am in the cities often) give me a jingle. PM me ahead of time and I'll throw you my number.

May your dragons be few, and the beer continue to flow

Jonathan

I love my Exped pad. I have the SynMat 7. Spent a month sleeping in style on Denali with it. Tons of abuse and still going strong. It is inflatable, so theoretically it could pop but.... It has a two hand built-in pump so no blowing into it. I am very pleased and it seems burly enough for your needs too. Many to choose from. Way better than Therma-Rest.

exped.com/exped/web/exped_h…

J.Roatch wrote:If you find yourself in Minnesota (I live in Duluth, but am in the cities often) give me a jingle. PM me ahead of time and I'll throw you my number. May your dragons be few, and the beer continue to flow Jonathan

Hey I hitched through Duluth once! Slept on a ski lift platform at the top of a big hill with a nice view. My buddy still talks about the diner waitress he fell in love with that night.

Dreamtime- get one

http://www.rei.com/CompareProduct/User?storeId=8000

Both of these are awesome...

-sp wrote:http://www.rei.com/CompareProduct/User?storeId=8000 Both of these are awesome...

hey, the link doesn't work. What two were you referring to?

Nemo Astro or Cosmo with the foam cover. Astro is a little narrower lighter and costs less, Cosmo is wider, with a built in foot pump. We just bought 2 cosmos and could not be happier. They are more comfortable than many hotel beds and any sofa.

Matt.

marienbad wrote: hey, the link doesn't work. What two were you referring to?

Sorry, I did test it the other day, not sure what happened. Anyway, here are the two pads:
rei.com/product/778152/rei-…

rei.com/product/797491/ther…

They are seriously comfortable, just don't over-inflate them so they become hard.

All the reviews I've seen of Exped Synmat and Downmat have nothing but good things to say,

Can anyone voice some strong criticism of them?

marienbad wrote:Hi. I’m a new hitchhiker from Davis, CA and I have a problem: I need my beauty sleep. I’m hitchhiking across the country this summer, and while I plan to use Couchsurfing.com as much as possible, I want to have a pad for camping as a backup. Since sleeping comfort is pretty much my top priority, I’m willing to spend up to $300 on a good pad, particularly if it can stand up to abuse all summer. I’m definitely willing to sacrifice weight on the pad if it’s comfortable. I’m 5’9” and 160lbs. What are some of the most comfortable and durable sleeping pad models out there if weight isn’t a big issue? I am going to be hauling it by pack though, so it cannot be too huge!

Cross country, I would say try a hammock. Something like the Hennessey (has a tarp and mosquito net). You will still need a sleeping pad for insulation, but it's the most comfortable back-country sleep I have ever had, and you can pretty much set it up anywhere there are two trees. No need to pay or look for a tent site. And if there aren't trees, like in the desert, you can just use it as a bivy sack on the ground. The whole thing packs up as light and small as the most lightweight one person tents (~2 lbs).

exped downmat 9. Have spent cumulatively numerous years of time sleeping outdoors on the ground, and this pad beats everything I have ever had before. Have used foam pads, thermarests, big agnes insulated aircore and more. The exped is heavy for backpacking, but I don't camp without it. It provides much more comfotable sleep than anything else outdoors on the ground. With the down insulation, I can carry a lighter sleeping bag or quilt as cover and almost never have to get in the bag, just drape it over.

I used the synmat 7, I hafta say I hated the built in pump. I then got a big agnes sleeping bag with the sleeve in the back that fits a pad so you can't roll off of it in the night, had to ditch the synmat and get a mummy shaped big agnes insulated air core. thing rocks, no problems.

Kyle Stich wrote:Dreamtime by Thermarest.

hell ya, my fiance and I both have them and they snap together. More comfortable then my bed. Definitely not something you can hike with though.

The Dreamtime is a bit bulky to be carrying on your back, the Thermarest Trail Pro is comfy for a backpacking mattress and it's significantly more packable than the Dreamtime.

I'll second the hammock, though. An ENO SingleNest paired with a Thermarest NeoAir can offer a great night's sleep.