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I was wrong about using a regular sleeping pad for winter trips
For two seasons I used my 3-season pad on cold trips, just adding a foam one under it. I'd wake up cold around 3 AM every time, even in my good bag. Last December, I finally borrowed my friend's insulated pad with an R-value of 6 for a trip near Flagstaff. The difference was crazy. I slept straight through the night, and my back was actually warm for once. The ground cold just doesn't get through like it did before. I used to think the bag did all the work, but the pad is just as important when it's below freezing. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a specific temperature where it really starts to matter?
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kim81921d ago
Man, I froze my butt off on a cheap pad in Yellowstone before I learned that lesson.
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jesse99421d ago
Honestly, I had the opposite experience! My first good sleeping bag was a game changer, but I still use that old thin pad from years ago. For me, staying warm is way more about the bag and wearing the right layers to bed. A fancy pad is nice, but you can make a cheap one work if you plan around it.
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