A lesson from my trip to the Redwoods about cheap sleeping pads

I bought a $25 foam pad from a big box store before a trip to Humboldt County last fall. The first night, I woke up cold and sore because it provided almost no insulation from the ground. By morning, I had a stiff back that lasted two days. I ended up buying a better pad at a local shop for triple the price. Has anyone found a good, affordable pad that actually works for cold ground?

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nora_chen6mo ago

Used to grab whatever was cheapest at the store. A miserable night on a thin pad in the Gifford Pinchot taught me that ground cold doesn't mess around. Now I look for an R-value over 4, even if it means spending more. The extra sleep is worth it.

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nancy_garcia635mo ago

R-value matters but isn't everything. A thick pad with a high rating can still feel like a rock if it's not comfortable. Ever tried one of those firm foam pads? You stay warm but wake up sore. Sometimes a cheaper, softer pad with a lower R-value and a good sleeping bag works just as well.

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willow_king6mo ago

Learned that lesson the hard way too.

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