The guy at Big Bend who made me question my whole sleeping pad setup

Last month I was at Big Bend and this older hiker saw me inflating my pad and just laughed. He said, "You're carrying 3 pounds for a half inch of comfort, try a foam pad and a hammock instead." That got me thinking because I've spent like $180 on pads over the years and never once considered the weight tradeoff. I tried his foam pad on the next trip and honestly slept fine, plus my pack felt way lighter. Has anyone else switched from inflatable to foam and noticed a big difference in their back or pack weight?

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1 Comment

the_tessa1mo ago

Ever tried sleeping on frozen ground with just a foam pad? That half inch of foam does nothing when the cold creeps up at 3am, and I've woken up shivering more times than I can count with my old setup. Inflatable pads might weigh more, but my back thanks me every morning and I get actual sleep instead of tossing around on a yoga mat.