equipment: sleeping pads

updated: 2021-8

index

The following is a list of the current sleeping bags we have.

  1. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
  2. Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad with X Pillow
  3. Big Agnes – Insulated AXL Air
  4. Therm-a-Rest SpeedValve NeoAir® Max SV
  5. Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad
  6. Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad
  7. Big Agnes Oak Street Air Sleeping Pad Regular, Insulated
  8. Big Agnes Oak Street Air Core Sleeping Pad Regular
  9. ALPS Mountaineering Foam Sleeping Mat

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Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (amazon affiliate link)

  • owned since: 2017-10
  • current status: Meg’s sleeping pad
  • acquired: REI garage sale
  • condition when acquired: used and returned
  • paid: $72.83 + $4.37 taxes
  • type: air pad
  • R-Value: 3.2
  • gender: unisex
  • size: regular – 72x20x2.5 inches
  • weight: 12 oz.
  • packed size: 9×4 inches
    • This is the go to sleeping pad for thru-hikers due to weight. While I’m skeptic of used sleeping pads, it seemed fine when I looked at it in detail and based on the reason for return at the REI garage sale.
    • These sleeping pads a notoriously known as very loud and will have a crunching sound when the user shifts on it. In fact, I have placed people using this sleeping pad without even seeing it.
    • I bought it to replace our Big Agnes sleeping pads as they had started to leak air very fast.
    • I used it for my John Muir Trail thru-hike.
    • I was generally fine with it, though it is a bit narrow for me and I did find myself rolling off at night.
    • This pad is better if you are a side or stomach sleeping. I find it doesn’t provide much support for my back when I try to sleep on my back. However, I’ve also started to become more of a side sleeper.
    • Currently it is Meg’s primary sleeping bag now.

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Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad with X Pillow (Amazon affiliate Link)

  • owned since: 2017-3
  • current status: John’s cold weather sleeping pad
  • acquired: Costco sale
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $63.70
  • type: air pad
  • R-Value: 4.4
  • gender: unisex
  • size: regular – 72x23x2.5 inches
  • weight: 25 oz.
  • packed size: 8×5 inches
    • After our trip to the Argentinian Patagonia, we found Meg’s Big Agnes Sleeping pad failing to hold any air at all. So when I saw an insulated pad on sale, I bought it to replace it. Meg sleeps cold, so she is happy with insulated pads for all weathers.
    • Currently, it is my default pad since Meg is fine using the lighter and lofter Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite pad and I prefer the wideness of this pad.
    • It is bulkier and heavier as it is more insulated. This had been my default pad since I’ve switched to quilts.
    • The construction of this pad doesn’t provide much loft so it is best for back sleepers.
    • I’ve started to sleeping more on my side and the pressure points on my hip and shoulder gets sore with time. So this is the reason I’m started to look for alternative options.
    • This did come with a nice and light pillow, but doesn’t hold its air very well now (2020).

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Big Agnes – Insulated AXL Air – Long Wide (Amazon affiliate Link)

  • owned since: 2021-8
  • current status: John’s default sleeping pad candidate
  • acquired: REI Outlet Sale
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $61.73 + $3.27 taxes
  • type: air pad
  • R-Value: 3.0 (PrimaLoft Gold)
  • gender: unisex
  • size: wide & long – 78 x 25 x 3.75/3.25 inches
  • weight: 15.91 oz.
  • packed size: 6.5×3 inches
    • Found this pad on sale while looking for a more comfortable pad so this is a candidate for my primary sleeping pad.

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Therm-a-Rest SpeedValve NeoAir® Xlite Max SV Sleeping Pad – Inflatable, Large (Amazon affiliate link)

  • owned since: 2021-8
  • current status: John’s default sleeping pad candidate
  • acquired: Sierra (formerly Sierra Trading Post)
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $99.00 + $5.94 taxes
  • type: air pad
  • R-Value: 3.2 (Reflective ThermaCapture)
  • gender: unisex
  • size: regular – 77 x 25 x 2.5 inches
  • weight: 21 oz.
  • packed size: 11 x 4.5″
    • I was looking for a default sleeping pad that is wider and allows me to sleep on my side and stomach, possibly on my back. We have previous experience with the NeoAir XLite so I know what to expect for the most part with the exception of the “SpeedValve”. This is the wider version so I should give me enough space in comparison to the standard NeoAir XLite.

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Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad (amazon affiliate link)

  • owned since: 2018-10-30
  • current status: backup pad
  • acquired: REI
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $34.95 price + $2.10 taxes – $20 promo gift card = $17.05
  • type: closed-cell foam pad
  • R-Value: 2.6
  • gender: unisex
  • size: short – 51x20x0.75 inches
  • weight: 10 oz.
  • packed size: 20×5.5×4 inches
    • I had a promo $20 gift card from an earlier purchase that I needed to use and I wanted to go back to foam pads since they provide better support when I sleep on my back. Furthermore, I went with the ultralight short version that many thru-hikers prefer to test it out. Specifically, this means my feet will be on the ground or on my backpack when I sleep to save 4 ounces and slightly less balk.
    • I’ve used it several times now and felt it a little too thin. Any point of contact of my bones with the mat ends up a bit sore after a while. This is my hip bone on my back and both hips and shoulders when I’m on my side. A caveat is that I’ve only used a quilt with this pad so that’s one less layer of padding compared to a mummy bag.
    • The lower R also makes this a summer only pad for me as I felt I was losing too much heat when it got down to 40 degree Fahrenheit.
    • I think I’ve more used to sleeping on my side now so I guess this is more for extra insulation or sitting pad for the future.

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Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad (amazon affiliate link)

  • owned: 2017-12 to 2021-7
  • current status: gave to my brother
  • acquired: Amazon sale
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $37.30+ $1.98 taxes
  • type: air pad
  • R-Value: 1.2
  • gender: unisex
  • size: regular – 72x23x2.5 inches
  • weight: 16.33 oz.
  • packed size: 8×3 inches
    • This was an impulse sale buy. We liked the insulated version from Klymit, so I thought this would be a good warm weather pad.
    • I also was skeptic of whether the used Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite would hold up, so I bought this as a backup.
    • It was similar to our Insulated Static V and seemed fine. Seemed like I needed to add a little air during the night.
    • I personally haven’t used it much, mostly for friends to use. And in line with that, I gave it to my brother for his John Muir Trail hike.

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Big Agnes Oak Street Air Sleeping Pad Regular, Insulated (REI non-affiliate link)

  • owned since: 2014
  • current status: retired 2017-3, doesn’t hold air anymore and not worth the repair
  • acquired: Sierra Trading Post sale
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $44.97
  • type: air pad
  • R-Value: 4.1
  • gender: unisex
  • size: regular – 72x20x2.5 inches
  • weight: 1lb. 7oz.
  • packed size: 10×4.5 inches
    • This was Meg’s first sleeping pad. She sleeps cold so the insulated version of my original air pad was good for her.
    • It was a simple insulated air pad that did it’s job well.
    • The annoying aspect of the Big Agnes Oak Street Air line of pads is that they take more time to pack up since it’s difficult to push the air out of the pad.

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Big Agnes Oak Street Air Core Sleeping Pad Regular (REI non-affiliate link)

  • owned since: 2014
  • current status: retired 2017-3, doesn’t hold air anymore and not worth the repair
  • acquired: Sierra Trading Post sale
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $33.77
  • type: air pad
  • R-Value: 1.5
  • gender: unisex
  • size: regular – 72x20x2.5 inches
  • weight: 1lb. 4oz.
  • packed size:  10×3 inches
    • This was my first air sleeping pad. I bought it to replace my original foam pad that fell apart.
    • It was a simple insulated air pad that did it’s job well. I personally like the back support in these type of designs compared to the newer designs.
    • The annoying aspect of the Big Agnes Oak Street Air line of pads is that they take more time to pack up since it’s difficult to push the air out of the pad.

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ALPS Mountaineering Foam Sleeping Mat (Amazon affiliate link)

  • owned since: 2011
  • current status: retired 2014, fell apart from use
  • acquired: REI.com
  • condition when acquired: new
  • paid: $8.93
  • type: closed-cell foam pad
  • R-Value: –
  • gender: unisex
  • size: regular 72x20x0.375 inches
  • weight: 9 oz.
  • packed size: 20×6 inches
    • This was my first sleeping pad, it appeared to be a gloried yoga mat.
    • A foam roll, cheap insulator for the ground. It was good enough when we camped at camp 4 in Yosemite during January on ice.
    • I learned to sleep on my back because of this mat.

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