Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when buying a new gold pad. When back packing, we recommend sticking to the inflammatory pad or self -inflating pad (though they are usually heavy), which offer excellent insulation and cushioning in size and weight. Whatever you need, your goal is to always find the best weight ratio. More warmth means overweight. Keep the following points in mind.
Know your desired use. Each ounce is counted, and so on. Small, light pads take less space in your pack and they are the best of a facility where you are trying to minimize gear size to make food space. Also, consider the climate. If you plan to set up a camp in the fall where cold weather is guaranteed, but you need a lot of insulated pads to protect you from camping in Everglaids in August. Bonus Tip: Do not camp in Everglaids in August.
You know yourself Everyone sleeps, and different pads will be better for different people. Are you a side sleeper who sleeps cool? Go for a thick pad with more insulation. Sleep in every way and always awake? Get an ultra -light pad that is calm, so your tossing and twist will not bother your tent colleagues.
Consider your entire sleep system. Pad is the base, but how much hot sleep you will be affected even Your sleeping bagPillow, even Which Base layers do you bring. (Many people do not know this, but the temperature rating of the sleeping bag is believed to be you wearing a base layer.)
You may need two. Gold pads fits one size. A lightweight pad that is perfect in summer nights, is not going to cut it into the Alpine camp at the beginning of the spring. Maybe get a summer pad and bring a heavy gold bag in the spring, but it does not bring comfortable nights. A good gold pad means the difference between staying warm and resting or trembling all night, even in the same gold bag. Trust us We do this so that you don’t need.
Relief is the key. I know I joke about sleeping on small closed cell foam pads, but no longer need it. This guide is proof that there are comfortable gold pads and weighs nothing. Although I really slept on the ground 35 years ago, you can’t pay me anymore. Now I almost always bring two pads: an inflatable and a thin closed cell foam. The latter gives me a place to sit in the evening, and when I need at night, he increases a lot of warmth and no slip sleep levels.