Recommend me a sleeping pad?

[inglorian]

Planning on hiking the AT this summer, late may to late august, from GA to NY.

I'm about 5 feet 2 inches tall.

Recommend me a good sleeping pad? What pad do you use, and why do you like it?

Any special tips/pitfalls I should be aware of?

Thanks so much.

[Pokey2006]

You're young. Just get a blue foam pad from Wal-Mart. Get the kind with the bubbles/bumps on it, not the thinner flat pad. As you get older, you may find that you need more cushioning. But at your age, unless you have problems with your hips, you should be fine with the blue pad. It's the lightest and cheapest option out there.

Though it might be a little uncomfortable at first, you do adjust to it pretty quickly on a long-distance hike. Give it a good week to get used to it. After that, you'll sleep better than you ever did in a regular bed.

[darkage]

http://www.spadout.com/c/sleeping-pads/ --- All the self info ya need .. but since thats not what you asked. =]

I use a prolite4 "which would now be a prolite pro" and soon as april comes around i'm gonna try out the new neoair ... People will also recommend BA pads, i hear they are quite good also ... Thermarest allows me to sleep well and has yet to fail on me with care backpacking so i've had no need to try a BA for myself. Spadout will breakdown the pads by features and you can see for yourself the different thickness and options of each pad someone may recommend.

[skinewmexico]

POE Ether Thermo 6. Warm, easy to use, and the most comfortable pad you'll use. And small when deflated.

[Mags]

As with all gear: It all depends. :)

I am a minimalist and on the short side myself (5'6"), so I use the ubiquitous blue-foam pad you find in such places as Wally World. Cut down, it is less than 6 oz, is cheap and is nearly indestructible. If you hike all day and just need to insulate yourself from the ground and comfort is not the overriding concern (you usually just fall asleep after hiking all day! :D) , it is a good way to go.

If you want more comfort, a good mid-range solution is a Z-Rest/Ridge Rest type product. (http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=43&cID=1) Not as light, but more comfortable.

At the more comfort range of the spectrum, are the Thermarest (inflatable mattresses essentially) (http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=42&cID=1) type pads. Very comfy, a bit heavy and expensive.

OVERALL:
Cheap and ultra light? Blue foam pad
Want light-weight but a bit more comfort? Z-lite or a Ridge Rest
Want more comfort and don't mind paying a weigh penalty or spend more money?
Thermarest type

There are other variations (Agnes sleep pad, Prolite vs. Traillite vs. Torsolite etc.), but the above is a good basic synopsis of the types along with their pros and cons. Once you figure out your personal preference, it will be easier to narrow down the choices to a specific make and model (Hmm? Sounds like buying a car!)

As an aside, most beginner backpackers who are of a younger age seem to like the Z-lite type pads as a nice comproise between weight and comfort.

[Panzer1]

try the therm-a-rest Z-lite from the above link. Its only $19.95. Should be all you need.

Panzer

[Manwich]

holy crap you're small.

I use a military surplus Thermarest. (http://cgi.ebay.com/Military-Thermarest-Self-Inflating-Sleeping-Mat-Pad_W0QQitemZ180331542244QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116) it's 70 inches long, but I sleep on my side, so I fold the top 3rd over the middle third, doubling up my upperbody, midsection normal and legs on the ground.

[inglorian]

Wow, those were some quick replies. I'm impressed.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll go with a simple lightweight foam pad as several of you recommended.

Thanks again. You guys were all really helpful.

[buz]

I think the blue foam is a good choice to start. Start with the low cost item and work your way up. You are so short that you could get one pad long enough for your whole body, and another one cut just long enough for your hip to head length for extra padding, if you want or are not real comfy. Practice sleep on a hard floor prior to leaving to make sure your set up is good, not on the trail. Trim the pad to best fit for ease of packing. Look at Big agnes mummy pads for shape to trim to, basically cutoff edges around head and feet. 20" wide should be plenty.

[Summit]

And if you find you aren't sleeping well, or wake up sore (side sleepers usually don't fare as well on minimal pads), you can upgrade to a self-inflating foam pad like a Thermarest, or go full-comfort with a Big Agnes insulated air mattress (which is what old farts like me use).

[Turtlehiker]

Couple questions;
Do you sleep on your back?
Are you a side sleeper?
Do you sleep on your stomach?
Are you going to sleep in shelters?

I find that these will influence your pad choice.
I am a side to stomach sleeper and I sleep better if I have more padding. My best night sleep is on my BA aircore in the summer. It gives me enough cushion so my hips/ shoulder do not dig in.

Try out a few different pad in the store and lay on them in the position that you sleep so that you can feel any pressure points.

[mister krabs]

I like more padding too. I have a POE 1" thick 3/4 length pad. I like it and it's light at 14oz. It's fairly equivalent to the prolite.

[Blissful]

You're young. Z rest or ridgerest by Thermarest will work fine.

[Lyle]

Gossamer Gear Torso length NightLight:

http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/nightlight_torso.html?id=RbMJFzFU:76.226.127.121

Compact, less than 4 oz, more comfortable than blue foam or RidgeRest/ZRest, works well as a frame sheet in many packs, including my ULA P2.

[buff_jeff]

I've never packed a sleeping pad and I do just fine.

[Summit]

Yeah, I'm jealous . . . most of you younguns can sleep right on the hard ground or shelter floors with no problem. If I could, I would too! If I'm still hiking another 10-15 years from now, you might see me coming down the trail with one of those remote control beds you see advertised on TV strapped to my back. :D

[skinewmexico]

I was going to say, 18 years old, just pile up some rocks and go to sleep.

[Mags]

Don't forget, a sleeping pad is as much for warmth as comfort. Maybe because I did my initial backpacking in New England (and I am old fart now in Colorado. :D), but I find a pad keeps you off the cold-robbing ground. For *most* AT hiking, should not be a problem. For northern New England later in the Fall...well, it may be a tad cooler w/o a pad.

JMO.

[theinfamousj]

I'm 5'2" (and a half!!) as well. If you do not get a closed cell foam mat and cut it yourself, you are going to end up with waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much mat. If you decide to get an inflatable, what I've done is gone with a Short ThermaRest (Prolite 4 ... or whatever they are calling it now).

What happens is, your head will be on a "pillow" anyway, so the mat starts at your shoulders and will go down to slightly above your ankle. I find that I sleep with bent knees anyway, which pulls my feet onto the short ThermaRest mat. If you do not bend your knees, get a cheapie garden knealing mat to make up the remaining five or so inches to the bottom of your feet.

I wouldn't go with a full sized inflatable mat. You will end up with 1+ feet that will bunch up, be of no use to you, and will mess up the way the mat is supposed to inflate.

Quickie Recap: Short is 5" too short but the closest fit you will get. Full size = 1+ feet too long. You can cut your own blue foam, ridge rest, or z-rest.

Hope that helped.

[daddytwosticks]

Mags....34 does not make you an old fart. You have to be at least 50 to be an old fart. I know this to be a FACT. I have the documentation! Just ask my kids. :)

[JAK]

I use a blue foam pad. I learned from some old thread on this site to find or make a depression for my butt, and I also find it helps sometimes to out something under my knees, but sort of wedged right down so that some weight is on my thighs. It takes trial and error like other things. If I was planning on sleeping in shelters I would still bring my blue foam pad, but I might look into some small inflatable to go with it, and work with some of the rest of my gear and clothing. You can experiment on your floor at home, and mock stuff up before you buy anything besides a large blue foam pad.

[Mags]

Mags....34 does not make you an old fart. You have to be at least 50 to be an old fart. I know this to be a FACT. I have the documentation! Just ask my kids. :)

Oh..I am joking. Compared to the original poster who may see anyone over 30 as out-of-it. ;) I am out of it for other reasons...but perhaps not my age. ;)

[jpanderson80]

I suggest getting a closed cell pad blue pad like others and go from there. I'm short too (5'5") and I get by easily with a 3/4 length pad. I cut excess length off the pad so that it extends from my shoulders to my knees, then I prop up my feet with my backpack. I already have my backpack there, I might as well use it to insulate my feet and save some weight by avoiding a longer pad. I've since upgraded to a 3/4 thermarest (warm and softer).

[buff_jeff]

Yeah, I'm jealous . . . most of you younguns can sleep right on the hard ground or shelter floors with no problem. If I could, I would too! If I'm still hiking another 10-15 years from now, you might see me coming down the trail with one of those remote control beds you see advertised on TV strapped to my back. :D

My dad is 51 and he hiked a month this summer with no sleeping pad. :D

[Summit]

I've always looked on jealously at folks who can sleep through a hard landing on an airplane . . . probably describes your dad! :D

[buff_jeff]

I've always looked on jealously at folks who can sleep through a hard landing on an airplane . . . probably describes your dad! :D

Nah, I think he's just a little slow. :D

[Buckles]

I'm partial to the Thermarest Z-Lite. Because it's closed cell, if you want full body coverage, you can cut it to your desired length. Accordian-style folding, which straps easily to the outside bottom/top of the pack.

[take-a-knee]

Mt Washington evazote pad from Gossamer Gear:

http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/NightLight_Full.html

If you need a bit more padding or insulation thermarest is coming out with a 36in long pad that will work under your torso (8 oz IIRC)