Thinking of ADDING sleeping pad weight...

[Wise Old Owl]

The lighter you go the comfort goes down... that is the rub with UL! Are you willing to sleep in a three hour downpour on the ground? The pad is there to add a little comfort, I cannot wrap my mind around a 1 pound pad. 8-12 ounces should be enough for a self inflating.... just a couple ounces for a thermarest closed cell.. There are lots of choices. The pad you have already chosen is the best choice. Try to use it more and it will grow on you.

Oh and that part about pad envy.... very cool!

[Tipi Walter]

The lighter you go the comfort goes down... that is the rub with UL! Are you willing to sleep in a three hour downpour on the ground? The pad is there to add a little comfort, I cannot wrap my mind around a 1 pound pad. 8-12 ounces should be enough for a self inflating.... just a couple ounces for a thermarest closed cell.. There are lots of choices. The pad you have already chosen is the best choice. Try to use it more and it will grow on you.

Oh and that part about pad envy.... very cool!

Like Owl says, the lighter you go the less comfort you have. So, what's more important, sleep or weight?

[DLP]

If you're in the market for a new pad, check out the exped ul 7... The wider baffles on the outer edge really do help prevent you from rolling off

THAT sounds heavenly! I spend half the night with half of me on the ground and not even on the neoair. My hips are killing me because I sleep for two hours hanging off the pad and lying in the dirt. Climb back up on the mat for 30 mins and then roll off and spend 90 mins with hip on the ground. Rinse and repeat all night.

I've forgotten that it is possible to actually spend a night ON the pad. That sounds soooo good! AND the whole Exped mat is 20" across? How I've missed that! Could very well be on my next REi 20% off coupon list. lol

So, what's more important, sleep or weight?

Sleep... I want sleep. Night, night!

[OwenM]

I've forgotten that it is possible to actually spend a night ON the pad. That sounds soooo good! AND the whole Exped mat is 20" across? How I've missed that! Could very well be on my next REi 20% off coupon list. lol

There is also now a wide version of the regular length Exped, the Synmat UL 7 MW that's only 3oz heavier than the regular version.

[Snicklefritz]

There is also now a wide version of the regular length Exped, the Synmat UL 7 MW that's only 3oz heavier than the regular version.

This just came in the mail to me 2 days ago. I measured it fully inflated and it was a solid 25" wide!!

DLP - I have the exact same issues sleeping as you do. Have tried pretty much the same experiments also (including building the "fort" around my pad at night with anything I could find in my pack.

I love my Thermorest pro lite plus womens, but I can't stay on it and it's just not wide enough. Looking forward to trying the new Exped next week while out. I am also willing to add a few ounces to my pack for a good night's sleep.

Just be aware the Synmat UL 7 only has an R value of like 3.1.

[DLP]

I got a 25" x 77" Neoair on eBay for a good price. 1 pound. I slept on it in the backyard and OMG, it was heavenly! I think maybe it is wider than my allocated "half" of the bed. (Husband's "half" is in the middle. I should be able to sleep on 17.5" of pad just fine, I have years of practice.)

Taking Giant Pad to Giant Sequoia trees and will decide if I have the courage to cut it and iron it. I seriously do not need 77" of pad.

Maybe I'll practice and cut on the 47" one first. Think I can sell it after I cut on it and iron it?

[Venchka]

I got a 25" x 77" Neoair on eBay for a good price. 1 pound. I slept on it in the backyard and OMG, it was heavenly! I think maybe it is wider than my allocated "half" of the bed. (Husband's "half" is in the middle. I should be able to sleep on 17.5" of pad just fine, I have years of practice.)

Taking Giant Pad to Giant Sequoia trees and will decide if I have the courage to cut it and iron it. I seriously do not need 77" of pad.

Maybe I'll practice and cut on the 47" one first. Think I can sell it after I cut on it and iron it?

Glad you have seen the NeoAir light! Leave it alone. You won't save enough ounces to matter. You will be stuck with it. Use the extra space to put things that can't get wet in case your shelter malfunctions from the ground up. How much air are you putting in it? Mine looks like a limp noodle until I law down on it. Then it is fine.
BTW, they are only 23" wide inflated. There will be room on your 1/4 of the tent.

Wayne

[RodentWhisperer]

...what's more important, sleep or weight?

My thoughts exactly. There are so many ways to cut base pack weight-- witness the "SUL" (sub-ultra-light) folks with their <5 lb base weights. If you're willing and able to sacrifice your comfort, you can get away with a dramatic weight loss. You just have to balance it all out. Dare I say that all ULers have made some "adjustments," increasing base weight by adding creature comforts?

Personally speaking, I find it impossible to not take a book (yes, a book, not an iPad, not a Kindle, not ripped-out chapters, but a whole-on, printed, bona-fide library-checked-out BOOK), and a travel pillow. Together, they add about 1-1/2 lbs to my pack, but they make things so much more comfortable.

[shakey_snake]

The lighter you go the comfort goes down... that is the rub with UL!

Trail comfort goes up (lighter pack), camp comforts go down.

I guess it's just a matter of whether you're long distance hiking or long distance camping.

Sleeping pad is the last place you see weight skimped on in experienced people's gear lists, though! Seems that you can hike longer and farther with a good nights sleep--whodathunk?

Heck, the number of inexperienced heavy haulers carrying foam zlite pads that post gear lists every March is pretty amazing. Hike like crap and sleep like crap and they're either dropping mad cash at Neels or calling for a shuttle to take them back to ATL at Hiawassee!

[DLP]

Heck, the number of inexperienced heavy haulers carrying foam zlite pads that post gear lists every March is pretty amazing.

That is true out here. Will see people with enormous packs that have to weigh 35 to 60 lbs... and a foam pad strapped on the outside because the pack is so crammed full with... who knows. Never thought of the irony of that before.

Thanks for the Klymit inertia Xwave heads up. Very interesting!

[Just Bill]

Thanks for the Klymit inertia Xwave heads up. Very interesting!

The Xwave looks to be a good option for you- as a fellow side sleeper I found myself in the holes of the Xlite pad and had to pass, but this one looks much more solid- REI it just in case.

[colorado_rob]

The lighter you go the comfort goes down... that is the rub with UL!

Only sometimes true, and not generally so. Why, for example, would 500 fill down be more comfortable than 900 fill of the same loft? Sil-nylon vs. Cuben? A heavy liquid-fuel stove vs. a light canister or alcohol one? A 5 pound pack vs. a 2 pound one with the same suspension? My favorite: a 6.5 ounce Nalgene bottle vs. a 1.6 ounce Gatorade bottle? The mind boggles...

But, I admit, this is generally true with super-UL sleeping pads, though I sleep like a baby on my Neo Air, I know lots of folks don't. I think 16 ounces is well justified for a nice comfy sleeping pad, even 20.