I am a big fan of doing it on the cheap. Sadly the one thing you cant avoid is a decent mat if camping in colder weather. I went with the Nemo Tensor. Great mat and small pack size.
As a large side sleeper, I have only ever been happy with the standard air mattress. I really would like to find a more durable and packable option (I have had to patch an air mattress straight out of the box and had to break out the duct tape to get through the rest of a night 🤦🏻♂️) All that and it was still better than my gigantic $100+ self inflating mattress that packed up larger than my tent 🤷🏻♂️. I understand that comfort isn’t always an option but people have woken up with permanent injuries after ignoring what their body was telling them. I have often wondered if any of the mat makers have considered contoured mats built specifically for the 200lb + side sleeper crowd.
Thermarest has a new pad out, I think it's called the neoloft or something like that. It's pretty thick and still packs down reasonably small. I wonder if that might be an option. I'm sure it's pricey though....
Very amusing video that I can relate to lol. I have painful memories of car camping with the closed foam. Tried the self inflating for first backpacking trip, was doable, but left much to be desired. Settled for the budget Paria Recharge. Didn’t take as many steps as you but, the Helix is a good one.
I know the missteps very well.I now strap a cheap folding pad strapped under my exos48 bag.Also gives extra protection of piercing my inflatable pad,so far so good.
That's one fear I always have in the back of my mind.. something putting a hole in it. I take the included patch kit and a little tenacious tape with me. Hopefully one of those would bail me out if it happened.
I've heard that's the warmest pad out there but it's pricey. I bet in Switzerland you have some pretty cold temps at times though so it's probably worth it.
Buy once cry once works if you know what you're getting. Problem is you don't know until you use it if it is good for you, or it is what you were looking for.
That is one good thing about buying from REI. They have a really accommodating return policy. If you try something and it isn't working for you it can be returned no questions asked for up to a year if you're a member .
I'm sure. Any kind of down quilt that's decent will cost you. I've just never been interested in hammock camping for some reason. Maybe it's "old dog, new tricks" syndrome 😄
So going cheap you ended up spending way more than if you just purchased a high quality high r-value pad the first time . Buy once cray once quality is remembered long after price is forgotten
Right, I tried to save a buck and it ended up costing me more in the end. Certain gear items you can go budget but a sleeping pad isn't one of them. Unless you only camp in the middle of summer.
Good job breaking down the journey to one of the most important parts of camping!!!
Thanks, I appreciate you watching the video!
I am a big fan of doing it on the cheap. Sadly the one thing you cant avoid is a decent mat if camping in colder weather. I went with the Nemo Tensor. Great mat and small pack size.
@@jim-bob-outdoors Yes, it is striking the difference the right mat makes.
As a large side sleeper, I have only ever been happy with the standard air mattress. I really would like to find a more durable and packable option (I have had to patch an air mattress straight out of the box and had to break out the duct tape to get through the rest of a night 🤦🏻♂️) All that and it was still better than my gigantic $100+ self inflating mattress that packed up larger than my tent 🤷🏻♂️. I understand that comfort isn’t always an option but people have woken up with permanent injuries after ignoring what their body was telling them. I have often wondered if any of the mat makers have considered contoured mats built specifically for the 200lb + side sleeper crowd.
Thermarest has a new pad out, I think it's called the neoloft or something like that. It's pretty thick and still packs down reasonably small. I wonder if that might be an option. I'm sure it's pricey though....
Very amusing video that I can relate to lol.
I have painful memories of car camping with the closed foam.
Tried the self inflating for first backpacking trip, was doable, but left much to be desired. Settled for the budget Paria Recharge.
Didn’t take as many steps as you but, the Helix is a good one.
Sounds like you figured it out faster than me! 😂
Definitely a buy once cry once type of thing.
Yes, I have to agree. Especially if you will be camping in colder weather.
My first inflatable pad was an Exped DownMat9. Heavy, bulky, $$$$$, r-8, totally worth it, like sleeping on a cloud.
Nice! It is actually kind of amazing how well these modern pads work. The technology that they've developed to insulate is something else...
I know the missteps very well.I now strap a cheap folding pad strapped under my exos48 bag.Also gives extra protection of piercing my inflatable pad,so far so good.
That's one fear I always have in the back of my mind.. something putting a hole in it. I take the included patch kit and a little tenacious tape with me. Hopefully one of those would bail me out if it happened.
Everything's a trade off. I use an inflatable with a yoga matt. 😆
The yoga mat probably rolls up a little smaller than my blue foam pad. Doubling things up definitely works if you are ok with carrying it
I've done this and continue to do this too, there's no shame in it at all.
Right, it's all a learning process.
i got the termarest 7.3 never buy a noder pad. thx Bro. Greetings from Swizerland.
I've heard that's the warmest pad out there but it's pricey. I bet in Switzerland you have some pretty cold temps at times though so it's probably worth it.
Buy once cry once works if you know what you're getting. Problem is you don't know until you use it if it is good for you, or it is what you were looking for.
That is one good thing about buying from REI. They have a really accommodating return policy. If you try something and it isn't working for you it can be returned no questions asked for up to a year if you're a member .
Wait until you see the prices for Hammock under and over quilts.
I'm sure. Any kind of down quilt that's decent will cost you. I've just never been interested in hammock camping for some reason. Maybe it's "old dog, new tricks" syndrome 😄
@@personaltimeoutdoors It has it's own set of pros and cons to be sure. And a learning curve.
So going cheap you ended up spending way more than if you just purchased a high quality high r-value pad the first time . Buy once cray once quality is remembered long after price is forgotten
Right, I tried to save a buck and it ended up costing me more in the end. Certain gear items you can go budget but a sleeping pad isn't one of them. Unless you only camp in the middle of summer.
Young
Thanks for watching