Invest in a good sleeping pad

As a side sleeper, finding a sleeping pad that doesn't make my hip go numb has been a challenge. Anyone that has ventured out on the trail with an inferior sleeping pad, knows all too well the tossing and turning that happens when you feel the ground beneath you. My first night on a sleeping pad, was spent on a borrowed pad, and it turned out to be a hip-numbing sleepless night. That one-inch of air was not enough to resemble any kind of padding from the earth for my bony hip.

Exped SIM Comfort 7.5 LW - Car Camping

The next day began the quest for a quality sleeping pad. A friend had purchased an Exped SIM Comfort 7.5 LW and next to my borrowed inch of sleeping discomfort it looked like a dream. I scoured websites until I found a deal and ordered the 3 inches of heavenly bliss. What I didn't initially realize was the Exped SIM Comfort 7.5 LW was on its way out of production. The picture of what I ordered and what I received were two different products, I was sent the Exped SIM Comfort 10 - big difference! 

Eventually I found the Exped SIM Comfort 7.5 LW and had it delivered just in time for my next adventure. The two great features of the SIM Comfort 7.5 LW are that it is self-inflating and it has an R-value of 6.4. If you don't know anything about R-value ratings, do the research if you plan on using your sleeping pad in cold weather, it'll make a huge difference. An R-value of 6.4 is amazing for cold temperatures. I was warm in temperatures below zero, when I coupled this incredible R-value with a zero-degree sleeping bag.

And this was folding the sleeping pad in half and barely stuffing it inside of the red sack. Looks ridiculous bungee strapped to my backpack!

What I didn't consider when purchasing this sleeping pad was its size for backpacking. Ridiculous comes to mind when I think of hauling this sleeping pad on sections of the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and Mt. Kilimanjaro. The pad weighed over 4lbs and was like carrying a log, because it didn't compress to fit inside my backpack. Luckily, I had porters to carry my bag up Kilimanjaro, otherwise I never would have made it to the top (don't worry the porters didn't carry more than 20lbs or so total). After far too many trips with this large sleeping pad, I broke down and researched a more sensible backpacking sleeping pad. If you are car camping, you'll find the Exped SIM Comfort 7.5 LW a comfortable bed!

Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Mat - Backpacking

Besides getting the Editor's Choice award in 2015 for best backpacking sleeping pad, there were a few features to the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus that sold me. That R-value rating was once again super important, I know that being in cold temperatures won't be a regular occurrence, but when it is cold having a cold barrier is absolutely necessary. With an R-value of 5, protection from chill of the earth is certain.

Dual ports for filling the top chamber and the bottom chamber. Easy to open inflate and deflate tabs in each port.

The main selling point for the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated mat was the dual chambers for inflating. I fill the bottom chamber to capacity, and fill the top chamber to suit my comfort level (I'm still playing with the best setting). I do get slightly numb hips if I don't fill the top chamber full enough, that side sleeping thing really gets in the way sometimes. Another important feature of the dual chamber is added protection from punctures. If a stick or rock decides to be mean, hopefully it only punctures one side, leaving one chamber filled with air and you sleeping at least an inch off of the ground. I'll take one chamber over a completely deflated sleeping pad and the cold ground for padding.

No sign of the sleeping pad, because it's hidden inside of the backpack where it should be!

Having a sleeping pad that is actually meant for backpacking is a huge benefit and saves me for being a dork on the mountain. When a sleeping pad actually fits inside a backpack and weighs hardly anything, that's the way backpacking was meant to be! A hefty price tag comes along with the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus, so I waited for a sale and used an extra bonus certificate, which made the purchase less painful. Some reviewers have complained about the crinkling noise, but I didn't find it annoying and it was less noisy than my friend's Therm-A-Rest with a comparable R-value. 

For discounts on sleeping pads and other adventure gear, visit Active Junky!

*No benefit from Sea to Summit or Exped for the honest review of their products.