Shoutout to the guy who said a cheap foam pad is just as good as an inflatable one

I slept on a basic $25 foam pad for a whole season in the Cascades and my back was fine. Switched to a fancy inflatable pad last year and woke up sore every morning, even after adjusting the firmness. Has anyone else gone back to simple gear and been happier?

3 comments

3 Comments

grace5652mo agoTop Commenter

Honestly that inflatable pad probably just needed a different setup. My old foam one was a total pain to pack and offered zero comfort on rocky ground, woke up feeling like I got hit by a truck. The ability to tweak the firmness on an air pad is a game changer for side sleepers, and the compact size is worth every penny. Maybe the specific model you tried just didn't match your sleep style.

milarodriguez2mo ago

Totally agree about finding the right setup. I had a cheap inflatable pad that felt like sleeping on a balloon until I let a little air out. Now I barely inflate it, just enough so my hip doesn't touch the ground, and it's way better. Sometimes you gotta mess with the pressure all night to get it right, which is annoying but worth it. A good pad makes the whole trip better, but a bad one ruins everything.

diana_thompson382mo ago

Funny enough, I was a total air pad believer for years. That whole "sleeping on a cloud" thing. Then I borrowed my buddy's old foam pad on a cold trip last fall. Woke up actually warm and without that weird lower back ache I always got. Now my fancy pad collects dust in the closet. That simple foam just works for me, no fussing with valves at 2 a.m.