What Do You Use As Cushion?

HappyFeet · 10-25-2011, 11:47 AM

Many campers carry their own sleeping bags so cushion is not a problem. What if you only have a tent? What cushion do you use so your back won't get hurt due to the hard and cold ground?

pastywhite · 10-25-2011, 11:50 AM

If you are not using a pad (even with a bag) you are going to have a miserable night. There are 100s of different sleeping pads. You will just need to pick the one that suits you. You can start with the cheap blue pads from Walmart and buy up from there.

I use a NeoAir whether I am in a tent or hammock.

Pathfinder1 · 10-25-2011, 12:53 PM

I usually don't trek very far,
when all around me black bears are.

Hi...

Besides my butt, I'll use my 3/8" thick mil. spec. sleeping pad. Either that or my folded shelter half.

Grandpa · 10-25-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyFeet

Many campers carry their own sleeping bags so cushion is not a problem. What if you only have a tent? What cushion do you use so your back won't get hurt due to the hard and cold ground?

Can't imagine a scenario where I had my tent and not my bag and pad. But, find a rotting log, usually lots of cushiony sawdust the ants have left behind.

danny28 · 10-25-2011, 07:13 PM

I would never go camping without a sleeping bag and most times my wife wants to take an air mattress. I can't imagine sleeping without a bag - call me a pansy!

steves · 10-25-2011, 07:55 PM

sleeping bag and thermarest neoair for this guy!

Jumper79 · 10-25-2011, 08:04 PM

We almost always have an air mattress and we never go without at least one sleeping bag if not two. I have back issues too so if we aren't trekking to far with our gear I will also take a pillow.

wvbreamfisherman · 10-25-2011, 08:35 PM

Car camping- queen-sized air mattress. Backpacking, either a thermarest clone, or a closed cell (blue)foam pad. Can't imagine trying to sleep in a tent without one or the other.

hummingbird · 10-25-2011, 08:55 PM

I agree totally with the thermarest pad. It's very comfortable and makes sure you don't lose heat into the ground. It redirects the heat of your body back to you so the heat doesn't seep down into the ground.

ponderosa · 10-26-2011, 01:16 AM

I used a 3/4 length thermarest for years and saw no reason to try anything else until I was about six months pregnant with my first baby. My aching hips and back needed a bit more comfort if I was going to keep camping, so I upgraded to a down insulated air mat. I'll never go back. Besides being ridiculously comfortable, the down mat packs down smaller, and is much warmer. I've always had a hard time staying warm, especially on backpacking trips when space/weight limitations restricted how much warm gear I could carry. I am toasty warm, using the same sleeping bag as before, at much lower temps with the down mat compared to my old thermarest. I LOVE this mat:

Exped DownMat 7 Air Mattress with Built-in Pump