Gearing Up: A good night's zzzzs can rest on sleeping-pad decision

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June 4, 1998

Gearing Up: A good night's zzzzs can rest on sleeping-pad decision

By KRISTIN HOSTETTER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Sticks, stones, roots, slopes, scree, talus, boulders, ruts, holes, ice and green peas -- these are just some of the things that can get between you and a good night's rest.

Sleeping in the great outdoors can be hard enough, with all those creepy nighttime sounds and the wind flapping your tent walls. At the least, you need a good, comfortable pad to cradle your weary bones.

Camping mattresses come in different shapes and sizes. If you're an ounce-counter, you may want to opt for a 3/4-length pad and place your pack or some extra clothes under your feet.

Full-length pads are the way to go if you're a cold-weather camper; the extra insulation from the cold ground is well worth the additional weight.

Pads also come in various thicknesses and widths. Again, thin, narrow pads are fine if you're one of those lucky people who can fall asleep anywhere. But there's no doubt about it: The thicker and wider your pad, the more it resembles your Posturepedic back home.

In terms of design, there are two basic types of sleeping pads.

Self-inflating pads: Call them the Cadillacs of the camping mattress world. Once you sleep on a cushy self-inflater, it's tough to go back to a regular foam pad.

A self-inflater consists of a slab of open cell foam encased in a nylon shell. You simply open the valve in one corner, unfurl the pad, and come back half an hour later to a cushy, inflated bed.

Sometimes you will have to add a few puffs to plump the mattress, but don't orally inflate the mattress unless you have to -- moisture from your breath can get inside the foam and turn to mold or mildew.

When you get ready to pack up, just open the valve and squeeze the air out as you roll the pad up.

Look for a self-inflater with a textured outer casing to prevent you from slip-sliding around on an uneven campsite. Also, if you opt for a self-inflater, be aware that they're more fragile than regular foam pads. Be sure to pack your pad in a stuff sack before lashing it onto the outside of your pack, and carry a patch kit in case of a puncture.

Closed-cell foam: Simple slabs of firm, waterproof foam are the favorite among minimalists and penny pinchers because they weigh practically nothing and cost less than $15.

The best ones incorporate ridges or bumps that provide extra cushioning and some friction to prevent slipping. The real advantage of closed-cell foam pads is that they're virtually indestructible. Cactus spines, thorns, rocks, flailing Swiss Army knives, or flying campfire embers? No problem!

Kristin Hostetter is the equipment editor for Backpacker magazine. She resides in Portland, Ore., but spends most of her time in the wilds testing gear. For more information on equipment, check out Backpacker's Web site atwww.bpbasecamp.com.