Hi,
I did look in files and archives but I did not find too much that would help me.
I have never backpacked before, only day hikes so I need some help in picking up a good sleeping pad. I had no problems to find the right tent (Double Rainbow from Tarptent) but I cannot decide on a pad. They all seem to have pros and cons. After a long, long search I think that I will go for the Peak Elite AC from Pacific Outdoor Equipment http://pacoutdoor.com/sleeping-pads/view/peak-elite-ac . These are the only pads that Steve Green from ww.hikelight.com sells. I like his website. He has been light backpacking for many years so maybe he knows what he is talking about. It has a good R value, good price and it is light but because it is new there are no reviews of it on the internet yet. They have women’s version too but I do not know what advantages it would have. Besides it is only 66 inches and it is exactly my height so it might be too short.
Does anyone know how hard or easy is it to blow it up? Is it slippery?

My second choice would be Prolite Plus but it is heavier by 8 oz, more expensive and you have to buy the stuff sack and repair kit extra. I like that with straps I can make chair from it. It might come in handy at the end of the day. Does anyone do that or it is not a big deal?

I looked at ProLite. It is light but R is only 2.2.

I also looked at NeoAir but it seems to be noisy and fragile.

I think that Thermarest Ridge Rest Solar are nice (cheap, you do not have to worry about it, you can throw it anywhere) but it is bulky.
.
I came across Big Agnes as well.

That is it. Your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated. It would be nice to hear from Peak Elite users as well.
Thank you
Alina

I too had your problem recently, i had all my other ultralight kit and was fairly happy with it, the only item i couldn't decide on was a sleeping mat. I was going to go for the peak elite ac for exactly the same reasons as you, but decided to give the multimat adverturer a go at 170g it was the lightest close cell mat i could find. Compared to a inflatable mat it is bulky, but i just lash it to the bottom of my MLD Prophet rucksack with not problems. I have just come back from doing the West Highland Way in Scotland, where i rain non stop for 6 days, but i had no problems with the mat although when i did get it at first, i admit i did think it looked far to thin to be affective, but i was wrong, it was fine.

What i intend to do is purchase the Peak Elite AC pad and use it in slightly colder weather periods but stick to the multimat when the temperatures are slightly higher. Like most pieces of kit, it really is about trial and error and personal preferences. Good luck with your choices and as someone who has done his first ultralight hike i promise you it is well worth it, i was amazed at the difference when i finished each night, i just felt so fresh compared to walking with heavier packs and my feet sure appreciated the difference, no dreaded blisters for a change.

Colin

neoair is more durable then it looks. If you are sleeping in a tent it should have no problem. If you are sleeping in a shelter or on rocky soil, a ground-cloth would suffice in keeping it safe.

My wife and i have been using neoair since their release.
Its been one the biggest improvement for my outdoor enjoyement with reducing my load and starting using 2 hiking staff.
I never fully slept on my ridgerest, and now i feel like at home, plus i make more noise than him snoring.
Both those arguments are negated if you are younger :p

But the peak elite is warmer and lighter , i think ill try it.

As for neoair being fragile, the only trouble we had with ours is when mices chewed my wife neoair in Patagonia, she slept one nice with a deflated one on snow :p.

I saw one of these yesterday at rei. Looked like a darn comfy warm light pad.

Around 16oz if I remember and like r4 or so

Was thicker than the neo air too

I use Prolite - down to 20 F but I sleep pretty warm, should be easily good down to 32 F for most people. If you're camping on snow you need something in addition. Of course, it depends on what else you wear.

I'm 6' 1". The 6' Prolite is fine. Sometimes my heels are off the pad, but I normally bring my feet up at least a little so they're on the pad.

Many consider the Peak Elite AC to be the best lightweight pad of any of the choices that are out there. And it's only $64 with free shipping from amazon.com.

Another plus is that it weighs considerably *less* than the manufacturer's spec.

I just used one Thursday night for the first time (POE Peak Elite) - 10.5 oz for the petite (66" tapered) model. It was very comfortable, and seemed well insulated though hard to tell because I was also using a quilt for the first time and I think the quilt was not warm enough for me; I felt cold on top. The Peak Elite didn't seem noisy, but was a little slippery (at least more so than the old thermarests I'm used to).

P.S. Alina, I am 68" tall but I did not find the 66" length to be too short for me. Do you sleep completely stretched out or do you curl up a little? I've never found that I lie with my knees and thighs not flexed a little. Also, it doesn't really bother me to let my feet hang over the edge of the mat (I've used 3/4 length thermarests and those are fine, you can always put your pack or something underneath for a little insulation).

Edited by dkramalc on 05/21/2011 08:53:20 MDT.

I just picked up the Exped Syn UL7 the other day and have been testing it a couple of nights now and I think I have a 'keeper'! This pad is way quieter than the NeoAir I returned last year and has a 'softer' feel to it' It is fairly easy to inflate and deflate and has larger tubes along the sides that help keep me on the pad. I have to use it in the field to get a better idea of durability issues, but this is a really nice pad. A bonus: Exped includes a stuff sack and repair kit.

+1 on the Exped. I have used it for two nights so far at 26F and it was extremely warm at those temps. I was using a quilt. I think the R-value of 3.1 is underrated.

I was a Neoair lover. I still think they're great pads, but I like the UL7 better. It's a couple ounces heavier but MUCH warmer IMO, and I think it's more comfortable as well (and the Neoair WAS the most comfortable pad I'd used). The UL7 is expensive but you should be able to find it much cheaper than retail if you look around. I've seen them sell for around $100 on ebay.

The EXPED UL7 is only 64". Do I let my feet just hang over the end? Nope!

Neoair was my most comfortable until I met the Exped UL7.

While the Ridgerest is cheap and durable it is not nearly as comfortable as an air pad. I could never get a truly good nights sleep on my Ridgerest. I have not used the Peak Elite AC but I do have its predecessor the Ether Elite 6 and it is a great pad. It is durable, has a pretty good R value and is comfortable. The NeoAir is pretty comparable to the Peak Elite AC in both weight and comfort but is quite a bit more expensive. For the price I would go with the Peak Elite AC.

"The EXPED UL7 is only 64". Do I let my feet just hang over the end? Nope!"

Yup. That is for the small. The Regular is 72" and 15.8oz on my scale.

I have both, no comparison between the UL 7 and the Neoair. Plus the UL 7 comes with the sack and patch kit. That really is nice that Exped throws that in. The UL is more durable and not nearly as noisy. Side by side you can tell its just a much better quality product. My full length UL7 with the sack comes in at 16.5 oz.

+4. I have the Small. I'm 5'8 and the only things that hang off the end are my feet. The full sized version would've been overkill for me.

I'd love it if they came out with a torso-length that I could mate with my backpack under my legs.

I have not used any of the POE pads, but I have an Exped SynMat. I tolerated the vertical baffles because it is all I knew, other than that of my more flat self inflators. Then I purchased the NeoAir, and I realized what I had been missing. I love it and have no reason to look for anything else. I don't find it to be as fragile as it seems some may say nor as noisy. I have never been told by anyone that my pad is loud and bothersome, but I guess I have just not met the right people.

For people that like the vertical baffles, the new Exped UL7 looks to be the way to go.

Which is more comfy for you?

I used mine last weekend where the night temps were around 45* and I ended up adding a baselayer and my driducks to my hiking clothes. I was using a WM Summerlite bag that I bought from the gear swap. I also had on a fleece cap and thermasilk gloves. As a female without a lot of body fat, I do sleep colder than most. I wasn't so cold that I couldn't sleep, but did wake up cold twice, each time adding another layer. And once I exited the Solomid in the morning, it didn't seem that cold. I'm considering pairing it with a Gossamer Gear thinlight pad. Hoping a 1/8" would be sufficient. Otherwise I would probably be better off with a better insulated pad.

Thanks in advance for the input,
Leigh

Edited by leighb on 05/22/2011 11:28:27 MDT.

In some spots it's lighter insulation, in others (torso, petite pad foot area) it's higher. Hence the range of R values.

Had you slept with the Summerlite before? I had a similar experience the other night, similar temperature, but I was attributing my coldness to the new Golite Quilt that I was using for the first time. I wore my hiking clothes plus an insulated jacket, and like you I was not so cold I couldn't sleep, but just a little colder than I would've liked to be - and normally I would be sweating in a sleeping back on my thermarest in that temperature, unless I removed clothing.