Is it hard to sleep on 2/3 pad? I am side sleeper and I toss and turn all night. What concerns me is the 'drop off' from hips to knees and ankles since peak elite AC is pretty thick which could lead to blood pool in the lower legs and inefficient rest. Your opinion?

I use a neo air short which @ 47" is roughly 2/3 length, I use my backpack at the bottom to help mitigate the drop-off- doesn't bother me at all, but I think it's going to be a YMMV kind of thing as I know a lot of folks stick w/ a full length pad

Ditto what Mike said. I use my pack at the end of my Neo Air, size small. It works well for me, and I love the weight savings of using a smaller pad.

I use my ccf bum pad under my feet with my NeoAir short. I don 't even notice the "drop off" but that may be due to the fact that I don't put a lot of air in my NeoAir (I'm more comfortable on my NeoAir when it's slightly deflated).

I'm a side sleeper and toss and turn quite a bit. And I just spent my first two nights on my NeoAir Trekker "Large Torso" (its 25x47"). I tried all sorts of different inflations, and just couldn't figure something that was comfortable for side sleeping. I ended up deflating it about 1/2 way, then folding it in half and using it under my pillow. The end result was me being 'on the ground' (tarp) from the shoulders down, and then from the shoulders up the pad basically became a wedge propping my Cocoon pillow up to where my head was at a comfortable level for side sleeping. Hope all that makes sense.

So bottom line is I'm hear looking for other alternatives for side sleepers, both in terms of a taller pillow and a non inflatable full length pad. YMMV.

The Montbell pillow (& I assume Exped's similar version...oh, and Bender's) is one I enjoy as a side sleeper.

I love my NeoAir but don't like hanging off either. The only way I can use a short inflatable and be comfy on my side is to pair the above pillow with a 90 or 120cm Montbell pad (or w/my Torsolite), and have a 3/8" GG ccf pad underneath. By then, it weighs about the same as my neo, w/ some advantages & disadvantages:

- comfort is great w/either
- width isn't as nice as my Large Neo
- a ccf on bottom makes it a more durable setup
- the Montbell is WAY easier to inflate
- but MAN, do I just plain love my wide NeoAir!!!

A Bridge Hammock from JRB works great for me as well. What a great hammock.And a thinner pillow can be used in a hammock as well.

Edited by funnymoney on 09/05/2011 19:34:26 MDT.

Many suggest to put backpack under the lower torso to fill up the gap. What if the backpack is wet and you have used all your clothes to keep you warm in your sleeping bag or its dirty and stowed into bear bag? I am planning to do some summer hiking with the minimum of clothes but I expect rain.

if wet- put it under your bivy or ground cloth, many packs have a pad built into them or added to them- especially frameless packs

it's not a perfect solution by any stretch, especially w/ a 2.5" inflatable- as there is still some drop off even w/ a pack under your feet

just put your sleeping bag with your feet into the pack, provided the pack isn't too narrow.

As Mike W. said, for maximum comfort, you probably won't be fully inflating the pad anyways, unless you like really firm mattresses at home. Like Mike M. I used a 47" NeoAir on occasion. I sleep on my stomach, and it cuts off just below my knees, and I've never had an issue with lower leg discomfort.

The lightest option that I have been trying that I feel alright with is a prolite extra small with a 3/8" blueridge mat under that. These are both 36", my head overhangs the mat and for a pillow I am using a flex air large inside a stuff sack with the softest clothing that I dont need for sleep insulation, which at best is now a down vest and at worst is my dry ducks or poncho. I use my pack a GG vapor trail under my legs. The mats and the flex air pillow weigh 13.2 oz total not much less than the very comfy synmat UL I have but I like the idea of having the CC foam along it makes a great sit pad and something to kneal on when setting up and taking down and if the prolite pops I still got insulation. Comfy inflatable mat falure got me to this.Edit: Sorry I didnt answer anything that you asked so please disregard every thing I just said :^)

Edited by mtmnmark on 09/19/2011 21:58:43 MDT.

I use a neo short With a GG 1/4 inch pad on top (59 inches long, weights 3.5 oz). I try to find a gentle sloping site to sleep with my feet uphill. Under my feet I use my pack with the hip belt and shoulder straps interwoven to form a 7 inch square. The foam in the straps insulate my feet and keep the foot of my down bag above water level. (The GG foam goes over the straps also) I also sleep with my extra cloths/rain wear in a stuff sack at the head of the neo (off the pads) so the over all length is longer (me 5' 7"). My supplex hiking shirt is buttoned and dressed around the neo and the stuff sack is laid inside the shirt neck to prevent pillow migration. Hope that makes sense.

Edited by backfeets1 on 09/19/2011 23:06:23 MDT.

Haven't found the drop off to be a problem on my Kooka bay pad, as I don't inflate it very fully. Also I put the pad from my GG Gorrila under my feet. The main problem I find with mats when side sleeping is that when you bring your knees up into the foetal position your knees fall off the side of the pad.

As a side sleeper I am fine with a 1/2 pad. As long as my butt is till on the pad, I am fine :) I am more tolerant of that stuff though.

One more vote for backpack under your feet when sleeping on a short neo air. As long as my but is on the pad, my legs don't notice the drop off, so even if my pack was wet, wouldn't bother me if I didn't have it, however I would want something, or my feet might get cold from being directly on the ground. Bring a small towel to wipe off your pack?

If your pack is wet put your rain jacket or your pack liner/cover over your pack to keep your sleeping bag from getting damp.

Edited by deadbox on 09/20/2011 06:52:12 MDT.

I use a 2/3 pad as well (slightly shorter, actually), with the pack at my foot and a little extra clothing. It also helps I'm only 5'6". ;)

"If your pack is wet put your rain jacket or your pack liner/cover over your pack to keep your sleeping bag from getting damp."


Try this after 10 hours of nasty rain, when your pack and jacket is soaking wet.
I avoid to get my bag in contact with any moisture or wet clothes, stuff.

just use the a thin foam pad for your legs and you are fine.

I use a 2/3 pad, an inflatable thermarest prolite, and suppliment this with a 1/8 inch Gossamer Gear Thinlight pad full length.
If you have room in your pack for this, I'd say this will give your torso extra comfort/ insulation, and take care of your legs as well.
I put the thinlight outside my bivy, protecting the bottom even more.

The reason I use a 2/3rd pad is that if you are over 6' you are going to be off your pad anyway unless you get an extra long which is super heavy! You'll always be able to figure out some solution to your feet although I agree a small piece of foam is nice for many reasons. Maybe even try a full length GG thinlite doubled up at your feet then you have a backup in case of unfortunate disinflation issues such as the overnight slow leak i am experiencing right now on my POE. I have put it through the wringer though so I am not too depressed.