Hi, I'm trying to decide what sleeping pad to buy. I have no experience sleeping on air pads, so I'm asking for some help. I'm 6'2" 220lbs, and wondering what pad would work best with my weight. I'm a fair weather backpacker(apr-oct) mainly in the Lake Tahoe area.
I've come up with 2 choices so far:
Exped symat ul7
Nemo Astro Air Insulated

If anyone has any comments or experience, I would welcome your opinions.

thanks in advance

Edited by BearSpray on 03/17/2012 15:07:40 MDT.

Without knowing your hiking conditions and requirements it's hard to make any recommendation.

Are you sleeping on snow in the dead of winter or nice forest duff in summer? While comfort is nice, warmth is usually more important for a good night's sleep.

The Exped gets good reviews. If you're a member a great State of the Market Report was recently published on a ton of lightweight sleeping pad options.

Do air mattresses hold their air all night with a fat a$$ like me (220lbs). Will the 2 that I mentioned hold up or do I need sturdier model? I need to pull the trigger soon
thx

Edited by BearSpray on 03/17/2012 20:08:32 MDT.

I would go with a 24/25 inch wide pad. I have a exped down mat and a neoair both are good. I would pull the trigger on a wider exped UL.

Exped Synmat UL7!

The only issue might be that if you have broad shoulder and are a back sleeper, your arms will hang off the sides.

Im fatter than you are and I sleep on a UL7 just fine on my back or side. If on my back I cross my fingers from each hand (like praying) over my fat gut and my arms stay off the ground. Also mike c's tip of using your shoes under your elbows works if they are not to wet or you got something to put over them. If you use a sleeping bag and its zipped up that keeps your arms off the ground as well. Most likely more problemo with a quilt.

I don't know about a fat a$$ like you, but my Exped Downmat 9 has no trouble holding fat a$$ me (204 lbs) up all night. ;-) Exped makes a very sturdy pad, and the built-in pump is wonderful. You won't regret buying one. And I second the suggestion to get the wider 25" pad if you can; it's wonderful to be able to shift position without having your arms or legs slip off the pad.

I have a NeoAir All Season that support my 6'3" 215 pound self wonderfully. Worth considering for your use.

I had one with a slow leak (and I mean days to go down) replaced under warranty. The new one stays inflated for months (you're meant to store them uncompressed like you would a down sleeping bag, i.e. preferably inflated).

Very comfortable, (even suitable for side sleeping) very warm and very durable. I'm only 70 kg though. The only thing likely to damage it would be if you mistreated it (i.e. stuck something through it or left it inflated inside a tent in the sun in summer).\

Highly recommended. I don't know how durable the UL one is but I see no reason to "upgrade" to a possibly flimsier mat.

Demerits:

* heavy (but very light for the warmth and comfort offered)
* a pain to pack away (similar experience (well a bit easier) to getting a sleeping bag back in its bag).

I have the UL 7 and it has held up foot me so far probably 6 or more nights at 260 lbs and my 18 to 20 lb dog walking on it with sharp nails.

I use the Exped pillow pump to inflate mine to keep the moisture out and inflate at air temperature not warm breath. Seems to work well and does not deflate at all. They also make a small pump that weights less than 2 ounces (Mt pillow pump weights almost 6 oz but it is a really comfortable pillow).

This is the only air mattress I have ever had but seems to work really well, I have been very pleased with it.

As far as packing it up, it packs/rolls easily but next weekend when I go I am going to try just folding it loosely and putting on top off my quilt at the bottom of my bag.

I've slept on colemans car camping that deflate 2 or 3 times during the night. I do not want that ever again. Guess I'm just looking for a great combination of light weight, comfort, and reliability, if that even exists.

If you are a fair weather backpacker then you there is no need for one of the insulated air mattresses, too fussy and delicate in my opinion anyway.

I am a fan of a two mat system for comfort and durability, in case one deflates for some reason.

http://40yearsofwalking.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/current-thoughts-on-sleeping-pads/