That ultralight sleeping pad lost 2 inches of air over 3 nights in Yosemite

I used my new inflatable pad on a trip last month, and by the third morning I was waking up with my hips touching the ground. I'm wondering if I should try a closed-cell foam pad instead for longer trips. Has anyone else had this deflation problem with ultralight pads?

3 comments

3 Comments

maryr432d ago

Heard someone say those ultralight pads are basically glorified bubble wrap. They just can't hold air like the heavier ones. Maybe try a half foam, half inflatable setup for longer trips.

the_daniel1d ago

Not sure I totally buy that, lol. The whole point of ultralight is cutting weight and a half foam setup kinda defeats that since foam is heavy and bulky. I've had cheap inflatables that lasted years and pricier ones that popped first trip. It's more about how you set it up and clear the ground than the brand or denier count. If you're really worried, get a cheap foam pad to throw under the inflatable, but calling all ultralights bubble wrap is a stretch.

logan_anderson402d ago

Yeah I gotta push back a little on that, @maryr43. Most of those ultralight pads use the same 20 or 30 denier fabric as the heavier ones, just less of it. The real difference is the valve and patch quality, not the material itself. I've used a couple of the big name ultralight pads for years now and they hold air just fine, even on rocky ground. The foam combo idea works if you're doing super cold trips though since inflatables lose some insulation value. Just gotta make sure whatever you pick has a solid repair kit included.