What do you guys recommend for a lightweight sleep pad?
I am thnking of using (not sure what it's called) this foil/plastic bubble insulation that comes from the home supply store in 4' rolls.
It's like plastic bubble wrap with silver foil on both sides. With the proper tape this stuff is amazingly versitle and is quite light.
I figured a piece 3' wide and 6' long. It doesn't fold well so I would cut it lengthwise and then use the tape like a hinge. Fold it over and roll it up.
Wadda ya think?

I haven't used the rolls in quite a few years, but If I remember correctly, a 6'x3' piece is fairly bulky. The advantage of the commercial models is their ability to evacuate most of the air in their cells and roll down tight, yet still remain very light and insulate a sleeping bag from the ground. Folding it over (length-wise) is going to make it really big.

I use ensolite foam sleeping pads. EZ Rest is one brand. That particular one is hinged so that it folds into a nice stack. The others roll into a bundle and you need a nylon strap to secure them.

You probably don't need a 6' long one if you're not sleeping in snow country. You really only need something that goes down past your hips. Using a shorter pad saves weight and space.

Kevin B.

Therm-a-rest closed cell foam pads, the non-inflating kind, such as the z-rest and ridge rest(folds and rolls, respectively) weigh almost nothing, are very durable, are reasonbly compact(though much more bulky than top of the line self inflating pads), and are not expensive at all. As a bonus, you can circle either one around your stove in cold weather, to save fuel and decrease cooking time. Of the two, the ridge rest is cheaper and more durable, since the z-rest is very thin where it folds.

Well it really depends on how well you want to sleep.
I've heard of others using the material you are talking about, it works.
I use 2 kinds of pads, both light weight.
An EZ-rest folding pad and now with it a Big Agnes Air Pad
(Red, air only). Together they are lighter weight than a self inflator and much more comfortable.
If I get a hole in the air pad that I can't patch I still have the EZ-rest. The EZ-rest aslo gives better insulation than the Air pad alone (air only so very little).
In the past I used the same type system but instead of the air pad I used a short self inflator to save weight. Now I have less bulk,less weight and more comfort.

Recently I got a very nice inflatable pad from REI (their house brand). It s a full sleeping pad that folds to a roll only 6 inches in diameter, only 12 inches long. I don't like the closed foam type since they are rather uncomfortable to sleep on (to me at least).
Air insulates soooo much better also. Once when my friends and I went camping in winter, some of us had the closed cell type while others had the inflatable kind. When we removed the tent in the morning we could see that ground was melted underneath those persons who had the closed cell type. Those who had the inflatable kind also weren't cranky since they got a full night sleep and weren't cold at all <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Would you have the catalog # or link? I'd like to take a look. Like the idea of the small rolled size (currently have the foam pad).

thr ridgerest and z rest are highly rated. Dont bother with packing bubbles; spend $12 on a real pad.

www.gossamergear.com

check out sleeping gear for pads

The Reflectix laminated insulation stuff may not be the greatest as a sleeping mat, but it's better than just a tarp. And it's great for sitting on, at a ball game or in front of a fire, where you usually roast on one side and freeze on the other.

Sue

The problem with the foil/bubble wrap insulation is that it is designed as building insulation not as a sleeping mat. It is not really rugged enough to go between you and the ground. You will end up punching holes throudf the foil and popping bubbles. But it does work great as an add on bottom layer for a hammock. But as someone else said it is a bit bulky.

By the way I know about both cases becauuse I had the same idea a while ago and tried it. Ended up with a Swiss cheese mat. Which is not that much padding to start with. Not that comfortable at all. As lower insulation for the bottom of a hammock it works especially in winter camping. But not any better than a space blanket. The spase blanket contributes much less bulk to the sleeping system.

honestly, after years of trying to do it on the cheap, my vote goes for thick (1.5") or more thermarest or REI brand sleep pad. as soon as i can afford it i'm upgrading from my thick foam pad. sleep is very important. at least to me. but then agian, i always carry a full size pillow in a compression sack when i backpack so i might be a little biased for comfort.

"Lightweight" and comfort are, as a general rule, contradictions. I use a proper, full sized Thermorest. Closed foam mats are really designed for soft ground or for use on snow. CF's come in different weights. They are graded from light 1-2 season summer use to 5 season Artic/Mountain use. And are priced accordingly.

I'm for the Thermorest (or similar). I've used on for years, including as a bed on a daily basis (I never replaced my bed that was destroyed in a flood 7 years ago). I was very comfortable until my dog attempted to eat it. Needless to say it soesn't work as well anymore, but I will be getting another one. I consider it to have been one of my best purchases for camping. (Along with a litle pot grabber - I love that thing!)

Alot of good recommendations here. I'm in North Central Wisconsin if that helps. It's about a 20% chance that the ground will be frozen solid. At the very least it will probably be quite damp. That's why I thought of the foil/bubble stuff, seeing it's waterproof. At least until I puncture it.
Money isn't really an issue here, just weight, bulk and comfort. I don't mind paying for the good stuff.

Dave--

Spring for the Thermarest (or something very similar). You can get full sized, or 3/4 length. I have both, & wouldn't trade either of them. I've slept quite comfortably in the low 20s.

Get a patch kit, too...though I've never used mine.

David

Hmm.
For some reason I didn't get a notification about this post. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Anyway, I am fairly certain its this item at REI.

Ah. Thank you...

Sorry, I'm an Old Guy, I use a pad that is basically 1 1/4 in. thick X 3 ft. X 7 ft closed cell foam covered in heavy canvas. It doesn't roll up very small, but keeps the old bones off the ground.

I've used a Ridgerest closed cell pad for many years of backpacking. It looks like it's been chewed up from enduring miles of bushwhacking but it still pads and insulates.
My regular hiking buddy is too soft for just a ridgerest so he also carries a Thermarest (self-inflating) pad. Trouble with the t-rest is that it loses a lot of its function if punctured.
The RR takes up some space but is indestructible and weighs nearly nothing. That's my choice.