Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Which thermarest pad 4 a pack back hunt?

What pad are u guys using on sheep/goat hunts?

Thanks for any info!

NeoAir, best warmth to weight ratio.

I'm using a sea to summit because I got tired of patching and/or replacing my neo airs.

I think this is the one: Sea To Summit Ultralight


With a ridge rest under it.

Yep. I'm also using a Thermarest NeoAir, large, wide. I think you can get a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core for a little less money and it's about the same pad.

KC

Yep, and I always take the knives and screwdrivers out of my pockets before bed, too.

I'm going to respectfully disagree that they're the same pad. Vertical vs. horizontal baffles--result is a very different feel when laying on them. AIC is filled with synthetic insluation filament, NeoAir uses a heat reflective coating. Obviously different valve designs. I've had both and prefer the NeoAir line between the two. I prefer the Exped Synmat UL 7 to the NeoAir, but not by much.

Also, not sheep and goat hunting...though I often see them when backpack hunting mule deer, bears, and elk, as I'm sure many here do.

Neo air. Maybe invest in a pump bag. I get tired of blowing my matteress up after every relocate.

I've been using a NeoAir for a couple years. I added a ridge-rest / folded-z pad under it 2 summers ago. Together, they're as good as my Cabela's cot pad I used car camping and very nearly as good as my mattress back home ... and a lot easier to carry.

Some things are worth a couple ounces, some aren't. I think the little 2 AAA -powered pump is worth it. Turn the little sucker on and go start dinner. Few minutes later it's done and I'm not hyperventilating.

Tom

A $15 ensolite pad from Wally's under an air pad works as well as a Z pad. The problem is that it's pretty bulky. If you can handle that, they work very well

Rocky:

I have both the Z pad and the cheap closed cell foam (Ensolite) pad. Referring to bulk, I think it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. The Z pad might weigh a little less but the Ensolite pad seems a little more durable. That might be just my impression because I haven't used the Z pad much. It mostly sits in the closet while the cheap Ensolite pad goes backpacking. It may also be that fact that since the Ensolite pad is so cheap, I don't mind too much of it gets damaged with little gouges, tiny tears, etc. The Z pad seems like it would tear easy. But maybe it's the $40 price tag that makes me more careful.

KC

What's with all the people complaining about blowing up a damn backpacking pad? You'd think they were puffing on one of those inflatable playgrounds or sumthin'..............

Casey

+1 on the X-Therm. The Neo-Air X-Therm Max in Long- Wide, for Fall & Winter.
I then use a Thermarest X-Lite Women's for summer (shorter, tapered and lighter.)

After those 23,000' sheep!

Neoair is the most comfortable mat I have ever used. I spent a month on one this past summer. In the winter if I wasn't packing it I would probably slip one of my old ridge rests under it.

thanks 4 the info guys!!!!!