I know I saw a thread on this in the past, but I have been unable to find it. I have to sleep on my side and have pretty bad shoulders. Need recommendations from experienced side sleepers on which pad they have found to be the most comfortable, durable and best for backpacking. I am not worried about the price, and I don't want an air mattress that can spring a leak. Will mainly be used for summer and fall trips. Thanks for the help.
I’m in my mid 50’s and my wife became an obsessive backpacker once the kids grew up, which I also enjoy, so I’ve spent a lot of nights sleeping on a pad in the last few years. I had to address comfort to be able to do it- my old Thermarest was torture. I’m a side sleeper too, and it would just kill my hips and shoulders. I used a Big Agnes Q-core SLX on the JMT (230+ miles) a couple years ago, then a lighter version of the same luxuriously thick pad from Tahoe to Yosemite (150 miles) last summer, plus lots of shorter hikes. So about 50 nights/500 miles on the two pads. Never a puncture.
With a thicker pad like that, if you get the inflation just right your hips and shoulders are just off the ground. It’s a lot of cushy. Makes a huge difference for my old bones.
