I bought a cheap sleeping pad and it's been better than my old expensive one

I know everyone says to never skimp on a sleeping pad, but I got a $40 one from a discount outdoor store for a quick trip to the Red River Gorge. My old pad, a fancy insulated one, had a slow leak I could never find. The cheap one is just a simple foam and air mix, but it kept me warm down to about 40 degrees and hasn't lost any air in six months. I was ready for a bad night, but I slept fine. I think sometimes the basic gear just works if you aren't pushing it to the limit. Maybe the expensive stuff is for real extreme cold, but for most summer trips, this is enough. Has anyone else had a cheap piece of gear surprise them and last way longer than expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sam10d agoTop Commenter

Wait, you slept fine down to 40 degrees on a basic pad? That's the part that gets me. I've always been told you'll freeze without that fancy insulation. Maybe all that tech is overkill for a lot of trips. My heavy old pad feels like a waste now.

campbell.elliot9d ago

Honestly, that's wild about the 40 degree thing. Makes you wonder what the real R-value is on those no-name pads. Like, is the expensive stuff just better tested and labeled, or is there actually a huge difference? My old foam pad felt like sleeping on a sidewalk below 50, but maybe the basic air mix ones are sneakily decent.