Vent: My old sleeping pad finally gave out, and I wish I switched sooner
I used the same foam pad for 11 years because it was cheap and I thought thicker meant warmer. Last trip near Lake Placid in 38 degrees, I woke up shivering and my hip was numb. Bought a self-inflating one for $65, and the difference on the next overnight was night and day. Anyone else stick with gear way past its prime because you didn't want to spend the money?
Did you ever check the R-value rating on that old foam pad before you swapped it? Because I bet it was sitting somewhere in the 1.5 range, which is basically a warm blanket between you and the dirt. Honestly, most people don't even look at that number until they wake up freezing. The self-inflating ones usually hit 3 or 4, so that's why your hips stopped screaming too. Thicker foam isn't always warmer, it's just thicker. Took me a few cold nights to learn that same lesson.