[ics]

I’m from the US but a “floor sleeper” and have never camped with a pad like these even in near-freezing temperatures. I’m sure it helps but these days I get the impression from people around that they just like gear, don’t like being uncomfortable, and any other benefit is just a bonus to rationalize spending money. Maybe I’ll try it some day and be a convert, until then…

[voidmain0001]

You sleep on a hard surface? That is really difficult for me as a side sleeper. I have slept on hard surfaces out of necessity and my hips and knees are hurting by morning. Do you use a pillow or is your head on the hard surface too?

[ics]

I started doing it as a kid in order to break my reliance on side sleeping and help general posture. These days I'm less strict but benefit from being able to find a comfortable position anywhere. I'd recommend not resting your head on a pillow but using firm cushioning under your neck; that will very slightly lift and relieve pressure from your head and keep head/neck/shoulders adequately separated. A straw cushion (common in Japan, maybe elsewhere) is nice but a tightly rolled hoodie is almost as good.

[voidmain0001]

Sleeping on a hard surface to avoid side sleeping - noted. Sleeping on my back will lead to snoring which is not appreciated by those around me. I will try the pillow replacement suggestion, though.

[wkat4242]

What's bad about side sleeping? Just wondering.

[ics]

Probably more health zeitgeist of the '90s than any real concern. Your bed, body type, and sleep style might make one more appealing than the other.

I was a restless sleeper though and had/have extreme difficulty getting to sleep often; learning to sleep on my back helps. Expressed another way, if my brain says I have to be on my side for comfort, and I have to achieve comfort to sleep, then if that comfort isn't achieved no sleep for me. Getting my brain to accept "and now we lie down for sleep" without thinking about comfort let me be actually comfortable in more positions/settings.

[14]

How do you stay warm camping in near freezing conditions? I think pads are more so for insulation to the ground then comfort. Yes they add comfort but a cold ground will suck the heat out of you so fast. How would you describe your typical tent bed time set up?

[ics]

Setup is just a thin rain mat, tent, sleeping bag, and inside dressed mostly in wool. If traveling with a parka and it's clean/dry, I might wear it inside but suppose it could be laid underneath as a pad. With colder but not sever temperatures coming up I might give that a try and see what difference it makes.

[DynamicStatic]

Probably works as long as you don't have to sleep really cold. I slept with a pad with good R rating on snow, froze my ass off anyway.

[dmos62]

You sleep on the ground in near-freezing temperatures? That's impressive, if true. I find it difficult to sleep if I lack insulation from the ground. An air-mattress isn't enough for me when it's 10-12 degrees celcius outside, provided my 20 yo sleeping bag is not meant for these temperatures.

[trenchpilgrim]

For my setup my nemo pad + bag is smaller packed volume than an equivalently warm bag without pad. I mostly motocamp so packed volume is at premium. My nemo pad packs down to about the size of a soda can in my saddlebag.