Are down-filled sleeping pads the panacea for winter camping?
Downmats (courtesy, Exped)
We do a reasonable amount of winter camping in both Adirondack lean-tos and in tents. Typically I use some combination of an emergency space blanket, a closed-cell pad, and an inflatable Therm-a-Rest pad. A couple years ago I had a hip replacement so padding comfort is a big factor. My question, then: Are the pricier down-filled sleeping pads like those from Exped really that much warmer?
Jim Holland Patent, New York
Got your own gear question?
Express yourself in the Gear Forum
Concerning your commitment to wintertime activities, all I can say is: I doff my cap to your outdoor hardiness.
As for your provisional choice of pad, the good news is Exped's Downmat 9 ($149; www.exped.com) has an R-value—an insulation rating—of about seven (higher is better). A standard Therm-a-Rest, in comparison, has an R-value of about three (depends on the model). Adding a Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest ($20 in regular size; www.thermarest.com) to the self-inflating pad—an excellent cold-weather practice—adds another 2.6 of R goodness for a total of about 5.6. As you see, that's still some way off the Downmat 9's grand total. So one Downmat more than equals two regular pads—a self-inflating and a closed-cell pairing—in insulation. And while I've never used one of the new-generation down-filled pads, I am told they are molto comfortable.
You also win on weight. A Downmat 9 weighs two pounds, while the two Therm-a-Rest pads will end up at three pounds six ounces. That's quite a difference! You could even add a regular-sized 14-ounce RidgeRest and still have no more weight to lug than before. So while it's true the down-filled pad is fairly expensive—about $60 more than a pair of pads from other makers such as Cascade Designs (inventors of the original Therm-a-Rest)—it performs extremely well. I'd go out and buy a Downmat 9, and look forward to a good night's rest in the mountains.
For a selection of the best sleeping pads and slumber-enhancing accessories, check out Outsides 2004 Buyers Guide.
Readers' Mailbag: The Gear Guy digs into some of your more bizarre, obscure (and let’s face it, downright weird) posts from years gone by to see if he can make sense of it all, or if it’s just time to run up the white flag. Previous column: Beat the Cost of Gear.
The Gear Guy reports from the 2005 Outdoor Retailer summer trade fair, with his rundown of ten products to watch in 2006, plus the inside scoop on what shook down at the bi-annual gearapalooza.