What's your experience with inflatable pads for quality, nightly sleep? I'm really disappointed in my current mattress setup and have had great experiences with airbeds in the past. Are inflatable pads intended for camping all that different from an air mattress? Can they last long enough (a year+) to justify using them as a fulltime sleep device, or are they simply not made for nightly use? Please give me your wisdom /out/.

They are simply not made for nightly use. I mean I'm sure a good one does well for a while but its built for a different purpose, to pack and deploy light and small. A good one costs the same as a good regular air mattress anyway. And you can use actual sheets.

I went without a sleeping pad for about a year and a half while hitchhiking, didn't realize how nice they were. In San Francisco I got into this little fling with a girl I'm pretty sure was an mkultra bait girl or something. We fooled around a few times and that was that, but she did wind up in my camp spot a few times and I had nothing but a nice little carpet I used as a sleeping pad to lay on (it really tied the spot together)

A few days later I was walking to my sleep spot in Corona Heights and I saw some strange homebum guy standing at the entrance to the park. This park is uphill both ways from where we hang out in the Haight and there's never any homebums hanging out around it because it's a millionaire's neighborhood several steep blocks uphill from any sort of convenience store. When he noticed me from a block away it was like he was waiting for me with how he suddenly straightened up, ready to talk.

As I began to walk past him he offered me a brand new inflatable sleeping pad, saying he had extras that he didn't need. I took the pad and that was that, the entire interaction. He began walking down the hill and I never saw him again. That was the time some glownigger handlers in San Francisco gave me a sleeping pad.

>>2828855 (OP)
I had one break after just a second outing, despite making sure the ground I put it on was safe from anything sharp. When you look up online reviews, you'll find that even expensive ones can get a tiny leak somewhere (and that leak being too small for you to find and fix on the go).
Ever since I use closed cell foam pads. They're cumbersome to carry, but not heavier and you save time since you don't have to inflate them.

For me reliability trumps comfort.

>>2828855 (OP)
have a Sea to Summit ether light. can't complain. you could use it daily. I use a small electric pump to inflate. keeps you comfortable and off the cold ground. good sleep is king if you're on the move every day. if you're comfortable with your current setup I wouldn't bother changing

>>2828857
You have never touch grass in your life. It's amazing to me how many people who have never touched grass confidently post about their experiences here.

>>2829192
I spent over 100 nights sleeping outside last year for work or for play, many on an inflatable pad like the photo. For nightly at home use like OP asked, I would buy an air mattress and not use my inflatable pad every night.

>>2828897
I’d be super paranoid, enough so that I’d move far away

>>2829202
You're lying

Sleep pads are gay af

>>2829232
What is hard to believe? Forest jannies are real

>>2828855 (OP)
I ain't packing that shit.
Car camping? Sure.
Backpacking? Tent footprint, foam roll, bivy.

>>2829223
you get kind of used to it, that's nothing compared to waking up with someone standing above you in your sleep spot just looking at you, or someone trying to lay down in your doorway with you because it's raining too much, or someone trying to steal your shit that's in your backpack underneath your head

>>2829296
How did you inflate it? How much did it weigh? Ill wait.

>>2829315
Inflate what? My sleeping pad? By using its little inflate bag and blowing in it. Its a thermorest neo-air you can look it up. Sometimes i just use a foam pad though. I think you need to re-read if you thought i was claiming to use a regular air mattress while backpacking.

Bought some stupid expensive self inflating pad from rei, i’d have to check which brand if anyone’s interested
…aaaand it is so fucking comfy bros

I do winter camping so the mat is much more important than just a good night's sleep, I have a few different kind but colder temperatures I like using this one, it has some sort of memory foam stuff in it to initially expand it and then you inflate it to your desired comfort level/insulation. Recently I got a zenbivy pad as well and am definitely a fan of how much smaller and lightweight they are, the valve system is also a plus. I have been using the mat in the photo for about 5 years with no issues, could probably use it every night for ears as it is pretty well built, came with patch kit if needed but haven't needed it.

>>2828855 (OP)
not common, but I actually ended up doing this by accident and have been sleeping on it every night for like 2-3 years now. granted, it's a pricey one and I'm only 140lbs so keep that in mind. NEMO Roamer... got it on a great sale during christmas time one year for camping, set it up to try for a couple of nights in the house before taking it camping... it never left the house after. the most shocking thing to me was that it hasn't seemed to lose ANY air over the years. not even in the winter and I keep it pretty chilly inside. my cat even got it's claw hung in it once and I was sure it was doomed, but never lost any air. it's basically a memory foam/air chamber design from my understanding. I'm the type of person that usually tosses and turns every hour or so in my sleep. stomach, side, back, everything. I was shocked when I first tried it for the first couple of nights because I literally didn't even wake up at all during the night. I awoke in the morning the same way I fell asleep, which I can't remember doing since I was a kid. it's pretty damn amazing, and despite getting it heavily discounted, I'd buy another one at msrp if I had to without any hesitation. they make a XL size one, but even the standard is longer than most mattresses which is good for tall people. I'm 6ft and don't hang off. can't say someone else will have the same results, but I don't think I've ever been as surprised with anything I've bought.

>>2829441
nice review. thing is seriously expensive though, it seems nice.
I currently have the ALPS Mountaineering Comfort Series Air Pad:

https://letstalksurvival.com/alps-mountaineering-comfort-series-air-pad/

but used Thermarest all through the 90s.
good pads cc: >>2828855 (OP)

>>2829233
enjoy not sleeping and being cold from being on the ground.
they are a necessity.

>>2829441
forgot image

>>2829476
No they aren't, they are an inconvenience and always fail

>>2829489
they are to me and about 99% of people, you are in the minority.

>>2829489
you could go with something like this, and they work, but the self inflating ones from reputable companies like Thermarest have never failed me and I used them so many times I lost count. They are from the early 90s and they still work.
you could go without a pad, buy why would you want to? its brutal

>>2828855 (OP)
Are you talking about using it for camping or for a bed at home? You can get a cheap mattress that will be a lot more comfortable and long lasting for home use.

When I go camping I just sleep on the ground with a sleeping bag. It’s not uncomfortable if you get in the right position. It’s not cold if you have the right bag/blanket. I did just pick a couple of free sleeping pads up a few days ago. Maybe I’ll test one of them out tonight and write about it. I’ve slept on air mattress and cots while staying the night at friends and family. I’ve always preferred the ground.

>>2828855 (OP)
Sleeping on the ground is ass and if you want something for nightly use get yourself a camping cot. Inflatable mats are not made to stand up to prolonged use. You sound like an actual troll through, a cot is only thing that'll stand up to your abuse. If you need to pack it around there are ultralight models, but if you're car camping or living in a cave get something more sturdy and wide.

>>2828855 (OP)
forgot to attach an image

You don't need it, unless it's cold, then the ground will suck heat from you. otherwise very useful.

You are all idiots without reading comprehension. OP clearly said they were trying to replace their regular mattresss setup, not to go backpacking or even car camping

>>2829554
I don't read past the first sentence

not OP but on the topic, are these Army surplus ones good? if not, are the USMC ones in the style like >>2829495 better? both are thermarest and can easily be found for $20. don't really wanna spend $100 on individual sleep system components.

>>2829657(Me)
picrel is the USMC one, though it looks very thin

>>2829657
these things fucking suck. t. forced to use them

>>2829657
The USMC style is useless, it just packs up better. I know a dozen or so people that had to use those and nobody had a good thing to say about them. Get a zlite clone with the foil on one side.