Best Sleeping Pad for Side Sleepers and Comfort on the Trail?

[MichaelMerry]

Also a slide sleeper. I also do quite a bit of winter time wilderness traveling and my wife and I often sleep on the snow. Over the years, we’ve found a system that works well for us. We us the therma rest neo air on top of a cheap foam pad. The foam pad provides a bunch more insulation for its weight and a firm base for the neo air. It also provides a little more protection for the Neo air from ground hazards.

I have had occasion to perform a field repair on a Neo air and it is a simple process. They seem delicate, but my first neoair lasted about 500 backcountry nights.

I’m not a huge fan of the new butterfly valve on the Neo air. I find it puts a lot of stress on the pad around the valve and fear it will wear out around the valve.

 

[lowangle al]

The foam pad not only provides more cushion, protection and insulation, you can use it to sit on or kneel on out by the fire.

 

[petit.conan]

For canoe tripping I use a Therm-a-rest Mondo King 3D. I absolutely love that pad and can't wait to climb into the tent most nights. If I am trying to save weight I have an older Therm-a-rest Neoair Trekker that is pretty good. I do certainly prefer the self inflating foam pads over the air mattresses but I get a pretty good sleep from the Trekker too.