Increasing sleep comfort in the hills

[twoSevenO]

Ok, so those with back problems, or general sh** sleep on the mountain, what have you done to increase comfort and improve your quality of sleep?

The old thermarest just isnt cutting it for me anymore. Wake up all stiff and sore. Curious what ex thermarest users have moved onto. Thanks!!

My basecamp setup is quite comfy with generous foam and a cot, but obviously, it's not practical for a hike-in hunt.

[264mag]

I am a side sleeper with ciatica issues. I started using Exped mats a couple years ago and haven’t looked back. I have 3 different models and they are amazing. They are also very durable. I consider sleep quality to be one of the top 3 considerations on a backpack hunt, next to rain gear and food.

[decker9]

Ditto on the exped. I had an old thin heavy Thermarest before and woke up in pain all the time. I fight lower back issues, and spasms, the exped definitely did help with my comfort and I don’t wake up as sore, usually.

I did pick up a x-therm max along with my exped, the x-therm was definitely warmer to lay on, but the exped had the comfort, no comparison imo.

[exv]

I have a thermorest neoair and find it very comfortable (not comparable to the older ones) however, it's crazy loud and crunchy to sleep on. I've had buddies tent near by say they could hear every time I moved an inch ... for what it's worth.

[twoSevenO]

I have a thermorest neoair and find it very comfortable (not comparable to the older ones) however, it's crazy loud and crunchy to sleep on. I've had buddies tent near by say they could hear every time I moved an inch ... for what it's worth.

A friend had the Same one and not only was it loud but it went flat on him as well. That was a bummer.

[twoSevenO]

Thanks guys!
Any additional tips for improving sleep posture or anything like that?

I used to sleep anywhere and on anything but now I'm definitely no longer able to. Woke up one morning last year so stiff I couldn't tie my boots on. Couldn't be down to reach the laces!

[Livewire322]

What Exped mat are you all using?

[digger dogger]

What Exped mat are you all using?

Exped-9, as good as it gets without sleeping on a bed, or a cot.

[john.b]

I have a neoair Xlite that I really like. I pack the little battery pump and it’s great. Does sound like you’re sleeping on a chip bag but it’s worth it for the extra r value

[decker9]

What Exped mat are you all using?

I use the synmat UL in a medium wide. My gf uses the synmat winter UL in regular width. The wide model is worth the extra little bit of weight/volume imo, and in hers too.

[Bustercluck]

3-4 ounces of sambuca does wonders when you’re completely exhausted. Definitely worth the weight.

[twoSevenO]

3-4 ounces of sambuca does wonders when you’re completely exhausted. Definitely worth the weight.

Sambuca is for 19 year old girls :)

[HighCountryBC]

Exped-9, as good as it gets without sleeping on a bed, or a cot.

I'll second this. Been using Exped's for years and you just can't beat them. As with all quality gear - buy once, cry once.

[Bustercluck]

Sambuca is for 19 year old girls :)
I’m past the days of proving my manliness by drinking straight whiskey. I think I’ve already drank two lifetimes worth of whiskey, so I stick to stuff with less adverse effects.

[whognu]

i'm not a high country anything........just a low country, getting phat and old, guy

5 years ago did the bowron lakes and because i have back problems, knee problems.........heck now it seems my problems have problems.......we bought the exped 7

one of the best things ever purchased

i have amortized it down to about $25 per sleep now............(i don't get out much)

no idea if it meets your weight restrictions, yet it appears quite durable, and oooooooh that goose down provides a good barrier between you and mother earth

as HC says, buy once, cry once

[allan]

Neo air all season xl, crunchy like a bag of chips but I got used to it. I like it .

[digger dogger]

I’m past the days of proving my manliness by drinking straight whiskey. I think I’ve already drank two lifetimes worth of whiskey, so I stick to stuff with less adverse effects.

For some reason, whiskey seems to hurt my face and knuckles
:-)

[jlirot]

I went to REI to buy an Exped - I walked out with a Sea to Summit. They didn't have the exped I wanted. The Sea to Summit is incredible. I'm a side sleeper as well. This is 100% better than the ole thermarest. absolutely worth a few extra $$. I had my old thermarest for 20 years - and then my kids lost it. I'm happy to spend a few extra bucks on something I can actually sleep on.

[264mag]

I use the downmat 9 lw for late season and the synmat ul for sheep hunting.

[wsquared]

I've tried a few combos, what works for me( side or stomach sleeper) is the Thermarest neo air Xtherm, and a Thermarest Z-lite underneath. The Z lite comes with me during the day for a glassing seat pad.

[boxhitch]

These mats mentioned are all air mattresses, just different versions and thicknesses
So the point seems to be that some guys need more air cushion than others, from 3/4" to 3"
then there is the R- value
My fav is still the cheese slice, 3/4" dense foam but it doesn't pack down very small but cheap enough to burn before the trip out

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I had an Exped Downmat 7 UL but the seems blew out of it. Was on warentee from seller so they sent me a new one without issues. Replacement did the exact same thing.... but I skipped a year of backpacking and the warrantee expired. Good product before it failed but I wasn’t spending that kind of money again.
Went with a neo air. Good bang for the buck but I just hunt the early season.
I adapted the snozzlebag from my exped to fit my Neo air. Works great

SSS

[Mark-R]

I feel for ya man, if you can't get a good night's rest to recover everything goes downhill the longer you stay out.
Then there's the anxiety knowing you're gonna have a shitty sleep when you're out there.
For what it's worth, here's what I found works for me:

Neoair Xtherm large has more room to sleep on, the bottom is a bit thicker and more puncture resistant than the Xlite I believe and obviously warmer.
I'm a side sleeper and found that I prefer it more on the firm side. If I can put my weight on my hip while I'm on my side and touch the ground through the mat, it's too soft.
If I have it firm I sleep great, softer and I feel back soreness coming on.

Next item is a blow up pillow from MEC. I used to roll the ol' puffy up but I'm done with that.
The key here is to have the pillow quite soft, I mean it feels like you didn't even blow it up half way.
Then you stick the bulk of the squishy pillow in your neck, not your head.
At first when I had the pillow harder and put it under my head it would screw me up because it compressed my neck.
With the much softer pillow mostly under the neck area while still supporting the head, it elongates the neck and feels great.

My spine is probably lined up fairly horizontal with this setup.
I just got back from 9 days above 2000m and felt as good or better on the way home.
My tag is still in my pocket though so more backcountry sleeps to come.

Hope you figure out a system that works for ya.

[adriaticum]

I would suggest sleeping on the floor at home a week before heading out so your body gets accustomed to sleeping on hard surfaces.
Switch to hardest mattress you can find.
Almost all the people I know with lower back problems sleep on soft mattresses.
Making soft mattresses should be a punishable offense.

[mod7rem]

I have an Exped Downmat 7 and an Exped Downmat Winterlite. I bought the Winterlite for when I really want to shave off a little more bulk and ounces. I used it for the first time on this years sheep hunt. The contour is very slim and short and the material is loud compared to the Downmat 7. Despite its higher R-value, it’s not quite as warm as the Downmat 7, probably because there’s no down insulation in the outside baffles/tubes. Overall it worked good for me but the 7 seems to be the best compromise for weight/bulk, warmth and room. My brother has been using a Downmat 9 for a long time on our backpack trips and he wouldn’t change a thing.

[KBC]

This trip I’m using a klymit static v recon I think it’s called. I got it on sale at sportchek.ca for I think about $120. It’s 3.5” thick and claims an r value of 6.5. I don’t know if it’s exactly a backpacking mat but I think an extra bit of weight is worth it for sleeping. I’m not a hardcore guy so I’m still working my way into backpacking gear so take that for what it’s worth.

Seems pretty warm but I’ve discovered my 20+ year old -18 bag is not what it used to be lol. I was warm underneath below freezing but not on top. I also found it’s pretty slippery through the night so I think I’ll have to add some silicone to it and keep trying it out but I’m a side sleeper and it seem pretty comfortable. Now I just need to figure out the pillow situation.

[HarryToolips]

I use a big Agnes something something for a mattress it's very comfortable....and the other two items that increase my comfort ability in the woods is sleeping with my .30-06 and a pack alarm....

[Banker]

Thermarest basecamp xl for a 250 pounder like me.

[twoSevenO]

Ok, I'm typing this off an exped down lite 5, as I test it out tonight.

Picked it up tonight, and not sure I can convince myself to keep it at the $165 (plus tax!) Price tag.

Let's see how the night goes. :)

I have a thermarest basecamp already which is quite a bit better than regular thermarest, but bulkier and heavier. I might take that one up in the hills if this expensive one isnt all that great.

[35rem]

I use a Dutch bivy bag as it has a hoop giving you some head space unlike the US/Canadian bivy. It also has loops on the bottom that will hold your sleeping pad in place. I have a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm Max WV with a Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite Sleeping Pad underneath to protect the NeoAir from sharp sticks and stones. This combo has a very high R-value. In the winter I put my WM Puma in there and have camped out in -20C without needing to zip it up all the way. Very comfortable and these new NeoAirs are not very crunchy.

[Iron Sighted]

I'll throw another vote in for the Exped's. I have a Downmat 7, I love the thing and use it year round. It's bulky and heavy compared to my Gen 1 Thermarest Neoair, but much warmer and waaay more comfortable, in fact it's not even close in either category.

[Jrax]

I have both the neo air xlite and Exped 7 - i like the exped more but its bulkier so i take the exped for non - backcountry and neo air x-lite for hiking in. They are both excellent choices.

[B.C.Boy(100%)]

I’ve been using Exped’s Downmat 9DLX for a longtime (13-14yrs), don’t think they make a deluxe anymore.
I went from the half inch blue foam to the exped, so no idea about anything else. Just know it is very comfortable and warm.

[walker1985]

Just used a Nemo cosmo 3D sleeping pad this weekend and it was fantastic. I woke up the next morning without any body aches or pains.

[Weatherby Fan]

I use a Thermarest Prolite, for years we just slept on the ground with a 7lb Synthetic mummy bag, switched to a light down bag and a I thought I had died and gone to heaven with the Therm-a-Rest, nothing worse then getting up and you cant pull your boots on from being uncomfortable.

I like the sounds of that Ex-ped Downmat 9

[tigrr]

Take some good scotch and wash down the sleeping pills with it and you can sleep on a rock. Ask me how I know this!

[twoSevenO]

Take some good scotch and wash down the sleeping pills with it and you can sleep on a rock. Ask me how I know this!

Hows your body feel in the morning after that sleep on a bunch of rocks?

Funny enough, I used to sleep anywhere that was convenient when i was in my 20s. Never took the time to even level out a sleeping area.

Now in my 30s .... not so much

[twoSevenO]

I use a Thermarest Prolite, for years we just slept on the ground with a 7lb Synthetic mummy bag, switched to a light down bag and a I thought I had died and gone to heaven with the Therm-a-Rest, nothing worse then getting up and you cant pull your boots on from being uncomfortable.

I like the sounds of that Ex-ped Downmat 9

$10,000 in optics. Sleeps on the ground.

Makes sense. LOL

[Would Rather Be Fishing]

^^^^ Priorities!!! ^^^^^^ Gotta respect that!

[twoSevenO]

^^^^ Priorities!!! ^^^^^^ Gotta respect that!

Lol. Truth be told I'm just jealous. Jealous I can no longer sleep on rocks and tree roots and walk the next day!

[twoSevenO]

So I got a downmat 5 something or other.

I spent 4 nights on it so far chasing mulies and I gotta say, it feels pretty damn good!!!!

It came with this little pump that was actually nice to use. It's under 1oz and it works faster than trying to use your mouth. So far I'm impressed.

I'm still a little bit depressed over having spent $180 on an air mattress. Never thought I'd spend that kind of money on one, but it does seem to have helped my back so far, so I guess it is worth it!

Thanks for the tips.

[Brew]

After last weeks hunt I retired my noisy uncomfortable NeoAir. Good Riddance.

went and purchased a Exped 9. Tried it out today and it’s easily 50X better then the Neo. It may be bulkier and a bit heavier but sleep is everything. I don’t mind carrying extra weight that matters