Outdoor equipment

For spring, summer, and fall travel two products stand out: Cascade Designs' Therm-A-Rest Staytek Lite and the GVG Pack-Mat Lite. These are open-cell foam pads with waterproof covers. Open the valve at one corner and within a minute or two they magically self-inflate. Both have twice the insulating power and are thicker and more comfortable than most closed-cell foam pads. You can blow in a few breaths to make it firmer and significantly increase insulation, or release air to make it softer.

Best of all, they roll-up small enough to fit inside your pack. Thicker and heavier models are available, but are unnecessary for spring, summer, and fall travel. For camping in winter conditions you can use a self-inflatable in conjunction with a full-length, 1/2 or 5/8 inch (1.25 or 1.6 cm.) closed cell foam pad.

Regular closed-cell foam pads are lighter and cheaper (about $10 and 12 oz. or 340 g.), but consume two to four times as much volume, thus requiring outside-the-pack lashing. After a few crowded buses and subways you'll be happy to have spent the extra money on a compact, self-inflating pad.

Sleeping Pad Repair

If you cannot find a leak by sight or sound, fill the pad with air, close the valve, roll-up half the pad and place pressure there with your knees. Then pour water on the remaining portion to check for air bubbles. Repeat until the leak is found. Otherwise you'll need a tub. Repair with nylon tape or rubber cement.

Sleeping Pads Compared

Therm-A-Rest Ultra Lite II 3/4

$47, 14 oz. (397 g.) 47x20x1 in. (120x51x2.54 cm.)  Rolled size: 4x11 in. (10x28 cm.) Short length leaves the feet without insulation, but most users place clothes or their pack under their feet, if necessary. I have happily used the previous Ultralite 3/4 model for more than five years.

Therm-A-Rest Ultra Lite II Long

$60, 23 oz. (650 g.) 72x20x1 in. (183x51x2.54 cm.) Rolled size: 5.5x11 in. (14x28 cm.) Padding for your feet, if needed.

Therm-A-Rest Staytek Long

$62, 40 oz. (1.135 kgs.) 72x20x1.5 in. (183x51x3.8 cm.) Rolled size: 5.5x21 in. (14x53 cm.) It can also be rolled to about 8x11 in. (20x28 cm.) This thicker, full-length pad will go a long way toward keeping you warm while winter camping.

GVG Pack-Mat 3/4 Lite

$55, 13 oz. (368 g.) 47x20x0.8 in. (120x51x2 cm.) Rolled size: 4x11 in. (10x28 cm.) Has a non-slip polyurethane cover. This French pad is the lightest and smallest-packing self-inflator. Popular in Europe, but hard to find in the States.

GVG Pack-Mat Long

$65, 20 oz. (565 g.) 71x20x0.8 in. (180x51x2 cm.) Rolled size: 5x11 in. (13x28 cm.)

Generic closed cell foam pad

$6 to $16, 8 to 14 oz. (230 to 400 g.) Various lengths and widths, with thicknesses from 1/4 to 5/8 in. (0.6 to 1.6 cm.) Light and cheap, but not compact--all must be fastened outside your pack. If money is tight, take heart that many camping backpackers travel superbly with closed-cell pads. For summer try cutting a thin 1/4 or 3/8 inch pad to just what you need.

No pad

A pad isn't absolutely necessary for campers in hot climates like Greece and Spain in the summer, except for mountain areas.

Therm-A-Rest Repair Kit

$5, 1 oz. (28.35 g.) Contains adhesive, instructions, and patches for repairing pads, tents, sleeping bags, and jackets.