TIL my sleeping pad's slow leak gave me a bad back injury
On a recent camping trip, I woke up with crazy lower back pain and just brushed it off, lol. The next morning it was worse, and I realized my sleeping pad was totally flat from a tiny leak. Without that cushion, my spine had no support all night, which led to serious strain. I had to cut my hike short because carrying my backpack hurt too much. It took over a week of rest and ice to feel normal again. Now I always test my pad for leaks before heading out and bring a patch kit. Don't wait until you're in pain to check your gear, it's not worth the risk. A simple pre-trip check could save your back and your whole adventure.