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After 4 trips I finally figured out the sleeping pad R-value thing everyone messes up
I kept seeing people online say a pad with an R-value of 2 or 3 was fine for cold weather, and my feet were freezing every time. I looked it up and the actual guide says you need at least an R-value of 4 for temps below freezing. I was using a 2.8 pad on a 25-degree night in Flagstaff, and it was miserable. The ground just sucks all your heat if the pad isn't rated for it. Now I check the real temp rating, not just the brand's marketing. Anyone else get burned by not checking the actual number before buying?
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the_paul6mo ago
Oh man, did I ever learn this the hard way? I used a cheap foam pad (like, the blue kind from the hardware store) on a fall trip, thinking it would be fine. I spent the whole night shivering on what felt like a slab of ice, even though my bag was rated for way colder temps. That ground cold is no joke.
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owens.ben6mo ago
Wait, you thought those foam pads actually worked?
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