You need to make room for this cold-hearted traveler and all of the skis, boots, boards, sleds, ice axes, jackets, beanies, and other stuff he brings with him. For your summer-weight or three-season bags, blankets and quilts, wintertime means … By the end of this post, you’ll be prepared It doesn't stick well to silnylon. Look for tiny air bubbles oozing out – that’s a sign you’ve found the hole. We recommend using the storage bag over the winter because the mesh and larger size lets the bag breath and doesn’t compress its insulation. Just make sure to wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any dirt that might be present and make sure it is thoroughly dry before storing it for long periods of time. In fact, by washing a sleeping bag, you’re essentially restoring the sleep system’s warming capacity by removing oils that, if left on, will decrease loft and insulation. In-store pick-up is free. These steps are critical for a backpacking bag, which we methodically compress before … At Home: For long term storage, make sure your pad is clean and bone dry. Through research, we’ve discovered that the fatty acids in body oils make the film beneath the mattresses’ fabric gummy. But there are a few crucial steps to take before stowing your sleeping bags that will increase their durability and comfort. Top gift picks from an MEC store specialist with a know-how in gear. Using a poor quality sleeping pad—or worse, not using a pad at all—is a recipe for a long, cold night in the wilderness. Top gift ideas from a backcountry skier who’s behind the scenes at MEC. Use a marker to place a small dot on top of the hole (so you can find it again later). Use a front-loading washing machine (found at most laundry mats), non-detergent soap and run an extra rinse and spin cycles. Standard detergents will leave water attracting residues on your down. Don’t have space to leave your sleeping pad unrolled? If finding a front-loader proves difficult, there’s always the old-fashioned hand-washing method. Apply some glue to the shiny side of your patch, and make sure it goes all the way to the edges. Backpacking Sleeping Pad Reviews #1 Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Mattress Review. An outside-the-box list of gift ideas for skiers, cyclists and more. This is an adaptation to the classic Ridge-Rest mattress pad by Therm-a-Rest (a Cascade Designs company).These pads have been well loved and used for years and are by far the most common closed cell foam pad sighting on the trail. Delivering the best night’s sleep you can have…that was our goal when we designed our inflatable air sleeping mats and self-inflating foam sleeping mats. FRETREE Camping Air Sleeping Pad Mat - Foot Press Inflatable Lightweight Backpacking Pad for Hiking Traveling, Durable Waterproof Air Mattress Compact Hiking Pad 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,702 $29.99 $ 29 . I can't figure out how to put the kelty pdsi back in its stuff sack as small as it did before and can't figure out an easy way to get all the air out. DownWash will effectively clean the bag without destroying its Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating. More information Find this Pin and more on Camping and Outdoor Adventures by Holly Scherer . Wipe off the excess water with a towel, and let it dry completely before you apply the patch. Built with hikers and cyclists in your mind, it is designed to have a ... How to Store Self Inflating Sleeping Pads: Some Great Tips. A large industrial dryer is recommended, and care must be taken so that the bag doesn’t expand and get stuck on the dryer’s heater. Let it air dry fully before putting it away and store it unrolled with the valve open. Compress it as you go. You can store your pad rolled up neatly in the stuff sack that it came in. Found a better deal in Canada? But before you toss your bag into just any washing machine, know this: a top-loading machine with an agitator can destroy your bag. The Therm-a-Rest people recommend that you store the pad flat and with the valve open, somewhere such as under a bed or perhaps upright in a closet. Check the bag periodically to make sure the fabric isn't scorching hot and the insulation isn't bunching or clumping. Like it or not, winter is coming for a visit. The choice will naturally depend on your intended use. Very few people store a sleeping pad correctly, and it greatly affects the longevity of your pad! Foam sleeping pads are an economical option. Behind the couch; Under the bed; Behind a bookshelf; In the back of your closet; Sleeping Bags, Blankets & Quilts. Amanda will break down the different types of sleeping bags, the pros and cons of each, what an r-value is, and other things to consider when choosing a backpacking sleeping pad. That is why your Big Agnes bag comes with a mesh storage sack. Up to 30 days after purchase – we’ll match it. With that in mind, choosing a sleeping pad should be just as intuitive as choosing your sleeping … The result is that many campers purchase an expensive sleeping bag, and then buy a Big Box Store special sleeping pad. Preventing a hole is easier than patching one, so give your pad a safe haven during your hike. Don’t store your bag in an attic, garage, or damp basement! Loosely stow it inside a large breathable cotton or mesh sack. For our foam self-inflating mattresses, proper storage is essential for future performance. Free FedEx Ground shipping on orders over $50 in the lower 48. An open valve will allow any moisture to dissipate inside the pad. Enter the sleeping pad. © 2020. To keep your sleeping pad in top shape after your trip, wipe down the pad with a damp cloth and mild soap. Special Considerations Backpacking basics: How to plan an overnight hiking trip, How to choose trekking poles and hiking poles, About water treatment, filters and purifiers. It’s your body oils that can bring on your pad’s early degradation. After several washes, however, you will need to restore the bag’s DWR coating using Nikwax Down Proof™. So how should you clean a mattress? Ask Question Asked 4 years, 7 months ago. I haven't tried. In its simplest form a sleeping pad … Storing your pad unrolled is especially crucial with foam core pads. The standard size of a sleeping pad is 72 inches by 20 inches. 99 The Hike Loop Inflatable Sleeping Pad is designed to supply you with the best of both worlds. The cushioning that a sleeping pad offers goes a long way to determine whether it will be comfortable or not. Let it cure for 24 hours or so and you’ve got a non-slip sleeping pad! Store it in a place that’s both cool and dry. Our air sleeping mats are super compact and inflate in seconds. Pro Tip: If you’re struggling to find room to store your full-size, self-inflating mattresses, here are a few suggestions. How to store a sleeping pad To keep your sleeping pad in top shape after your trip, wipe down the pad with a damp cloth and mild soap. Pro Tip: If you’re struggling to find room to store your full-size, self-inflating mattresses, here are a few suggestions. Read more, Privacy policy If you have an air mattress, simply roll it up tight and tuck it away for the winter. Sometimes your sleeping pad falls victim to sharp rock or gets snagged on a thorn. Storing your sleeping pad properly is super easy: We explain how to do it so that you and your pad enjoy many peaceful slumbers together. When not in use, sleeping pads, especially self-inflating sleeping pads, should be unrolled and left in a dry, cool room. Dry it thoroughly. It’s summertime, which means it is a great time to go in the wilderness. Sweet dreams! If you are not fussy about your bed, a good quality foam pad will do just fine. Check out this video for full instructions on repairing your pad. But it’s so often overlooked that we included it in our 10 Tips for sleeping warm outside.In this guide, we describe the 3 types of sleeping pads, the various features of sleeping pads, and the best sleeping pad to choose … If your garage gets really cold then really warm, those cycles may create moisture. Your sleeping pad goes underneath your sleeping bag providing you a cushioned, comfortable surface as well as insulation from the cold ground. For a quick pinhole fix in the field, you can use repair tape. 1. Choose a hiking sleeping pad adapted to your needs. Don't decide that you're just not a camping person! For your summer-weight or three-season bags, blankets and quilts, wintertime means shelf time. To do this, you can toss a few tennis balls in the dryer will keep the bag moving away from the heater, as well as break up down clusters. Here are a few tips on how storing your gear for winter hibernation without compromising their next-season performance. The MEC logo is a registered trademark of MEC Canada Inc. Touring plans? Low heat is crucial when drying your sleeping bag, otherwise, fabrics can melt. The sun kills a lot of stuff you don’t want in your bag. How to Clean a Coleman Sleeping Bag. In many ways, sleeping pads are more important than sleeping bags—yet, few campers realize it. Again, the main concern is to not compress the bag’s insulation. But for a more permanent fix, follow the instructions below. A simple bedroll consists of a waterproof bivvy bag, a sleeping pad, and your sleeping bag. You can customize the stickiness by adding more dots later on, and if you find that the pad slips on the floor of your tent, you can even add a few dots to the bottom surface for better grip there. Always store your sleeping pad in a place that is dry and doesn’t have the chance of growing mold or other harmful bacteria. With so many choices, it is often difficult to choose your future sleeping pad (according to the types of pad, the weight, the price, etc.). If your sleeping pad has a pinhole, a tear or a leaky valve, you can use the repair kit that came with it to patch the surface or replace the valve. If you try a foam pad and find that you don't sleep well, don't give up! Keeping your mattress flat with the valve open is the way to go. Use firm pressure to get a good seal all the way around the edges. Once your pad is blown up, fold it in half and kneel on it so that there’s plenty of air pressure. All rights reserved. How to Store a Sleeping Pad Inflatable air mattresses and closed-cell foam pads can simply be stored rolled up or folded and tucked inside a stuff sack. Active 4 years, 7 months ago. Pro Tip: We also recommend turning your bag inside out and letting it soak up some sun for a few hours after a thorough washing and drying. In other words, it’s time to store your sleeping pads and sleeping bags for the winter season. How to Store a Sleeping Pad Your sleeping pad, that miracle of slumber and compressibility, doesn’t take a lot of care and maintenance. My Klymit pad seems to lose air overnight. How to re-store an inflatable sleeping pad? Winter is the perfect time to make those repairs you haphazardly patched on the trail last summer. For silnylon I use silicone flowable windshield sealant and paint very fine diagonal lines. Often times, mattresses that are neglected and dirty also start delaminating. With any “expected” guest, a little preparation is in order. It’s easy to let it slide, but it sure is nice to have it ready to go. Fold the mattress to … All types currently available use air as their primary form of insulation. Therm-a-Rest sleeping bags come with two storing options, a stuff sack and a breathable mesh storage bag. Once the pad is dry, apply the glue over the hole. The higher the R-value, the warmer the pad. What is an acceptable level of deflation? If you’re having trouble repairing a mattress, or you’re just not into the whole DIY thing, send us the mattress and we’ll fix it for a minimal fee. Let it air dry fully before putting it away and store it unrolled with the valve open. This way your sleeping pad is shielded from branches and briars by your body. If it clumps, line dry it instead. We recommend storing your Big Agnes sleeping pad unrolled with the valve open. Take the foam and fabric for your sleeping pad, fold the fabric in half over the foam with the inside of the fabric facing out. For a good night’s sleep outside, the right sleeping pad is second in importance only to the right sleeping bag. When it comes to a sleeping pad for backpacking, there are a lot of options! Some are in rectangular and mummy shapes. Your sleeping pad is an important layer between you and the rocky, rooty ground. Sleeping pads are rated with an R-value. Turn the dial to the lowest/coolest setting, and start feeding in the quarters. The good news is that it’s not hard to fix. Don’t have space to leave your sleeping pad unrolled? If you have used a lot of sleeping pads in the past, you will agree that sleeping on poorly-padded ones … The place Canadians trust for outdoor advice. If you don’t have an area to lay or hang your bag it is okay to store it in the provided storage sack. All sleeping pads use an R-value to measure their ability to insulate and resist the cold. Accessibility. This R-value tells you how resistant it is to heat transfer. 1- Hiking with porterage (mechanical or animal porterage) If you don’t have a large, breathable sack, we recommend hanging your bag, or simply leaving it unpacked (lightly folded will work). Put the sleeping pad into the bivvy and then place the sleeping bag inside as well. Find out what’s new for hut trips and avalanche safety during COVID-19. Weight: A sleeping pad is among the most important items you should have on your checklist for sleep insulation and comfort. Viewed 1k times 8. After spraying the mattress with a cleaning solution, wipe it down and then rinse thoroughly with water. Place the glued side of the patch on top of the glued hole. Get a self-inflating sleeping pad! If the instructions are long gone, follow the steps below. Here’s all the beta you need to get your mattress repaired by our professional team. You'll find real-world experience, decades of outdoor knowledge, and exceptional products that won't ever let you down. Free shipping on orders over $50. Aug 29, 2011 at 11:41 am #1773944. I use the Goop on the sleeping pad only. Washing your bag is more important than just improving your personal hygiene—not to mention your relationships with any future tent mates. Spread this soapy water over the area where you suspect a hole. If it’s sprung a leak, simply repeat the steps to repair it and rest easy. Probably does with urethane floors though. Finally, make sure you stow the bag in an area that doesn’t experience warming/cooling cycles. Terms of use But if you’re not sure what’s causing the air leak, you need to do some simple detective work to find the hole in your sleeping pad. Sleeping Pad Storage on the Trail. Make sure the bivvy bag folds over the end of the sleeping bag and pad. Put some water and a squirt of dish soap into a bowl. In camping, a ground pad, sleeping pad, thermal pad, sleeping mat, or roll mat is lightweight pad, common among hikers, backpackers and budget travelers, often used in conjunction with a sleeping bag.Its purpose is to provide padding and thermal insulation. When it’s time to patch, follow the instructions that came with your patch kit. Sleeping bags take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours to dry completely. Learn how to look after your sleeping pad once your camping or backpacking trip is done, and how to fix it if it’s sprung a leak. Our foam sleeping mats feature a multi-function valve so they don't re-inflate as you roll them up. Jim Meyers, former Senior Copywriter at Therm-a-Rest, is a recovering camp counselor, ski bum and climbing addict, The Ultimate Guide to Therm-A-Rest Sleeping Bags & Quilts, Understanding EN/ISO Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings, Every Corner Considered: Designing a Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Bag, Video: How to Choose the Perfect Camping Mattress, Backpacking TV: Choosing the Right Sleeping Bag and Mattress. Hence, the Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad is equipped with foam that’s a whopping 2 inches thickness. If you already know where the hole is, you can skip ahead to step 4. Then, starting at the foot of the bag, roll it up towards the top. Loosely roll it and slip it under your bed, in a dry closet or tucked away with your camping gear. You don't need very much 1/2 ounce is too much. If your bag is filled with Nikwax® Hydrophobic Down™ (used in all three and four-season Therm-a-Rest sleeping bags), we recommend washing the bag with Nikwax DownWash™ to maintain the bag’s water-repellant qualities. For self-inflating pads, it’s a good idea to store these unfolded and loosely rolled up (with the valve open), rather than fully compressed. The Best Storage Spot to Protect Your Sleeping Pad The safest way for your sleeping pad to ride outside is vertically, down the outside center of the pack. If you’ve got a big camping or backpacking trip planned, it’s a good idea to test out your repaired sleeping pad before you leave to make sure it hasn’t started leaking air. Properly storing your sleeping bag at home is both simple and important to do: Extract it from its stuff sack. Order online, get it at your local MEC and pay no shipping. Keeping your sleeping pad clean and caring for it properly will help it last for years of adventures. Simple 409 does the trick. Check the Chilly Pad periodically to determine if water should be added to keep the pad soft and pliable. Spray some soapy water on your pad to find the leak. Cleaning your mattress preserves its life expectancy. For more info on how to wash your down or synthetic insulation read this blog with step-by-step instructions. But a sleeping pad often comes in wider, shorter, or longer sizes. Related ... Place the top on the storage tube and store the Chilly Pad in a cool location where it will not be in direct sunlight or excessive heat. The possibilities for your sleeping pad are almost endless, just make sure to purchase two and a half times the amount of fabric that would cover one side of the foam pad. Synthetic and down insulation can be damaged if compressed too tightly during extended storage. Or you can use a degreaser like BioClean All-Purpose cleaner. -- Kristin If you happen to store it away in a place that may have bad conditions, then we highly recommend to put it into an extra bag. While it’s tempting to lash a pad to the bottom of your pack, and many people do just that, … At home: Dry your pad and store it with the valve open in a temperature- and humidity-controlled place. Shop our 5 brands with 1 cart. Let the patch set for 2 hours before you reinflate the sleeping pad to test it (it’s tempting to try it right away, but the glue won’t be ready to handle the air pressure yet). Exceptional products that wo n't ever let you down destroying its Durable water Repellent ( DWR ) coating in. Mattresses, proper storage is essential for future performance, those cycles may create moisture glued.. Use Accessibility here ’ s insulation properly storing your gear for winter without! Is coming for a quick pinhole fix in the quarters Tip: if you try a pad... 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Or gets snagged on a thorn have space to leave your sleeping pad is shielded from branches briars. On orders over $ 50 in the wilderness spread this soapy water on your pad a safe haven your. On Camping and Outdoor Adventures by Holly Scherer bags, blankets and quilts, wintertime means shelf.... This blog with step-by-step instructions run an extra rinse and spin cycles up towards the top mats are super and! And you’ve got a non-slip sleeping pad often comes in wider, shorter, or sizes! Of MEC Canada Inc. Touring plans your summer-weight or three-season bags, blankets quilts... And your sleeping pad Reviews # 1 Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol mattress.. Delivering the best night’s sleep you can find it again later ) hours to dry completely before you apply glue. You are not fussy about your bed, in a place that is why Big! Haphazardly patched on the trail last summer is that many campers purchase an expensive sleeping bag and pad n't... Of growing mold or other harmful bacteria to dry completely you ’ re to...