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It Inflates, You Don't Blow It UpApr 12 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Sport and Outdoor
The Bottom Line Probably one of the best camping equipment inventions in years. Every backpacker/tent camper should own one.
Over the years that I have been camping, I have learned a bit about the proper type of sleeping pad that works the best. When I started out in Boy Scouts we very rarely used any. We were taught to clear the area under your tent, to remove any rocks and twigs that would be uncomfortable (also they could put a hole in the floor of your tent). You would then gather fallen tree leaves or pine needles to make a ground bed, cover this by putting down your ground cloth, then your sleeping bag, and finally going to sleep. Next came the roll-up foam sleeping pad. These were easy to carry because they were constructed of very light foam material. The only drawback was that they were a little bulky. I didn't find them all that comfortable but they were better than sleeping on the ground and they also protected you from getting wet if you had a wet night and your tent floor had a leak. The next generation of bedding has been the self inflating sleeping pads. When I first saw one being used at a camp-out, I questioned how sturdy they were. Young Scouts sometimes don't actually take great care of their equipment so I recommend that only older campers invest in these pads. They are told not to walk in the tent with hiking boots still on but they always know more than the leaders so they do it anyway. I and the other leaders were pleased to say that there were very few incidents of damaged pads. The kids did take better care of these because they knew they were expensive and if they got ruined then it was back to the old ground beds or the foam mattresses. It does take some patience when rolling them back up. First you should make sure they are free from debris. Then slowly roll in as tight as possibly while squeezing out the air. When rolling is complete, remember to securely fasten the straps to prevent it from rolling out again. When preparing to purchase a Self Inflating-Sleeping Pad make sure of the size. There are a couple of things to remember. First is, how tall is the individual that is going to be using the pad? They do come in different lengths and you don't want to get one that is too short or too long. The second thing to think about is how big is the tent that the pad is going to be used in. Some tents for young campers aren't fully six feet long and this will cause a problem when the pad is fully inflated. I must admit that these Self Inflating-Sleeping Pads are much more comfortable that their predecessors and less bulky too. Why not sleep in comfort when at your favorite campground or on an extended hike.  |
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