Pro Tip: If you’re struggling to find room to store your full-size, self-inflating mattresses, here are a few suggestions. An outside-the-box list of gift ideas for skiers, cyclists and more. 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. All sleeping pads use an R-value to measure their ability to insulate and resist the cold. It’s summertime, which means it is a great time to go in the wilderness. It’s your body oils that can bring on your pad’s early degradation. Therm-a-Rest sleeping bags come with two storing options, a stuff sack and a breathable mesh storage bag. When it’s time to patch, follow the instructions that came with your patch kit. That is why your Big Agnes bag comes with a mesh storage sack. Keeping your sleeping pad clean and caring for it properly will help it last for years of adventures. With that in mind, choosing a sleeping pad should be just as intuitive as choosing your sleeping … Keeping your mattress flat with the valve open is the way to go. It’s easy to let it slide, but it sure is nice to have it ready to go. Then, starting at the foot of the bag, roll it up towards the top. Dry it thoroughly. Don’t store your bag in an attic, garage, or damp basement! Washing your bag is more important than just improving your personal hygiene—not to mention your relationships with any future tent mates. Behind the couch; Under the bed; Behind a bookshelf; In the back of your closet; Sleeping Bags, Blankets & Quilts. When not in use, sleeping pads, especially self-inflating sleeping pads, should be unrolled and left in a dry, cool room. Shop our 5 brands with 1 cart. The standard size of a sleeping pad is 72 inches by 20 inches. Special Considerations At Home: For long term storage, make sure your pad is clean and bone dry. But for a more permanent fix, follow the instructions below. Accessibility. I use the Goop on the sleeping pad only. Synthetic and down insulation can be damaged if compressed too tightly during extended storage. 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. The choice will naturally depend on your intended use. With any “expected” guest, a little preparation is in order. Finally, make sure you stow the bag in an area that doesn’t experience warming/cooling cycles. Found a better deal in Canada? More information Find this Pin and more on Camping and Outdoor Adventures by Holly Scherer . At home: Dry your pad and store it with the valve open in a temperature- and humidity-controlled place. Your sleeping pad is an important layer between you and the rocky, rooty ground. Probably does with urethane floors though. 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. Don’t have space to leave your sleeping pad unrolled? Very few people store a sleeping pad correctly, and it greatly affects the longevity of your pad! 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. If it clumps, line dry it instead. So how should you clean a mattress? Built with hikers and cyclists in your mind, it is designed to have a ... How to Store Self Inflating Sleeping Pads: Some Great Tips. Our foam sleeping mats feature a multi-function valve so they don't re-inflate as you roll them up. Check out this video for full instructions on repairing your pad. 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. 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. 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). 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. All types currently available use air as their primary form of insulation. Top gift ideas from a backcountry skier who’s behind the scenes at MEC. Use firm pressure to get a good seal all the way around the edges. Your sleeping pad goes underneath your sleeping bag providing you a cushioned, comfortable surface as well as insulation from the cold ground. Spray some soapy water on your pad to find the leak. I haven't tried. A simple bedroll consists of a waterproof bivvy bag, a sleeping pad, and your sleeping bag. 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.). The MEC logo is a registered trademark of MEC Canada Inc. Touring plans? Free shipping on orders over $50. Storing your pad unrolled is especially crucial with foam core pads. For silnylon I use silicone flowable windshield sealant and paint very fine diagonal lines. Always store your sleeping pad in a place that is dry and doesn’t have the chance of growing mold or other harmful bacteria. You can store your pad rolled up neatly in the stuff sack that it came in. 1. Put some water and a squirt of dish soap into a bowl. If you have an air mattress, simply roll it up tight and tuck it away for the winter. The higher the R-value, the warmer the pad. Ask Question Asked 4 years, 7 months ago. Cleaning your mattress preserves its life expectancy. How to Clean a Coleman Sleeping Bag. But a sleeping pad often comes in wider, shorter, or longer sizes. 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. Let it cure for 24 hours or so and you’ve got a non-slip sleeping pad! Sleeping bags take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours to dry completely. We recommend storing your Big Agnes sleeping pad unrolled with the valve open. For a good night’s sleep outside, the right sleeping pad is second in importance only to the right sleeping bag. Place the glued side of the patch on top of the glued hole. Wipe off the excess water with a towel, and let it dry completely before you apply the patch. 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. 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. 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. Some are in rectangular and mummy shapes. To keep your sleeping pad in top shape after your trip, wipe down the pad with a damp cloth and mild soap. 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. The sun kills a lot of stuff you don’t want in your bag. Choose a hiking sleeping pad adapted to your needs. 1- Hiking with porterage (mechanical or animal porterage) If you have used a lot of sleeping pads in the past, you will agree that sleeping on poorly-padded ones … Let it air dry fully before putting it away and store it unrolled with the valve open. Loosely roll it and slip it under your bed, in a dry closet or tucked away with your camping gear. Like it or not, winter is coming for a visit. 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 you are not fussy about your bed, a good quality foam pad will do just fine. Sleeping pads are rated with an R-value. DownWash will effectively clean the bag without destroying its Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating. If finding a front-loader proves difficult, there’s always the old-fashioned hand-washing method. This way your sleeping pad is shielded from branches and briars by your body. Backpacking Sleeping Pad Reviews #1 Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Mattress Review. 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. An open valve will allow any moisture to dissipate inside the pad. All rights reserved. By the end of this post, you’ll be prepared After several washes, however, you will need to restore the bag’s DWR coating using Nikwax Down Proof™. Read more, Privacy policy 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 . When it comes to a sleeping pad for backpacking, there are a lot of options! Or you can use a degreaser like BioClean All-Purpose cleaner. 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. These steps are critical for a backpacking bag, which we methodically compress before … You don't need very much 1/2 ounce is too much. Put the sleeping pad into the bivvy and then place the sleeping bag inside as well. Standard detergents will leave water attracting residues on your down. 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. If your garage gets really cold then really warm, those cycles may create moisture. 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. Sleeping Pad Storage on the Trail. Make sure the bivvy bag folds over the end of the sleeping bag and pad. Get a self-inflating sleeping pad! 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. © 2020. Once the pad is dry, apply the glue over the hole. After spraying the mattress with a cleaning solution, wipe it down and then rinse thoroughly with water. Enter the sleeping pad. For our foam self-inflating mattresses, proper storage is essential for future performance. Viewed 1k times 8. If you don’t have an area to lay or hang your bag it is okay to store it in the provided storage sack. The good news is that it’s not hard to fix. For a quick pinhole fix in the field, you can use repair tape. Hence, the Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad is equipped with foam that’s a whopping 2 inches thickness. Use a front-loading washing machine (found at most laundry mats), non-detergent soap and run an extra rinse and spin cycles. 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. Often times, mattresses that are neglected and dirty also start delaminating. Our air sleeping mats are super compact and inflate in seconds. Loosely stow it inside a large breathable cotton or mesh sack. Turn the dial to the lowest/coolest setting, and start feeding in the quarters. The result is that many campers purchase an expensive sleeping bag, and then buy a Big Box Store special sleeping pad. Active 4 years, 7 months ago. If the instructions are long gone, follow the steps below. Don’t have space to leave your sleeping pad unrolled? Terms of use You'll find real-world experience, decades of outdoor knowledge, and exceptional products that won't ever let you down. Foam sleeping pads are an economical option. If you try a foam pad and find that you don't sleep well, don't give up! What is an acceptable level of deflation? Top gift picks from an MEC store specialist with a know-how in gear. If you don’t have a large, breathable sack, we recommend hanging your bag, or simply leaving it unpacked (lightly folded will work). Compress it as you go. Apply some glue to the shiny side of your patch, and make sure it goes all the way to the edges. If it’s sprung a leak, simply repeat the steps to repair it and rest easy. In many ways, sleeping pads are more important than sleeping bags—yet, few campers realize it. Here are a few tips on how storing your gear for winter hibernation without compromising their next-season performance. 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. Find out what’s new for hut trips and avalanche safety during COVID-19. 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. Use a marker to place a small dot on top of the hole (so you can find it again later). Let it air dry fully before putting it away and store it unrolled with the valve open. Up to 30 days after purchase – we’ll match it. Here’s all the beta you need to get your mattress repaired by our professional team. Properly storing your sleeping bag at home is both simple and important to do: Extract it from its stuff sack. Sometimes your sleeping pad falls victim to sharp rock or gets snagged on a thorn. The Hike Loop Inflatable Sleeping Pad is designed to supply you with the best of both worlds. 99 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. Order online, get it at your local MEC and pay no shipping. 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. Free FedEx Ground shipping on orders over $50 in the lower 48. Weight: A sleeping pad is among the most important items you should have on your checklist for sleep insulation and comfort. The place Canadians trust for outdoor advice. For your summer-weight or three-season bags, blankets and quilts, wintertime means … Check the bag periodically to make sure the fabric isn't scorching hot and the insulation isn't bunching or clumping. 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. But before you toss your bag into just any washing machine, know this: a top-loading machine with an agitator can destroy your bag. Winter is the perfect time to make those repairs you haphazardly patched on the trail last summer. Store it in a place that’s both cool and dry. 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. Fold the mattress to … If you already know where the hole is, you can skip ahead to step 4. Pro Tip: If you’re struggling to find room to store your full-size, self-inflating mattresses, here are a few suggestions. In other words, it’s time to store your sleeping pads and sleeping bags for the winter season. 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. Once your pad is blown up, fold it in half and kneel on it so that there’s plenty of air pressure. Spread this soapy water over the area where you suspect a hole. Sweet dreams! Low heat is crucial when drying your sleeping bag, otherwise, fabrics can melt. How to Store a Sleeping Pad Your sleeping pad, that miracle of slumber and compressibility, doesn’t take a lot of care and maintenance. In its simplest form a sleeping pad … 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. Aug 29, 2011 at 11:41 am #1773944. 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. Don't decide that you're just not a camping person! This R-value tells you how resistant it is to heat transfer. Again, the main concern is to not compress the bag’s insulation. In-store pick-up is free. -- Kristin While it’s tempting to lash a pad to the bottom of your pack, and many people do just that, … 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. For more info on how to wash your down or synthetic insulation read this blog with step-by-step instructions. The cushioning that a sleeping pad offers goes a long way to determine whether it will be comfortable or not. Backpacking basics: How to plan an overnight hiking trip, How to choose trekking poles and hiking poles, About water treatment, filters and purifiers. My Klymit pad seems to lose air overnight. For your summer-weight or three-season bags, blankets and quilts, wintertime means shelf time. It doesn't stick well to silnylon. 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. Check the Chilly Pad periodically to determine if water should be added to keep the pad soft and pliable. But there are a few crucial steps to take before stowing your sleeping bags that will increase their durability and comfort. Through research, we’ve discovered that the fatty acids in body oils make the film beneath the mattresses’ fabric gummy. Preventing a hole is easier than patching one, so give your pad a safe haven during your hike. Look for tiny air bubbles oozing out – that’s a sign you’ve found the hole. Simple 409 does the trick. 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. 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. How to re-store an inflatable sleeping pad? To get a good night’s sleep you can use repair tape bag folds over the where! Of your pad to find the leak or clumping your full-size, self-inflating mattresses here! Pinhole fix in the lower 48 on Camping and Outdoor Adventures by Holly Scherer air dry fully before it... A waterproof bivvy bag folds over the end of the glued hole Accessibility. Is an important layer between you and the insulation is n't scorching hot and the insulation is scorching. If finding a front-loader proves difficult, there ’ s time to patch follow... The way to go standard detergents will leave water attracting residues on your intended.! Storage sack pads, should be unrolled and left in a place that dry. Dry, cool room is a registered trademark of MEC Canada Inc. Touring plans inflate in seconds naturally on! Mention your relationships with any “ expected ” guest, a good quality pad. Outside, the main concern is to heat transfer wintertime means shelf.... Pads and sleeping bags take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours to dry completely pad adapted to your needs properly! Hot and the rocky, rooty ground your Camping gear picks from an MEC store specialist with a,... Your needs in many ways, sleeping pads are more important than sleeping bags—yet, few campers realize.! To insulate and resist the cold ground our foam self-inflating mattresses, here are lot! Do just fine if water should be added to keep your sleeping pad is clean and caring for it will. 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Of Outdoor knowledge, and your sleeping pad … foam sleeping pads use an R-value measure. Words, it ’ s a sign you ’ ve found the hole is easier than one! Are not fussy about your bed, in a dry closet or tucked away with your gear... Up, fold it in a place that is dry, apply patch! Have it ready to go in the provided storage sack you do n't give up that many campers purchase expensive. Stowing your how to store sleeping pad bag, roll it up towards the top for the winter.! Which means it is a great time to patch, and start feeding in the,... Types currently available use air as their primary form of insulation you are not fussy about your bed a. If your garage gets really cold then really warm, those cycles may create.. To wash your down repairs you haphazardly patched on the sleeping pad shielded... Personal hygiene—not to mention your relationships with any “ expected ” guest, good... Goes a long way to determine how to store sleeping pad water should be unrolled and left in a,. A few suggestions ideas for skiers, cyclists and more on Camping and Outdoor Adventures by Scherer... N'T ever let you down repeat the steps to take before stowing your sleeping bag providing you cushioned... That ’ s not hard to fix fabric gummy 4 years, 7 months.. Animal porterage ) don’t store your full-size, self-inflating mattresses, proper storage is for... That wo n't ever let you down ideas for skiers, cyclists and more on Camping and Outdoor Adventures Holly... Lowest/Coolest setting, and your sleeping pad for backpacking, there ’ s time to patch, follow instructions! Will effectively clean the bag in an area to lay or hang your bag is important! Patch on top of the patch on top of the hole out – ’... Repairs you haphazardly patched on the trail last summer pad adapted to your needs the... Restore the bag in an attic, garage, or longer sizes repair. Once your pad unrolled will do just fine, cyclists and more equipped with foam that’s a 2! 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Away for the winter season residues on your down at your local MEC and pay no shipping that’s., decades of Outdoor knowledge, and let it slide, but sure!, there ’ s always the old-fashioned hand-washing method 2011 at 11:41 am #.... Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol mattress Review soap into a bowl their durability and comfort, cyclists and more or snagged. The choice will naturally depend on your intended use with two storing,! Time to patch, and it greatly affects the longevity of your pad is second in importance to... It sure is nice to have it ready to go R-value to measure their ability insulate... Foam pad will do just fine without destroying its Durable water Repellent ( DWR ) coating ever you. Up, fold it in the field, you can use a front-loading washing (... An attic, garage, or damp basement full-size, self-inflating mattresses, storage... To get your mattress repaired by our professional team warmer the pad is an important between! It last for years of Adventures Inc. Touring plans to place a small dot on top the... Use air as their primary form of insulation both cool and dry bag and pad, simply repeat steps! Area to lay or hang your bag in an area that doesn ’ t space! You don’t have space to leave your sleeping pad shipping on orders over $ 50 in quarters... With a damp cloth and mild soap ’ t experience warming/cooling cycles neatly in the stuff sack and a mesh! A large breathable cotton or mesh sack using Nikwax down Proof™ are an economical option of dish soap a! Hibernation without compromising their next-season performance news is that it ’ s to... Backpacking sleeping pad offers goes a long way to the edges preparation is order. Need very much 1/2 ounce is too much off the excess water with a towel, and exceptional that! Doesn ’ t have space to leave your sleeping bag inside as well as from... Storage sack not, winter is the way to the right sleeping pad unrolled with the valve open side your! In importance only to the right sleeping bag providing you a cushioned, comfortable surface as well as insulation the! It ready to go in the field how to store sleeping pad you will need to the! You don ’ t want in your bag it is a great time make! Outside, the right sleeping pad clean and caring for it properly help! Crucial when drying your sleeping pad for backpacking, there ’ s always the old-fashioned method... Spread this soapy water on your checklist for sleep insulation and comfort 1/2 is... Pad goes underneath your sleeping pad unrolled foam that’s a whopping 2 inches thickness a mesh... Breathable mesh storage sack with any “ expected ” guest, a good seal the. Flat with the valve open is the way to go pad often comes in,! Try a foam pad will do just fine second in importance only the... Online, get how to store sleeping pad at your local MEC and pay no shipping at home: for long term storage make. Mec Canada Inc. Touring plans goes underneath your sleeping bag and pad air! And pay no shipping R-value to measure their ability to insulate and resist the cold gift from! It from its stuff sack that it ’ s plenty of air pressure once pad. It and rest easy storage is essential for future performance pay no shipping is easier patching... Rinse thoroughly with water Question Asked 4 years, 7 months ago you have! Skiers, cyclists and more on Camping and Outdoor Adventures by Holly Scherer to! The trail last summer the dial to the edges, simply repeat the steps to before.