Okay, for my last two trips into the BWCA I have used a blow-up air mattress... It is time for me to graduate into Camping Adulthood and get some good sleep (without losing air... ha ha) Anyway, how about some suggestions on which pads to look for. I am a rather large man, 6'5 and 285 so I am looking for something long enough, and with enough cushion. Thanks in advance for any replies...

Good Paddling, Great Fishing, and God Bless All...

Bruce

I like to use a cheap foam type 3/4" thick on the bottom, with a self inflatable on top of that. Not real heavy and I sleep good. I wrap the cheap foam mattress around the self inflatable when packing to protect. I remeber when I was in basic training and my blow-up mattress went flat on me in the middle of the night. The ground was cold and I don't want to ever relive that experience.

Aug

All I can say is once you own at Therma-rest you'll wonder why you waited so long to get one. I also have the chair attchment and I like it too. My therma-rest is about 12 years old and still as good as new.
qp

Hey QP, Do you have a suggestion for a Therm-a-rest for someone my size? I found two models at REI that are about the right size. They are the Performance Camplite and the Camprest. The Performance is 25 x 77 x 1.6 open cell foam and $63.00. The Camprest is 25 x 77 x 2 closed cell foam and $60.00. Any suggestions? Both are on sale and they seem like a good deal.

Thanks,
Bruce

I'd go for the 25 x 77 x 2. Thats what I have and it works great. When folded it makes the chair attachement about 4 inch thick. plus I think (this may just be me but) the cover and plastic poles for the chair hepls it to stay in place in the tent at night. The pole aren't very big but also offer a little support too.
qp

Arkansas, go for the Lightweight Elite Thermarests! (LE series)

They are wider that regular Thermarest and over double the thickness and come in a full length. They make some great chairs that go with them that you don't ever have to remove from the pads while you are on the trip.