ALPS Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large - Special Buy

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large - Special Buy:

I purchased this sleeping pad because of the great price on REI outlet. I was looking for a nice, thick pad for car camping and to use as a guest bed in my house. This thing is honestly more comfortable than an air mattress. The size is wide enough for a large person like myself to not feel like I'm sleeping on a plank. The integrated pillow is perfect for stomach sleepers, but not quite tall enough for me when sleeping on my side or back.

This pad will work best for car camping or setting up a base camp. It is suited for those who enjoy comfort. I plan to use this mostly for car camping and supported bicycle touring, where I do not have to carry my own gear. On multi-day trips, I find that a good night's sleep is priceless.

Regarding the thickness, I measured mine and it is right on at 3" thick. It just takes about 4 hours for it to automatically inflate to that thickness when you first unpack it. For those that don't know, all of these self inflating mattresses should be stored inflated. Only roll it up right before your camping trip, and it will stay much thicker. My wife has a 10 year old thermarest that is in great condition because she stores it inflated. Conversely, I have ruined a (lower quality) Wenzel sleeping pad because I stored it tightly rolled. The foam no longer rebounds after about 5 years.

Comfort on this mattress is great. It even has enough support for side sleepers - you won't go numb in the hip area when laying on your side. Although I like to sleep on a firm mattress at home, I prefer to let this self inflate, close the valves, then lay on it. While laying on it, I will let out 1-2 seconds of air to make it just a little more 'plush.' It all comes down to your personal preference. Some choose to add air, some let it out. A mattress this thick gives you that option, without worrying that you will have contact with the ground.

The only downside I found to this is that the fabric on top is not as durable as the fabric on the bottom. Unfortunately, my 100 pound American Bulldog stepped on it one morning and punctured it. I have not patched it yet, but the mattress does come with a patch kit, which is very nice. However, because the foam is so thick, I actually had no rush to patch it while camping, because the foam alone is fairly comfortable to sleep on, even without air in the mattress. We have not had the same problem with punctures on my wife's Thermarest Slumberjack, and the dogs regularly walk on them when camping. For this reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5.

When comparing cost, this pad (on clearance at REI Outlet) is 1/2 the cost of the REI Camp Bed 3.5 XL and 1/3 the cost of the Thermarest Luxury Map XL. All 3 are comparable in terms of comfort, IMHO, having tried them out at REI stores. I consider this a great value for a sleeping pad. I might recommend purchasing a sheet to put on top of this mattress in order to help protect the top from a potential wandering pet.

Overall, I would recommend this to my friends, especially at the prices it is listed at. However, if selling at or near MSRP, I would recommend the REI Camp Bed 3.5 instead.

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large - Special Buy:

Perfect pad for the alps mountaineering xlarge cot. 3 nights and slept through the night every time. My wife was using a double high air mattress and I used the cot. I think she wants a cot now.

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large - Special Buy:

This pad is much bigger than i thought it would be and although not 100% clear from the description it is actually foam AND inflatable so if for some reason you get a leak you can still sleep in comfort because you have the foam bottom all the time. The only complaint i have is that it is difficult to roll up and put in the bag but maybe ill get better at it with time but it is super comfortable and a very good price. I don't know what the other reviewer was complaining about.

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large - Special Buy:

I've got a top-of-the-line ThermaRest that cost 4x as much. I bought this for my wife, and I'm impressed. This is almost as good for 1/4 of the price.

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large - Special Buy:

Not as thick as advertised. For this much weight/bulk, I expected a 3" pad (as advertised). After self-inflating and adding a few breaths, max was maybe 2" if i'm being generous.

Comments about Alps Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large - Special Buy:

After years on an air mattress, my fused spine just can't take it anymore. I decided to try the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Cot - Large with the ALPS Mountaineering Lightweight Sleeping Pad - X Large and couldn't be happier. I am 6'1" and have a very bad back and slept very comfortably with no pain in my hips or back. My husband is 6'5" and 230lbs and said this is the best fit for a camping bed solution he has slept on.

The pad easily and quickly inflates to a full 3" and was very comfortable to sleep on. It is bulky and hard to roll back up to a small size but, for me, that extra bulk is worth the good nights sleep. The cot folds very easily, has a compact carrying bag, and is not very heavy.

We are family campers with a 3 and 4 year old and mostly camp at established campgrounds or in the backyard. I think these cots and pads will give us years of comfortable camping nights.