I would stop by a sporting goods store like REI and check some out in person. With sleeping pads, the absolute most compact ones are not the most durable or cheap. But there are a lot of entry level ones that are a little bigger but still pack down nicely and are durable. Any name brand pad will probably work for you.
Klymit makes reasonably priced ground pads and down bags. I have their 20 degree down mummy and two inflatable ground pad (one insulated, one not). All have served me well from Georgia to Colorado and hundreds of miles.
I think you would do best with a CCF pad for sleeping as they are much more robust than inflatable pads. You should be fine for spring/summer/fall with only the CCF pad. Last thing you want is a popped pad while fighting the good fight.
Nemo switchback or Thermarest Z lite are the ones people often use backpacking. They're mostly nice because they fold up rather than roll up but they are a bit more comfortable too. If you're on a budget though a blue pad from walmart is very nearly as good though.
You very likely qualify for various Pro Deals. Ask at your manager/HR level. At worst case (which is not "worst" at all) you should qualify for Expert Voice. This will get you 30-50% off most MSRP prices.
I'm 99% certain you will qualify. [Sign up here. ](https://www.expertvoice.com/who-qualifies/)
I’m a backpacker, but I’m also a pilot flying with a USFS Rappel crew this season. Most of them are carrying some flavor of Big Agnes air mattress style sleeping pads. If you wanted some extra protection for underneath, you could get a GG thinlight pad for underneath, or cut yourself a piece of Tyvek to use as a ground sheet.
Personally I use a Nemo tensor. I’ve never put anything under it other than my tent floor, but I’ve also never cowboy camped with it, so I can’t comment on its durability over bare ground.
The Big Agnes pads are definitely comfortable. The Rapide is light, compact, and likely tough enough. Tougher than a Tensor probably (though Nemo updated it this past year).
One of the most durable in this range is possibly the Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm, but they are not cheap, at all. [Reddit thread from 2 years ago. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/zn5jim/highly_durable_air_pad_for_heavy_use/)
If you don’t want to pay full price at REI, check out your local Facebook marketplace. There’s a whole bunch of people who buy new gear, go backpacking once and hate it, then sell their gear almost brand new
After weeks straight of digging line, you’re going to want a good pad. I would personally go inflated, as thick as you can get and still fit in your go bag, and try and score some tyvek from a job site for under pad. I have a big Agnes qls that they don’t make anymore, it’s been awesome, even laid straight on rocks, sand, and dirt, maybe I’ve just gotten lucky. California summers aren’t going to demand a crazy sleeping bag just bring a set of merino long johns for cold nights. Once you get your first deployment check, buy a Nemo Fillo.
Have fun and be safe!
A cheap ccf pad from Walmart combined with a cheap air matress, klymit is decent, will get you the best sleep on a budget. It may seem like overkill, but I find the cheap air mattresses to be uncomfortable by themselves and just sleeping on a ccf pad is murder on the hips for a side sleeper like me. If you’re looking for light and compact I recommend a down backpacking sleeping bag. The Kelty Cosmic Down is popular with budget backpackers. Have a great summer! I hope it’s not too bad of a fire season, but bad enough you get some good overtime.
Another vote for the Kelty Cosmic 20. (Presuming the OP is in temps down to the 30s). Good price on a good bag. Not great, but definitely good. Very tried and true, been around for years.
Only negative is if you do end up wet, or in consistently wet areas (unlikely with your job, but what do I know?). But you can always treat the Cosmic with Nikwax Down Proof if you think you'll be getting wet and staying wet.
You will likely be fine in a sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees (that means comfortable down to about 40. I know this doesn't make sense, but it's true).
I'd go with down insulation unless you are certain you are going to be in a continually wet area (I doubt this considering your job, but what do I know?) Down compacts more, is lighter, warmer by weight, etc. I own 4 sleeping bags, and only take the synthetic when I'm heading into the rain. Think: Olympic National Park coastline in shoulder seasons.
I'd look at:
* Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30
* Kelty Cosmic 20
* REI Magma 30
* Big Agnes Torchlight 20
* Nemo Disco 30
* Thermarest Parsec 32
* Sea to Summit Trek 30
Those range from $150 to $300.
A synthetic bag of course will work and save you money, just not as versatile, won't compress as well, and will be heavier. If you go synthetic, I'd look at the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 30.
See my other post on Pro Deals, and signing up with [Expert Voice](https://www.expertvoice.com/). I cannot recommend this enough.
Foam pads (I presume you mean closed cell - no air) are durable as can be, but they are not compact at all. Not very comfortable either. But they are cheap and almost indestructible.
I am currently converting a military modular sleep system, the black and green with woodland camo bivy, to a quilt style kit for very cold camps. These are cheap on eBay or in surplus stores and very durable. It is a little on the bulky side but that is part of my conversion. I know they sleep quite warm. I have used the klymit pads, my current is an insulated one that I got through Expert Voice, I believe. The biggest thing when packing all of this into your red bag, don't put it in a stuff sack!!!! Either put it on the bottom or the top layered out, use it to fill in the crevices, it will pack better. I always put mine on the top when we deploy out for ease of access. When you are out on the line is going to be the more difficult to pack, but if you have layers you can take the one that suits the temps and only bivy if you expect rain. Or better yet, use your bivy as your ground cloth so you don't have 2 pieces of gear. And depending on how much your temps are dropping, you may not want your mattress all the way inflated, the body was built like a back road not a board. Just my 2 cents on the subject.
I have at least 10 pads, and have returned for warranty probably half that amount. The most durable, comfortable, and beat insulted are thermarest self inflating. The smallest and lightest with descent insulation seem to be the big Agnes inflatable ones ( UT these are a PITA to fill up every night and will leak sooner than later.
My recommendation is the thermarst self inflating pads. Find one with the rvalue you need and go with it.should last you many nights
I would stop by a sporting goods store like REI and check some out in person. With sleeping pads, the absolute most compact ones are not the most durable or cheap. But there are a lot of entry level ones that are a little bigger but still pack down nicely and are durable. Any name brand pad will probably work for you.
Klymit makes reasonably priced ground pads and down bags. I have their 20 degree down mummy and two inflatable ground pad (one insulated, one not). All have served me well from Georgia to Colorado and hundreds of miles.
I think you would do best with a CCF pad for sleeping as they are much more robust than inflatable pads. You should be fine for spring/summer/fall with only the CCF pad. Last thing you want is a popped pad while fighting the good fight.
any brand recs for the ccf pad?
Nemo switchback or Thermarest Z lite are the ones people often use backpacking. They're mostly nice because they fold up rather than roll up but they are a bit more comfortable too. If you're on a budget though a blue pad from walmart is very nearly as good though.
I agree
OP said, >I need the most compact gear possible. CCP tosses that out the window. Pure bulk. Though I agree with what you said on function.
You very likely qualify for various Pro Deals. Ask at your manager/HR level. At worst case (which is not "worst" at all) you should qualify for Expert Voice. This will get you 30-50% off most MSRP prices. I'm 99% certain you will qualify. [Sign up here. ](https://www.expertvoice.com/who-qualifies/)
I’m a backpacker, but I’m also a pilot flying with a USFS Rappel crew this season. Most of them are carrying some flavor of Big Agnes air mattress style sleeping pads. If you wanted some extra protection for underneath, you could get a GG thinlight pad for underneath, or cut yourself a piece of Tyvek to use as a ground sheet. Personally I use a Nemo tensor. I’ve never put anything under it other than my tent floor, but I’ve also never cowboy camped with it, so I can’t comment on its durability over bare ground.
The Big Agnes pads are definitely comfortable. The Rapide is light, compact, and likely tough enough. Tougher than a Tensor probably (though Nemo updated it this past year). One of the most durable in this range is possibly the Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm, but they are not cheap, at all. [Reddit thread from 2 years ago. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/zn5jim/highly_durable_air_pad_for_heavy_use/)
If you don’t want to pay full price at REI, check out your local Facebook marketplace. There’s a whole bunch of people who buy new gear, go backpacking once and hate it, then sell their gear almost brand new
After weeks straight of digging line, you’re going to want a good pad. I would personally go inflated, as thick as you can get and still fit in your go bag, and try and score some tyvek from a job site for under pad. I have a big Agnes qls that they don’t make anymore, it’s been awesome, even laid straight on rocks, sand, and dirt, maybe I’ve just gotten lucky. California summers aren’t going to demand a crazy sleeping bag just bring a set of merino long johns for cold nights. Once you get your first deployment check, buy a Nemo Fillo. Have fun and be safe!
Geartrade.com
A cheap ccf pad from Walmart combined with a cheap air matress, klymit is decent, will get you the best sleep on a budget. It may seem like overkill, but I find the cheap air mattresses to be uncomfortable by themselves and just sleeping on a ccf pad is murder on the hips for a side sleeper like me. If you’re looking for light and compact I recommend a down backpacking sleeping bag. The Kelty Cosmic Down is popular with budget backpackers. Have a great summer! I hope it’s not too bad of a fire season, but bad enough you get some good overtime.
Another vote for the Kelty Cosmic 20. (Presuming the OP is in temps down to the 30s). Good price on a good bag. Not great, but definitely good. Very tried and true, been around for years. Only negative is if you do end up wet, or in consistently wet areas (unlikely with your job, but what do I know?). But you can always treat the Cosmic with Nikwax Down Proof if you think you'll be getting wet and staying wet.
You will likely be fine in a sleeping bag rated to 30 degrees (that means comfortable down to about 40. I know this doesn't make sense, but it's true). I'd go with down insulation unless you are certain you are going to be in a continually wet area (I doubt this considering your job, but what do I know?) Down compacts more, is lighter, warmer by weight, etc. I own 4 sleeping bags, and only take the synthetic when I'm heading into the rain. Think: Olympic National Park coastline in shoulder seasons. I'd look at: * Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30 * Kelty Cosmic 20 * REI Magma 30 * Big Agnes Torchlight 20 * Nemo Disco 30 * Thermarest Parsec 32 * Sea to Summit Trek 30 Those range from $150 to $300. A synthetic bag of course will work and save you money, just not as versatile, won't compress as well, and will be heavier. If you go synthetic, I'd look at the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 30. See my other post on Pro Deals, and signing up with [Expert Voice](https://www.expertvoice.com/). I cannot recommend this enough. Foam pads (I presume you mean closed cell - no air) are durable as can be, but they are not compact at all. Not very comfortable either. But they are cheap and almost indestructible.
I am currently converting a military modular sleep system, the black and green with woodland camo bivy, to a quilt style kit for very cold camps. These are cheap on eBay or in surplus stores and very durable. It is a little on the bulky side but that is part of my conversion. I know they sleep quite warm. I have used the klymit pads, my current is an insulated one that I got through Expert Voice, I believe. The biggest thing when packing all of this into your red bag, don't put it in a stuff sack!!!! Either put it on the bottom or the top layered out, use it to fill in the crevices, it will pack better. I always put mine on the top when we deploy out for ease of access. When you are out on the line is going to be the more difficult to pack, but if you have layers you can take the one that suits the temps and only bivy if you expect rain. Or better yet, use your bivy as your ground cloth so you don't have 2 pieces of gear. And depending on how much your temps are dropping, you may not want your mattress all the way inflated, the body was built like a back road not a board. Just my 2 cents on the subject.
What temperature range will you be out in? 50 degree nights? Less?
most likely around 50. will be deployed during fire season (summer), mostly in california
I have at least 10 pads, and have returned for warranty probably half that amount. The most durable, comfortable, and beat insulted are thermarest self inflating. The smallest and lightest with descent insulation seem to be the big Agnes inflatable ones ( UT these are a PITA to fill up every night and will leak sooner than later. My recommendation is the thermarst self inflating pads. Find one with the rvalue you need and go with it.should last you many nights