Thermarest - EVA - Exped - Nemo || Closed Cell Foam Sleeping Pads Review and Comparison

[@mackiej]

Love the conciseness of this video. More info in 5 minutes than most have in 15.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Very kind words, @machiej. Thank you.

[@Dominyk1000]

Decathlon makes folding foam pads with an R Value of 2.2 (official ASTM tested) and they cost £20. Love them even tho I have a few expensive inflatable ones too.

[@simplelife6849]

Just bought one and I like it, it is just a little bit bulky but it has less than 300g

[@frstesiste7670]

Good video IMO. It aligns more with my own experiences than some of the more known outdoor gear testing KZbin channels that seem to "require" very high R-values to "survive" on cold ground or snow.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Thanks very much frstesiste7670. May I ask what kinds of adventures you tend to do?

[@frstesiste7670]

Currently not as much as I'd like because of some health issues, but I've done a lot of hiking year round including the AT and PCT. Also canoeing. Winter stuff - cross country skiing including camping above tree line and some glacier skiing and hiking. Never been into climbing so no really extreme alpine stuff. Used both closed cell pads and 1 inch Thermarest when camping on snow and both worked fine for me. Used a 1.5 inch Thermarest on snow too which was my highest R-value pad and most comfortable but not that different from the 1 inch one and a lot of bulkier.

[@PishedupScotsmaninSweden]

Great video - interestingly I have my Z- lite strapped on the side of backpack and use a 500g pad on top of it. Does the job and takes up no extra space.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Thank you! That's a great combination you've discovered.

[@johnsales7084]

I absolutely agree that the Thermarest Rigerest Solar is an excellent piece of equipment and fully serves its purpose in most situations. I still don’t understand why the manufacturer stopped production

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

I was bummed too!

[@martinerhard8447]

I use it below my inflatable in winter. If my inflatable fails I still get a ok night and it protects the inflatable from below. In summer I have a 3mm Eva mat below my inflatable

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Sounds very similar to me!

[@tomnoyb8301]

Is foldable Ridgerest Solite still available somewhere? Couldn't find it? Rolled version lacks convenience. It's way tougher to pack and doesn't lay out as quickly. Using Z-lite now and deploy it at every break. That's just not possible with a rolled-pad. Z-lite's OK, but it crushes and doesn't support weight as well.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Hi @tomnoyb8301, I just made mine myself by folding the rolled ridgerest solite into the width I wanted, and put some weight on top of it for a few days. It will start to fold naturally (like you see in the video) after a while.

[@tomnoyb8301]

@@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors - Will try it. Thanks

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

@@tomnoyb8301 all good, let me know how you go with it please.

[@bimazivanovic4784]

Hi,the thicker blue Exped pad,is it more comfortable than the thinner, regular thickness so to say,foldable pads(Zlite,Switchback....)?

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

In my opinion, they are all very similar. The blue Exped is slightly more comfy in my view, but not enough to mention.

[@heibk-2019]

This video was very informative, thank you, i have a question regarding foam pads. This late August/early September im planning to doing a trip where i can expect night temperatures of around 0-5 degree C/30-41 degree F and maybe a bit lower. Since i usually hike in warmer temperatures i only have a z lite sol. Do you think it would be enough to beef it up with a thin pad with maybe 1-2r value? To reduce bulk i would cut that down a bit so it mainly covers my torso and leave a bit of my feet exposed. I am usually a very warm sleeper.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Hi there, it really just depends on what sort of sleep system you use, so it's hard to answer that. What sort of sleeping bag do you have? I tend to use a hot water bottle, so can get away with a lot.

[@SymonGnome]

I'm too soft to sleep on a closed cell foam pad these days. My hips and back get sore. And the lower r-value doesn't play nice with my quilt. I do like the combining a cheap & thin EVA pad with a proper air mattress idea. It would give a bit more certainty that I will stay mostly warm enough in the event of a puncture.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Thanks Symon, may I ask what sort of sleeping pad you tend to use most often these days? Cheers.

[@SymonGnome]

@@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors In summer and autumn an Exped Synmat UL Lite with an R value of about 3. In winter an Exped Synmat UL Winter with an R value of 5.

[@chadgaier1405]

Hey Man, where can you find EVA Foam to fit under the Xtherm?

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Hi Chad, in New Zealand where I currently live, you can find it at ParaRubber. In other countries, I'm not too sure.

[@bimazivanovic4784]

Could you please list some of the names of the names of tents you're using in the video? Other than the Namatj. I'm particularly interested in the one that has a diagonal vestibule.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Hi Bima, sure thing - Eureka Solitaire, MACPAC Minaret (diagonal vestibule), Hilleberg Nammatj, Hilleberg Akto, Hilleberg Allak, MSR Elixir 1. Hope that helps!

[@Pasequale100]

are these thermarest pads better than the no brand foam pads like the one from Decathlon for example concerning isolation? if yes why?

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

I'd say they are pretty similar. I recently purchased a generic eggshell pad from WALMART, and Id say it was 90% the quality of the thermarest pad (at 1/3 the cost). Granted, there are other factors to consider as well, depending on your value set (eg - sustainability, ethical business practices, etc).

[@Pasequale100]

@ thanks a lot

[@ivysmith949]

Great video! And amazing views of the great outdoors 😃 This has really inspired me to appreciate the gift of life… I think I need to go to Katmandu to up keep my supplies lol 😂 I may even get that foam mattress you are speaking about in this great video!! So inspiring 😁 #lovelife

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Thank you, Ivy. That's very kind of you to say. :) I hope you manage to get out and enjoy some wilderness!

[@ashab1]

Does folding it like that not damage it? Could it be folded then rolled again later if required? I have found a way to sleep fairly comfortably on these pads if the ground is level and not full of lumps etc.

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Hi there, well...I guess it depends on what you consider damage. It does crease the pad in the places you fold it, but I personally don't consider that an issue. I really like foam sleeping pads, and it sounds like you do too. Cool! May I ask what sort of trips you do? Cheers.

[@ashab1]

@@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors Ok great thanks, just weekends in the peak district and lake district in the UK mainly.

[@SofiaViviEnDo]

Can anyone tell me if naturehike's is similar in R value and or quality?

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Hi there, i can confidently tell you the nature hike is very, very similar to the thermarest. I used the nature hike version for about a year. It's not QUITE as warm, but it's close. Hope that helps!

[@SofiaViviEnDo]

@@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors thanks! The thermarest are not available in my country but the naturehike do. Thanks a lot!!!

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Great info

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Thank you for checking the video out, Mr Dave. Much appreciated.

[@DaveCollierCamping]

@@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors My pleasure

[@michaelbutler1557]

A very good review. In my opinion this is very accurate. Your level of experience is very obvious. I always use a closed-cell Thermarest pad conjunction with a Thermarest air mattress, paired together with two custom made elastic straps, particularly for mountaineering. This increases comfort, safety snd redundancy in case a puncture. I usually carry a rolled mat vertically down the centre of the outside of my pack to reduce snagging (as opposed to being carried on top).

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

That's a very good idea regarding attaching the two mats via straps. I'll have to give that a go. Thank you for the kind words.

[@BellaVista1470]

Hi Joshua, thanks for the great informative video. I would love a sleeping bag review video if you get a chance? You are incredibly analytical and detailed in your information. Thanks, Aileen

[@JoshuaJohnsonOutdoors]

Hi Aileen, thank you very much. That's kind of you to say. On my to do list in the not so distant future is a sleeping bag video (best sleeping bag for side sleepers). I hope you find it helpful. The next video I'm making will be an interview with the daughters of the man that founded MSR. Take care!

[@jonfyfazan]

👏👌🇳🇴🤠

[@user-hn9fr7mn3x]

Never had an inflatable that didnt leak