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I finally realized everyone's obsession with ultralight gear is a mistake after my sleeping pad popped on the West Coast Trail
My $300 inflatable pad got a puncture on night three, forcing me to sleep on a thin foam sit pad for the remaining four days, which convinced me that a little extra weight for a more durable pad is worth it for any trip longer than a weekend.
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adam41416d ago
Been there with a popped pad on a long trip. I carry a small repair kit now, but also switched to a slightly heavier foam core pad for anything over a few days. The extra few ounces are worth a full night's sleep.
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wadejenkins16d ago
Carrying more weight just to fix a problem that rarely happens seems backwards. A good inflatable pad is way more comfortable than foam for the same pack size. Learning to patch a leak is a basic skill, and a tiny repair kit adds almost nothing. The real lesson is being prepared, not giving up on better gear.
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kellyr2016d ago
Ultralight until you're sleeping on a literal piece of foam. That's a rough way to learn a lesson.
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