on previous backpacking trips (max. 2 weeks) i’ve used a crazy creek camp chair to double as a sleeping pad. now, for an AT thruhike i have a proper thermarest ridgerest. i’m planning on cinching it under the compression straps on the outside of my backpack. should i worry about keeping it dry? if so, what’s recommended? a garbage bag or ziplock doesn’t seem strong enough to be cinched tightly.
bts
I assume you will have a pack cover and that should keep your thrmorest dry if you carry it outside of your pack. No need for a separate covering.
However, I think its a bad idea to carry a thermorest on the outside of your pack. It is very easy to have a branch or rock puncture it, as you will no doubt have an occasional fall or your might get caught trying to get under a breakdown accross the trail.
I carried my thermorest on the outside of my pack (I had a small pack) in 2005. sure enough I developed a leak after about 800 miles.
swamp fox
I used a thermarest ridgerest for my hike. First of all it is a great pad. Keep the pad on the out side of the pack and don’t worry about a pack cover or a garbage bag. If it gets wet lay it out for a few minutes before you go to bed and it will dry. I would not use a pack cover and just go with a garbage liner for my pack that way you don’t need a pack cover and pack covers don’t work as well as a 50 cent garbage bag.
Hope this helps
Youngndum
youngNdum
Regarding the inflatable pad - I don’t have room in my pack to carry it rolled. It can be folded into a square but I think that puts some wear and tear on the pad.
I will roll the pad and put in a heavy-duty trash compactor bag. A big enough bag will wrap around the pad twice. Then attach it to your pack where you want. This keeps out rain and does a pretty good job of protecting the pad from damage.
BTW - the inflatable pad can get wet and soak up some water. If you are hiking in the winter, that moisture can freeze. If the pad is just wet with water you may find your down bag getting damp.
The Unknown Hiker
the thermarest ridgerest is no t an inflatable pad so why are people still talking about it? For your thermarest ridgerest I would put it on the out side.
youngndum
but the Ridgerest is the foam pad and not the inflatable, right? even if it gets wet, it would only get wet on one side, right? and then just sleep on the opposite side. eh, i could be wrong, i used an inflatable.
i carried my inflatable pad in a non-waterproof sack on the outside of my pack. worked fine. yes, it did absorb a little bit of water, but not to the degree that it ever got through to my sleeping bag. An extra sock was enough to clean up most of the water.
I kept my pad folded up in a square inside the pack in the summer, when i had extra room. can’t say i noticed any damage to it from keeping it like that. granted, it doesn’t self-inflate anymore, but i’m figuring that’s just age and use.
0101
ya, we’re not talking about an inflatable pad here. so everyone else(!) thanks for the info.
bts