I’m a newbie who never done long distance hiking yet. Get sore sleeping on Ridge-Rest on short hikes. Queshtun to you long distance hikers is whether you toughen up and get used to minimal cushion on a thru hike, or whether I should wimp out and bring a thermarest.
Newbie
Hi there…
I’m a z-rest user myself – one of those closed cell-foam pads that folds up like an accordion. Not cushy, but lighter than a Thermarest. I’m not an ultralighter, but it’s one of the ways I choose to cut down on pack weight.
Over the past three years that I’ve been using the z-rest, I’ve figured out how to maximize my comfort – using the word loosely – including using a stuff-sack stuffed with clothes as a pillow. Sometimes I put that stuff sack on my backpack as extra cushion, or I prop my feet on the backpack if I have plenty of clothes for an ample pillow. I look for the softest piece of ground possible (I know … duh!), and I do 1/4 turns OFTEN. I’ve “learned” how to do this in my sleep, I guess. But, still, I’m sure it’s nowhere near as comfortable as a Thermarest. I guess it’s all about how much discomfort you can take versus pack weight and other factors – ie. I like that the z-rest can get wet without soaking up water. I just shake it off. I don’t slide off it like I’ve seen some people do with Thermarests. And no problem with air leaks. BUT many people love Thermarests and wouldn’t think of using a Z- or Ridgerest. Thermarests are more expensive, but, if you can, give it a try. A good night’s sleep, especially on a long backpacking trip, is so important.
As to whether you “toughen up,” ummm, in my case, I’d say yes. Or “get used to it” would be more accurate.
ramkitten
I never get used to the ground I adjust to it…with the help of a 2" Thermarest LE 3/4 length. Can’t do the Z-Rest. I’ve heard a Z and a Thermo is very cushy. Most hikers roll over every fifteen minutes any. I’m a counterclockwise flipper.
Bushwhack
I used a Zrest for over 2500 miles of long distance hiking. My girlfriend hit me over the head with the obvious this past winter (that it was both unconfrotable and that I had always hated it), and so I’m now using thermarests. Since then, my hips have been on speaking terms with me while camping.
Now if I could only find some backpacking food to get my stomach back on speaking terms with me…Sometimes all it does is growl…grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
-Howie
Hungry Howie
So what are you eating? Grrr from blech or grr from hungry? Pad goood, sore hips make for a bad nights sleep…so does a tight bag. Love the expando baffle in our Mountainhardware Universes.
Bushwhacky
i’ve done away with a sleeping pad altogether. gotten used to sleeping on the ground or the shelter floor without one and now i don’t even notice. what can i say? maybe i’m just tough as nails or something.
grizzly adam
Now I’m not going to be able to sleep, ‘cuz I’ll be waiting to see whether I turn clockwise or counterclockwise. Three years of “adjusting” to a z-rest shot to hell. (Oh, pardon, HECK.) Leavin’ for Minnesota and the Kek, BRT and SHT in two days. Yayyyy! Me ‘n’ my Z are packed and ready.
ramkitten
i gotta own up… i have a closed cell foam mat and a 3/4 thermarest ultralight… the foam mat weights next to nothing so I dont care bout weight nazis and finger pointing! 
i cant sleep on my side, even in a cushy bed, so my hips dont complain. I sleep on my stomach which makes it interesting when you wake up in the middle of the night wrong way around.
i have only over the last few months added the therma to my repetoire and am still evaluating it so might revert back to just the foam mat…
the ultralight doesnt offer the great level of cushion that the other models do but its all a weight ratio…
Bloody Cactus
I’ve gone both ways.
On my longest hike (100 miles) I went the self-inflatable route and was a tad dissappointed…the ratio between comfort and the hastle of inflating/eflating and weight etc. friggin etc. just wasn’t there.
I’ve done a ton of section hikes…here’s my recommendation…if you’re going long term (50 miles or more) take a pad that is easy to carry and deploy. If you’re doin a short hike and not worried about weight then do the self-inflatable route…it’s comfy for a while…but not worth the hastle IMHO for long treks.
Doc Holiday