That does seem expensive.
There are two Walmart blue pads. One is flat and costs about $6 and the other has an egg-crate pattern and costs $12 or so. The more expensive one is what I have and it works great. The cheaper one seems to have larger bubbles in the structure of the pad so I'm guessing the insulating properties are not as good. The more expensive one is what I think of as a CCF pad.
The cheap $7 WM pad has gotten me and several others down to about 32*F. I still carry a sit pad made from my original blue WM CCF pad. Coffee named his The Blue Pad of Happiness. I love that name.
I strap mine to my pack anywhere it will fit, but most of the time I secure it to the top.
“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett
I have the eggcrate version, it seemed sturdier, and it's done very well for me. Trimmed it a bit and zigzagged silicon on the bottom to decrease slippage. I usually put it on the front of the pack vertically, as across the top usually means I bonk it against a fallen tree going under, or a boulder on a narrow section of trail.
Thanks for the input of how to carry.
I have the wide GG 40 X 60. It rolls up just a tad larger than a blue pad. I roll mine up and attach it to the bottom of my pack. It's light, just bulky. I just got my BB dbl 1.1 yesterday! Just in time for an overnighter today. I'm anxious to slide it in the pocket and see...
I use the walmart pads (non egg-crate design) and just bought a Speer pad which I need to cut down. I haven't been in cold temps with the pad yet but I know at 60° last week and a summer quilt I was hot
'Classic.' A book which people praise and don't read.” ― Mark Twain
Who cares about showers, gourmet food, using flush toilets. Just keep on walking and being away from it all.
There are times that the only way you can do something is to do it alone.
I've used both the eggcrate style (I think mine is branded Coleman) and the non-eggcrate walmart pad. If there is a difference in R-value I can't feel it. The smooth one rolls up a tiny bit smaller so when I strap it to my backpack, I go with that one.
My DD has a double-layer bottom so the pad is held securely in place. I haven't had to trim either pad to make it fit but I may take some off each corner just to make it easier.
Do you have problems with condensation with a blue pad? I saw a website where someone had problems, and solved it by cutting small holes in the pad-(havnt tried it my self) !
Last edited by stevebo; 05-09-2009 at 21:21.
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