Sleeping Pad

**ovationcs257** · 02-08-2009, 01:13

I am starting an A.T. Thru hike on April 6th and was wondering if I can leave my sleeping pad at home? I don’t need it for my HH with SS setup but it might be nice on cold nights. My concern with leaving it at home is that I won’t have anything if I need to go to the ground or if I need to spend a night in a shelter. Anyone have any experience with this.
Thanks
Brian

**MacEntyre** · 02-08-2009, 07:17

I've heard lots of folks say they always carry a pad in case they have to get on the ground. You could use the stock SS on the ground, if the pad were not OCF, which is useless when compressed.

**Youngblood** · 02-08-2009, 07:33

Originally Posted by ovationcs257

I am starting an A.T. Thru hike on April 6th and was wondering if I can leave my sleeping pad at home? I don’t need it for my HH with SS setup but it might be nice on cold nights. My concern with leaving it at home is that I won’t have anything if I need to go to the ground or if I need to spend a night in a shelter. Anyone have any experience with this.
Thanks
Brian

On the AT that time of year it is more of a personal decision and the experience that counts will be your own. If you start out with a pad, you don't have to finish with one. Thru hikers often adjust gear or change out what they carry as the seasons change or they find they fancy something different. Pads can get used for a lot of other things that you may like them for... or not. Laying in a hammock during the day to take a break is neat, so is laying on a pad in the sun on a rock outcrop... to each his/her own on these matters. Pulling a rolled up pad off the outside of you pack to have a cushy place to set can be a joy at times too. You will find out what does it for you.

Some people that start an AT thru hike with a hammock end up sleeping in shelters and vice versa. It's all a big adventure, enjoy yourself. Finding what gear you like is part of the adventure for some.

**WrongTurn** · 02-08-2009, 08:29

I use a thin strip of a WM pad for my ULA Circuit as a back panel/support. This I can use to help cure Cold Butt Syndrome or as a stand pad under my tarps. I do have an underquilt though. If you don't have an underquilt then I'd reccomend taking a pad and if your doing a distance hike of any kind I'd reccomend the same. You never know on that long of a hike when you might have to go to ground.

**Cannibal** · 02-09-2009, 08:55

Nah, you don't need one. I forgot mine when I left for Springer, didn't miss it. I did end-up buying one much later, but wasn't for sleeping. It was for a seat and a hitchhiking sign; "AT Hiker to Town" on one side and "AT Hiker to Trail" on the other. Just binered it to the back of the pack and started walking. Worked great!

**Mrprez** · 02-09-2009, 09:04

Originally Posted by Cannibal

Nah, you don't need one. I forgot mine when I left for Springer, didn't miss it. I did end-up buying one much later, but wasn't for sleeping. It was for a seat and a hitchhiking sign; "AT Hiker to Town" on one side and "AT Hiker to Trail" on the other. Just binered it to the back of the pack and started walking. Worked great!

You could get a 3/4 thermarest. They roll up small and don't weigh a ton. Not bad for sleeping either.

Speaking of biners see below.....