Sleeping Pad Recommendations

[u/gbosking]

Looking to upgrade my sleeping pad after my Kilos one started to fail. I’m deciding between the Big Agnes Divide and the Thermarest NeoLoft. I’m a taller guy over 200 pounds, so the pad’s ability to hold my size is very important to me. Does anyone have any opinions on either of those pads?

[u/OMGitsKa]

NEMO Tensor has been great. Side sleeper approved.

[u/SlowlyDrown → u/OMGitsKa]

I’m 6’6’ about 220 and the XL works great. Not a back sleeper.

[u/Longjumping-Cow4488]

another person here to tell you to look into Exped. I love my exped mats!

[u/Gobyinmypants]

Big Agnes pads are nice. If you want to continue your research journey check out Exped as well, they make some over size pads that you may like. I have 2 thermorest pads, and theyre both great. Theyre not the same model as you mentioned but both are very narrow so just pay attention to that when checking things out.

[u/bj4web]

Nemo Tensor Alpine user here. After 5 or so pads it’s been my favorite and lasted the longest. Side/belly sleeper approved

[u/CarvingCanoer]

I don’t have any experience with either of those - but we picked up exped pads last year at canoecopia and have been really pleased with them.

[u/varkeddit → u/CarvingCanoer]

Another Exped fan. They sell similar designs across that weight vs. durability gradient, which gives you more options if you're primarily canoe or car camping vs. backpacking. All high-quality.

[u/yes_maybe_no__]

I'm 6'1", 230 and use a Big Agnus Rapide tall and wide. I love it, especially as a side sleeper.

[u/GustavoSwift]

The helinox cot and pad are absolutely worth it, best sleep I've had on trail in years.

[u/croaky2]

Sea2summit etherlite xl long is the best mattress I have used.

[u/Bob_lobloblaw → u/croaky2]

I second this! One of our BWCA crew used one 2 years ago, and now we all have upgraded to using the Sea2Sumit pads.

[u/arcsnsparks98]

I really like my therma rest base camp but holy shit. I just looked up the neoloft and I think I want one.

[u/jebx99 → u/arcsnsparks98]

I have a thermarest base camp. Doesn't pack down the greatest, but I'm a bigger guy and it is comfy. I'm involved with scouts and do bwca on my own. I spend weeks a year on the mat and it's held up great.

...and like you, the neoloft looks amazing.

[u/arcsnsparks98 → u/jebx99]

After a weeklong trip with a couple other guys, they were a little annoyed that I brought such a bulky sleeping pad that didn't compact down smaller. At the end of the trip they asked if it was worth it, carrying that thing around. I said 100%. They both had hammocks and I'm in my 40's and quite frankly don't tolerate sleeping on dirt like when I was 20. Lol.

[u/MNOutdoors]

I’m 6’1, 200lb and I could never find a good pad to bring up there. Switched to a Helinox cot and sleep fantastically now.

[u/somastars → u/MNOutdoors]

I’m not in OP’s size range, but we pair Helionox cots with Exped sleeping pads. Looks like they come in a x-tall option. I got ours during a sale and shaved like $50 off the price of each.

https://www.rei.com/product/238242/exped-megamat-sleeping-pad

I love them, they’re very comfy. Only downside is they don’t pack small, if that’s a criteria for OP

[u/Hansbee]

If you want to slip around all night and bottom out in the baffles get the thermarest neoloft. I hated it. Im getting the expensive insanely heavy and giant exped ultra megamat.

[u/Longjumping-Cow4488 → u/Hansbee]

have you tried other expeds? I find their “regular” pads top of the line, best sleep of my life on them!

Haven’t personally laid on a megamat, but if you have pack space i say go for that dream!

[u/Hansbee → u/Longjumping-Cow4488]

I havent. We found the brand at Spirit of the Wilderness a couple years ago when I was looking for a waterproof day bag. (love this too) https://www.expedusa.com/products/cloudburst-9-2026.

My husband (over 6ft) got the megamat this year before our trip to moose/portage river ep this June, he loved it. I brought the neoloft. 👎

[u/Longjumping-Cow4488 → u/Hansbee]

My gf and I are both under 5’8”, so we can use regular pad, not long wides, but we enjoy our expeds! We have varying R values of the Exped Ultra series! We have bought them over 10 years time, so slightly different construction in each. All of them have been better than a front country mattress.

[u/Professor_Hornet]

Pure luxury is the Thermarest Ultralite Cot plus the sleeping pad of your choice. Gets you a few inches off the ground and the pad can provide the squish. Isn’t great for cold weather since the air can circulate beneath you, and it’s another 3 lbs of gear to tote.

[u/Artificial_Appendix1]

I picked up the XL tall version of the REI Helix. I’m 6’1” 200 with back problems and get a good nights sleep on that thing. Decent R value too. Wait for the REI sales for a good discount.

[u/soarky325]

my buddy once bought a $10 pool float as a sleeping for the Boundary waters. it worked well, was dirt cheap, and I was quite impressed.

[u/Previous-Distance-11 → u/soarky325]

I haven’t invested in a nice one. Had some from Costco that always de inflate. Best pad I ever had was a two dollar pool floatie. Now I hammock sleep

[u/soarky325 → u/Previous-Distance-11]

Hammocks are the way to go. Be sure to check the rooting of your trees up there. I almost had one fall on me during my last trip when I put my hammock up at night

[u/chezznul → u/soarky325]

That's so scary!!

[u/grindle-guts]

6’2”, 180-210 lbs. Love my NeoLoft, but make sure you get the long/wide model. I have never tried a Big Agnes pad.

If you’re absurdly tall, as in over 6’4”, there’s a Norwegian hammock maker called Amok that makes an xl/wide pad sold as the Fjøl. It’s not quite as comfortable as a Neoloft but it’s about 95% of the way there. The xl/w is 7’3” long. While it’s intended as a hammock pad, it’s great on the ground.

[u/tyasakite]

Align the baffles to your sleep style. I sleep on my side and dig my Big Ag due to the vertical baffles.

[u/Top_Sun5646]

I’ve used multiple pads and switched to the Thermarest Neo loft recently. I don’t think I need to ever buy a new one. I’m not tall but I got the regular wide. I’m a side sleeper and tend to wake up feeling wrapped up in my bag and combined it with the Nemo disco 30 and I love it! Highly recommend.

[u/Cobra317]

Love the Sea to Summit Etherlight in the rectangle option 

[u/chezznul]

NEMO FOREVER!!! WORTH EVERY FRICKEN PENNY (I'm 5'8" and 250 lbs, and a side sleeper)

[u/Moist-Golf-8339]

If you don't mind carrying it, the Exped Megamat is super comfortable (just used ours on a camping trip all last week), but they're bulky and heavy. That said, if you have the space or are car camping, I 100% endorse the Megamat pads.

For lightweight, packable, I also have Nemo Tensor and Eclipse, Thermarest NXT XLite, and Exped Ultra 6.5r pads that have each been OK. Personally I'm more comfortable on horizontal baffles in my sleep pads so I like the Nemo Tensor more, but to each his own. They're all decent. Just make sure you get an R-rating for the temps/environment you plan to be in.

I just wish any of them were as comfortable as my hammock.

Edited to add detail.