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  1. #1
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    New to Hammocks - Pad Selection Question

    So I'm going to be camping/fishing in February on the James River near Richmond, VA. I'm going with a bunch of tent campers and want to impress them and hopefully convert them.

    My question is, since I can't afford an UQ now - what pad should I get? I have seen the ones in ****'s (thermarest?) but also see the inflatable ones.

    I have a gift card from Christmas and figured y'all would know better than I.

    oh, and here's my rig =>
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  2. #2
    Senior Member dejoha's Avatar
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    A couple of closed-cell foam (CCF) pads (@Walmart $5.99) work well. I'd keep one long and cut the other in half to turn and wrap around my shoulders. Depending on the temperature, adding an inflatable pad on top of the CCF will add more warmth. I have an inexpensive self-inflating pad (store brand) from REI that works great.

  3. #3
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    I like a thermarest pad slightly inflated.....one like the prolite.
    Or a CCF pad....use in tandem if really cold.
    If you have sewing skills you can sew up an SPE fairly easily. It is the thing holding the pads together in this picture.
    Shug

    Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven

  4. #4
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    any idea of what the name of the pads are from walmart?

    Quote Originally Posted by dejoha View Post
    A couple of closed-cell foam (CCF) pads (@Walmart $5.99) work well. I'd keep one long and cut the other in half to turn and wrap around my shoulders. Depending on the temperature, adding an inflatable pad on top of the CCF will add more warmth. I have an inexpensive self-inflating pad (store brand) from REI that works great.

  5. #5
    Senior Member skyclad's Avatar
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    I like my Thermarest Ridgerest CCF pad. I've cut it down some to reduce bulk on the trail - it's usually strapped to the bottom of my pack. They go from $19 to $55 at rei.com
    "The power of the imagination makes us infinite."

    John Muir

  6. #6
    Senior Member Hooch's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by copleycw View Post
    any idea of what the name of the pads are from walmart?
    They're just blue closed cell foam pads. If I remember correctly, they're the Wal Mart or Ozark Trails brand. Can't miss 'em in the camping supplies.
    "If you play a Nicleback song backwards, you'll hear messages from the devil. Even worse, if you play it forward, you'll hear Nickleback." - Dave Grohl

  7. #7
    Senior Member dejoha's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by copleycw View Post
    any idea of what the name of the pads are from walmart?
    Walmart usually has two versions for sale. I think they might be Ozark Trail or something. The one you want is just plain, flat, blue. There is one with egg carton indentations, but you don't need that one.

  8. #8
    Member bluefields181's Avatar
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    pads can be slippery, nylon on nylon, and on my first cold nigh hang my thermorest shot out on me a couple times. Lol. Take your hot glue gun and place small dots of glue to the bottom of your pad. Small dots Spread out. Its an old biker trick to keep our bandanas on at high speeds. That'll help hold your pad in place and give you some more comfort. If you go with the closed cell pad, try rounding off the edges so that it fits a little better in the hammock and lightens your pack weight. I don't know. After using pads i whipped up an under quilt using Joeann's ripstop and quilt batting. Took but an afternoon to make and sure it has some design flaws but is much more comfy and toasty than a bulky pad. Thats my 2 cents.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Fiddleback's Avatar
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    I always recommend a wide pad; i.e., 40" wide, such as those offered by Oware and Gossamer. Such wide pads don't slip as much if at all and the extra width cups around one's shoulders providing extra insulation and wind block. Also, it's darn hard to slip off a pad that covers virtually the entire width of the hammock. Put another way, a wide pad prevents the struggles that I've read are common with a narrower pad.

    The only downside I've experienced is that they are bulky to pack.

    FB

  10. #10
    Senior Member HappyHiker's Avatar
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    Unless you plan on going to ground at some point, CCF is great - cheap, light and warm. Personally I prefer CCF over inflatables in a hammock.

    +1 to Fiddleback and Shug on the width of the pad. 20" isn't wide enough to cover shoulders/thighs unless you use two (one cut down) in the "t" configuration.

    On the WM pads, some WM's carry them, some don't - so check several if you don't see them. The plain blue pads are a consistent thickness and warmer, the eggcrate pads are wider at 26" (which is what I consider a minimum width in cooler weather).
    Experience is the worst teacher - it presents the exam first and the lesson later. - Unknown

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