Which foam from Foam Factory?

**PTAaron** · 05-29-2013, 00:49

I'm researching a bit (as in my head is spinning from reading for the last hour) on sleeping pads - and I saw a few references to Foam Factory pads. I've shopped there before, it used to be right down the street from my old place, so I thought I may swing by and pick up a pad there.
I'm not sure which type of foam would be the "best" for the purpose of a sleeping pad.
I saw one reference to this: http://www.usafoam.com/closedcellfoa...ticrubber.html "Gym rubber" that runs $10 for a 96"x48"x1/8" piece

I also found this: http://www.usafoam.com/closedcellfoa...lene-foam.html "Cross Linked Polyethylene" that runs $11 for a 72"x48"x1/4" piece

Not sure what would be the best option - just a newbie here, looking for a good starting point that isn't going to cost much. I know I could go the Walmart pad route for close to the same price, but these options are much wider so I think they would work better since I'm a very wide shouldered guy.

Thanks!

**nothermark** · 05-29-2013, 05:51

Check the weight. There are some very heavy rubber pads around that work fine as a workout pad but are a workout as a camping pad. ;-) If it is really comparable to Ensolite it will be fine grained and softer to the touch but not very heavy. On the other end is some of the Polyethyllene foams that have a large cell structure, are still very light, but are as hard as a brick.

IMHO for hammock use a bit of give and flexibility are issues as it has to curve to fit. Ensolite and Volarafoam work pretty well. Some of the PE foam is very stiff so it does not conform well. Walmart sells both plus a laminated pad with soft CCF over hard. All of them work as a sit pad, foot pad, or insulator for ground dwellers under something like a Thermarest.

**PTAaron** · 05-29-2013, 15:45

Okay, the Cross Linked is 2lbs/cu.ft., while the "gym foam" is 4.5lbs/cu.ft.. That makes the choice pretty clear from the weight standpoint.
The Cross Linked is supposed to be similar to Minicel.

This one here: http://www.usafoam.com/closedcellfoa...foam-roll.html is supposed to be the same as Volara - maybe that's what I should go with. Also 2lbs/cu.ft.

**nothermark** · 05-29-2013, 18:44

Yes. Minicell is a nice foam - I used it for flotation in thicker chunks and as seat covers as well as hammock foam. For the few dollar difference I would start with a half sheet and cut down as desired after trying it. That is a lot easier than making it bigger. ;-)

FWIW if you get a chance to look at ethafoam and minicell you will see why it is hard to just say PE CCF is fine. The two foams are often used in packaging. Ethafoam is the coarse cell stuff used as the main filler and minicell or volarafoam is the small cell final buffer. Both are polyethylene CCF but quite different in texture. Both are also available in different densities.