I have had very few problems with any inflatable sleeping pad I have tried. Some have deflated, but I’ve never had one deflate at all (knock on wood). That said, there are some tricks to getting a good night’s sleep and having a pleasant trip.
Do not fill your pad with your mouth: First, some of these pads are big, and it’s just a pain, but also your breath is hot and humid and you’re inhaling nylon, which is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. This concern may be overblown—a few people have cut open pads that they’ve inserted into their lips for years and never experienced mold—but considering the pain involved, it seems like it’s easy to avoid. Most manufacturers include some type of pump pouch these days, which makes quick work of inflating your pad. There are also engine pumps that weigh an ounce or two, for example Flextail Pump.
Do not add too much air: Non-insulated sleeping pads work by putting air and material between you and the cold ground, but that doesn’t mean you need to stuff it until it’s soft. It differs from the pad. I generally find that the best way is to fill it taut, and then start deflating, lying down to test it until you get to where it feels good. The downside of this method is that your pad isn’t as thick and it’s more likely to come off the bottom if you let out too much air. I find that this isn’t much of an issue for stomach or back sleepers, but if you’re a light sleeper it can take a while to find the sweet spot between comfort and warmth.
Carry a patch set: Most sleeping pads these days include patch materials. I rarely bring these devices and instead carry a small roll of Tenacious Tape ($6)which will fix rips and tears in everything from sleeping pads to tents. Be sure to test a small piece of tape on your pad beforehand to make sure the tape sticks, and bring an alcohol wipe to clean the affected area.
Women need high R-value pads: Women generally have a lower body weight than men, which means that women have to increase about 1 R-value to get the same amount of insulation in the same conditions. (I also recommend increasing the R value if you’re a cold sleeper in general.)
Sleeping bag ratings take R5 pads: Most temperature ratings you see on sleeping bags are only true if you’re using a sleeping pad with an R-value of 5 or higher (they also assume you’re wearing a base layer). If your pad is small, you will need to adjust the warmth rating of your sleeping bag accordingly. For example, using your 30 degree cover with the R4 pad you may be left cold if you encounter freezing temperatures. In that case you’d want to increase the R-value of the pad, or bring a warmer sleeping bag.
