I bring both. The closed cell keeps ground objects from puncturing my pad as well as adding a bit of insulation. The air pad provides comfort and insulation.

I’ve always camped with a waterbed. Can’t beat the comfort 🎉

Believe it or not, I’ve always camped with my twin sized mattress. Nothing beats hauling that thing on my back for 20 miles then not being able to wake up the next day. Best sleep of my life 🎉

I have both. I’ve heard it’s good to pair them together for colder temps

I bring both when I mountain climb, you need the closed cell foam to insulate the air mattress from the snow or ice from the glacier you are sleeping on. I had been climbing a few years ago and two newbs showed up with only their sleeping bags, the next morning both were ruined and almost hypothermic, the snow sucked the heat from them and their sleeping bags were rendered almost useless.

Both. CCF pad protects bottom of inflatable pad and can be used for a quick sit pad

I've used a blue closed cell ensolite pad for 44 years. Bought for $5 in 1978. I've camped 12,000 nights since bought it, I camp 9 months a year and have since 78.

Perfect timing! I was debating which one to start with! Thank you!

strap the foam to the outside and it doesn't take up any interior space at all, doesn't matter because it can't be damaged

If you are on a summer hike, I can really recommend Jökel of Sweden's light weight air mattress. It weighs 480g (~17 ounces). It is so thin but is unbelievable comfortable! And even after a long day of hike, it's so easy to inflate with your lungs only. Plus it does not take a lot of space in your backpack! Edit: It's R-value is only 2, so therefore I wouldn't take it on a colder hike/camping trip

this is incredibly helpful for decision making

Yeah, foam pads are definitely more reliable, but inflatable pads are way more comfortable and flexible. I just finished my hike in Norway and I am so happy, that I bought a good quality, thick, inflatable sleeping pad. It was almost impossible to find a flat surface with no stones, roots e.g. to set up a tent. I would be so struggling, if I just took a foam pad. I also took a thin foam pad, and used it as a sitting/laying surface for the rest throughout the day and layed it under my inflatable pad in the night for extra warmth and protection. In the end I would recommend to have a thick inflatable pad, if you want a normal sleep.

Backpacked all over the west with an old Coleman pad

As a side sleeper, I’ve never been comfortable with a closed cell foam pad. My hip feels like it’s against a rock. My Z-rest type pads have been cut up into smaller sections for sit pads and insulation when I’m in a hammock, which I’ve found to be a good substitute for an underquilt down to about 45 degrees, when used in conjunction with a wind blocker/spray skirt under the hammock. The wind blocker holds the pad between it and the outside of the hammock.

Bring both!

To me the key is SELF inflating pads. Less room and very light.

I can't stand the inflatable ones. I toss and turn and end up sliding off all the time.

I carry 2 wool blankets and a tarp 7th day on the road to another city

The only problem of foam is the volume

I use both at the same time!

foam would be neat! but my friend generously gifted me a 6ft inflatable thermarest, so i will graciously accept 😊

Closed cell foam pads are the most uncomfortable things ever made. Youll instantly regret it after a day on the trailm

Or in winter both. Lol. I prefer the quick setup of closed cell but dislike the packability or lack of. On your back of the pack for cushioning. Cool. I also be usually carry a heavy duty poncho to create an emergency bed or for bushcrafting to make a dibri bed under my tent inner or cot. Those aren't the most effective for distance hiking but it just my reference.

I use both for snow!

I just got both a switchback pad and a (puncture prone) tensor as well as a StS Etherlight Extreme I’m thinking in the summer if I wanted to pack light just using the foam might be a little tricky, only sleeping on your back, and in the summer, obviously

Find a hollow similar to your standard sleeping shape and position. Stamp one onto wet soil if you have to.

I got a combo, it's a closed cell foam pad in a liner that can be inflated

something about the air just doesn't work for me, back and neck always don't feel great. I'll take the closed cell foam until otherwise!

Your recommendation is to pick up the more expensive one first? Not to mention there are planty of inflatable pads comparable in weight to even the lightest foam pads unless you're cutting a couple panels off your foam pad to save weight. If you're young and camping on a campsite then a foam pad is plenty comfortable.

Used a roll up army surplus foam pad when working on a trail crew for six months. Slept like a babe every night, but I think that's because it wasn't a therma-rest style, tried a therma-rest and just can't stand the bumps on my back. So remember, not all foam pads are made the same, experiment a little!

What about the R value? Closed foams will require so much space to accomplish anything above R4. Personally I’d use one closed foam and inflatable one in conjunction.

I bought an inflatable pad off Amazon for $15 and it works great, I got a 60l pack for 19 and a hammock several years ago for like 17.....

lol i started out with a closed foam pad (classic Ridgerest!) cuz there was no way in hell i could afford a “high quality inflatable pad” 😆 20 years later, I decided to splurge on a NEMO Tensor and now debating whether to get a rolled or folding 1/8” pad to protect it 🤔

Ive never had an inflatable pad not go flat on me i tried a closed cell foam pad but its to uncomfortable, i just got a "ultralight" cot we'll see how it goes

Inflatable pad is significantly HEAVIER and prone to puncture. (especially expensive and light ones) Closed cell pad is BULKY but lightweight.

For my uses most closed cell foams are too brightly colored

we need more long form vids!!!!!!!

A good inflatable pad is much lighter than a foam pad. Most decent inflatables are around 1 pound, where a foam pad is at least 2 pounds. Inflatables are lighter, warmer, more comfortable, and packdown smaller. The only thing foam is better at is durability. You're not risking slow leaks or a complete hole in your foam pad.

Haha hammock instead

First question, do you sleep on your back and don’t change positions? Answer anything but yes, and you need an inflatable or self-inflating pad.

Most of the time the foam pad can be strapped to the out side so they dont take up any space in your pack

If I just use a closed cell, my hip bones dig into the cold ground and chill my whole body. Are closed cell pads only for warmer climates?

4 feet of closed cell is all you need if you're trying to save space

I've never had a good night's sleep on closed cell foam. Inflatable wins for me.

Air pads are inherently more comfortable - it's not a matter of 'preference'.

This is a false choice. Very few backpackers, and even fewer traditional backpackers, would rely solely on a closed-cell foam pad for their sleep system. (Heck, even a lot of ultra-light backpackers like Jupiter Hikes have gone away from using only a closed-cell foam pad). Most backpackers (and especially traditional backpackers) are looking for convenience and comfort, with weight and bulk secondary or tertiary considerations. While a closed-cell foam pad might be convenient it wouldn’t offer much in terms of comfort for most people. The reality is most adult backpackers who would bring a closed-cell foam pad would bring it as a multi-purpose surface (like a place to sit or lie down on trail breaks and in camp, a place to set items that they don’t want to get dirty before setting up their tent, a place to set their canister stove so the canister wouldn’t be exposed directly to the snow, etc.) and to ultimately use under a more comfortable sleeping pad (self-inflated or inflatable) to protect the pad from punctures, marginally increase comfort, or significantly increase warmth on frozen ground or snow.

Or ... both 😃

close cell foam is such a brutal sleep, i'd rather have a good sleep with an inflatable and have a better day.

I prefer a SIM to avoid the baloon feeling of pure inflatables

Foam pads are also significantly more uncomfortable...

I’ll be honest… I’m all about losing weight in my pack… but I’ll fight anyone who try’s and takes my inflatable mattress lol!

The nemo tensor is terrible. Switching back to thermarest

I just sleep on the dirt

Why not Both

Closed cell foam is a waste of money, room and weight

Nice beard

I could never use just a closed cell if camping on hard stand so I take both a closed cell and an inflatable but if I know I’m camping on somewhere very grassy or sandy like a coastline usually is I will risk just a closed cell.

You can argue that inlatable pads are comfortable because they are. You can change how firm an inglatable pad is. There are also incredibly light inflatable pads.

Great advice. I have inflatable. Love it. May try foam at some point just to see difference.

Or, get hammock system and eliminate the pain in the butt, hips, knees and back pads all together 😂

What pad is that?

Orrrrrr…. You could not sleep on the ground 😂

come on man if cavemen didn't need either why do you

I prefer sleeping on a bed of skin blistering hot rocks