A sleeping pad is an important piece of equipment for the outdoors person. Many hikers can tell tales of cold nights with only a smidgeon of mashed-down fabric from a sleeping bag between themselves and the ground.
Experts say there are advantages and disadvantages to both designs.
Although inflatable pads are prone to punctures, reviewers are surprised by their toughness. Most high-end inflatables come with patch kits that are very quick and effective. Cascade Designs leads the pack among sleeping pad manufacturers. This makes for a lighter overall pad, and adds immensely to its structural integrity, experts say. The fact is, the CampLite is right in the middle of the width extremes for sleeping pads.