Insulated Air Core Ultra

Might be an issue specific to the pad or your back. We can be pretty particular when it comes to sleep, and it can take a few tries to really dial it in. I have a big Agnes air core pad. I don't think it's warm enough for winter camping but I've been comfortable laying on my back on it. I do usually side sleep, but I wake up on my back often and sometimes just lay on it to relax at the end of the day.

This is the biggest drawback I had with the equivalent burnt orange Big Agnes Air Core Insulated, but BA replaced it at no cost within a week ^((although now it's the Divide Insulated Pad in a quite awful yellow and slightly lower r-Value...))

I use Big Agnes aircore ultra and its comfortable but its not super duper light (I got it on a super discount). Light enough for me but there are probably better options if you are willing to pay for them. Im a big tall guy with wide shoulders so sleeping on a thin pad I kind of get "folded up." You could probably go down to 3" and be fine to while opening up to more lightweight options.

One issue I have with the Klymit pad is that it’s pretty thin, only a couple inches when inflated. That means it has to be full of air - which makes it very firm - or at least that’s what mine feels like. I use a Big Agnes insulated air core long version for my backpacking trips and letting just a bit of air out makes it feel softer.

What isn’t comfortable? At home I’m a back sleeper, in the wild my 20” Big Agnes inflatable is a bit narrow so my arms drop to the ground. That means I’ll turn sideways a couple times each night. I also have a Outdoor Vitals long inflatable which is wider at the top although a slight weight and space penalty. The OV also has slightly oversized side rails to help keep centered on top. I still move the same, turns out I don’t sleep quite as well away from home.

At Philmont, even in summer, you’re going to be dealing with elevation, cold ground and nights that can dip into the 30s. In those conditions, an R-value around 4.0 or higher is a safe target if you want consistent and comfortable sleep yk. A tent doesn’t provide insulation on its own so your pad is doing almost all the work underneath you. That’s why an insulated air pad makes a lot more sense than an uninsulated one for this use case…I’d recommend: - the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm (regular or MAX) OR - the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra If you’re on a tighter budget, the REI Flash Insulated would probably be better. There are these [ultralight sleeping pads](https://alaskanarrows.com/5-best-ultralight-sleeping-pads-for-backpacking/) that you can also look into