Get an exped airbed.
I've tried a lot of selfinflating mats, but i always end up blowing them up by mouth and than have les comfort sleeping than with the exped mats and be sorry i bought them. The investment in an exped is worth it, especially the air bag to blow them up is genius.
I have used the predecessor (Airmat Hyperlite) since 2016. Back then it was one of the lightest pads a
vailable. It's great in the summer. Just recently I took it out on a 10 day trip to Denmark.
You can add a little foam pad if you run into shoulder season for a little extra warmth.
I literally bought another one yesterday from Expeds yard sale for like 50€.
My current pad is an Exped Hyperlite (discontinued) with an R value of about 3.2. I have used quilts for 15 years. I do not tie the quilts to the pad. Always a side sleeper, unless I take my hammock. The quilt you use must be wide enough to tuck. I am claustrophobic, so need to get out easily. And I always sleep warm, tucked in. Many nights were below freezing.
Big Agnes bags that have the pad pocket seem to lead to cold people, because the pad holds the bag wide open. Having the ability to tuck whatever you use for insulation around you is important because you warm up the insulation with body heat, air space will make that harder.
If you get a Big Agnes it will squeak against the tent floor all night when you move.
I use Exped. Not completely noiseless, but built differently than the Neo pads and not a Big Agnes. I have a discontinued Hyperlite, will replace it with an Ultra when it develops too many leaks just as I did the Synmat. I wish they still made the Hyperlite.
I have a previous back injury. I find the Womens S2S Etherlight to be the most comfortable, though the least warm. Next for comfort is the Nemo All Season, as well as the Nemo Tensor. In comfort, they are both just slightly less comfortable than the S2S. Both are warmer than the S2S.
I have used the ExPed Hyperlight pad for about 40 nights. I believe this pad has been replaced with the newer version. Mine was a 2.8R value. For me, the warmth was equal to the S2S pad. It was not an uncomfortable pad. It just wasn't as comfortable as the S2S and Nemo pads. I tried the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite. My lower back ached when I used the pad. It just didn't have the support I needed. I wish I could use it as it has great warmth to weight ratios.
I used the wide versio pads for each of these, though the Exped was a mummy MW version
I would assume what is comfortable for me may not translate to you as your back injury may be different than mine. My injury involved the lower back.
I have slept in a hammock a few nights and never experienced back pain.
I was using a backpacking style exped inflatable pad and recently replaced it with a self inflating one. Takes up a lot more space but far more comfortable (and quiet!).
atroxmons
