Insulated Hammock V

I've got a hammock one from them that works incredibly well. I have different brand ground sleeping ones, but it never hurts to have a spare. Even if it only ends up usable in the Summer, that's when friends are borrowing gear, anyway. I think I'm going to get a couple of these to go with my loaner gear.

Same. Been using the same one for 5 years now w no leaks. Depends I guess?

I upgraded and it was worth it. But the klymit served me well for a long time. Im just a restless side sleeper so nothing is perfect

Yup. I went from a yoga mat in my 20s to a 1” pad to a 2.5” pad and now that hit 40 I splurged for the exped mat.  For backpacking I still use the klymit

I have used an InsulMat thermo max for years. The Klymit is also really nice. You just have to be careful with blow up pads because obviously you fracture it or puncture, you get little warmth. Most are durable enough though.

Don't do it. Bought a cheap pad with air cells like that for my first backpacking trip, absolutely miserable sleeping experience and I have a very high tolerance to sleeping in uncomfortable situations. Laying directly on the ground was better, and whatever r rating was claimed was absolute bs. We were in a small canyon next to running water and an absolutely wicked wind storm kicked up, I froze my ass off that night, spent most of awake trying to get warm and willing the sun to come up. Second pad was a Klymit with an allegedly good r rating, same air cell style shown in the photo you attached. Did three days at 8000 feet in early March in Southwest Utah, froze my absolute ass off. I had Bought a 15 degree Big Agnes bad to match my fancy new Klymit pad in an attempt to avoid being cold again. was in a two person ultralight tent less than a foot away from one of my companions, and still woke up COLD. I'm talking laying in your bag scared to move and hit a cold spot, praying for the sun to rise, dreading going to sleep the following night cold Finally forked over the cash for a quality Thermarest Prolite Plus and I'm here to tell you for 150 bucks the difference in sleep quality but more importantly WARMTH is insane. Did three days at 9,500-10,000 feet also in Southwest Utah and slept like a baby every night. Spent a week in star valley Wyoming sleeping on a cot in a field about 15 feet away from the very cold Flat Creek with the Thermarest pad and a 15 Degree Big Agnes bag. would wake up in the morning with my bag completely iced over with frozen morning dew as well as the entire field, I was warm as could be in that bag, like I was in bed at home. Sleeping on a wack pad is something I would never wish on anybody. I would be more willing to roll the dice on my bag than my pad. If temperature isn't a concern whatsoever then go for it I guess but that air cell style is more uncomfortable than sleeping on the ground, I'd rather have a fourteen dollar foam pad than that air cell dogshit. Spend the money, sleep comfortably, enjoy your time. There are corners that can be cut to save you money, but your sleep system is absolutely not the place to do it. At best you could be uncomfortable when you're trying to recover so you can go have fun and walk a bunch with your friends, at worst your life could be in danger.

I second Klymit for a pad. Ours has lasted 7 years and is still going strong. For a bag, I got a steal on an REI used bag online. I’d check there first. Or, look for an outdoor gear rental place. REI is one place, but two state universities near us in Minnesota have a gear rental store open to everyone. It’s a good way to start without a huge monetary cost.