We just bought new pads this summer for sea kayaking. Space in our boats was an issue so we found a Thermorest model that folds in half before rolling. If space matters this will help.
Thermarest Trail Pro Max. As I recall they about 2.5 inches. Maybe 3. Very nice surface and quiet to sleep on.
The really cool bit of kit is an electric inflator I bought for packrafting by Flextail. It’s a small rechargeable 4.5 kpa pump that will inflate a mattress in a few seconds. It also has a light and you can even plug your phone in to the battery to charge if you need to.
Typo: I meant ProLite. It was their original pad, and is still a classic. The current model is Trail Pro. It is slightly heavier (and more durable) than the original.
https://cascadedesigns.com/products/trail-pro-sleeping-pad
Surplus military pads sell on eBay. Try “USGI sleeping pad” or similar.
I have had the same issue of never sleeping quite well until I bought a thermarest trail pro in size L. It is foam filled and therefore heavier than a pure air mattress (1,1kg) but my god I sleep so damn good on it. 7,6cm thick and recently had a 10 day trip with it in Sweden, I can only recommend it. It is on the pricier side ~150€.
If you don't mind me asking are you a larger person? I'm around 270 and a side sleeper and have been curious about getting a different sleeping pad. I've been using the Thermarest Trail Pro and it's pretty comfortable, but it doesn't pack down very small
I'm a larger guy and I use the Thermarest Trail Scout Pro. It's decent though I have thought about an upgrade. One thing I do like is my hammock in the summer. Maybe worth checking out
We use two square thermarests connected together with a sort of fitted sheet that thermarest sells for that purpose (synargy sheet I think) if we are car camping the mundokings are incredibly comfortable. If back country camping then a more package one like the trail pro. Then we use a quilt instead of sleeping bags unless it’s getting down below 5c or so at night.
A good sleeping pad and a sheet and quilt instead of a bag goes a long way.
I guess we've been extraordinarily lucky. My wife and I have been using the same full-size air mattress for nearly 20 years. I've never had to patch it. (though I always have a patch kit with me) We do always use a tent ground cloth and are careful to keep grit and debris outside of the tent that might puncture it. It sees about 10 nights out a year and probably another 5 per year for kids sleepovers. My wife won't do cold weather camping so the lack of insulation isn't an issue.
As a scoutmaster I have Thermarest Trail Pro which is built on the same principle as the Exped that has been recommended so heavily here. It's been great and has stood up to monthly camping trips for the last 6 years.
As a scoutmaster, a lot of my scouts show up with similar or slightly worse gear than what you're describing and they survive those temps (and lower) without complaining too much. We bring extra sleep pads and warmer bags with us in the troop trailer as back ups and let them know that they're up for grabs if they need them, but they rarely ever do.
Assuming you're car camping, I'd at least pick up an extra pad, even one of the cheap blue ones from Walmart and add it to the one you have. Then just bring a couple extra blankets or consider a sleeping bag liner. Throw in a few hand/feet warmers just in case.
My personal gear is a blue Walmart pad, insulated Thermarest Trail Pro mattress, and then a 30 degree Coleman bag with blankets or fleece sleeping bag liner as necessary. Even below freezing I usually get too hot with the liner.
Capital-Landscape492
