Bought a $25 air pad on a whim at the Flagstaff REI and it out-slept my $150 one
Slept on it for 3 nights near Snowbowl last weekend and woke up with zero back pain, which never happens with my fancy pad. Anyone else find a cheap piece of gear that just works better than the pricey stuff?
Three nights is not really enough to know if a pad works for you long term. Cheap pads often feel great at first because they are thicker and softer, but the foam breaks down fast and you end up sinking through to the ground after a few trips. I have been burned by the budget route more than once, so I will stick with paying more for something that holds up over a whole season.