My new 'ultra-light' sleeping pad turned into a pool float on the Buffalo River
I was so excited to test my new Klymit Static V2 on a weekend trip in Arkansas, but it started losing air around 2 AM. I woke up floating in a puddle inside my tent! The valve just wouldn't seal right. Has anyone else had a pad fail spectacularly on the first night out?
It's funny how often new gear fails right out of the box (you'd think they'd test it). I've had a few things, from headlamps to stoves, just give up on the first trip. Makes you wonder about quality control these days.
Actually, a pad failing on a cold night is usually a design thing, not a random failure. My old Thermarest would get super stiff below freezing. The foam just wouldn't bounce back. A lot of basic pads aren't meant for real winter use. You need one with specific insulation or maybe a different type of foam.