Split verdict on cheap versus expensive sleeping pads after my 3 AM blowout
Last trip to Big Bend my $25 inflatable pad popped a seam at 3 AM, so I slept on a pile of jackets and regretted every cheap choice I ever made. But then my friend's $180 pad slowly leaked air all night and she had to re-inflate it three times, so price clearly doesn't guarantee anything either. I patched mine with duct tape and finished the weekend fine, she gave up and used a foam rental from the camp store. Is the answer just to bring a foam backup pad no matter what, or has anyone found a mid-range brand that actually holds up for more than two seasons?