ground pads

GROUND PADS

When I started making my ground pads I chose the filling material that I knew best, a polyester fiberfill. The research I did led me to densified fiberfill. The densified fiberfill is used for the filler of cushions for futons. Some companies use open cell or closed cell foam for their futons but it is not as good a product in my opinion. I had to test the densified fiberfill product in a few thicknesses until I had a thickness that worked. It had to easily roll up as well as give good protection from the ground. Its gives much better protection from the ground than foam as is used by all of the other companies that make or have these pads made for them and the open cell foam that is used for ground pads does absorb and retain water when exposed to it. The exposure comes from the atmosphere or if it’s a blow-up type from your breath blowing it up.

I read in one of the Outdoor Retailer commentary’s during the OR show the following, and I quote: “ground pads smaller to pack, thicker when inflated, reflective fabrics, synthetic insulation increase R values without incurring weight or size penalties”. Emphasis mine.

The outdoor industries fixation on making products, and I mean all products from sleeping bags, ground pads, footwear, clothing to who knows what else lighter in weight is astounding to me. Maybe the tooth brush companies should make a backpacker tooth brush that does not have a handle. I have known many a backpacker who cut off the handle to reduce weight.

As I see it the people who function so to speak in the outdoor industry as product developers or re-designers as I think of them, of already existing products should try to improve the existing product as to weight with samples that are used in the field. Maybe they will discover that the existing fabrics perform better than the newer lighter weight fabrics etc. From the resumes that I have read when these large companies publish them of people who are taking over their product development department have little or no background in the area they are charged to oversee. It is for this reasons these companies have newer and improved products each year or so they think.

As for ground pads I did research to find out what company is offering this new improved ground pad. I couldn’t find any available at this time but I did find on Amazon that there is a double ground pad available. Looks just like mine but it has foam as the padding and the pads join via long strips of Velcro. The problem with the Velcro is the hook part will attach to dirt and debris which means the use will constantly have to clean it for the two parts to effectively join together. I am flattered that I have been copied. They should have really copied me and used the number 10 YKK molded tooth zipper to hold the two pads together.I have never had one problem with them. I am flattered that I am being copied

Maybe in the coming months this new pad will come on the market. If it does do not expect it to be as functional as is claimed. If it is lighter in weight that means the exterior materials are thinner and more susceptible to developing holes as happens to the Thermarest ground pads. The reflective materials available for years have never demonstrated that they reflect body heat back to the body giving off the heat. I can assure you if this were in fact the case I would have been using it from the inception of Wiggy’s and I suppose all the other companies selling sleeping bags would also be using it. The use of synthetic insulation if true means that I have once again been flattered since until now I have been the exclusive producer of a ground pad using a synthetic polyester fiberfill for insulation. As to increasing the R value, I have never seen an R value referred too for any ground pad. You will never see one on my pads, because I view R values as I do Clo values as having NO VALUE. How do they inflate, by blowing them up and maybe there is very little padding in this ground pad so the bulk of what is in the pad is air, a definite no, no!

I have just explained what would be wrong with this ground pad if it does exist. If any of you happens to come across such a ground pad let me know and I will do likewise.

If one wants a ground pad that works and is the most durable one you can buy, it is the Wiggy’s brand.

The reflective conversation reminds me of the paraffin beads encapsulated and then stuck on to fabrics so they can absorb the heat from your body while active and then miraculously head right back to you when you sit down and rest. I am waiting for some company to exhibit a winter garment not for Key West but for North Dakota that is one layer of fabric thick that will keep a person warm when the temperature is 50 degrees below zero.