Sleeping pad or fir boughs?

[Miles]

It's a lot easier to break some fir boughs and sleep on top of them, instead of packing around a sleeping pad IMO.  Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experiences they'd like to share.   I've slept on nothing but fir boughs at just under 5,000 feet during a September elk hunt ( with no sleeping bag) and "made it", but I about froze my ass off.   After packing in and using a Big Agnes insulated air core sleeping pad this year, I'm wondering if it was even worth the weight/space that it takes up.   I've got a good sleeping bag and I'm thinking about just going the fir bough route next season.  I'll still be using a floor-less shelter, so boughs on the ground are not much of a problem. 

Any thoughts?

Temps are usually in the 20* range on my trip and I've got a quality down bag that is good to 20* maybe a little lower.

[ICEMAN]

I would definitlely go for a foam pad. Quick and easy to use, no pitch on your gear from the bows, and you could use it on the trail if you were injured to keep you warm, splint a broken limb...even a fire starter. We use foam pads over snow and they insulate well. We avoid inflatables...too many risks..

[rasbo]

pad all the way.I put down some boughs once and woke up with lil spiders all over ,and sap..

[rasbo]

miles,you shoulda hung on to the gal you dropped off in northport

[Wanttohuntmore]

Ha, I tried bows this year as well, for 3 nights, covered with a plastic garbage bag to keep the sap off.  It was so hot at night in Sept, I ended up not even sleeping in my bag, just me, tee shirt, pants, on bows.  I slept quite well, considering I usually cannot lay flat on my back. 

I'm constantly trying to figure out how to lighten/condense my pack weight/size.

[Miles]

Ha, I tried bows this year as well, for 3 nights, covered with a plastic garbage bag to keep the sap off.  It was so hot at night in Sept, I ended up not even sleeping in my bag, just me, tee shirt, pants, on bows.  I slept quite well, considering I usually cannot lay flat on my back. 

I'm constantly trying to figure out how to lighten/condense my pack weight/size.

 


What were the temps and what type of bag do you have?    I was thinking of carrying either a trash bag (that will serve multiple purposes), or a piece of Tyvek to lay over the boughs. 

[Elkohol]

If I had to I could use boughs but I like to try to keep as many of the spiders away as possible, they make alot of lightweight pads out there that you dont even notice when straped to the outside of your pack. The thermarest z-lite small is only 10 oz and keeps most of you off the ground. But if i dint hate spiders so much id be going your route 

[PolarBear]

Just build a fire and sleep like a baby.   

[Wanttohuntmore]

 


What were the temps and what type of bag do you have?    I was thinking of carrying either a trash bag (that will serve multiple purposes), or a piece of Tyvek to lay over the boughs.
[/quote]

I had a good bag w/me, but temps were 80 during the day, 70 at night, so no bag needed.  Was quite shocked really, since I also sleep cold most of the time, so not needing anything was weird.  But my new lightweight system will consist of a 40 degree bag, plastic bag, and bows, with a lightweight nylon tarp for possible rain.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Sleeping pad! If it gets colder, then you can always add boughs for more insulation. An uncomfortable or cold sleep leads to just the same in the next days hunt.

-Steve

[ghosthunter]

Well if you can heat water take 11.00 hot water bottle. Will stay warm all night. And you can reuse the water.

[CountryslickR]

Id say sleeping pad.....you can get some super light ones now and it will save on wear and tear on your sleeping bag...also just another solid layer between you and the ground..plus much softer than the boughs..