BACKPACK GEAR TEST REPORT

ITEM:  Mt. Washington Sleeping Pad

Manufacturer: High Country Outdoor Products

Web Address: www.highcop.com

Telephone: 1.800.304.4442

 

 Tester:  Larry Duke- Male, 165 lbs,  5'6" tall.  Moderate experience hiking in Wilderness areas of Texas, Idaho, Rwanda-Africa, Nigeria-Africa, California, and Colorado.  My experience includes hiking, camping and backpacking in mountains, heavily forested areas, tropical jungle areas where rainfall is a matter of fact.  My Colorado experience includes elevation hiking with and without snow.  The Southeast Texas area where I currently reside is heavily wooded with heavy rainfall at times in the spring, summer, and fall.  Insects in the Spring and Summer, and a moderate winter without snow.  So much summer humidity you can open your mouth and drink!

I usually get out at least two times a month in the Spring and Summer and once or twice every month or two in the winter. My activities include, hiking, camping, and backpacking, with an attempt at canoeing in the near future.

 

Date:   5/23/01                                      Report Number:  First

Location:  South East Texas                            Conditions: N/A  

 

First Report:

On May 23, 2001 I received from UPS the Mt. Washington Sleeping Pad. It came in good condition in a larger than necessary box without any padding. Not that it would need it as it is so light. There were no directions as to it’s intended use or which side of the pad to sleep on.

The pad shows to be 19 ¾  by 57 ½ by ¼ inches. The “egg crate design has ¾ inch high spots and ¼ inch low spots. It feels firmer than what I am use too, and for me that is good. The tag says 20 by 60 inches. This could be due to the cutting process or shrinkage. I am not familiar with this foam so I cannot comment on the size or tendencies. It is adequate for my use. It is blue in color.

The weight as I checked it was 9 ¼ ounces with straps and 7 ½ ounces without.

Construction of this pad looked very good.

First impression:  It looks to be thin for use on rough ground as rocks and sticks could hit at the thin spots. Although, a preliminary lay on the floor showed it to be comfortable. It was more comfortable with the flat side up. A later “in use” test will determine how it performs.

I was not able to determine which side was to be the “up” side, so I will test both sides as to comfort and whether or not a sleeping bag will slide off it.

For me, I can shorten it even more and take off some more weight for backpacking light on extended trips. The same goes for the straps, not use for light weight packing, or use on short trips where weight is not such a factor.

I will test it for insulating abilities in 60 degree weather. It is already hot here in Texas but we are having cool nights at this time.

Personally, I like the comfort of the Thermarest but on extended trips I prefer a pad of this type due to weight savings. We have to eat!

I especially like the manufacturer’s process of using Nitrogen instead of Carbon Dioxide. We need to be environmentally aware in today’s world.

Final thoughts: At this stage I feel I would use it on extended trips where weight is of consequence, but due to the thinness of it not on short trips. Only later testing will tell if this is true.

Thank you for this opportunity to have been part of this test and I hope it is objective.

Larry Duke

Traveler0101@hotmail.com