My uncle insisted I try a $15 foam pad from Walmart instead of my expensive inflatable one for a cold trip to the Adirondacks.

He was totally right, because that cheap pad kept me way warmer on the frozen ground last weekend, so has anyone else had a budget piece of gear completely outperform a pricier version?

4 comments

4 Comments

pat_moore1mo ago

What brand was the foam pad?

reese_hayes711mo ago

Is it weird how often the cheapest option turns out to be the smartest one in the long run?

park.miles1mo ago

Saving money and not freezing to death, what a wild combo.

reese_hayes711mo ago

park.miles said "the cheapest option turns out to be the smartest one" but that's not always true. I've bought cheap foam pads that turned into a crumbly mess after a few months in my trunk. The trick is finding the right balance, like spending a little more on a closed cell pad that actually lasts through a few seasons. Sometimes the absolute cheapest stuff just means you end up buying the same thing again next winter.