I have several long length bags from NRS that I use to haul tents, and thermarests.
One I have holds 2 thermarests side by side. Two others I use will hold a Timberline 2 man tent, and a Timberline 4 man tent.
If they are still making/selling them, there are bags available that would work.
It has been my experience that soaked thermarests will dry quickly when exposed to the sun/wind. I keep mine dry; I don't think long/repeated UV exposure would do it any good.
My thermarest pads have some type of non slip material on one side.
it all depends on the climate and how long you are out for.
I have invested in dry bags since my trips are often multiweek and sometimes there is no time to dry a thermarest. Or no sun…up in Canada.
Wetess begets wetness so I am very stubborn about not letting anything in the tent with any wet…
Contractor grade bags are probably what most of us started with…after a flip on a Lake Superior trip toward evening…I swore off them… It was close to freezing and damp Thermy was not my friend.
If you are a gear geek…the new backpacking air mattresses are quite nice for old bones and pack up Nalgene size…
air tight means waterproof. The shell of the Thermarest will not absorb water so it’s an item that doesn’t need a dedicated dry bag. I suggest folding it and using it as extra back padding for a Duluth Pack or just picking up a stuff sack for it. Thermarest offers an extensive range of stuff sacks for their current line of pads, certainly one will fit. I upgraded my bag to one with a fleece lining so I can turn it inside out and have a stuff-able pillow.
I agree When I backpacked I kept my thermarest on the outside of my pack at times in the cheapest of nylon stuff sacks. It was far from water proof and I never recall having an issue with it. I did always close the valve once it was packed so water could not enter it. I think I’ll do some testing with it this weekend. I suppose a good coating of scotchguard wouldn’t hurt.
Not a lot of drybags that size? The stuff sack that came with my Thermarest pad was smaller than 99% of all dry bags. Try folding your Thermarest once lengthwise, then roll it up. Should fit.
Your bag won’t slide off the pad … … if you get a Big Agnes. The Big Agnes sleeping bags have a sleeve on the back of the bag that accept (I think) up to a 20" pad. They’ve also taken the insulation out of the back of the bag on the theory that the pad will provide the necessary insulating capability. That said, you need to make sure you have a thick enough pad - one that’s too thin may be too cold. Also, I’ve heard some complaints that there’s an area between the front (top) of the bag and the back of the bag where the insulation gets thin and allows some cool air to leak in. Some of them are also cut a little bigger than others for those who toss and turn in their sleep and find a regular mummy bag too confining.
Easy…Listen to me…I have the answer. Take your normal TR stuff sack and line it with a plastic garbage bag. Roll up TR and place inside of garbage lined stuff sack. Squeeze air out of garbage bag and simply twist it a few times and tuck excess into stuff sack. Pull draw cord and pack.
Try it at home and put said method to a test by placing it at bottom of bath tub with a weight on it. Pull it a few hours later, unwrap and find a dry TR pad.
I have guided and run personal trips in some of the wettest country on the planet. Keep it simple and don’t overthink it. It aint hard.
Mine isn’t exactly like the one pictured, but it was similar. Mine is no longer waterproof, but I still use it for things I want to keep clean or out of the water in the bottom of the boat, even if not totally waterproof. The thermarest fit in it, but it was a tight fit and I spent a lot of time squeezing enough air out to make them fit. I have the full-sized comfy thermarest, so it may be larger than what you have.
I do the same The compactor bags inside a nylon bag works for me too.
I twist the top of the compactor bag, fold over and use a small loop of bungie to secure. Women’s ponytail holders work for the loop of bungie. It is waterproof.
Easy and near perfect solution Likewise a backpacker and alpine climbing guide in younger years (Denali etc.)and ran outdoor program for 10 years climbing, paddling, etc. Several thousand miles paddling in SE Alaska, BC etc.
A garbage bag inside a plain old stuff sack outperforms any rubbery, bulky, marginal dry sack. Those things suck! I see people thinking they have to have these trying to get them into a small kayak. Dumb, and not practical. Several small nylon stuff sacks lined with GB bags fit easily, cram well, and stay 100% dry! Best dry bags I see are Sea to Summit…or is it surf to summit?? Light nylon and work well, but I still line with a plastic bag.
Anyone not trusting this should do a bathtub test against a roll down rubbery dry bag!!
I love my Big Agnes too Hog Park 20º bag, and the 25" wide 2.5" thick Hinman sleeping pad. SOOO warm. No drafts, no thin spots.
Definitely not a backpacking setup, but I can put my bag, wide pad, 2 man tent, a chair, all my cooking gear and food into the QCC500 for a camping trip. With absolutely no deck bags. I love that set up.
Thanks Salty, that’s exactly what I did the first trip when I switched from the kayak to the canoe, but that was a summer trip where the consequences weren’t dire,but as someone else pointed out, in dire straights, I could always slip the pad between the ground tarp and the tent floor.