Car Camping

What camping mattress do you recommend for somebody with a sore back?

I'm not talking about RV camping here. I have a ThermaRest and every morning I wake up sore in my lower back. Is there something else out there that is light and packable?

Public Comments

1. I use a cheap kiddie blowup mattress then lay a thin, lightweight, closed cell mat over it for insulation. If you're camping where the nights aren't cold you can forget the mat. Believe me, it really is comfy and worth the little extra weight in the backpack. BE SURE to take a patch kit in case there's a leak! . .
2. I had lower back surgery a few years ago and I know what it feels like to wake up with the sore back. How thick is your ThermaRest? I use a RidgeRest on bottom, then a 25 inch wide, 2 inch thick ThermaRest, then a 25 inch wide and a 2.5 inch thick ThermaRest on top of that. I sleep very good and the mattresses stay in place. You realize that you need to sleep "in" the ThermaRest, not "on". Lay down on your fully inflated setup and let air out until it is comfortable. My 2.5 inch mattress is lighter than the 2 inch. The 2 inch is the Camp Rest which is supposed to be the warmest mattress they make. When backpacking I carry the 2.5 inch mattress and the RidgeRest. I have carried two RidgeRest pads and one 1.5 inch ThermaRest and been comfortable. You will not find a better mattress than the ThermaRest, we have tried REI, Cabelos, and the rest. Lately, we have converted to hammocks for backpacking in the warmer months. We can carry the hammock with a bug net and a fly and be lighter than carrying a tent and various pads. I can sleep on my back or my side on the hammock. If you want to go lightweight you might want to consider the hammock.
3. If you have room for it use the mattress at this site: http://www.camp-in-tents.com/Raised-Queen-AirBed.html. Shouldn't you ask the advice of your physician?