If you have ever gone camping to a place that you arrive after a long hike of several hours, you will know that after setting up the camp, it will be a delight to lie down on your sleeping pad, either inside the tent or outside at the outdoors by the campfire, or just lay back to watch the sky and feel the fresh air pass by.
Personally, I really enjoy laying on my sleeping pad, I have several moments that I constantly remember, in different mountains where I enjoy the view around me, I turn and see the giant rock walls above me or the green leaves of the trees that sway with the wind, or I just lie down to take a nap or watch the sunset falling on the horizon.
A sleeping pad is what we commonly use on excursions/expeditions as our mat to put under the sleeping bag and sleep on it to be a little more comfortable. Some of these mats are insulated, which works as an insulator from the cold so that our body does not get cold while we rest on it.
But this is more than just your sleeping mat, they do not weigh and it is something very easy to carry on any hike, but did you know that it can even save you in an emergency? In this article, I am going to share information about 7 uses that you can give your sleeping pad that, surely, you had no idea what can be done.
Heat storage
An insulated mat can be used to store heat, if you lie on your mat next to the campfire, it will conserve heat, keeping you warm. Thanks to this, you can also use it as a vest in case of emergency if you make a hole in the center of the pad to put your head out and then tie it with a rope or cord to join the sides to your body.
If you are in a cold place and you do not have your heating blanket, this could replace it and save you from suffering from hypothermia.
Snow melter
If you put the snow on the dark/gray part of the mat and leave it in the sun for a while, it will melt from the heat it absorbs! Then you can fold the pad and use it as a funnel to pass the snow into a pot or thermos so you can drink it directly from there.
Refuge
You can use it as a roof if you make two holes with your knife in its ends and then tie it with a rope to the trunks of the trees.
Avoid freezing
If you are in a very cold place and at risk of freezing your fingers or any other part of the body, you can cut it and put it around your feet or hands with the reflective side facing inwards to attract and maintain heat. Then use gray tape to stick it on.
Gas saving
You can cut a piece of foam from the mat and wrap it around your thermos, taped with gray tape. This will help insulate the water and keep it warm.
Lifejacket
The pad floats, and I hope you are never in a situation like this, but if one of your companions is ever at risk, inside a river or stream, you can roll up your mat and tie a rope to it, then, You can throw your partner into the water so that he can hold himself.
Leg splint
If you ever hurt yourself and then need to keep one leg stable without moving, you can use the pad as a splint! Wrapping it around the affected leg will keep it a little firmer.
In the mountains we have to learn to survive with what we have, we must forget about the luxuries and always try to give the best of ourselves. Remember to always be willing to help your colleagues and be alert to any situation. It's time to bring out all the creativity you have inside!
