Eureka! Dualis ST

Looking for a great sleeping pad to take along on your next winter outing? Look no further than the Eureka! Dualis ST sleeping pad.

When winter comes and we cannot get out in the canoe anymore we usually embark on one or two overnight winter camping trips, and instead of paddling we strap on a pair of snowshoes and pitch our tent in the snow.

I've used a down filled sleeping bag to keep me warm on those cold nights, but I always had a problem with the sleeping pad. Even when I use two small sleeping pads stacked on top of each other, I always seem to get the cold from the ground creeping up towards me. The main issue here is my summer weight sleeping pads, usually only an inch thick with an R value of only 1 or 2.

This past winter I tried something new, an Eureka! Dualis ST large sleeping pad. This pad has an R value of 5.2! With our tent set up on the icy, snow covered ground I never felt the cold creep even with the temperature dropping to minus 12 degrees celsius.

The Eureks! Dualis ST employs two separate chambers. The larger chamber, about two inches thick, is made up of inflatable tubes like a traditional air mattress. The topmost, thinner layer is like a regular self-inflating mattress and is about one inch thick. Both chambers are inflated through durable brass valves. When fully inflated you end up with a large and very comfortable sleeping pad with that R 5.2 rating that really keeps you warm.

This pad is a good size, measuring 78 X 25, so you won't be falling off it in the middle of the night. The downside is, it's a bit bulky when you have to carry it. Rolled up it measures  6x27 and weights in at 5 lbs., so it's not the best thing to be strapped to your backpack. However this year we trekked with an expedition sled and had some extra room for these bulkier items.  

This is the first winter where I've stayed warm and comfortable the whole night through, and I'm pretty certain this sleeping pad had a lot to do with it. I highly recommend the Eureka! Dualis ST sleeping pad to anyone contemplating a backcountry winter expedition.