{"id":21647,"date":"2019-11-14T18:00:14","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T02:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=21647"},"modified":"2022-01-06T09:25:15","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T17:25:15","slug":"ode-to-the-paco-pad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2019\/11\/14\/ode-to-the-paco-pad\/","title":{"rendered":"Ode to the Paco Pad"},"content":{"rendered":"

On my first multi-day river trip, the only piece of sleeping gear I brought along was a sleeping bag. I figured since it was an outdoor activity I was supposed to be roughing it, right? Fast forward about a decade and I rarely even bring a sleeping bag anymore\u2014a big fluffy comforter, wool blanket for dewfall, flannel sheets, two<\/em> pillows, and most importantly: my River Bed sleeping pad<\/a> replaced it years ago.<\/p>\n

I got my River Bed to complete my sleeping ensemble but quickly realized that the flamboyantly turquoise rubbery mattress is one of the most versatile pieces of gear that I own. Whether you have a River Bed, Paco Pad, or some weird off-brand, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve noticed a few standout qualities. First of all, these things are near indestructible. Second, they float. Third, they\u2019re comfy as heck. Add this all up and there are myriad uses for the Paco, but here I\u2019ve narrowed the list to a handful of my favorites.<\/p>\n

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SFD\u2019s (Superfluous Floatation Devices)
\n<\/strong>I\u2019ve seen Pacos run class IV and style it (eat your heart out Tempurpedic). Not only do they float like an oblong cork, but they\u2019re made out of similar material as most rafts and are entirely watertight. The River Bed even has an over-the-top raft-style valve for inflation. Sure, they don\u2019t track as well as most boats, but that\u2019s not the point. Next time you\u2019re out there on a warm sunny day it\u2019s time to straddle that fluorescent TobaTex™ and polyurethane steed and go for the surf of your life.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in a more mellow mood, they also make for a phenomenal waterbed. When I feel like escaping the heat at camp, I like to trail the Paco off the back of my raft using the pad\u2019s grommets and a couple of cam straps and use it as a floating lounge chair.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: Make sure that your valve is closed and your pad doesn\u2019t have any holes in it before taking it out on the water, or you\u2019re gonna have a bad time.<\/p>\n