Best packable permanent alternative for a matress?

[TopHatFox]

Back sleeping has the additional benefit of reducing and avoiding wrinkles. When your face meets the wrinkly pillow, those wrinkles become deeper and more permanent over time. Back sleeping also reduces puffy eyes. I believe the argument for that one is that gravity is a contributing factor to puffy eyes, and sleeping face down doesn't exactly help.

Now if only back sleeping was easy to get used to. I've been trying for weeks now with some success. Fun fact: I find I dream a lot more when I sleep on my back. I'm also used to the thai mattress by now, so that's cool.

I am still trying to figure out the pillow situation. I've been using a small throw pillow, but I want something flatter.

For the back sleepers, how'd you get use to it?

[BRUTE]

in brute's experience, only back sleepers snore and get sleep apnea. so it's not all rosy.

[susswein]

White water rafters use something called a "paco pad" which is sort of like a thermarest on steroids. Available up to 30" wide and 4" thick, and can be rolled up. I sleep on one in the back of my van for about 6 months per year.

[TopHatFox]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uzd_nFzj0Y

Interesting video on forward-leaning necks. I wonder if pillows and a non-back sleeping posture help develop a forward-leaning neck. I know personally, I also have forward leaning shoulders (so do most westerners nowadays). I've been working on pressing my shoulders flat against the thai mattress when I sleep to good effect! Next step would be to do that with the neck I suppose.

Sleep Quest (tm) continues.

[jennypenny]

Do neck yoga. And give up the pillow.

Put a pillow under your knees while you're learning to sleep on your back.

[BRUTE]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uzd_nFzj0Y

Interesting video on forward-leaning necks. I wonder if pillows and a non-back sleeping posture help develop a forward-leaning neck. I know personally, I also have forward leaning shoulders (so do most westerners nowadays). I've been working on pressing my shoulders flat against the thai mattress when I sleep to good effect! Next step would be to do that with the neck I suppose.

Sleep Quest (tm) continues.

such non sequitur. forward leaning neck and shoulders comes from lack of strength and muscle. heavy overhead press and squats will fix this for THF.

[Dave]

You shouldn't need a pillow when sleeping on your back...

After reading this and doing a little research, I decided to test your advice. I tend to have problems falling asleep anyways, and was unable to fall asleep the first night without a pillow, so I used a much flatter pillow than usual. After a week or two of this, I will switch to not using a pillow at all.

Perhaps this won't be a panacea, but I am curious if I notice anything different.

Even if I don't, if I can adjust to no pillow then I will need one less thing, which is always a plus .