Sleeping pad for old guy post-back surgery

Gear Question
1

My dad has expressed interest in getting into canoe camping with me and my group, but he’s concerned about the sleep situation. He’s in his 60s and had some vertebrae fused a year ago after a live time of hard labor.

Space/weight isn’t a huge issue, we don’t portage (all flat water rivers). Ideally it would pack down to the size of a 5-gallon bucket or smaller, but I can make more room if necessary for better sleeping.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, especially if you or someone you know has dealt with back issues and found a comfy way to camp. Bonus points if I can get it from REI.

2

Maybe consider a backpacking cot combined with a memory foam topper? The topper won’t pack down all that much, but the added comfort might be worth the extra bulk for your dad.

3

Check out the Thermarest pads. I’ve had three back surgeries myself, and I find I’m really comfortable on mine. They should have options at REI.