The Salomon Speedcross 2 shoes use a mesh upper that cinches tight through the midfoot by a one-pull lacing system. They fit narrow at the heel cup providing a solid wraparound firmness from first foot strike to lift. The shoes give you the feel and traction of a climbing shoe when scrambling over small boulders.

A dense but breathable rip-stop like upper helps make the shoes light and nimble but not flimsy and unstable. The Salomon Speedcross 2 is a solid choice for most runners that like to get out on even the worst days and get in a run.

Sleeping pad types usually trade-off weight for different degrees of warmth. Pads have advantages and disadvantages, the big key is to find the type that best meets your needs.

Open-Cell Foam:

These sleeping pads are made of a lighter but fragile foam which is comparable to a sponge. They’re being light and plush is an advantage. The disadvantages are they can absorb water vapor, which can be a big problem if they don’t get a chance to dry out completely. Insulation is better than empty chamber air mattresses but not as good as a closed-cell foam sleeping pad. You will need a lot thicker open-cell sleeping pad to have a comparable insulation value of a closed-cell foam sleeping pad. This makes them much more bulky.

Closed-Cell Foam :

Durable and dense foam materials make up a closed-cell sleeping pad. The plus of closed-cell foam is that it insulates well because the small cells trap warm air from your body. Closed-cell foam is less likely to absorb moisture, so the whole pad won’t get soaked when water seeps up through your tent floor. A disadvantage is they’re a little heavier and they’re not as plush because they don’t compress as easily under pressure. You will need more closed-cell foam to get the same level of comfort as with open-cell foam, which means a little more weight.

Self-Inflating Pads:

This type of pad is made with open-cell foam sandwiched-and-sealed between sheets of plastic. You store them rolled-up/compressed when not in use so when they’re unrolled and the inflating valve is opened the expanding foam causes air to be drawn inside and they “self-inflate”. With open-cell foam being sealed between plastic it insulates better than open-cell foam alone. The sealing between plastic also helps keep the inside drier. Be aware though, by blowing into a self-inflating mattress to make it firm faster will dampen the inside of the mattress and could encourage mold and bacteria growth.

I hope this will help you decide on which sleeping pad is best for you.