How much fun you have while backpacking or thru-hiking all depends on how much quality rest you're getting at night to recover, and that's why a great sleep system is a must-have for anyone who's heading outdoors on foot.
For backpackers, a sleep system – that's your sleeping bag, pad and pillow – needs to be lightweight and packable of course, but it also needs to provide comfort. That means you need to be warm enough (but not too warm), have plenty of space between you and the ground, and room to sleep in different positions.
