Just goes to show we are all different! I have an insulated air mattress and it's wonderful. The trick is that I pump it up only about halfway. Of course I also get excruciating pain in my hip and shoulder joints when I sleep on a closed-cell pad or even a Thermarest, so neither of these works for me anyway. But the air mattress also is far kinder to my lower back. Maybe because I'm a side sleeper?

I strongly suggest that those buying new pads spend a couple of nights with them on the floor at home!