Short Sleeping Pads for Ultralight Backpacking
Switching to a shorter length sleeping pad is a good way to reduce the weight of your ultralight backpacking gear, since your legs don’t need as much insulation as your core in three-season conditions. For example, if you have a short torso-length pad 36-48″ in length, you can usually rest your feet and legs on top of your backpack and spare clothing at night and stay perfectly warm.
How much weight can you save by switching to a shorter pad? Let’s say you have a 6′ long inflatable pad that weighs 14 ounces, and you replace it with one that’s 4′ long and weighs 10 ounces. Four ounces is a pretty significant weight reduction with very little loss of comfort.
Using a shorter sleeping pad also provides another important benefit: reduced volume. This is an important consideration if you’re trying to switch to a lower-volume or frameless ultralight backpack.
Here’s a list of short sleeping pads to give you an idea of the savings you can get by buying a shorter foam pad or an inflatable one.
| Make / Model | Type | Length | R-Value | Weight (oz) |
| NEMO Tensor Elite | Air | 63" | 2.4 | 7.6 |
| NEMO Switchback | Foam | 51" | 2 | 10.5 |
| Gossamer Gear Torso Pad | Foam | 30" | NA | 2.8 |
| S2S UL XR | Air | 66.1" | 3.6 | 13.8 |
| S2S UL Insulated Air | Air | 50" | 3.1 | 12.3 |
| S2S Ether Light XR | Air | 66" | 4.1 | 15.7 |
| Thermarest Xlite Neoair NXT | Air | 66" | 4.5 | 11.5 |
| Thermarest Zlite Sol | Foam | 51" | 2 | 10 |
| Exped Ultra 3R | Air | 64.2" | 3.2 | 13.9 |
| Klymit Static V Short | Air | 50" | 1.3 | 14 |
DIY Sleeping Pad Shortening
If you’re willing to gamble on modifying an air-inflatable pad you already own, there are videos online that explain how to shorten it using a pair of scissors and an iron. Here are a couple of good ones that I recommend, although they’re a little dated now.
- How to Cut and Reseal a Klymit Static V Ultralight Sleeping Pad by John Abela
- Trimming a NeoAir Xlite by Neemor
- How to Cut and Reseal an Original NeoAir by Steve Evans of Suluk46 (a classic)
- How to Shorten a Full Length Self-Inflatable Mattress by Erlo Brown
In addition, don’t overlook the option of switching to a cut-down closed-cell foam pad, like the accordion-style folding Therm-a-Rest Zlite favored by many long-distance hikers because it’s so durable. Each section of a Thermarest Zlite Sol weighs 1.1 oz, so cutting one down can quickly save you a bunch of weight without costing much.
I’ve got a short, mummy shaped NeoAir that I bought for my grandson more than 15 years ago. The narrower end will slide into my ZPacks pack. I put some self adhesive velcro on it to attach to the velcro on the pack to help keep them together. It works really well, and once put together, is longer than a regular pad. The pad weighs 7.8 oz (220 g).
Even when I’m hammock camping on the AT, I take that pad so that I have the option of sleeping in a shelter or on the ground. The downside is that I have to pretty much unload my entire pack to use this setup, however that’s a pretty minor inconvenience since I have to just about unload the whole pack anyway. I put a small bit of my extra clothing back in the pack to add some insulation and comfort to my legs and feet.
Nice! Klymit tried to sell inflatable back panels for backpacks once a few years ago, but the idea died on the vine. Glad your system which sounds much simpler and more robust works. Probably better for your back.
Grandpa, Philip,
Back in the day (early 90’s) I would use half of a ridge rest pad to offer some back structure to a stripped down bare bones SierraWest UL backpack. The pack had come with a wire mesh (sandwiched between foam sheets) back structure that I pulled out. Then “empty” the pack, about 3500 cubic inches, weighed 18 oz. The other half of the ridge rest strapped to the outside of the pack (rear). Two halves duct taped together for the night’s sleep.
This proved outstanding for UL late winter/early spring backcountry ski tours (1 to 3 nights) with a load typically in the 18 pound range. Snowpack perfected spring “corn” snow. Creeks open. Otters sunning themselves on the ice. Trips only done with a highly favorable, stable and vetted, weather forecast. No tent (Bibler bivy sack), no stove. Trips mostly done on south shore of Lake Superior, Beaver Basin Wilderness, part of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
I carry a small folding sit pad. If I’m not still using it as a knee pad at the entrance to my tent, I’ll put it into my pack as part of the padding for my legs.
I am an active side sleeper and like a little more padding at my hips. I found that a combination of the Nemo switchback and a piece of the Thermarest Zlite at the hip area works nicely. The patterns don’t mesh, so it gives a little more cushion than using the same brand for both pieces. I also used pieces left over for a nice low sea kayak seat.
All the best, Scott (Cultivate Compassion for All)
What is missing from the list is the Paria Outdoors Recharge S. Thick, comfy, 13.4 oz, R4, only $75
Ah yes. Forgot about them. BTW – they don’t test the R-values like the ones I’ve listed here that do, with the exception of Gossamer Gear, which is upfront about the ommission and doesn’t ad lib. But I’ll add it.
Thank Philip!
i successfully shortened an XTherm. I wanted a 25 inch wide and, at the time, the only choice was also 77 inches long. I didn’t need the length. So, with fear and trembling, I took a pair of scissors to the bottom of this expensive pad and cut off about 11 inches. Then I sealed it with an iron. I did have a slight leak at the new seam which I eventually located, reapplied the iron, and everything has been fine since.
Also, I bought the Xtherm because I’m a cold sleeper. I am never cold even when night time temps go below freezing. I only have one pad and have used it in the summer with no problem of overheating from the pad. I do find that sleeping on it with bare legs (as opposed to long johns) doesn’t feel comfortable, so in the summer I cover the pad with a fitted sheet.
I was sad to see the NeoAir X-Lite torso length discontinued when Thermarest went to the thicker NXT’s. Luckily I still have a first gen (2.5″ thick) that has held up. Now only S2S and Klymit make a torso air mat and they’re a lot heavier.