Nemo Switchback Foam Sleeping Pad

Product Information

Size Range: R (72 inches x 23 inches) to XL (78 inches x 29 inches) and a double (78 inches x 53 inches) Some people don’t care for the dramatic taper of the NeoAir mummy pads, but the rectangular version of the XLite NXT solves that problem. TLDR Some people don’t care for the dramatic taper of the NeoAir mummy pads, but the rectangular version of the XTherm NXT solves that problem. TLDR If you’re new to exploring and camping outdoors, you might be worried about how cozy your sleeping bag is going to be. It’s important to remember here that a good sleeping bag with a camping pad can create a level of warmth, insulation, and comfort that simply wouldn’t be possible with a sleeping bag alone. Premium dual-density Axiotomic™ foam offers a supple layer for comfort and a resilient layer for support.

Outdoor Life Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2023 | Outdoor Life

Members of the iRunFar team have been using several of the sleeping pads on this list for years, while others were added to this list of favorites through a research and testing process in 2022 and 2023. Note: Mountain Laurel Designs sells a similar pad with more length options, which may be ideal for taller people. Otherwise, the two are functionally similar in most ways. The more you know. Nobody’s Perfect That said, the STS Ultralight Insulated pad delivers an all-around great three season performance for the price. Space blanket” insulation: It really works! I’ve slept directly on snow well below freezing with this pad paired with a 20-degree quilt and slept just fine. Closed-cell foam pads are great for any occasion, including this on-trail wedding in the Winds. CCF Pros:

NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad Details

This pad is super comfortable and affordable, plus it has an awesome inflation bag to make setting up camp a breeze

NEMO Switchback Reinvents The Foam Sleeping Pad

Women need higher R-values pads because they have lower body mass than men. An additional R-value of 1 is usually a good hedge for women and other cold sleepers While this pad does taper at the head and foot, it is less shaped than the Therm-a-Rest pads, which probably accounts for some of the comfort and stability. Most testers found this pad’s inflation bag to be more effective than any other brand’s, with it being possible to get the pad mostly inflated with fewer bag squeezes. The pad is constructed of 30-denier and 40-denier fabrics, which we believe offer a good balance of decent durability and low weight. If you know me, you know that a good night’s sleep is a pretty high priority for me. Though it’s a bit on the heavy side, I bring this sleeping pad on every trip. I have never slept on a more comfortable pad, and I never worry about my sleep system when the temperature drops, given its 3.8 R-value. I’ve found that a warm sleeping pad is more important than a sleeping bag for me. I’ve comfortably slept in roughly 25-degree weather and plan to take it out as often as possible this winter.Weight: 18 ounces (Short) / 19 ounces (Reg.) / 21 ounces (Long) / 24 ounces (Reg. Wide) / 26 oz (Long Wide) / 40 ounces (Double) Best Inflatable Ultralight Sleeping Pad — Runner-Up: Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat Second, I’ve found it to be insanely durable. My partner owns a Sea to Summit UltraLight, and it stood up to all manner of abuse and shenanigans on an Appalachian Trail thru-hike and beyond. Several of our testers have trimmed the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″ down to a piece large enough for only shoulders and hips to save weight. The result is a 1.2-ounce pad. But even if you’re going to use the heaviest pad on this list, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Nxt Max Sleeping Pad, you should still be able to run comfortably if the rest of your kit is well thought out, with no redundancy and individual items that have multiple uses for efficiency. So, if you prioritize comfort, you may have to spend a little more time dialing in other parts of your kit.

Switchback™ Ultralight Foam Sleeping Pad - NEMO Equipment

Highly-efficient, hexagonal nesting pattern allocates more space for taller, wider nodes, providing significantly greater plushness. More importantly, the relatively rigid shape makes it an excellent floaty for swimming in alpine lakes. Remember to choose an appropriately rated bag or quilt to complement your pad, as the two will work in concert to keep you warm. You can now directly compare the R-value of mats rated using the ASTM F3340-18 with confidence that is a fair and accurate comparison between mats. In simple terms, the higher the R-value, the warmer the mat.

Should You Buy The Nemo Switchback?

I think it is definitely possible to complete the AT or a longer thru-hike while only using one of these sleeping pads. The padding is guaranteed to compress, making it less comfortable than a new pad, but there are probably thousands of thru-hikers, hundreds at least, who have made it five months on the same pad. That said, I have seen many cruddy Z Lites in hiker boxes. Did these people get off trail, buy a new Z Lite, or upgrade to an inflatable? Who knows.

NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad Review: New Take on NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad Review: New Take on

Now I have always had mixed feelings about double pads. Kind of like double sleeping bags – I love the concept – but the reality does not always produce the best night’s sleep. First, it’s wider than most inflatables (21.5 inches compared to the typical 20 inches). This makes it a comfy choice for broad-shouldered individuals and active sleepers. In each of these situations, this is far better than nothing, but it’s still a far cry from being comfortable and warm. We don’t recommend this pad for colder excursions when thermal protection from the ground is needed. But if you’re the type of person who really likes to put in those long days and are content to sleep anywhere your feet will deposit you, look at this pad.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads for Fastpacking

Testing sleeping pads on a night of cowboy camping in the Utah desert. Photo: iRunFar/Ben Kilbourne From 2020, there is a new industry standard for measuring the R-value (level of insulation) of sleeping mats – ASTM F3340-18. This new standard is the sleeping mat equivalent to the EN rating for sleeping bags.