Sleeping Pads For Lightweight Backpacking
By Steve Gillman, Thu Dec 8th
Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort.Sleeping pads are pretty much a necessity for backpackingcomfort, but who wants to carry those monstrous old inflatablesdown the trail? Try some of these lightweight options instead.
You can make four-ounce sleeping pads - then sometimes carry twoof them. Start with the plain blue closed-cell foam padsavailable from any supplier. These are made largerthan necessary, usually 24 by 72 inches. You can just cut themdown to a four-ounce size.
It's important that it reaches from your shoulders to your hips,so cut it to that length. Cut the width a little at a time,testing for comfort as you go. You want the pad as small as youcan make it, while still big enough to insulate your torso fromthe ground. Your head can be on a pillow of spare clothes, andyour legs on your empty pack to insulate them.
Sleeping Pads For Ultralight Fanatics
If you want it really light, cut pieces out of the pad.Half-inch holes in the pad don't seem to make it lesscomfortable. Cut out a hundred little pieces of foam, and youget to save an ounce and join the ranks of the fanaticalultralight backpackers.
To be
