If you’re into camping, backpacking, or hiking then there is a pretty good chance that you think about a sleep system. One of those components is probably going to be some sort of sleep pad. While there are lots of options out there in the marketplace I tend to group them into two types: inflatable & roll-out. I say roll-out with the footnote of including accordion style pads. I decided to go the inflatable route and bought a Klymit Campsaver V sleeping pad. I bought a Campsaver.com branded Klymit V sleeping pad because it was on clearance, but there’s no difference in this any any Klymit V you find out there.
Here are the stats from Klymit:
Application: Backpacking
Sleeping Pad Size: Regular
Sleeping Pad Sizing: 72 x 23 in / 183 x 59 cm
Packed Size: 3 x 8 in / 8 x 30 cm
Color: Blue
Product Weight: 514 g, 1 lb 2 oz
Thickness: 2.5 in
Weight Range: Range 1 – 1.9 lb
Weight: 1.1
Fabric/Material: 75D Polyester
Sleeping Pad Type: Air Pads
R Value Range: 1-1.9
Klymit V Sleeping Pad
Right along with the Therm-a-rest Pillow, this was a combination of needs that had to balance comfort and be as compact as possible. I think a lot of people work to strike the perfect balance of these two things. I opted for an air mattress over a fold out pad because I thought it would provide more comfort and be worth having to blow up an air mattress. While the specs state it will take between 10 and 12 breaths to inflate I end up around the 15 mark more often than not. I can say that I’ve not encountered a time where this was a burden, but it is something to think about in how you will use a sleeping pad.
The Klymit V Sleeping Pad comes with a pouch that has a cinch cord on it for storage. I use this when putting the sleep pad away, but I’ve not managed to get it back to the perfect rolled form it came in. I think that’s just part of it and it’s not a big deal for me. The carry pouch allows me to get a good compact size out of a sleep system and it’s really easy to locate in my backpack.
Aside from being compact and lightweight, I think a major concern is sleeping comfort. Obviously, we’re trying to get off the hard ground, right? One really neat feature about this sleeping pad is that the sides fold up slightly when you lay on it. This creates somewhat of a cradle effect when you are resting. I’ve found that whether you lay on your back or sides this design aspect actually works pretty well! I actually used this air mattress, and the Therm-a-rest Pillow, every night of the Maine trip!
Overall, I will say that the Klymit V is a really great piece of gear! I really like it despite the process of inflating and deflating it. As I mentioned earlier, right now I put it back in the pouch every time I finish with it. This habit may change for some overnight backpacking adventures. I’m not sure that I really want the added steps while breaking down camp, but I’ll have to update you when I actually make that trip. For now, I will say that I’m very happy with my purchase and I think it’s a great piece of gear for my adventure kit!
If you have one or have used one I’d love to know your thoughts!