Flex 1.5R

[This thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/1qkk4yh/ccf_pads_made_from_xlpe/) made me aware of something that I've been wanting for a while: a CCF pad that is as light as a Thinlight but with egg crate bumps that ventilate better when used as a back panel on a backpack. I've never been able to use my Thinlight for this because my back gets too sweaty. It works fine with bumpy pads, but I can only use [small sit pads](https://imgur.com/a/ti5WyFy) because full length bumpy pads are too heavy and bulky. I could find very limited information about this pad so I figured I'd bite the bullet and post my first impressions and compare it to other pads. Here's some specs: * The cheapest I could find the pad was $30, which is overpriced I think, but so is everything on post-tariff Aliexpress these days. * Weight came in at 104g, which is pretty much on spec. It comes with two elastic straps (1g each) and a protective stuff sack (10g) which I am unlikely to use, but is nice to have. * It claims to be made out of IXPP, which is stiffer and stronger than pads made out of IXPE (common in generic pads, including the generic pad I compare it to). I can't tell for sure it *is* IXPP, and technical info listed goes back and forth on it, but I'll assume so as it seems harder than IXPE. * It has a claimed R-value of 1.8 which is clearly bullshit. The bumps probably add some benefit, but I don't expect it to be significantly warmer than a Thinlight. * /u/downingdown measured the actual foam thickness to be [about 2mm](https://imgur.com/a/21pfbP5), or 1.2mm thinner than a Thinlight, and the bumps to be 12mm. * [It's wider than other pads](https://i.imgur.com/UpClriu.jpeg), but the bumps stop short of the sides so there's little benefit to that. I'll almost certainly trim it to fit my torso length. I compared it to [a number of CCF pads I had on hand](https://i.imgur.com/etZlBz4.jpeg): * my GG Thinlight (older 20" wide version) - 94g * a generic $1 Aliexpress pad - 311g * an [Exped Flexmat M](https://www.expedusa.com/products/flex-1-5r) I won at PCT Days - 321g The most comfortable was the generic $1 pad. [It's the thickest](https://i.imgur.com/aeE8U8i.jpeg), and made out of the softest foam, but I think it's mostly to do with the dome bumps instead of pyramid bumps. I'm sure there's a reason why most egg shell pads use pyramid bumps, but I find them much less comfortable. This is the only pad I would actually use on its own. For the record, I've also previously owned a Nemo Switchback and [Decathlon MT100 pad](https://www.decathlon.com/products/hiking-mattress-forclaz-m100-foam) and found neither more comfortable. The Flexmat is made out of a harder material, which along with pyramid bumps makes it pretty uncomfortable. I noticed only a minor difference in comfort between this and the Y-55, which is wild considering it's almost 3 times heavier and an order of magnitude thicker. There was a noticeable difference in comfort between the Y-55 and Thinlight, despite being similar in weight. The bumps definitely make a difference, however it remains to be seen how long that will be the case. Theoretically the Thinlight's EVA will withstand repeated compression a lot better and those bumps aren't very rigid. Next I compared how well it worked with the slipperiest pad in existence, the Nemo Tensor Elite. [When I rub the Y-55 on the Tensor](https://i.imgur.com/uOZ4n4I.jpeg), it moves a bit more than when I do the same with the Thinlight, but in actual use laying on the pad and moving around neither moves very much compared to without. I did the same with my DCF groundsheet with the same results. Another selling point for me was that I assumed the bumps would help prevent pokey things from rubbing against the Tensor instead falling into the wells, which it may very well do, but I also noticed that the Y-55 is a magnet to all dust, dirt, and hair on my floor. Much more so than the Thinlight. That's all I got for now. I'll be using it on a number of thru hikes starting in a couple months and will be able to give a long term review later this year. I think even for $30 it's a viable if not superior alternative to the Thinlight, especially for those that can't easily get one. --- [Pictures!](https://imgur.com/a/SLYlY2n)

[Exped FlexMat](https://www.exped.com/en/products/sleeping-mats/flexmat) and [FlexMat Plus](https://www.expedusa.com/products/flexmat-plus?variant=42267057029337)\* were available in LW size (77"x25"), now replaced by [Flex 1.5R](https://www.expedusa.com/products/flex-1-5r) and [Flex 3R](https://www.expedusa.com/products/flex-3r)\*, still in the same sizes. [Thermarest RidgeRest](https://cascadedesigns.com/products/ridgerest-classic-sleeping-pad?variant=41316889657478) Large is also 77x25" inches. [Seek Outside Matty McMatFace](https://seekoutside.com/matty-mcmat-face/) is 80x40". [Gossamer Gear Thinlight Rolled Wide](https://www.gossamergear.com/products/thinlight-foam-pad?variant=42879197511734) is 58x25". Mountain Laurel Design Goodnight is available in 80"x40" in both [1/8"](https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/goodnight-eva-1-8-foam-pad/) and [1/4"](https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/1-4-foam-pad/) EVA. (\*) The FlexMat Plus has large dimples that some people dislike when new. They flatten some with use, or can be covered by a thin EVA pad (Thinlight/GoodNight/Matty McMatFace).

I find the Flexmat much more comfortable and of course much warmer. YMMV. Where the Y-55 did seem to shine was over a tiny torso size (65 x 50mm) piece of 13mm XLPE pad. That XLPE pad is rated at R2.0 but doesn't actually sleep that warm in the field in my experience, plus the material is inherently fragile. Putting the Y-55 over the XLPE solves those issues and makes it more comfy and slightly wider, to boot.

For me, the FlexMat is better than the Switchback but less durable (at least in its previous iteration; Exped now has a new version available in North America). No experience with the Decathlon.

I'm just saying all the ccf pads are essentially the same. Yes the decathlon one is better value than the thermarest or Exped or nemo.