[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.
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[Pictures!](https://imgur.com/a/SLYlY2n)
It's all very individual I suppose. I use six sections of zlite and a cutdown 1/4" thin lite down to the single digits and have no problems.
If you need the higher r value then this seems like a good choice.
I don’t think you will die assuming you stay dry but I doubt you will be anything remotely near comfortable. I’m a pretty cold sleeper and I have learned that the sleeping pad makes the biggest difference for me personally. My most recent trip consisted of 15° temps, winds, frozen ground, and sleet. I had a 15° bag, Nemo switchback, Nemo tensor extreme, and my gossamer gear 1/8” pad that I brought for sitting on but I threw it under my sleep pad also. I slept in 250 merino wool tights, octa fleece pants, the thickest wool socks I own, wool top, octa fleece hoodie, 650 down jacket, neck gaiter, and a beanie. I was comfortable but by morning I had started to get cold due to some moisture issues.
Long story short, it took me several uncomfortable nights to dial in a system that works.
[Gossamer Gear Thinlight Pad](https://www.gossamergear.com/products/thinlight-foam-pad) ON TOP of your inflatable pad and not below it. Years ago Bill (hammock maker and thru hiker) over at Whiteblaze ran some tests on which inflatable/ccf combo was best and he and others found that placing the ccf pad on top of the inflatable pad created a warmer environment in cold temps.
I started using that same method a few years ago during a February hike on the AT and found it much better than the other way around.
AceTracer
