NEMO - Switchback

A short Nemo switchback, it’s what my kid used in scouts for years. Now he’s upgraded to a full length.  All the scouts use them or the equivalent and I have never once heard a single kid complain about not sleeping due to a pad

Comfortable, I have one now. Before I had a Nemo pad I returned and honestly, kind of wish I had kept it. Only downside was it took forever to inflate. Also, these things go on sale/get returned all the time. I’d look for one second hand if possible.

You literally said people in this thread are trying to defend existing purchases, so you’re kind of telling people to buy a new pad. It’s just not a worthwhile upgrade for me when I have a Tensor, Switchback and X-Lite. I don’t need a 4th sleeping pad at home on the shelf lol

The nemo switchback is a bit more comfortable than the z-lite because it has a different dimple structure. I think the comfort benefit of a switchback is worth the increased price compared to an Ozark trail or aliexpress ccf sleeping pad. Additional recommendations: Others have mentioned short or torso length pads, but these certainly aren't for everyone. You should get a full length pad, use it for a few nights, then trial run using the pad shortened without actually cutting the pad. You can do this by just leaving the pad partially folded and sleeping on the unfolded part. The most trimming you should do from the start is just removing sections that are longer than your height. For example if you're 5'6" and the pad is 6' you can take off a couple sections and still have a full body pad. Going along with this, if you use a pillow, because ccf pads are so thin you can put the pillow off the edge of the pad to increase its effective length.

Everyone prioritizes things differently. Some people want the perfect piece of gear for every situation. Some people prioritize money, weight, comfort etc. For me, I didn’t want to buy multiple pads for multiple situations. So I bought the thermarest xlite with R value of 4.5 and a Nemo foldable switchback. Now I am covered all season comfortably with will not need to buy anything else. Have you slept on a foldable pad before? As a side sleeper I could not get comfortable. Where I backpack, it can get cold at night even in the summer and I didn’t want to be caught unprepared, so I always use my inflatable pad. You will eventually get a puncture in your inflatable sleeping pad, which is why you bring a small repair kit.

When I did Baker I brought a closed cell pad (Nemo switch back) and an inflatable (Sea to summit) for comfort and redundancy. You'll be hard pressed to find a new bag that's also lightweight for $200. You'll probably need to see if you can find something used or I would recommend you see if you can rent one.

I have the switchback and it’s warm enough for 32F for me but not cushy enough for my hips.

Glad you had success with it! I was super hyped about it from all the accounts of its comfort. Right now my “light” ground sleeping loadout is a klymit insulated paired with Nemo switchback (most comfortable combo I’ve found outside of self inflating) with tarp and bivvy. If I’m going less than 8 miles for an overnight and either the weather is extreme winter or I have a camping partner I haul my stupidly heavy mondo king pad and split the weight of the 3 man tent between us. Been leaning towards just going fully back to my hammmock but I think I’ve determined that I need an open cell/self inflating style pad to prevent hip pain on the ground.

I've used both the switchback and the zlite for multiple thrus. After a few hundred miles, there's little meaningful difference between them However, the switchback is oranger, and therefore better

We just did this and have 4 kids. Some items like a Coleman stove we already had, but here’s what we bought to get started. It adds up but was still so much less than the AirBnb even after campsite fees. We mostly camp in New England hence the sleeping bag choice. Good luck! 1 x NF Wawoma 8 Tent w/ footprint tarp 6 x NF Wawoma 20 Sleeping Bags 4 x Nemo Switchback Sleeping Pads 1 x Exped Queen Megmat

Assuming you are attempting to go ultralight — else why post here? — you should be looking for the lightest pad that is appropriate for the target conditions. Since your intended use is summer, you don’t need a high r-value pad. Getting one would only add unnecessary weight. It will also cost more than a closed cell foam pad, and you mentioned cost as a consideration. So I’d suggest you get something like a Nemo Switchback, cut it down to six panels (about 170g / 6 oz), and *learn* to get comfortable sleeping on that. Comfort is not a fixed point, but can be achieved with a proper mindset and a willingness to practice. You are going to get a lot of non-UL advice on this subreddit, despite the stated focus. (A tell is that they don’t mention weight when making a recommendation.) Don’t spend money on a heavy pad that will move you away from your assumed goal of going ultralight. If you really want an inflatable, look at the Nemo Tensor Elite (240g / 8.5 oz). That’s the lightest inflatable option currently available and is quite comfortable.

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.