NEMO - Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad

My exact setup atm is a Dura 3R and Nemo Switchback. I feel like a king after coming from a old school thermarest and ground tarp

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.

Yep I bring two pads as well. Although my system is a little bit different in that I use an X-therm combined with a 80x40 1/8th pad as my floor and then can fold it down in an emergency. I'm surprised that worked for you. I know when I had first gotten my sulo I took it down to 22F on snow with just a nemo switchback because that's all I owned and could very easily feel the cold from the pad

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 use a switchback with a 38 liter pack. 

We recommend a closed cell foam pad, as they are nearly indestructible and take no time to setup. The Nemo switchback is a good option and would last your scouts entire time in the program. We never recommend inflatable sleeping pads for scouts, as they are generally tough on their gear.

Nemo switchback or Thermarest Z lite are the ones people often use backpacking. They're mostly nice because they fold up rather than roll up but they are a bit more comfortable too. If you're on a budget though a blue pad from walmart is very nearly as good though.

I’ve used a CCF switchback a few times and I didn’t love it. It’s not very comfortable at all, but more than that, it’s freezing cold. The weight you’d save going from an inflatable to a thin lite probably wouldn’t be that worth it in the end if you’re accounting for more warm layers or a warmer sleeping bag. By the way most carpeting has an underlay, and it’s perfectly level. This isn’t totally comparable to conditions while camping.

I have an Apex MYOG quilt and a cut down Nemo Switchback for my dog. I carry a Switchback for myself as well, so I don't have to worry about it popping due to his nails. I recently picked up an Xmid 1p fly from Durston gear to use as our tent.

Closed cell foam. Thermarest zlite and Nemo switchback are the main options. If you put an 1/8th inch Thinlite pad on top of a zlite or switchback, it makes it waaaaay comfier.

Honestly, I have "regressed" since 2021. Tried many brands, size, length, baffle style iterations of inflatables out there at huge expense and disliked every one.  In 2021, I started exclusively using CCF (Exped, GG thinlight, but my fave Nemo Switchback).  Doing some more winter trips this coming season- southern hemisphere- and stacking pads takes too much space.  I just bought a short size Thermarest Prolite Plus on sale. I am such a gram counter in many ways, but can live with the 450g plus a CCF for Winter trips.

I have cut various CCF pads down to 6- 10 panels and just take whatever I think I will need. My go to is mostly the Nemo Switchback. If the ground is especially hard,I triple up my GG thinlight if I have it for under my hips, or if no thinlight put my puffy under my hips if they are feeling a bit tender. The Switchback is fine on its own though in most situations. I am a female side sleeper :-) The simplicity of CCF is bliss.

I really encourage you to think outside the box here, and reconsider the answers you've gotten so far. This thread so far is 100% indistinguishable from a thread on a non-UL forum. If you are only camping in warm weather, and you're prioritizing weight and durability, then you do not need an inflatable. You'll be committing to a relatively heavy and fragile piece of gear for no reason. And the R values you're looking at are hugely overkill if you'll never go below 5C and you sleep warm. You're the perfect candidate for a foam pad. Cut a ~1 inch thick CCF pad with R=2 to fit your shoulders to your thighs. It will be like 5-6 oz, it will last forever, it will be cheap, it will be comfortable, it doubles as a luxury sit pad, you can stretch out on it, and it can be a framesheet for a frameless pack. If you've only ever tried shitty CCF, try a Switchback or a Zlite. If you really want to prioritize comfort, consider this; an inflatable that even remotely compares in weight to CCF will leak. It's not if, but when. And then you're sleeping on the ground until you make it back to town.

6 panels of Nemo Switchback goes about from my shoulders to knees, and I love it. Comfy, warm, light, indestructible, and a pretty decent warmth-to-weight ratio at R=2

the Switchback is super comfy, and it has a better warmth-to-weight ratio than the Flexmat

Your first question doesn't really make sense. If you meant to say inflatable, then many people would say CCF feels warmer than an equivalent inflatable. I've seen some explanations offered to explain this (usually relating to air circulation with the inflatable pad), but they're usually bro science without real evidence. At least I've never seen a convincing study. All I can say is that CCF is warm enough. However, at high R-values where you'll really start to notice the cold, CCF is no longer competitive from a weight perspective. It's usually used (at least, on its own) at R 2.5-ish and below, in which case it is great. But an R 4.5 CCF pad will pretty much always be heavier than an Xlite. For your second question, I was always skeptical of CCF before I tried it. But found it way comfier than I expected, from the get go. I never really had to adapt myself to it or anything. I now regard it as the far superior pad choice over an inflatable, at low R value, in many ways. No inflating, no deflating, no worrying about leaks, no carry patch kits, no meticulously clearing your sleep site. Just throw it down and sleep. I use 6 panels of switchback (shoulders to thigh) and love it. Also fyi MyLfeOutdoors is total clickbait that just reviews shit he is paid to review, and gives explicitly non-ul and uninformed advice

I don't find it a hassle at all to slide 6 panels of Switchback into my pack. It acts as a competent framesheet for a frameless pack

FYI, 6 panels of Switchback goes from my shoulders to lower thigh, and it fits vertically in the back of my 37L Palante V2 (opened it half; two stacks of 3 panels) and acts as a framesheet. It's actually perfect for that. It's also exponentially comfier than a Thinlight. A Thinlight feels like almost nothing at all, while a switchback feels genuinely comfy. The R value is also 4 times that of a Thinlight (2 vs 0.5). I would worry that if you jump straight to a Thinlight, you'll get the wrong idea of how good CCF can be. But hey they're cheap to try it out, and they're a UL classic. FYI, GG recently re-released a 3/8" torso-length pad. It seems like a very happy medium between something like a Switchback and 1/8" https://www.gossamergear.com/products/folded-torso-foam-pad-3-8 Also note that Alpkit makes the EZ Sleeper, which is like a thin Switchback. Also a happy medium. https://us.alpkit.com/products/ez-sleeper-folding-foam-sleeping-mat?variant=39668238057516 Also, dude, going from an inflatable to foam is not backwards, it's forwards! CCF is better is so many ways

Reducing the pad length is a lot better for comfort than reducing the pad thickness. I chop my Switchback down to only 6 panels, which goes from my shoulders to my thighs. Definitely more comfortable than thinner foam. 1/8" foam on its own is only barely better than nothing. I just put my pack under my legs.  6 panels of Seitchback fit perfectly in the back of my Palante V2, and make for a pretty decent framesheet. It weighs ~5.9 oz Edit: this is such a refreshing comment section, and I've never felt so among friends here before haha. Where are all you people when I'm lone-wolfing it on the constant inflatable threads?!

> isn't the backpack under the legs too uncomfortable? I don't think it is. A frameless pack is just a few layers of fabric when it's empty > Isn't the thickness too different from the ccf? Nah, Switchback or Zlite is 0.9" tall before it's compressed with your body weight. You'll hardly notice the difference. It's way more noticeable with torso-length inflatables, which I also sometimes use. > And isn't the backpack too little insulation? Depends on the temps. Yea your legs will be colder than your torso. It works for me at least to freezing. But you can cut the pad a bit longer to cover your thighs if needed.

I use 6 panels of Switchback. It goes from my shoulders to upper thigh. It's all you need in the summer. For colder conditions, I bought the short (5'6") Xlite. I'm 5'10". Weight savings are worth it.

I have both and use both depending on the trip. My two most used sleeping pad options are the Flexmat Plus by itself or 6 panels of the Switchback with a 1/8" GG Thinlight on top. On their own I found the Switchback more comfortable out of the box, and the Switchback packs down much smaller and it "wants" to stay folded while the Exped has a tendency to want to spring open until you get it strapped onto the pack. The flip side is that once both pads had worn in a bit I found the softened up Flexmat Plus to be noticeably more comfortable on hard surfaces than the softened up Switchback. If I'm sure I'll be able to be find a nice and relatively soft campsite or if I'm just going as light as possible then I'll take the Switchback/Thinlight combo and if I'm less worried about the weight/bulk and can't be as picky about campsites then I'll take the Exped. Usually that means that when I'm solo I'm taking the lighter option and when I'm with friends I'm taking the Flexmat Plus. The huge caveat is that these are really personal things. For each pad you'll find people who say it is super comfortable and people who say that sleeping on it was torture, and they are both probably right. It sounds like you're probably in the lucky crew that will end up preferring CCF pads which is awesome, and the nice bonus is that you could end up getting 2-3 to try them out for less than the price of a single UL inflatable.

I usually bring a nemo folding CCF pad, not too much bulk and lighter than most inflatables. Its slightly lower profile than the thermarest, but simultaneously thicker to sleep on (due to the spacing of the bumps). Occasionally for sustained technical climbing I’ll bring a torso size 5mm evazote pad, weighs close to 120g. It kinda sucks to sleep on, but combining it with sleeping on top of my pack it’s workable. It’s hard to be careful with an inflatable on a sustained route, as bivy sites are often limited and rocky.

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

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

Foam and inflatable. Nemo switchback-50 bucks. Klymit static v-60 bucks.

I exclusively sleep on CCF mats. the best budget, packable and easily available option is the Decathlon MT500. The warmest is the Thermarest Ridgerest but it's bulky. The epxed flexmat, Thermarest Z lite and Nemo Switchback are all good but a bit more pricey. Don't get hung up on R values like you would with an inflatable pad. for some reason CCF mats always feel warmer, i think due to the density of the material. I've slept on ice in the alps with CCF mats. As always though it will depend on the person and you'd need to exercise caution with a young en.

What temperatures will you be in? I use a Nemo switchback in the summer and love it

I have both the Z Lite and the Nemo Switchback. I don't have tons of experience with Backcountry's house-brand gear and in particular not this pad. But based on the couple of their items I have bought, and others' experiences I've read about, I'm inclined to guess the Stoic will be only marginally inferior to the Thermarest, and that given the price difference in your market it makes sense to just get the Stoic. Certainly not all foam pads are created equal, even if they look similar, and I personally wouldn't grab a pad from a no-name fly-by-night knockoff off Amazon or AliExpress, because durability issues could easily compromise the already-borderline comfort of a CCF pad, and if it degrades or compresses quite a lot on a long trek it could badly compromise your sleep system warmth. But Backcountry certainly doesn't fall into the fly-by-night category, they stand behind their products reasonably well, and what few reviews I can see seem to be positive. I've heard that for at least some of their house-brand gear - notably some tents - Backcountry licenses outdated designs from bigger name companies, so the manufacturer really can pretty much just change colors and logos and keep making the old gear. Wouldn't be shocked if the Stoic is made in the same factory as pads from some bigger name brand.

I've used the Z Lite a fair bit but haven't had as many opportunities to go backpacking since I got the Switchback, so this isn't a highly well-tested opinion. The Switchback is more comfortable - not by much, but enough to be consistently noticeable. They're essentially identical in most other aspects. The small weight difference in the manufacturers' specs doesn't seem to hold up in the real world; my Z Lite and Switchback weigh exactly the same. Online reviewers similarly say any weight difference is dominated by minor manufacturing variability. Reviewers' pictures all show the Switchback's folded size is smaller, but mine are not very different. Some reviewers say the Switchback is a tiny bit more durable as well - they say that it compresses just a little more slowly and Nemo puts some kind of protective film on the thermal reflective surface. Nemo suggests using theirs thermal reflective side down, and that makes the pad less slippery than using the Z Lite in its recommended reflective up state. Overall, I do think the Switchback is the one to get.

I have moved away from the 1/8 inch pad because while it might be lighter, it was causing me to do fewer miles since campsite selection becomes such a priority. For example, I come across a good spot to sleep about 60-90 minutes before I planned to stop. With the 1/8th inch pad I probably need to call it a day because skipping that site means risking not finding another one. Or, I remember one time I wasted a good hour trying to find a nice soft, sandy spot in an otherwise rocky terrain. By contrast, with a switchback or zlite CCF pad I can just kind of hike till I’m tired and as long as I don’t throw the pad down directly on a root or a rock, I don’t have to be very picky with where I sleep for the night. As a result, I can just kind of hike till I’m ready to collapse, throw the pad down, and sleep.

I have the featherstone el cordion and it is every bit comparable in insulation and "padding" to a z-lite sol to me. however, I find the Nemo switchback slightly more comfortable than both. that said, the thermarest ridgerest, as obnoxious to carry as it is, wins in comfort for me (barely)

I bought a ridgerest and a nemo switchback. the ridge rest is more comfortable to me overnight but I still get a lot of numbness, and bones digging into the earth. that said, in my experience the CCF pads aren't drastically worse than the klymit and thermarest inflatables I've tried. however, the exped inflatable I tried was mindblowingly good. almost enough to get me out of a hammock.

I use an Xlite and am a side sleeper. I found that switching pillows helped any shoulder/neck discomfort. I now use a pillowcase (Thermarest Trekker) that I stuff with my clothes/sacks/jackets etc and it has helped immensely. I can actually sleep comfortably on my nemo switchback now. Another trick I've learned is to not inflate the pad completely. I will blow it up all the way then let a little bit of air out at a time until it's slightly more squishy than normal.

Budget Quilt - HangTight Heatseeker Quilt with Ground Dweller add on Budget Inflatable Insulated Sleeping Pad - Naturrhike or Light Tour Budget Sleeping Pad - any foam CCF pad (Nemo Switbacks are popular)

Im a floor sleeper on a nemo switchback. For backpacking i use the folding 1/8 inch and plan to add the newly re-released? GG 3/8 inch folding torso pad in addition. Another thing to consider.

I just tested my system in 7f (-13 C) weather the other night, I layered a Thermarest Xlite NXT with a Nemo Switchback. Put the Ccf pad on top as that's what I've seen recommended due to potential heat loss through the sides of the Inflatable mat. I had a 10f and 20f quilt doubled up and I slept incredibly warm, bordering on sweating and had to take off layers multiple times throughout the night. Woke up still toasty. So that's an R Value of estimated 6-6.5 combined and I was also using quilts so nothing other then the pads under me. Theoretically this system could go down to -10f (-23 C) but haven't tried that yet. Based how warm I slept in just base layers I could certainly imagine that being true.

It will take some adjusting and time but I would try to learn to sleep on just foam. Substantially cheaper, more durable, easy to use, and warm enough for the summer. Inflatables take a lot of babying, they often get holes. I use a Nemo switchback for 3 seasons and then jump to a thermarest xtherm (which has a 70d bottom) for the cold. Yes, foam is not as comfy, it just takes some getting used to but you can learn to sleep on it fine. If it’s just not worth it and you really want an inflatable, put an 1/8in foam under, or at a bare minimum a groundsheet, even in the shelters

Take care with the Switchback, I don’t have too much lumber on me and I only lasted one weekend on mine as it was actually painful to lie on. If you have a high fill sleeping bag where it fills the gaps it *might* be ok, but my summer bag wasn’t enough and I’ve changed to a quilt anyway so I needed a different pad.

I just went through this over the past few months. Switchback is great to sleep on but I found it a little pokey against my back when in the pack, so moved to a Gossamer Gear torso pad (3/8”). It’s not as warm, but I love it for its packability and make up for that with clothes.

yep. ive got mine in two parts so i can sit on it and then sleep on them together. in cold weather i use an xtherm nxt, but the switch back in parts is fine for other seasons.

Outside straps. I’ve carried two switchbacks on a 35L in winter, it’s achievable

I don’t find the switchback comfortable

I'm a side sleeper with hip pain at times and I prefer a CCF Nemo Switchback for sleep. I am planning on selling my barely used NeoAir Thermarest inflatable bc it always makes back and hip issues worse. Then again I'm someone who prefers to sleep on the floor over a bed bc it feels way better on my back. Good luck in your search!

I recommend looking for a pad between 5-8R value and under 1.5 lbs. R value goes into heavy diminished returns around 8. So don't bother spending more for a 'more biggerer' R number. The cost to performance ratio makes it a waste of money. Weight and durability are like inversely proportional. The super robust pads are too heavy. Big chonky things. Going ultra-lite on a pad sacrifices durability. The best products are a balance of durability, high R value, and lightness. People have preferences about baffles. Vertical baffles, horizontal baffles, the little square guys, etc. Apparently, that's a thing to take into consideration. A vertical baffle person might get the ick on a horizontal baffle pad. Foam pads like Nemo's Switchback are great as additional insulation, and they help protect the inflatables. Plus, they function as a place to sit. I'll set my gear on a foam pad while breaking camp to keep it clean/dry.

I use a Nemo switchback for this purpose all the time. The switchback also makes a great sit pad and backrest up against a tree or big rock. It’s very lightweight and folds up

1) Patch your Xlite 2) If not working, buy a Nemo Switchback. Start with the full one and cut it down until you don't want to take anymore off. Enjoy a never popping pad. If too hard, double up for your torso

Second the recommendation for closed cell, but I loveeeee my Nemo switchback (short to save weight, since I am 5'6 and always sleep with my knees halfway up). To me it is far more comfy than inflatable: quiet, I don't fall off or feel unbalanced, and despite being a side sleeper I like hard surfaces for sleeping so it's perfect. It's also light and durable as hell, and functions as a sit pad. I don't know your use case, so it is hard to make any further recommendations.

I can confirm this. I sleep in -10c on two nemos on a regular basis. Two pads also makes it more comfy.

A closed cell foam folding pad like the zrest or switchback is your best choice. It’s 100% packable because you keep it outside your pack (ideal for lunch breaks) and it’s folded up.  The R value is reported around 2.2 but closed cell foam sleeps significantly warmer than inflatable pads with similar R values and they’re great three season pads. They’re much safer than inflatable pads when it’s actually cold outside because you can rely on them.

When it’s really cold, a lot of factors come into play. I slept on a simple switchback in 7°F weather last month on Hagerman Pass in Colorado, but I was sleeping on very deep fluffy snow which had been in quite warm and sunny weather during the day. I added a few pine boughs to keep the insulation up (it was a bit unplanned; normally I don’t like using natural trees like that). It was warm enough. I’ve also been out at 10°F in a storm where wind was cutting through the snow and even two thick pads stacked wasn’t really enough. But two pads is usually enough for me at 0°-20° on snow. Hard ground or solid ice can be a lot colder than fluffy Rocky Mountain snow. Slush would be a nightmare and I would dig down to a better layer with my avalanche shovel.

Most of the modern z-fold egg carton pads are similar to the ridgerest. If you don't like it, you probably won't like the others. I carry a switchback now, but I used to have a zrest and they're about the same.

Same. I move at night, used a Sea to Summit Ether LT Women on the PCT and I’m now enjoying the simplicity of the Switchback. Surprisingly good sleep. Put a Thinlite at your hips if needed.

I sleep well on the Switchback too!

I like the Nemo Switchback

Closed cell foam mats are absolutely the way to go. I use a GG Thinlite folded in half with my legs hanging off for anything above 45F. Below, I bring out the Nemo Switchback, or even stack the two when it's below freezing. They're bulky so you've got to strap them outside the pack, but they're light and make great sit pads.

Yeah! It has the egg crate kind of shape but it's still closed cell foam. Doesn't need inflating and won't ever deflate. I definitely prefer a pad shaped like that because it adds a little more comfort, but if you're used to sleeping on a yoga mat on the ground it probably won't make much a difference. I like how it folds instead of rolling, makes it easier to use as a sit pad.

I sleep surprisingly well with a standard CCF pad. You could get a torso length Nemo Switchback and supplement with 1/8".

Love my ultralight Nemo pad, and when I ultimately punctured it, the company sent me a new one no questions asked.