I mostly carry my switchback, I had an ultralight inflatable, but it didn't hold up. I have an ancient 3/4 therma-rest guidelite that I carry some times in the summer, but it's half a pound heavier than my switchback. Mostly I just try to hike hard enough that I'm tired enough to sleep where ever. I agree with the poster who mentioned shelters, the switchback is way better on the ground than a shelter floor.
I have a thinner version of this and I can’t stress enough that it is self inflating!! Open the valve and let it sit to fill with air. Don’t put anything on it. Once full close the valve and set up everything. When folding and rolling away open valve get all the air out and close valve to seal. I have seen these where the owner would blow to fill it up and they get moldy and stinky fast. Also store it unrolled and open valve, I put mine under my bed.
My first winter camping trip is one I’ll never forget, my back was killing me after trying to sleep on a foam pad. The next trip, I brought a Therm-a-Rest Self-Inflating Pad and it literally changed everything. Suddenly, I was sleeping warm and supported, ready for morning hikes. I’d recommend [air mattresses](https://www.reddit.com/r/KeepThisInMind/comments/1ltzxk1/recommend_the_air_mattress_best_for_camping/) for camping to anyone, from lightweight backpacking pads to thick car-camping mats, especially for winter trips.
I know that I have two just like this, but I’ve always inflated them by mouth. Maybe I’ve doing it wrong for 25+ years, but either way these are great thermal insulation for camping.
Before you commit to cutting a pad you may want to consider the pad thickness, how the resulting drop in height might affect your sleeping position and how you could compensate for it in practice.
The Nemo Tensor All-Season specs list it at \~9cm, which you'll of course sink into some depending on inflation level, but it may be high-enough where you would need something more besides your empty backpack to rise the legs to similar level.
The Therm-A-Rest self-inflating one would have probably had 3.8cm height according to the specs. Guessing based on the specs of the currently available self-inflating ones.
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Car camping comfort champ, but some side sleepers find it thin.
NoboMamaBear2017
