Yamatomichi - UL Pad 15+

I used a combination of a cut down Xped Flexmat plus and a GG 1/8th inch folded in half for most of the Colorado Trail and that was super comfortable. That set up weighed around 18oz. This past fall I picked up a Yamatomichi UL pad 15+, I’ve spent 1 night on it, so I can’t give a detailed report on it other than it kept me warm, but the 200cm length only weighs 8.2oz. I cut the extra length and I’m now using it as the back pad for my KS40.

I ordered both mats, the ZLite SOL and the Yamatomichi UL Pad 15+, both in the short one-meter version. After trying them on the floor at home, I honestly couldn’t feel any real difference in comfort. The main advantage of the UL Pad 15+ is the weight. It’s about 70-90 grams lighter at the same length, which is a nice bonus if you’re counting grams. The downside is packing it, because it doesn’t fold nearly as well as a ZLite or a Switchback. What works okay for now is using it as a tube inside the backpack and packing everything else inside that tube. It gives the pack a bit of structure, but I’ll only know how practical it really is once I have all my gear together for the trip. That’s when I’ll see whether the ZLite packs better overall or whether the Yamatomichi tube system ends up being good enough. In the end I’ll go with whichever option integrates better inside the pack, since attaching a pad on the outside isn’t really an option for me at the moment. In terms of comfort they feel very similar to me. The UL Pad wins on weight and the ZLite wins on packability

I have the Yamatomichi 15+ (cut to 125 cm) and their Minimalist after previously having tried the Switchback. I didn't like the dimples on the Switchback, I much prefer the smooth Yamatomichis. Also, their foam, despite being lighter, feels firmer which makes side sleeping much more comfortable. The negative with the 15+ is that it is bulky and is resistant to folding. I've seen a Japanese website where someone cut their 15+ into panels like the Switchback, taping them together with Gorilla tape.