Thread: sleeping pad - inside pack or outside?

like it sounds . . . i have heard several people complain (and i agree) that they don't like to have crap hanging off the outside of their pack. however, putting a sleeping pad in the main compartment can easily eat up almost as much volume as all the rest of my gear combined.

so, whaddya think? if you strap it on the outside, where? what's the preferred method of attachment to make sure it stays secure?

I've had one that was cut exactly to the inside of my pack, and I used it on climbs up high in the tetons (when I needed to spend the night. Not the best or most comfortable option for backpacking, but for climbing it is great.

Don't want a lot of crap yard saling on the outside when you're climbing.

Originally Posted by ninjabirdman

like it sounds . . . i have heard several people complain (and i agree) that they don't like to have crap hanging off the outside of their pack. however, putting a sleeping pad in the main compartment can easily eat up almost as much volume as all the rest of my gear combined.

so, whaddya think? if you strap it on the outside, where? what's the preferred method of attachment to make sure it stays secure?

Are you hiking or skinning on rolling terrain? Is it a closed-cell pad? If so, then putting it on the outside may work.

If you are doing anything that is more "active", then having it flop around could be a nuisance. Also, while I think it's unlikely that anyone would strap an inflatable pad to the outside, you'd have to be aware that it could snag on something/tear and be rendered useless.

A common place is to put it between the top of the pack and the bottom of the lid. (=a common place for climbers to carry ropes) On occasions where I strapped my pad to the outside and that space hasn't been available, i've strapped it to the side -- similar to where you would have a ski in an A-frame position. Pads are generally light, so throwing off the balance is usually not a big deal.

Good luck!

yeah, it's one of the MHW ultralights, bottom closed cell for insulation, top open cell for comfort. so i'm not worried about it snagging and damaging the pad, but snags are one of the reasons that i don't really want to have it on the outside.

i really prefer having it on the inside, but then I end up with like a 60L pack for a 1-nighter . . . i guess what i was wondering is what thoughts have others put into this trade-off that i haven't.

Outside = flops around but doesn't take up volume in your pack.
Inside = stable but eats volume for lunch.

I think that's pretty much it...

One thing -- I'm not familiar with the particular pad you mention, but when I've put my sleeping pad in my pack sometimes I wrap or fold it very loosely and put it in first. Then, I load everything else in the open space in the center. This seems to preserve the most usable volume in the pack.

well there you have it then, UAN dropping the wisdom.

seriously, i think your contributions to TechTalk are some of the most valuable. now if you just had a slightly less creepy avatar, i wouldn't be so afraid to seek your advice

upallnight's suggestion for putting it inside your pack is the best way to do it, if you really want it inside the pack.

That said, I carry mine on the outside because my pack is on the smallish side and when going out for more than 3 days space is at a premium. I just use a cheap closed-cell ridgerest. Roll it up as tight as possible and lash it vertically to the center of the pack with two accessory straps. I do a lot of off-trail/bushwacking/scrambling and yes, it gets snagged a lot, but I don't really care. Hasn't seemed to affect it in anything other than a cosmetic way and I've had it for probably ten years.

I always put foam pads on the outside and inflatable on the inside, for reasons already stated above.

I'm not sure why UAN says outside = floppy - if you stick it under some compression straps, or even tight bungies, it will be pretty rigid and move with your pack.

FWIW, I put closed cell pads vertically on the very back of my pack rather than under the lid or on the side because it snags less on stuff there. It's so light that it doesn't cause any balance issues being far from my back. But if you're not bushwacking or squeezing between tight rocks, it doesn't really matter where you put it.

Originally Posted by davep

I'm not sure why UAN says outside = floppy - if you stick it under some compression straps, or even tight bungies, it will be pretty rigid and move with your pack.

yes, you're right -- it doesn't have to be floppy, although relative to inside the pack it will be generally subject to more movement.

pads are pretty light, though, and this doesn't deter me from carrying it on the outside of my pack. for me, it just boils down to how much room there is. generally, i like to carry as small a pack as possible (=lighter weight), so i don't mind strapping it on the outside.

Originally Posted by ninjabirdman

now if you just had a slightly less creepy avatar, i wouldn't be so afraid to seek your advice

i know -- at first it can feel uncomfortable when you try to deny your urges...but if you give in to them, you'll be just fine.

don't let my beauty scare you away.

My personal preference is inside the pack, as I'm not always hiking on wide open trails... I use the REI Lite Core 1.5, which you fold it in halve length-wise, and roll it up from there. it's much shorter, and takes up about the same space as my ultra light sleeping bag. It might not work if you're really tall or broad, though.

in reference to sleeping pads a pad best went up as todays item on SAC

Similar to UAN's idea, I usually fold my thermarest in half lengthwise and line the slepping bag compartment on the bottom of my pack with it. I can still stuff a 0deg down bag in there by squeezing it in tight. Basically I have my pad and bag in the same space most people would just have their bag. Works pretty darn well.

If I'm using a smaller pack then it just goes on the side as others have mentioned.

Great advice, guys, keep it coming.

On a related note, I've been trying to figure out the best way to carry my Ann Coulter lookalike "backcountry companion".



I mean, she takes up a lot of valuable space stuffed inside, but it's kinda embarrassing having her draped over the outside of the backpack, plus I don't want her to get damaged when I'm bushwhacking through the manzanita on the approach.

Thanks for your help.

If you were ultralight gnar you would have a frameless light pack and use your cut down pad as a pseudoframe.

the exped 9 deluxe is the way to go.

full down for warmth, 3 inches from the ground, I think four inches wider than almost all others and 8 inches longer,.....just over two pounds.

Add allittle running water in the background=best night of sleep in the woods ever!!!

drawbacks=====$170

and to answer the ? - -outside and always strapped as low as possible

weight on the hips=happy back

Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate

Great advice, guys, keep it coming.

On a related note, I've been trying to figure out the best way to carry my Ann Coulter lookalike "backcountry companion".

Thanks for your help.

Stop mocking god and nature and sleep with your own kind - they pack smaller



as for the original - wherever fits.

As for inside/outside - that's up to you.
I like it outside: just rollit regular, get a durable stuffsack (Cactus creek at MEC makes ones that fit thermarests) and store it vertically alongside your pack.
Or, if you aren't going through narrows, across the top.
>>Cactus Creek bags have daisy chains on em, so, you can pass a rope strap
under neath it and it won't shift! (if you have the strap).
Inside the pack is OK, if you have an ultralight pad.

you should check out the thermarest prolite series. don't fold in half (like they suggest) just roll. the prolite 3 regular ends up being about 4" around and fit fine in my 2400 cu in pack with enough gear for a two night trip with just a bivy and 30-40 degree bag.