Light weight sleeping pad

“Two years when I did the New Hampshire AT, I used FY-20 from Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics for a sleeping pad. It was a bit hard to fit on the inside of my pack (Mountainsmith Ghost), but it was light and comfortable in my hammock and in my shelter. The pad was subsequently destroyed. I'm forgetting what thickness I used (they carry 1/8", 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" - but it must have been on the thinner side).

Anyhow, what material would you recommend for replacement on the Long Trail? And if I go with the FY-20 (formerly called Bevalite, a Bevazote type material) what thickness you get. I'm planning on heading out on the Long Trail (SoBo) in late July. I'll probably go with the hammock again, unless my son comes with me in which case I'd take an old Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight-3. Either way, I'm sure I'd put in some shelter nights.

One advantage of the FY20 is that it comes 40". I narrowed it a bit, but a little extra width is helpful in a hammock... so you stay on the pad.

FYI, Here is the OWF page w/Y-20:
http://www.owfinc.com/Hardware/Shardware/Miscshardware.asp#FY20
last edited: 6/11/05 10:17:15 PM”

“I got rid of my solid pad, which was very thin and very light. (Well, actually I still own it, but it wasn't much good for anything other than insulation--closed cell--so I replaced it.)

I now use a ThermARest pad. Regular length trek model (the green one). I opted for that rather than a fast and light model because when I looked at them both, there was only a few ounces difference in favor of some compactibility for the smaller one. I've been very pleased with it and will not go back to using a simpled closed cell pad.”

“Thanks for the reply Bob. It sounds like you have the Trail or Expedition (which would be 2 lb 4 Ounces).

I have a ThermaRest Guidelite (I think that was the name)... it looks like they don't make them any more, I think it was around 1 pound 8 oz. I found that the added width and lighter weight of the foam was a benefit to me (and I had no worries about puncture).”

“I just got the self inflating REI Lite-Core... it is 1.5" thick, 72" long, 20" wide at the torso. Ergonomically shaped. Weighs 1# 7oz. and folds to a very small package.
item # 792-0019. $69.00
last edited: 6/17/05 1:01:28 PM”