3/4 Pads / Torso pads

It works even better on your side since less of your body has to be in contact with the ground.

It's just a lumpy extension to your short pad. It works better with simpler packs with padding or extra clothing. Lots of buckles or suspension parts are as lumpy as you might imagine. I have a Thermarest Z Seat sit pad that I use too. It is all about getting the most out of what you are hauling. Try it on the living room floor– you'll get the idea.

I use a Z-lite 3/4 pad for most of my body, and put the sit pad, that I carry for stops during the day, under my feet. If I can get to sleep on my back, this works fine into the 30s for me (with my questionably rated sub-kilo bag).

I do often carry an additional torso length pad when I know I'm not going to have much luck sleeping on my back, which is most times. It's just a piece of open cell foam I had lying around that I cut to shape, but like down, I have to be mindful to keep it dry, as it's difficult to dry out if it gets wet. It was cheap and light though (2-3 oz if I recall correctly).

Seems most side sleepers tend towards blow-up mats though, more plush feel for fewer pressure points (which invariably equal cold spots).

I use a 3/4 pad, and sleep in all three positions, it really does not bother me that my feet are not on the pad either for cold or comfort, the stuff sack pillow is on the ground, not the pad, so it helps it to feel longer. I have a 1.5" Pro lite Thermarest, but would by the 1" thick next time.

I tried it once, and only once, so keep that in mind. It was with a 1 or 1.5" Prolite. I didn't care for it at all.

Not so much because of comfort or cold. I just didn't like my stuff sliding around. The tent was already fitted for one person and a bit. I don't toss and turn, but do turn from one side to the other a few times a night. The pack would shift/move, and I'd have to work at getting comfortable again, too fidgety. I didn't like it. Maybe I wasn't hiking hard enough.

I've since moved to a 2.5" inflatable. I'd imagine it would be less comfortable with the height difference.

However, a lot of people seem to either not notice or find it comfortable. I just tack it onto the "luxury" allowance.

I switched from full size synmat to a chopped up piece of foam and my pack, never noticed any discomfort. same with a quilt and frameless pack. just jump in. i do most of my testing on week longs so i have enough field time to figure everything out. cant get to know something in a 24hour trip.