Air pad instead of foam in frameless pack

[Jacob D]

Who here has used an inflatable pad instead of a foam pad in the back panel of your frameless pack? I've done this a few times now with a GG Gorilla and a Kookabay pad (almost totally deflated) and it worked pretty well. I haven't seen too many others using a similar configuration, just curious who has given it a shot and what do you think? Which pack / pad combinations have you used?

[Fred eric]

I do it with neoair and golite ion.

[Steven McAllister]

I don't use your backpack, but:
If you have room your could partially inflate the inflatable pad and experiment.
I have tried that that and it either took up too much space or wasn't rigid enough.

I now use a 3/8 closed cell foam sit pad or two if I need to carry much weight over 15 or 20 lbs.

[Scott Lehr]

I use a Big Agnes insulated Aircore for support in my Jam. I dont inflate it at all, just fold to the correst shape to fit the back panel. Its hekps but is far from perfect. I do sleep like a baby on that pad though.

[JJ Mathes]

I use my inflatable pad folded inside my ULA Conduit

[Kimberly Wersal]

I also use an inflatable pad (Montbell UL90) with my Conduit. Works very well. If my pack is less full, I leave the pad a little more inflated.

[Jack H.]

I know a fair number of people who like the general combo. Never tried it myself though.

[Richard Fischel]

in my cilogear 40l. it works great and i can remove the frame sheet, but it takes up more internal space in the pack when compared to the foam bivy pad and frame sheet.

[Steven McAllister]

This is good to know.

[Mike M]

Fred said "I do it with neoair and golite ion"

<– so do I :) folded in half lengthways and then in thirds, w/ just a wee bit of air in it

[Jacob D]

Seems like it's not that uncommon after all.

My observation has been the same as others, works ok for moderate loads, not so much for heavy loads… and takes up some more room vs. sit pad (etc…). The vertical rigidity of the air pad can actually be quite good with just a tiny bit of air in it (assuming baffles are oriented vertically).

I'm going to give it a try with a Jam pretty soon and see how it goes.

[Steve Scarborough]

Partially inflated regular Neoair in my Conduit works for me.

[Douglas Raymond]

I was just wondering this myself, I recently picked up a neo air small and love it compared to the ole closed cell foam

[drowning in spam]

I believe ULA now has a pack that uses the Klymit air mattress as its frame.

[Author]

Posts