EMS had a 20% off (almost) everything in the store the other day so stopped by to disappoint myself with cool gear that was too heavy….I picked up some maps of the NH Whites on discount and was about ready to leave when I spied the Klymit Inertia X Frame pad. I figure if I didn't like it I could return it. Good job EMS, the first piece of gear I felt worth buying from you or my local REI in two years. :p
Anyway, received it today and had the GF try it out. She's 5-6 and she ~pretty~ much fits, but there is more of a risk of her feet falling into the holes at the foot end for my 5-9.5 self. It fits me well size wise. It is thinner and more narrow than my 9oz NeoAir short and comes in at 8.8oz on my scale w/ out the pump (pump is not needed IMO). Here is my GF trying it out:
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(And yes those are my dress shoes acting as a pillow. I fought with adding a "pillow" somehow to my setup w/out extra weight, but when u whittle your gear list to very little, there isn't a whole lot to use and I didn't want to add weight. Whoever suggested on the forum to use your shoes is brilliant and I am stupid! :p)
Things to overcome:
– I think I'll be ok, but I'll no longer sleep on a solid pad. I think I'll get used to it and when going from a NeoAir short to a full length pad, overall comfort will increase. We'll c.
– Not a lot of width, but with the pad being thinner, having my arms dangle over the side is less of an issue as compared to the wider, but thicker NeoAir Short.
– I am a quilt user. The pad is supposed to be used with a sleeping bag, where the bottom of your sleeping bag will loft into the holes of the pad to increase warmth. With a quilt, I don't quite get this effect, there may now be cold spots in early spring/ late fall. The first thing to get cold for me are my feet, even with JRB down sleeves on them as booties. I figure it's worth it to insulate my feet better and trade some warmth for my torso. Only experience will tell if that was the right move. I just know with my NeoAir Short and a GG 1/8th body length pad during the NE BPL meetup where it hit 40F, my feet woke me up in the morning.)
Things I didn't think of:
– My NeoAir Short doubles as the pack/back support in the mesh pocket of my GG Murmur or my GG Mariposa (winter pack). Just leave a tiny bit of air in it and it works great. The Klymit Inertia X Frame pad packs like a bunch of spaghetti, not sure if it will work out, but I ~think~ I can make it work:
I ~might~ get to test this out this late into the season w/ a thicker foam pad, but it may have to wait until spring. Time will tell!
