Torso only pads, Yay or Nay?

Is your inquiry limited to only foam pads?

Yay.
I use a pad that's just long enough that my hips aren't touching the ground. My lower body doesn't need a pad.

Last Sierra solo I carried a Ridgerest cut to fit from my shoulders to just below my hips.

I find that if you're doing this, site selection is key; you will be uncomfortable and cold if you're on rock or hardpack.

Taking the time to find a decent site, making a depression for my hip bone, and arranging spare gear, pack, and other items as leg insulation and a pillow makes all the difference. My sleep quality with a minimal system is very proportionate to how much time/effort I put into making my bed.

Not limited to just foam, just interested to find out if any weight savings would be worth it. I currently use a regular NeoAir XLite(12oz), but if I can get something much cheaper(like foam) and sell off the XLite, that would be nice.

if you have a rope, flake it out and put it under yr legs

;)

unless you really need the money or don't like the xlite, I'd keep it. Its def more comfortable than a CCF. Like craig was saying, if you want to invest the extra time each night to find a good sleep setup, you can, or you can just plop down the xlite and pass out. 12 oz is very light for a full length sleeping situation. Eric, this is a backpacking forum. But you knew that :)

"Yay.
I use a pad that's just long enough that my hips aren't touching the ground. My lower body doesn't need a pad."

Clearly you have not slept at less than 20 degrees F before with that system?! It might be fine for more truly summer temps, but not for any serious cold unless you are well practiced in the Tibetan Tummo methods (as popularized by Wim Hof)…???

"Clearly you have not slept at less than 20 degrees F before with that system?!"

I have, and it was very cold. I was forced to improvise ground insulation with natural materials.

I have noticed when it's cold and I'm using an insufficient pad, I am much warmer sleeping on my side. I'm exposing one side of my body to the cold ground instead of my entire back.

it works. But beware of false economies.

On colder nights it's going to be a bit rough. I always seem to play for +15% of or so additional warmth than I *REALLY* need.

this is why although I'm continually tempted to shave the 8oz for an xlite torso, that I've stuck with the full lenth neo air xtherm as my all season pad. Even with a 40 degree quilt in spring and fall I have not had a cold night in that thing yet. Sleep is highly preferable to shivering.

I just upgraded to a full length pad, because I realized I could then put it directly on the ground, eliminating groundcloth weight and keeping my whole body padded at the same time. On the other hand, if I have a groundcloth and it's warm I can skip the pad entirely…

I wouldn't want to go without a ground cloth in wet weather. Your sleeping bag is going to touch the wet ground at some point. And having a dry/clean area to set your gear down is important.

Skip the pad entirely?!?! Surley you jest : ). Just for clarification, I would be considering this type of setup for summer/ warm weather only.

Q1.I tried the torso only self inflating pad. No probs not having feet on a pad but sleeping on my back (preferred position for me to fall asleep) was uncomfortable on my lower back. Your feet are a bit lower than what your body and that is not something I am used to so I got lower back discomfort. Short pad out long pad in. In fact I am thinking of upgrading to a long/wide pad so I can have a bit more 'spread space'.

Q2.Yes I multi layer. I am a cold sleeper and will feel the cold from the ground. If the ground is damp like in a rainforest type of camping situation I just can't sleep from the cold! I have a synmat UL 7 but under that I put one of those closed cell foam pads. Mine weighs 150grams and is WELL worth the weight penalty for a better night sleep. Plus it is a multi use item….I also use it for in-camp mat to sit/lie on which is soo nice especially when the ground is wet.

"Skip the pad entirely?!?! Surley you jest : ). Just for clarification, I would be considering this type of setup for summer/ warm weather only."

Yes. Torso pads are mostly for the warm days of late spring, summer and early fall. I use a NiteLite, 3/4 lenghth pad when I know I will be out in the woods on a fairly dry weekend, 2-3 nights. I use my pack over some kicked up forest litter to make my bed full length. This year, it has mostly been wet, though. I don't use a ground cloth, so I bring the NeoAir. The 13oz makes a nice bed…nearly as comfortable as at home. The NiteLite often is used to level the sleeping area.

The Nunatak Luna pad is the closest I can buy today. I slice this up with an electric knife. Then tape the sections back together, "fanfold," nesting the bumps. This makes a good pad, and a pack frame, for about 10oz. Overall, it is about 51-52" long. It is about 2.5" thick when folded, and will support ~25-30 pounds in the packs pad holders. The one I use is about 2" thick, from being squashed for a few years… Several people make packs with pad holders these days, but Gossamer Gear makes them a signature. You do NOT need extra stiffeners/internal frames, etc. It works quite a bit better than the Klymit AirBeam, too. But you have to allow an extra 3-4 inches on the hip belt till the pad becomes "trained." This can take a year or two.

The Z-Lite does not work as well. Nor does a plain 1/2" blue foam pad. The entire pack system weighs about 21oz including the pack and pad. A 25oz sleeping bag and a 14oz tarp round out the camp/sleep/haul system.

Yay after sleeping on a cushy inflatable I don't want to use ccf. After having a inflatable go flat and not be able to find the leak I don't want to be with out ccf. My solution is I cut my syn mat ul in half now I have two after adding a valve to the bottom half. So I carry a half length inflateable pad and half length ccf I lap them one foot and make a stuff sack pillow which lays on the ground. The ccf is also my pack pad and frame is great for countless camp chores and if the inflatable ever goes flat again it can be used as the torso pad. The three foot inflatable I find the most comfy to let air out till my hip or butt is almost touching the lapped ccf, since my hip is right at the edge of the pad it sinks faster than the rest of my torso which is high off the ground. This makes the transition smooth. If inflated to high and my butt is off the ground to high I get back pains sleeping on my back. Now I will work on attaching everything together although the more I sleep on it I get better at keeping it together

I love my Z-Lite Torso on the ground and in the hammock.

I only like my Thermarest X-Therm torso pad in the hammock. Inflatables are too tall for torso pads for me unless I have an internal frame backpack I can put under my legs.

Like a true plebian, though, I've got an external frame.

"Yay after sleeping on a cushy inflatable I don't want to use ccf. After having a inflatable go flat and not be able to find the leak I don't want to be with out ccf."

When I am not hanging, which is my preference, I use a 3/8" evazote pad from Gossamer Gear and a small neo air. Don't have to worry about the pad going flat, am plenty warm and comfortable. The combo weighs 14oz. A little heavy but works great.

Nay for me, I have tried both and prefer a full lenght pad.

With a full length pad you can dispense with a groundsheet and even the bivy. But that all depends on the conditions you expect.

I use a short Ridgerest myself. When visiting tropical coastal regions I use just the bivy and leave the sleeping bag at home.

I put together my semi ul kit for summer weekends. WM Megalite with Klymit X-lite ( this is the short version.) I can put the Klymit inside the bag ( which is cut large so ventilates better in summer) so it does not shift around. I am a side sleeper, yet, despite reports from others, this pad is quite comfortable for me. I do not count on it for insulation, just comfort. I found the Klymit on sale ($45 for the heavier denier version) and this has proven a good sub 2 lb summer sleep system.

Been there, done that and never liked it.

I now love my Thermarest regular ProLite.

Been doing it for 40 years. Now a 36" ridgerest under a 36" Thermarest Prolite, 14 oz. total. Pack under the legs. Way comfortable and no worries about a puncture leaving me on the cold hard ground. Full length ridgerest when temps get below 25 degrees or so or on snow.

If I was in the desert or Sierra, I would probably give it a try. If I used a full tent, I would probably give it a try. Full size pads are a bit heavy.
But I primarily use a tarp in southern Appalachia. In my circumstances, a full length pad is nice to keep me off the wet ground. And we have wet ground a lot.
Int the end, my preference would depend on climate and the rest of my system. Then you have to make sure its comfortable for you.