Backpacks w/ external pad sleeve

Yeah, I do this as a regular course.
Feathered Friends has the Luna pad which is a longer version of the NightLite.

The Gorilla has the same pad keeper as the others. It is about a third larger than the Kumo/Murmur(2200ci) at around 3000ci.

Somebody made a pack with a tube on one side for a Z-Rest/or simmilar. I cannot seem to remember who though. Six Moon Designs??

Z-Packs will add pad keepers if you ask for them. But they are not as effective as the fuller GG ones…the pad will buckle.

I have used this type of system in most configurations for many years, though, I often bring a seperate pad for sleeping in lean-too's. The system contains dual use of the pad/frame and makes an excellent load bearing system for 25-30 pounds. My daughter is short and has a hard time with a pack fitting her. She is known to experience pack collaps at around 20 pounds. My pack fits better, and I can get about 30 pounds out of it. Both are with frameless packs (G5, Murmur, G4, GoLite Trek, Miniposa.)

These *can* be made. Just hem up a couple pieces of fabric and add them to the back panel. FWIW, the back/lumbar cushioning is excelent and the load bearing is medium.

I'm currently using a GG Gorilla (loved the Murmur, but a bit too small for some trips).

I started with a Wide Ridgerest solite. Cut it to torso shape, then trimmed it down to 48" or so. Then cut about 20" off the bottom. I fold that 20×20" section in half, and it fits perfectly in the pad sleeve. The upper torso pad which is about 25"x28" works great burrito style inside the pack. It can also be rolled tightly and fits in the water bottle pocket on the exterior of the pack, secured by the compression cords.

Yeah, the Ridgerest works well. The Luna or NightLite pads have bumps which can be "trained" to nest with a shears. An electric knife works a bit better. I cut it down into 10-10.5" sections x the width. Then tape them together. Up to 5 can be added to the pad keeper on the GG packs, though 5 is a bit tight. I usually use three with a NeoAir. These old bones like to be comfortable. The AirBeam does not work as well, nor, does the neoair…even inflated. The bumps also lock the layers together adding stiffness when hiking. It can be warm when hiking, good andior bad, depending. The big advantage is it uses NO interior volume. I use the 5 layer pad when I know I will be not be sleeping in a shelter. It doesn't supply enough cushioning for hard floors. However, you need some sort of ground sheet. I usually use a piece of 3mil plastic. When I bring the NeoAir, I skip the ground sheet. It doubles as one, but requires a little more ground selection.

I prefer not to use the pad sleeve in my older model Gorilla, or use any back pad at all. Anything more than a single thickness pad puts the pack too far from my back, and the increased insulation and tighter fit makes my back sweat more.