Sit pads. What do you use?

I use the z-lite and find similarly that it improves life on the trail I keep it in an outside pocket so it’s easily accessible and use it often. I haven’t always used a seat pad and can’t imagine going back. It’s my comfort item.

Have been using pieces of 1/2″ thick old blue foam pads, from the 1980s or so, work fine on snow.  Just bought one of those Amazon really light pads and will try it out soon.

Dutchware Gear sit pad, 0.67 oz, cheap.

I use a cut down RidgeRest pad. Similar weight to your pad. It is also part of my pillow system. As Christopher said, it is my comfort item. I’ve never returned from a trip and thought “OK, I brought too much closed cell foam”. I’m not sure anyone has.

I also use a cut up section of Zrest pad.  It doubles as a sit pad during the day and a doormat outside the tent at night, so I can step out of the tent onto something besides ground.  It could double as a splint for an arm or leg if that was ever needed, too.  Good stuff, that ccf.

Cut down piece of Plastizote from Oware. 9″x20″x1/2″ 1.10 oz. Use the other 6′ as my sleeping mat.

Like JR, I’ve used Dutchware’s sitpad quite a bit. I like how it folds into quarters. It’s particularly handy if you have a pack with shockcord on the front – you can fold it over the cord and then pull another piece over the bottom really easily.

I’ve also used and liked Gossamer Gear’s pad they supply with the Kumo, a couple segments of ZLite, blue foam, reflectix and 1/8” foam from GG. I usually carry the latter in a torso length because I can fold it up into a thick sitpad or use it longer for a nap/stretch and put it under my Neoair/Bivy when sleeping.

All of the options work well but the lightest and most compact is where I started: the Dutch pad.

Recently switched from a very old, cut-up, mostly mashed-down Z-rest to much lighter generic sit pads from Litesmith (1.0 ounce):

https://www.litesmith.com/folding-sit-pad/

Used them on half-a-dozen day hikes and one two-night backpacking trip.

So far I like them, with a couple of strange caveats:

• They’ll blow away in the slightest breeze. Sometimes putting them down and sitting down fast enough is tricky.
• Our cat likes to drag the new pads out of the closet and chew on them. He’s weird in other ways, too. So far the damage is cosmetic.

When I’m really counting grams, I take a cut-open large Tyvek envelope instead (0.2 ounces). Folds up very small, not cushy, but still keeps my backside drier and cleaner. Also has the breeze problem, but not the cat problem.

— Rex

Like many above, I’ve used a cut piece of Ridgerest for years. I wouldn’t leave home without it (13″ x 15″ ~ 1.8 oz). Like another mentioned, I too use mine as a doormat in my tent vestibule to stand on to change, etc.

A Walmart blue ground pad is about $10 and makes a half dozen 12×18 sit pads.  Or 12×20 if you’re so endowed. :)

Tangential but for dayhiking my favorite is a ~20×20” of reflectix folded in half tucked into the hydration sleeve of my REI Flash 18. It gives just the right amount of structure and slides in/out of the pack with no problem.

Use 1/2 of a Z-Lite for 3 season and stow it between the trampoline back and the pack (Osprey EXOS 58).

For winter I use an entire Z-Lite pad as I don’t want to melt any snow with my butt!

Lol Rex! Cats are so destructive sometimes…

matthew k- great to see scraps of  reflectix getting put to use! I used reflectix to make a pot cozy and a Kleen Kanteen cozy for winter use. Also used a mummy shaped piece of it to double my sleeping pad in winter before switching to zlite.

@Ross Bleakney- I’ve considered trying to multi purpose cut zlite as a pillow, how do you implement that in your pillow system?

For sitting – in 3 season I use the 2 oz z-seat  , keep it handy in a side pocket or front mesh

In winter, since I sleep with 2 pads (the neoair xlite and a z-lite), I cut 6 sections from the full length 14 section zlite to use for sitting and sometimes standing on because it is larger and less prone to snow creeping onto my pants. In warmer weather the remaining 8 sections get used as my sons sleep pad which is still full length for him!

I like the Z-seat…use it frequently on damp PNW hikes…but also like to multi-use as much as possible.

I’ve added 2 small strips of velcro to one edge of the  Z-seat (on its widest dimension).   Since my regular sleeping pad is a short (and cut down) Z-rest,  I can now combine the two pads (using the velcro).  Thus I can have a slightly longer sleep pad–and still have the option of a small sit pad.

I simply use my 1/8″ ccf pad that I already brought along with my sleeping kit.

1/8″ is a great thickness because its thin enough to fold several times.

I can sit on it (folded up), sit with a hiking partner, lay on it, or put it up against a rock or tree to lean back on.

And when I’m not using it to sit on, I’m sleeping on it since it makes my squishy Neorest a lot firmer for my crooked back.

A two-panel section (10 x 20″) of a TAR Z-lite pad does triple duty as a sit pad, a backpack back pad and as part of my sleep pad system. For sleeping, the sit pad stays on the backpack and goes under the legs while a TAR X-lite small inflatable (with ends reversed) goes under the torso.

Well, just to be contrary, I guess, but I never use a dedicated sit pad. I use a NightLite torso pad fanfolded into the pad keeper pockets of my pack. It doubles as sleeping pad, sit pad and chair (leaned up against a tree or rock.)

5-8 years ago I picked up a bunch of Gossamer Gear’s SitLite pads that were sold cheaply as “seconds.” I always take one on every trip, whether backpacking or just doing a day hike. Mine have several uses:

1) I place one inside my pack, with the egg shell side against my back. This provides a more comfy carry for me.

2) I fold it in half, with the egg shell side on the inside. It slides into a small fleece pillow case, and I add a spare piece of clothing (usually my insulated BPL cocoon pants) to add the proper bulk. Best pillow I’ve ever found. The only added weight is the 1.0 oz. Quixote pillow case, which also happens to fit over my head to add a wee bit of extra warmth under my TNF Windblocker Summit hat.

3) During the day I’ll use it to soften up a log or big rock that I might sit on.

4) If properly supported with rocks or small logs, it makes a decent wind screen on a breezy day/evening.

Yep, it’s a multi-use sit pad…

Since this is backpacking LIGHT, as the OP wrote, you can use your polycro groundsheet as a sit pad during the day. Before carrying a dedicated sit pad, I did this and it worked well, provided you’re picky on where you sit. While hiking, keep an eye out for smooth rocks or logs of the perfect height for sitting and only stop for breaks at locations that have a good seat. That way you don’t really need extra padding, just the polycro to keep sap or dirt off your bottom. Keep the polycro in your pack’s front (or side) pocket for easy access.

Thermarest Seat Pad. 5oz and while not the lightest, I argue it’s the most comfortable by far. I have used it for sporting events, backpacking, etc. I can also use as a pillow. Really love mine.  https://www.amazon.com/Therm-Rest-Trail-Cushion-Royal/dp/B01N6C5W34/ref=asc_df_B01N6C5W34/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216518324822&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13605955189752498295&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031317&hvtargid=pla-353314276007&psc=1

Trimmed down gossamer gear thinlight.  For 2-2.5 ounces I have a full pad I can roll out and lay down on at any stop.  It’s also great for use around camp when I want to lounge on my inflatable without being picky about prepping the ground.  lastly, it really helps extend the temp comfort range of my light inflatable.  I think for the weight it’s way more versatile than a dedicated sit pad.

<p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>I have a Litesmith folding seat pad too. It only weighs .98 oz. You can use it folded up for more cushion, like when sitting on a fallen down tree, or open it up for more protection when you sit on the wet ground.</p>

Is there a Light Trail Seat? I just weighed mine and it is 3.5 ounces, it is also the basis of my pillow for sleeping

I use a Zpacks pointy hat (I don’t think they make these anymore, too bad because they work) as a sit pad or else I use a GG 1/8″ foam pad folded up. Both these things serve dual use.