Backside Line
A small subset of ultralight backpackers will probably be content material utilizing the Gossamer Gear Thinlight as their solely sleeping pad, however for most individuals, it makes much more sense as a companion to an inflatable. The ⅛-inch foam is hard and sturdy, but it surely solely takes the sting off of the cruel floor. By itself, heat is minimal, and luxury is very depending on discovering a tender campsite.
The Thinlight’s worth turns into extra obvious when added to a major sleeping pad. Positioned beneath an air pad, the Thinlight provides a major layer of safety whereas additionally lowering pad slippage. It’s a light-weight, inexpensive improve that may make a significant distinction over the course of a visit.
Past nighttime use, it’s laborious to understate how helpful this pad is through the day. It makes for a fast, simple spot to stretch, take a siesta, and even slot in a fast yoga session. After carrying the Thinlight for a whole bunch of miles, we see it much less as a major sleeping pad and extra as an extra instrument that constantly earns its spot in our pack.
How We Examined
We’ve put the Thinlight to the check in a wide range of makes use of from the New Mexico wilderness to the rugged Cascades to guage its consolation, heat, sturdiness, and total usability. We’ve been carrying not less than a small chunk of this pad with us (as a sit pad) on virtually each backpacking journey for years.
Fast Specs
Gossamer Gear Thinlight
Greatest Sleeping Pad Add-on
CleverHiker Score:
3.8/5.0
Value:
$32
Weight:
4.4 oz.
R-Worth:
0.5
Thickness:
.125 in.
Professionals
- Value
- Provides safety, heat, and grip to an inflatable pad
- Many makes use of
- Might be reduce to measurement
Consolation
The purpose of the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad isn’t to compete with plush air pads – it’s to offer simply sufficient insulation and safety from the bottom to get you thru the night time. At solely ⅛ of an inch thick, it simply barely takes the sting off chilly and uneven floor. You’ll nonetheless really feel rocks, roots, and bumps, so tent website choice is your greatest ally.
The Thinlight works greatest as an extra protecting layer beneath an inflatable pad, including only a contact of heat and cushioning. Absolutely prolonged, at 73.5 x 19 inches, it’s lengthy sufficient for many customers, however the slender width can really feel limiting, particularly for these with broader shoulders, stressed sleepers, or a starfish sleeping place.
We largely recognize what the Thinlight provides to daytime consolation. Through the day, it transitions seamlessly right into a sit pad, backrest, or yoga mat. You may simply maintain it on the surface of your pack and unfold it for a fast grime nap.
Weight & Packability
Weighing simply 2.7 ounces (rolled model) or 3.3 ounces (folded model), the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad is a minimalist possibility for the gram counters amongst us. It can save you a pound or two of pack weight by choosing the Thinlight over a real backpacking pad. The load is a negligible addition to your major sleeping pad as nicely.
The Thinlight measures 10.7″ x 19″ x 1″ when packed, limiting the place you possibly can match it in your backpack. The simplest methods to hold this pad are to strap it to the surface of your pack or to slip it alongside the within of the again panel (it’s good for giving construction to frameless packs). Some packs actually have a built-in pad attachment system on the again panel, with which the Thinlight would pair completely.
If it’s nonetheless not small and lightweight sufficient for you, the Thinlight’s customization choices are infinite. It comes both rolled into an oblong form or folded into segments. The segments may be reduce off to match your top, or you could possibly trim the foot right down to a mummy form. Some hardcore ultralighters even reduce it right down to torso size.
Sturdiness
Though the Thinlight’s foam will ultimately degrade over time, it’ll simply final lengthy sufficient to get your cash’s value.
The plain profit is that it may possibly’t be punctured like an inflatable pad. When you’re powerful on gear, a foam pad is the most effective guess to face as much as the abuse. We’ve been utilizing a chunk of Thinlight as a sit pad in our pack for years, and it’s nonetheless going robust.
Heat
By itself, the Thinlight is greatest reserved as a summer-only pad. It has an virtually unnoticeable R-value of 0.5 (it feels beneficiant so as to add an R-Worth in any respect).
Nevertheless, pairing it with an inflatable pad might noticeably bump up total heat, particularly on chilly, moist floor. Throughout winter journeys, we think about a foam pad an important addition to our sleep system, and the Thinlight is the lightest possibility.
Ease of Setup
What can we are saying about organising the Thinlight? Simply carelessly drop it on the bottom, and also you’re 90% there (simply be careful for the wind choosing it up). Give it a fast flattening-out and a scoot or two for good measure, and voilà! The Thinlight is actually only a piece of froth; if you happen to’re having bother laying it out, we’ll pray for you.
All jokes apart, the actual nuance in setup is in campsite choice. When you’re utilizing the Thinlight by itself (extra energy to you), your greatest guess is to discover a good tender mattress of leaves, moss, or pine duff. Established, tamped-down campsites are the toughest on the joints, so if you happen to’re tenting in a extremely regulated space, we advocate pairing the Thinlight with an inflatable pad.
Ought to You Purchase the Gossamer Gear Thinlight?
Some ultralight backpackers will probably be hardcore sufficient to make use of the Gossamer Gear Thinlight as their sole sleeping pad, but it surely’s actually greatest when utilized in tandem with an inflatable pad.
The ⅛-inch-thick closed-cell foam is sturdy and can final lengthy sufficient to justify the minimal funding, but it surely’ll simply barely take the sting off chilly and bumpy floor. Added heat can also be negligible in delicate situations.
Nevertheless, utilizing the Thinlight as an additional barrier between your inflatable pad and the bottom might considerably improve the general sleeping expertise. It protects your pad from punctures, retains it from slipping round as a lot, and provides a little bit bit of heat and luxury, particularly on moist floor.
General, the Thinlight is one other instrument in your backpacking instrument field and a sensible addition to any sleep setup.
What Different Backpacking Pads Ought to You Take into account?
Try our full information to backpacking sleeping pads to dial in your good backcountry sleep system.
NEMO Switchback Overview: The NEMO Switchback is a extra conventional foam sleeping pad, with an R-value of two, and a corrugated design so as to add extra help.
Therm-A-Relaxation Z Lite Sol Overview: The Z Lite Sol is the following lightest and most packable foam pad after the Thinlight. When you like the thought of froth however need just a bit extra, take a look at the Z Lite Sol.
NEMO Tensor Elite Overview: The Tensor Elite is about as mild because it will get for inflatable pads. Pairing it with the Thinlight might make one very formidable ultralight sleep system.
