Let’s face it: the worst part about backpacking is sleeping on the ground. Sure, you can pack a cushy, heavy sleeping pad to keep rocks and roots from digging into your back, but most are too heavy to carry miles into the mountains. But the good folks at Centerville-based Klymit have been offering super light weight camping pads for years now, and their latest, the Insulated Static V Lite has upped the ante on comfort and packability.
The Klymit Insulated Static V Lite features:
- Light weight fabric for smaller pack size and weight
- 4.4 R-Value for year-long warmth
- V Chamber body mapping
- Dynamic side rails to avoid slipping of pad in the night
I’ve been testing out the Insulated Static V Lite this spring, most recently on a whitewater rafting trip in Cataract Canyon. While the product is brand new and I only had it the past few months, I have not been able to test the insulation capabilities in cold weather. Stay tuned for that. Also, the fact that the Static V Lite is insulated made me wonder if it would be too hot in the summer months. Turns out I had no need to worry.
First of all, the Static V Lite packs down really small. While the insulation makes it more bulky than its predecessors like the original Static V (which packs down to the size of a beer can) the Insulated Static V Lite packs down to the size of a large mug of beer. Regardless, it’s still ultra-packable compared to other offerings on the market, and my bag on the raft was among the smallest in the group thanks in part of packable gear like the Static V Lite.
As we camped along the shore of the Colorado River, I set up my tent and pulled out the camping pad. It takes about 12 breaths to fully inflate the pad, which is not very much. A feature that I like is the valve – instead of a twist-cap version (which lets a lot of air escape) the Static V Lite valve simply clicks closed. Then you can twist it shut so it locks into place. This way no air escapes after you huff and puff your last breath into the pad.
But the most important aspect of any camping pad is comfort. I can say with authority that the Klymit Static V Lite is super comfortable. For a pad this light weight, one would think there is little support. But the body mapping technology (the ridges you see on the pad) act like tiny support beams that work in concert to keep the body far off the ground. On flat camping pads, I always wake in the night because I slid off the side. But I never did with the Static V Lite, and I probably can thank the dynamic side rails for that. They really work.
As for whether the insulated version would be too hot in the summer? In short, overnight temperature were in the low 70s, and I never overheated. I think it’s fair to say that this pad regulates temperatures quite well and I am looking forward to trying it out in the cold-weather months.
The Good: Packs down small, really light, insulated, supportive, comfortable, valve keeps air from escaping when twisting closed.
The Bad: Nothing to complain about!
Final Word: The Klymit Insulated Static V Lite is the ultimate 4-season camping pad for backpacking, river trips, or even car camping.