Gear Review: Klymit Static V Insulated Ultra Light Pad
I’d never heard of Klymit until they showed up on my radar through Massdrop right at the moment I was comparing/contrasting sleeping pad options (and leaving the stores unsatisfied and empty-handed).
I wanted to love the Therm‑a‑Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad ($160) as much as the other thru-hikers love it, but I didn’t. Even though it is the most popular ultralight sleeping pad in the history of the world.
I’m a side-sleeper. I couldn’t tweak the inflation level enough to make my hips happy.
And Ruby’s hips gonna hafta be happy.
Also, the noise! Every time you move, you whoosh. And crinkle and crumple and clatter enough to disturb the cicadas, who are not known for using their inside voices.
Then I wanted to love the Therm-a-Rest EvoLite Plus ($180). But old reviews had it developing unsightly and sleep-depriving tumors and Therm-a-Rest didn’t respond to my email when I asked if the problem had been solved.
Then along came Massdrop.
Swoon!
I am in love with Massdrop!
We’ll wax poetic about Massdrop on another day (but seriously, check out their ultralight community and try not to swoon).
They offered the Klymit Static V Insulated Ultra Light Pad at $60 (normally $94). Reviews were solid and when I compared the specs with the Therm-a-Rest pads, well, there really was no comparison.
So even though it was a bit of a gamble to purchase something sight unseen (and unheard), I bit the hook and I’m really pleased overall after testing it on the trail.
It breaks down like this:
YAYS!
Great value at $60..less than half the price of comparable pads.
It’s warm enough for four-season use and for women (who sleep 10 degrees cooler than men). The R-value is 4.4 (out of 5, with 5 being the warmest. NeoAir is 3.9, Evolite is 3.2)
It’s 2.5 inches thick…comfy enough for side sleepers with hips
It’s relatively quiet. Not silent, but much quieter than the NeoAir. YAY!
It packs down small at 8x4 inches, a little bigger than a water bottle.
It's lightweight at 16.9 ounces, which is 9 ounces less than my current pad (a Therm-a-Rest ProLite) but 5 ounces heavier than the NeoAir. That works for me, so, YAY!
SAD FUR…AKA the down side.
It’s not self-inflating, so, you have to blow it up. It takes me 17-18 breaths, which doesn't suck.
That’s the only down-side I can think of. Other than the fact that it’s no longer available through Massdrop, which offers things for a limited time only on a snooze-you-lose basis.
But this is one they brought back by popular demand, so there’s still hope.
If it’s any consolation, I’m kicking myself for not getting the Fizan Compact 3 Trekking Poles.
Those would have been sweet.
The Verdict: It's a Keeper!
So what do you think, Sweet Pea? What do you sleep on when you're out in the woods? Do you love it or hate it?
Leave a comment below and share your thoughts, questions, insights, stories.