Gear Review: Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad

 

I woke up like this.

Disclosure: Klymit provided this pad for the purpose of review. My honest opinion is based on my experience.

It was morning, but it was pitch black all around except for the white snow. There was about 6 inches on the ground and a quarter inch everywhere else, including the brim of my rain jacket, which I had layered over my down jacket, fleece zip-up, wool half-zip and wool tank top. I had cocooned myself inside my top quilt, emergency blanket and sleeping bag liner, all of which was layered atop my Klymit Insulated Static V sleeping pad. It wasn’t a great night’s sleep due to the snow and wind that blew through the shelter all night, but the Insulated Static V did what I needed it to do when I needed it to do it – it minimized the amount of heat loss between me and the cold shelter floor. With an R value of 4.4, this pad is great for cold sleepers, cold conditions or in my case, both.

Pros:

Set Up and Support. The Insulated Static V is quick to inflate, requiring only 11 deep breaths (YMMV). This is partly due to the unusual V shaped design of the baffles, which maximizes the amount of air over the surface area. The chevron shaped baffles and side rails also make it a very supportive pad for side sleepers, because the air can’t escape to the sides of the mattress no matter which way you turn or bend your knees. I felt comfortable and supported every night.

Durability. The material is a durable 75 Denier grade. It traveled 1300 AT miles of nightly use on varying terrains and survived without a puncture. I also liked that it felt durable, I was never concerned about treating it delicately. When sleeping in shelters I placed the pad directly on the floor without a protective sheet underneath, and it never succumbed to rogue nail heads or splintered wood. Other reviewers have noted different experiences with the durability, but this may be due to the different surfaces it was tested on. The durability also made it easy to wash with a washcloth because I didn’t worry that the pressure required to scrub my sleep-stink out would result in a puncture from some unseen sharp thing beneath it.

Price. The Static Insulated V is an affordable option. The MSRP is $89.95, but can also also be found at REI for $59.95.  

Good gear is multi-use!

Good gear is multi-use!

Cons:

Weight. At 25 oz, this pad is not for gram-counters. I was aware of this when I selected it. It was a weight for warmth trade-off I was willing to make considering the snowy conditions I was expecting. The newer model offers the same R-value at 19.5 ounces for only $5 more.

Break-down Time/Effort. Deflating the pad and rolling it up into the provided sack required several folds and was time consuming. This annoyance became something I dreaded every morning. I could have just stuffed it in my backpack without rolling it into the sack, but at 25 oz I wanted to be mindful of where I packed it in my pack. Apparently it can be deflated and rolled up in 30 seconds, but this was not my experience.

Wear and Tear. The valve also got stuck after a few months, making it difficult to seal after I had inflated it. It was suggested that a rinse with hot water might help, but I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to pull this off without getting water in the pad, so I never tried it.

Summary:

I recommend the Insulated Static V for cold conditions, side sleepers or those looking to satisfy both conditions for under $100.

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From my buddy Blister in the video above

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Comments 1

  • EddieS : Nov 19th

    I was close to pulling the trigger on a quilt (to replace my MH Lamina bag) when I watched your video (was researching the insulated version of my Klymit Static V). Now, I’m not so sure a quilt would work well while shelter/cowboy camping in those conditions where unexpected snow/sleet/freezing fog might get in between the pad and quilt, where it can become warmed, liquefy, and get the sleeper and their clothes wet (vs a bag with a water repellant shell).

    Did you use a quilt, or a bag, and did anyone you encounter have a quilt in those bad conditions, and how did it/they do?

    Reply

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