I was contemplating cutting my 3/8" blue foam pad into sections to facilitate packing. Similar in concept to the Zlite but with wider panels. Anybody try this and can advise how to do it? How would you reconnect the pieces in the field?

you might want to try a pad from suluk46, they have pad sheets designed to use as a frame that are pre-scored to fold for use as a framesheet. i have on that works quite well, and the insulation value is very good.

Looks like suluk46 is using some sort of heated gizmo to score their pads (good site too http://www.suluk46.com/products%20%20-%20P4%20PF%20Sheet.html).

Blue foam pads have always been a pain-- cheap and light, but need to be rolled up and stashed vertically on the side or horizontally on the top or bottom of my pack.

My first thought when reading you post was to make angled \\ cuts and duct tape them together on one side. You might find a fabric and glue combination that will hold up to folding and then sleeping on without coming apart-- basically making your own tape with a strong adhesive. Maybe Barge Cement and coated pack cloth? Applying cloth or tape to both sides with require a double cut v-groove >< so the foam comes to a point and would allow the tape to flex without pulling the fabric loose when folded. That would make some valleys in the pad, hopefully avoiding your hips and other major pressure point.

If you know someone with a cutter for making mats for framing art, you could do really precise angled cuts in the foam. See http://www.xacto.com/Product/X7747 (or Google "mat cutter") for a simple cheap one-- add straight edge and keep your fingers out of the way :)

You might be able to come up with a way to use heat as suluk46 does with the Plastazote. Maybe a heated aluminum angle from Home Depot? Blowtorch, gloves, just the right pressure....? I could see disasters too! The question being, how many times will it flex without failing? I would go the v-groove/fabric/glue route myself.

So far I'm thinking straight transverse cuts, Gorilla tape to reinforce corners, loop of string through holes with a sliding knot to tie the corners together. Of course with any experiment, will all this be worth it in the end?

My thoughts (assuming you are using this as a virtual frame):
Suluk46 pre-scored pad
GossamerGear NightLight Torso pad

Or you could get a Thermarest Z-lite, and cut off the sections you don't need.

I think anyone of these pads would be more durable than the blue foam -- cuts tend to tear when flexed...

Dennis:

In my younger days, I used a full-length foam pad -- cut into two pieces:

1. 60" x 20" - main section
2. 12" x 20" - foot section (also seat pad and wind screen)

A brand new piece of blue foam does look unwieldy, but it really isn't. I like to fold them flat and slip them into my backpack -- flat against the pack's back -- then pack everything else in. This makes for an excellent, multi-layer "frame" for my frameless pack -- much, much stiffer (better) than putting the pad in as a circle.

If you like the idea, then do this:

1. Carefully fold the main pad length wise (60" x 10" x 2 layers)
2. Then fold into thirds (20" x 10" x 6 layers).
3. Then have all the corners aligned nicely and weigh the thing down totally flat for 24 hours with heavy books (encyclopedias and dictionaries are perfect).

Now, your foam pad will "remember" this folded position -- making future foldings a snap! To pack, simply fold the main pad as above -- add the foot section -- and slide both into your backpack, flat against the back. Efficient space wise -- and turns any frameless pack into a wonderful load carrier. :)

Finally, feel free to add velcro strips to the two sections for easy connecting at night.

Edited by ben2world on 05/23/2010 14:51:54 MDT.

Ben,

Thanks, this sounds like the simplest solution. I wasn't aware that the foam folded that well. I also like the sit pad/windscreen multiuse option. I may add that if one doesn't mind having one's feet unpadded then use the small piece rolled up as a pillow too.