The Klymit Static V2 inflatable sleeping pad offers one of the best lightweight backpacking pad experiences for your money. In fact, if you’re on a tight budget, it’s the best deal going in 2016: At around $60, the Static V2 weighs barely over one pound (16.33 oz) yet offers 2.5 inches of cushion in a roomy pad that’s 23 inches wide and 72 inches long.
The quality is great, too, giving it a cost-to-value edge that makes it an easy recommendation for most backpackers — and a no-brainer for beginning backpackers trying to gear up.
The Klymit Static V2 Review: Design
While most other lightweight inflatable sleeping pads use a flatter or more cylindrical cushion design, the Static V2 has a lot of innovative shape built into it. First, the center portion of the pad has a “V” shape while the outer edges are a bunch of little squares that form a side rail of sorts. The effect? Excellent cushion and stability.
The fabric is flexible and slightly thicker on the bottom than the top. But how does it sound? While some inflatable sleeping pads are intolerably noisy as you move around on top of them inside your tent . . . the Static V2 is pretty quiet.
The Static V2 packs down to smaller than a typical water bottle and comes with an included patch kit. Incidentally, for easy packing, I recommend that you lay it out flat inside your tent then push out nearly all the air with your hands and forearms, moving from the bottom up to the valve. When most of the air is out, fold it lengthwise until it’s about eight inches wide. Then roll it up, pushing out any additional air as you go. It’s not a difficult technique by any means, but it’s not quite as easy as some other pads that have simpler designs.
Klymit Static V2 vs Big Agnes Double Z vs Therm-a-Rest NeoAir
So why is the Static V2 such a great value? First, it does the job well, offering a great-feeling pad with plenty of cushion. Better yet, it’s 3 inches wider than the standard 20-inch regular widths found in most other pads, including the excellent Big Agnes Double Z or Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Trekker air mattresses.
While the Big Agnes Double Z is much thicker — it’s 4 inches — the regular size is 20″ x 72″. That’s the same length as the Static V2, but if you’re a big guy, balancing your shoulders on just 20 inches requires a certain amount of attention, even with the internal stabilizers. If you move around a lot or are a bigger guy, the long and wide version (25″ x 78″) gives you an air mattress of utter joy . . . but your cost will extend past $100 and the weight leaps to 27 ounces. The Double Z remains a great backpacking sleeping pad, but the cost and weight start to be a factor of consideration in the larger size.
And what about the NeoAir Trekker? While the NeoAir Trekker is also an excellent pad, it shares the same 20″ x 72″ standard footprint. The regular size is generally over $100 and the large usually flirts with $140 or so. Again, any of these pads will make most backpackers insanely happy, but the cost-to-value ratio of the Klymit Static V2 is just insanely great — especially if three extra inches of width is important to you.
Oh, one more thing: For just 26.5 ounces, you could choose the Static V Luxe, which is 3 inches thick and a whopping 30″ x 76″. Its list price is just under $90, and I often see it for less. Again, a freakishly great value.
Inflatable Backpacking Sleeping Pads 2016
All-in-all, the well-known backpacking equipment brands like Big Agnes and Therm-a-Rest produce excellent ultralight inflatable air mattresses, no doubt about it. And there are other lightweight mattresses that are really good these days, but if you’re on a budget, I have to recommend the Klymit Static V2 — it’s just a damn good overall size and weight for your money. And hey, I like the V design, too — it looks odd, but feels great.
Get the Backpacking Gear:
- Klymit Static V2 at Amazon . . . also available direct from Klymit
- Klymit Insulated Static V at Amazon . . . or direct from Klymit
- Klymit Static V Luxe at Amazon . . . or direct from Klymit
Want something even much lighter?
Read the Man Makes Fire review of the Kymit Inertia X Frame Ultralight 9 oz Sleeping Pad. Alternately, check out our guide, How to Choose an Ultralight Backpacking Sleeping Pad.
Looking for great backpacking gift ideas? Check out our 35 Best Gifts for Backpackers guide.
