Long Term Report

Bozeman Mountain Works TorsoLite Sleeping Pad Long Term Report

Personal Information:
Name: Christine Korhonen
Age: 31
Gender: female
Height: 5'4" (1.6 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
E-mail: chris@wormguy.com
Location: Western Montana
Date: February 12, 2004

Backpacking Background:
I'm in Montana where I'm enjoying the summers and becoming re-acquainted with winter. I'm a lightweight backpacker mentally, if not always in practice. My summer pack weight is around 19 lb (9 kg) with a tent, but winter backpacking is still new to me, and my winter pack weight hovers around 25 lb (11 kg).

Product Information:
Designer: Bozeman Mountain Works (BMW)
Item: TorsoLite
Model Year: 2004
URL: www.bozemanmountainworks.com
MSRP: US $69.99
Color: Red/Grey
R-value: 3.0-4.0
Dimensions: 17" x 32" x 1" (43 cm x 81 cm x 2.5 cm)
Listed Weight: 9.9 oz (281 g)
Measured Weight: 10.4 oz (295 g)

TorsoLite Description:
The TorsoLite is a short, self-inflating sleeping pad designed to cushion only the shoulders and hips.

Field Information:
I tested the TorsoLite in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, California, and New Zealand in temperatures from 25 F to 70 F (-4 C to 21 C) and at elevations up to 7500' (2300 m).

Experience with the TorsoLite:
The best thing about the TorsoLite is I can finally sleep in a comfortable position in the backcountry. With a full-length, or even a three-quarter sleeping pad, I try to keep my shoulders, hips, knees and ankles in a straight line to keep them on the long pad. Since I sleep on my side, this is a challenge. There's always some part hanging off. With the TorsoLite comes freedom, Even in my narrow, one-person tent, I can turn the pad to stay under my shoulders and hips, no mater what angle they happen to take. I can curl up in a ball and not have to worry about falling off the pad. My pack supports my feet and ankles. My knees are supported by extra clothes.

TorsoLite in Winter:
In temperatures above 40 F (4 C) the TorsoLite worked fine on its own. Any lower than this and I started feeling a chill coming up from the ground. I tried the TorsoLite in combination with an Insul-Mat Max Mtn Women's pad and a blue foam pad from Wal-Mart, each at temperatures down to 25 F (-4 C). I didn't use any additional non-slip material between the TorsoLite and the long pads, and on both pads I had problems with the TorsoLite sliding off. I've become spoiled by my ability to curl up on the TorsoLite, so when I was on the longer pad, I curled up into a ball and pushed the TorsoLite off. I could feel the TorsoLite beneath me, but it was difficult to tell if the TorsoLite was on the long pad or not. Without getting up and feeling with my hands, the only way I could tell was when I started feeing the cold creeping up. In the winter I'll stick with a winter pad and leave the TorsoLite at home.

Use in a Pack:
During the long term testing, I started using my internal frame pack. I stowed the TorsoLite rolled up, held in place with the Velcro strap. This strap is twice as long as it needs to be for this small pad and had to be wrapped around it several times. Still, I'm amazed at how little space the TorsoLite takes up. It's nice to have that extra room for other gear.

Inflating/Deflating:
The TorsoLite is small and easy to inflate and deflate. The valve is made of hard plastic. This plastic valve is light but doesn't feel as sturdy as a plastic-coated brass valve. The valve works and doesn't show much wear, but it does allow some air to escape when I'm inflating the pad. Since the TorsoLite is so small I can inflate it in one or two breaths. Sometimes I feel that I can't get the pad as highly inflated as I'd like because air escapes between the time when I've stopped blowing and finished tightening the valve.

Wear:
The TorsoLite has held up very well so far. The valve works smoothly, the seams are intact, and the material doesn’t show signs of wear. There are a couple of dark spots on the top of the pad which I think is ground-in dirt, but it's not falling apart.

Overall:
Overall, I really like this pad and will continue to use it in the summer. It's small, lightweight, and comfortable, and that's what I'm looking for in a sleeping pad.

Likes:
Freedom to sleep out of a straight line.
Tiny when packed.
Quick to inflate.

Limitations:
I'll use another pad in winter.
Velcro storage strap is too long.

Read more reviews of Bozeman Mountain Works gear
Read more gear reviews by Christine Korhonen

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Bozeman Mountain Works TorsoLite > Christine Korhonen > Long Term Report

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