Long Term Report

Bozeman Mountain Works TorsoLite Sleeping Pad

Date: February 13, 2005

Reviewer Information

Name: Jim Sabiston
Age: 50
Height: 6' 3" (1.9 m)
Weight: 207 lb (94 kg)
Width at shoulders: 21” (53 cm)
Email address: JimSabis(at)aol(dot)com
State: New York
Country: USA

Backpacking Background:

I've been camping since my teens. My outdoor activities include backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and cross country skiing. I have expanded my backpacking to include winter mountaineering, back country skiing and ski backpacking. I have received winter mountaineering training with Chauvin International Climbing Guides. I actively study ways to backpack lighter and more efficiently. During the summer months, my style tends toward very light, but not quite ultralight. I use a hammock or tarp for warm weather, and a small four season tent for winter trips. Most of my other gear is very changeable, as I am constantly experimenting with gear and techniques.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Bozeman Mountain Works
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL: www.bozemanmountainworks.com

Manufacturers Specifications:

Pad Dimensions:
            - Length: 32 in ( 81 cm)
            - Width:  (top) 17 in (43 cm), tapering to 12 in (30.5 cm) at the bottom.
            - Thickness: 1 in (2.5 cm)
            - Weight: 9.9 oz ( 281 g)
Pack Size: 8 in (20 cm) X 4 in (10 cm)
Color: Red top and larix (think a kind of brown/grey) bottom
MSRP : $69.99 US

Pad Dimensions as measured:
            - Length: 31.6 in (80 cm) Note: measured down the center of the pad. The outside dimension of the pad from the top corner to bottom corner, following the taper, is 32 in (81 cm).
            - Width: (top) 17 in (43 cm), tapering to 12 in (30.5 cm) at the bottom.
Thickness: 1 in (2.5 cm)
Weight as measured: 10.4 oz (295 g)
Packed Size: 8.5 in (21.5 cm) X 4 in (10 cm)

Bozeman Mountain Works TorsoLite Sleeping Pad:

The Bozeman Mountain Works TorsoLite Sleeping Pad is intended for ultralight backpackers. It takes the self inflating sleeping pad concept to its barest minimum size in an effort to minimize bulk and weight while maintaining the comfort advantages that make self inflating pads so popular. It is similar to other pads on the market with the very notable exception of its size. The concept behind the pad, in keeping with an important aspect of the ultralight philosophy, is for it to be used as part of a sleeping system. This means that the TorsoLite pad is intended for the user’s upper body (shoulders to buttocks), while the head and legs are cushioned by other items, such as a pack and/or clothing.

Deflating and folding the pad is a breeze and takes a fraction of the time required to stow a full size pad. The separate strap seems handy for keeping the pad tightly wrapped while handling it and really simplifies sliding it into the stuff sack. 

Materials and construction appear to be of excellent quality. For a more detailed description of the TorsoLite, please see my Initial Report.

Cold Weather Field Experience:

Oct. 23-24, 2004
Location: Catskills, NY
Terrain: several miles of bushwhacking through deciduous forest, changing to thick spruce and balsam as we gained altitude, with occasional scrambling over rocky pitches.
Weather: Saturday, Sunny and cool, with temperatures averaging around 45 F (25 C). Sunday dawned in thick fog, with temperatures below 32 F (0 C), as evidenced by the icy skin on our water and the heavy hoar frost gathered in the evergreens.

We were fortunate enough to find a very respectable campsite at about 3400 ft (1036 m), facing east and with an exposed view down into the valley. An old, deteriorated fire ring and convenient cooking rocks were handy.

The TorsoLite pad was put immediately to work as a seat pad in camp. The hard, rocky and uneven ground made the pad all the more welcome. For the most part, I used the pad almost fully inflated and folded in half. This offered the best protection and insulation from the cold, rocky ground. A good bit of the sedimentary stone was exposed and I did not hesitate to use the TorsoLite on these abrasive rocks. The pad proved quite comfortable in this application. The small size, especially when folded, proved advantageous when locating a good spot by the campfire.

Later in the evening, the TorsoLite was moved to my hammock for the night. The hammock in question is a Hennessy Ultralight A-Sym. The hammock is set up with an outer insulating foam pad for cold weather. I wanted to use the TorsoLite pad for an insulating backup if needed, which I did. The pad's small size makes it an easy fit in the hammock, but also makes proper position critical. Fortunately, this proved simple enough, although I found the pad was easier to position outside the sleeping bag, counter to my experience in a tent. This is due to the more restricted maneuverability in the hammock. The pad worked well, keeping my back nice and warm in what appeared to be marginal temperature limits for the hammock setup. I did wake up twice during the night having to adjust the pad's position.

November 14-15, 2004
Location: Harriman State Park, NY
Terrain: Mixed, Deciduous forest with very rocky, hilly trails, including some very steep, rocky ascents and descents.
Weather: A surprise cold snap, a severe cold front came through on Friday night, changing the moderate rain to snow! We found 3 in (8 cm) average accumulation with occasional 6 in (15 cm) patches. The rain had frozen, coating the trees and rocks in clear, hard ice. Saturday daytime temperature hovered around the upper thirties. Saturday night the temperature dropped to 25 F (-4 C). Winds were about 20+ mph (32 km).

In-so-far as the TorsoLite was concerned, this trip was a repeat of the previous bushwhack, with the exception that I also used it as the backpack's suspension pad. We camped on a rocky ledge and the TorsoLite was pulled out of the backpack and put right to work keeping my rear end off the cold, hard rock while cooking dinner and staring for hours into the campfire.

The night proved to be windy and cold and the pad was again put to work as back-up insulation in my hammock, with good results.

November 26-27, 2004
Location: Harriman State Park, NY
Terrain: Mixed, Deciduous forest with very rocky, hilly trails.
Weather: Generally sunny and mild, day temperatures around 45 F (7 C) and night temperatures hovering around freezing.

As I was using a new light weight backpack on this trip, which did not permit me to use the TorsoLite as a pack pad, it traveled rolled up in the pack. It wasn't pulled out until we made camp. Once again, the pad was used to cushion my derriere from the cold hard rock as we whiled away the evening. When I turned in, I slipped the inflated pad down at the foot of the hammock in case I needed the extra insulation later.

December 28-31, 2004
Location: Adirondacks State Park, NY
Terrain: Mixed, Deciduous forest with very rocky, hilly trails.
Weather: Mixed: sunny, snow and even some rain. Day temperatures around 25 F (-4 C) and night temperatures hovering around 16 F (-9 C).

As this was a lightweight winter backpack, I went back to my Osprey Ceres 38 backpack (with the Osprey Daylite accessory for extra volume) and used the TorsoLite as the pack padding to save room in the main pack. This was the only sleeping pad I brought on this trip, which was a bit of a gamble, as I would be sleeping on snow and ice! It was an ideal opportunity to test the thermal qualities of the pad in fairly extreme conditions, however.

We set up camp near a lean-to and the pad was used as a seating platform on the wood floor of the lean-to. It worked quite well in this application, keeping my rear cushy and warm! I found it worked best if I sat on the narrow end with the wide end under my legs, as this permitted some flexibility in positioning my legs. The pad was subjected to various abuses here, including spilled boiling water, ice, bits of gear being tossed about and the occasional flaring match spitting small burning embers. The pad came through it all unscathed.

At night, the TorsoLite was slipped into my sleeping bag which was already set up in the tent. I used my backpack, which was cushioned with my shell jacket, heavy climbing gloves and extra socks to cushion and insulate my legs.

January 29-30, 2005
Location: Harriman State Park, NY
Terrain: Mixed, Deciduous forest with very rocky, hilly trails.
Weather: Generally sunny and mild, day temperatures around 30 F (-1 C) and night temperatures around 20 F (-7 C).

Another lightweight exercise in winter camping, this trip was focused on xc skiing and the lightest possible gear load. Accordingly, the Ceres 38 pack was used and the tent was exchanged for a bivy. We set up camp on the edge of a frozen lake under a stand of large pines. The TorsoLite was used in what has become my routine: as a pack cushion during the day, as a seat during the evening and a sleeping pad inside my sleeping bag at night.

General Long Term Field Observations:

The TorsoLite Pad continues to do yeoman service. I have been able to use it in temperatures well below freezing during several winter trips. This winter has generally been a mild one in my area, and the coldest night spent out to date was about 15 F (-9 C). I found the pad perfectly comfortable at these temperatures. I made a point of using the TorsoLite as the only pad I carried during these trips. I was very interested in seeing how good an insulator the pad was on its own. I’m pleased to report that it did not disappoint. My winter sleeping system is as follows:

- The shelter du jour.: This could be a bivy or a tent, but essentially provides a single layer of waterproof nylon between me and the snow.
- A reflective sheet: My sheet of choice is the Adventure Medical Thermolite Emergency Blanket, as it is very light and reusable. It is also does double duty as an emergency blanket and an additional water resistant wrap for my sleeping bag when in my backpack.
- The TorsoLite Pad: The TorsoLite sleeping pad is inserted into my sleeping bag, where I can most easily adjust its position. Leg insulation is usually provided by my emptied backpack. As I have been using the TorsoLite as the pack padding, I will often leave a fleece layer or other clothing items in the pack to act as minimal insulation.
- Sleeping Bag: Generally I use my down sleeping bag, rated to 0 F for (-18 C) for  winter trips.
- Clothing: The options here vary depending on conditions, but suffice it to say that my active clothing layers double as part of my sleeping system as needed.

This system is simple, lightweight and flexible. In addition to the above, I normally carry either a second self inflating mattress or a Crazy Creek camp chair as an additional upper body layer for extreme cold. As the conditions were not that extreme and I was striving for the lightest possible weight, this latter bit was left home for the test period. The pad has proven to be a perfectly good insulator in the temperatures experienced so far, requiring no extra pad layers. The only time I felt cold through the pad was the first night when I was lying on my side while reading in my tent which was set up in deep snow. I could feel the cold at the pressure points of my hip and shoulder. This only happened on the first night and I suspect it was due to the pad not being fully inflated. I added a bit more air the following day and did not experience the problem again.

Wear and tear has simply not been an issue with the TorsoLite. The pad has received nearly constant use and has proven to be useful in a wide variety of applications. In spite of being repeatedly stuffed into the pad sleeve of my backpack, folded and dragged over innumerable rocks to protect and warm my rear end and, of course, regular duty as a sleeping pad, the TorsoLite shows virtually no significant wear outside of some predictable scuffs and stains. The air valve remains tight and does not leak.

Testing to Destruction:

My Field Report opened this section with the following:

 ”Another title for this section could be "When Did Bozeman Decide To Play Dirty Tricks On Gear Testers?". I am supposed to test this pad to failure. The pad is NOT cooperating. I have tried to come up with creative uses for the pad, some of which are bordering on abusive. I site the canoe/kayak seat and backpack pad as examples. As a seat in my canoe or kayak, the TorsoLite is compressed under my not-so-light derriere for long hours at a time in a very dynamic environment. The pad is subject to constant movement, as well as water and abrasive dirt and sand. As a pad for my backpack, the TorsoLite is forcibly folded and crammed into a tight sleeve for hours, subject to all the rigors experienced by my pack.

At this point, aside from some minor scuffing, the pad looks like it will continue to take all this punishment in stride. In order to test the effectiveness of the repair kit, I may have to cut the pad intentionally. I've come to like this pad quite a bit and will not enjoy doing this. I will try to come up with some other creative uses and try to beat this thing into submission naturally before I resort to cutting it.”

And so it has come to pass. The TorsoLite took everything that I could throw at it under the guise of ‘normal’ use and took it all in stride. In desperation, I finally decided to cut the pad. Let me make it clear that I really did not want to do this. I really like this pad and it was difficult to bring myself to intentionally damage it. But, as it was a requirement, one night I took a deep breath and poked my knife point into the pad, cutting a hole about ½ in (13 mm) near the center of the pad.

A repair kit was provided with the TorsoLite. The kit contained simple instructions, a small metal tube of glue and two swatches of color matched repair panels. The patches appear to be made of the same material as the TorsoLite and the color match and diamond ripstop pattern are a perfect match to the pad. Following the provided instructions, I patched the cut. I applied a generous coating of glue, making sure I obtained a good coating for the best seal. I waited 24 hours before re-inflating the pad (the instructions say to wait a minimum of 30 minutes). The patch seemed to hold.

Unfortunately, it did not hold for long. I picked the spot to make the cut at random, but it turned out that it fell near the crease line made when the pad was folded and stuffed into the pad sleeve of my backpack. No stressing of the patch was apparent when I took the pad out of the pack sleeve. No problem was evident until about 3:00 am during a night when I was sleeping in my bivy in the snow. My back was getting cold. A quick check of the pad indicated that it had deflated.

Once home, I did the traditional leak test by inflating the pad and applying a little soapy water around the patch. Sure enough, air was slowly leaking out at several points all around the patch. It just did not hold well at all. I will have to play with the patching process a bit in an effort to save the pad, but this is not an encouraging start.

Summary:

Likes:

1 – Light weight.
2 – Small pack size.
3 – Good insulator.
4 – Tough, rugged construction.

Dislikes:

1 – Small size requires careful thought in use. Of course, this is inherent in the small design.
2 – The patch kit did not work. The good news is that the pad is so tough that the kit is unlikely to be needed.

The TorsoLite is small, light, comfortable and rugged. I have been able to integrate it into my light weight kit very easily. The small size brings many advantages to the table and proved to be surprisingly easy to adapt to for sleeping. The pad has become a permanent part of my backpacking kit and has year-round applications in the field.

It is so small and portable when rolled, that I have made it a part of my emergency kit for winter dayhikes, along with a bivy. For about 2 lb (.9 kg) I can carry a complete cold weather emergency shelter.

The TorsoLite has proven to be a rugged little workhorse and receives nearly constant use. This little sleeping pad is a real winner.