When you’re scouring the internet and local gear shops for a new sleeping pad for backpacking and camping, there are certain factors you’ll be used to looking out for. Obviously, R-value is a major element since that determines how warm you’ll be and therefore how comfortable (or not) a night you’ll have. Then there are other considerations like how wide it is (useful if you’re broad or a side sleeper) and even how long your mat is. If you’re an extra tall hiker, you’ll probably automatically search for an extra long mat. But who are these 3/4 length sleeping pads for? Extra short hikers?
I was quite surprised to discover 3/4 length sleeping pads – also known as short length sleeping pads – when I was on a backpacking trip in the Rockies years back. Four of us had spent a few hours hiking six steep miles into the backcountry and were just setting up camp next to pristine Lake Constantine near Vail when I noticed my friend Luke appeared to have brought a child’s sleeping pad. This seemed odd, in part because he’s at least 5’ 10” tall and mostly because he doesn’t have any children.
