Klymit Inertia X Frame Review – The Most Compact Camping Pad In The World
Klymit Inertia X Frame Overview
Klymit Inertia X Frame when rolled up is about the size of a soda can. Yes, you heard me right, a soda can. That is the beauty of the Inertia X Frame, it is the most compact sleeping pad in the world.
Unsurprisingly the pad was designed for backpackers in mind. At 9.1 ounces, this backpacking pad is ideal for anyone who is trying to cut out weight and limit storage size from their hiking pack.
If you are an avid backpacker then I don’t need to explain to you how important it is to have the most lightweight pack possible on long excursions. It quickly becomes much more important to have a lightweight pad than a super comfortable one.
How Does the Inertia X Frame Work?
The Inertia X Frame uses “bodymapping” to determine the points of contact between your body and the sleeping pad. These points of contact include your head, shoulders, waist, calves, and feet. Because your body is only touching these areas while lying down, this means other parts of the backpacking pad can be removed.
However, removing other areas of this light-weight camping pad has another purpose as well. By creating air pockets between the body and the ground, this provides the same amount of insulation as a conventional sleeping pad. Klymit calls this “Loft Pocket” technology.
Another very unique aspect of this sleeping pad is that it is designed to actually go inside of your sleeping bag instead of below it. This doesn’t mean that you can’t put the sleeping pad below your bag but we found that it is difficult to stay on top of the pad the way that the pad is designed without having the pad in your bag.
How to Setup the Klymit Inertia X Frame
Here is how to setup this camping pad the right way, step by step:
- Remove pad from the carrying case.
- Completely unroll the pad on the ground.
- Connect hand pump to the pad’s fill hole (located at the head of the pad) and squeeze pump repeatedly until pad is full and firm. Alternatively you can put your mouth to the fill hole and blow it up using your lungs. Using your lungs is the faster method and will take about 3-5 blows to completely fill the pad.
- Once pad is full, insert the inertia x frame in to your sleeping bag. Note: The end of the inertia x frame with the most padding is designed to support your head.
- That’s it. It’s that easy!
How Effective Is this Camping Pad?
The Klymit Inertia X Frame is very effective at what it is designed to do which is to provide backpackers with an extremely light-weight and compact camping pad that helps insulate them from the ground. Just saving 1 pound can make a lot of difference on long hikes.
In regards to how well it insulates, it definitely gets the job done for those summer camping trips but there are warmer sleeping pads on the market.
Overall Review
The Klymit Inertia X Frame is definitely a highly specialized pad. It isn’t going to be for everyone and appeals to a specific market but if you are looking for a camping pad that is going to take up the smallest amount of room possible in your backpack as well as pounds off your back, then the Inertia X Frame is the right pad for you.
In contrast, if you are just going camping, not on a long hike, I would recommend a different pad. This sleeping pad is minimalist in design and as such, won’t be the most comfortable pad you can find.
Something you must also consider is that Klymit’s “body mapping” is based on someone of average height (5ft 10 inches). Meaning that if you are much shorter or taller than 5ft 10 inches, this pad isn’t going to work for you because the pressure points on the pad aren’t going to properly map to your body.
Besides being a specific height, the pad is also only 18 inches wide so if you have a wide body frame then this pad may not fit your body shape properly.
Body mapping is also better suited for those who sleep on their back. Sleeping on your side won’t map quite as well and sleeping on your belly would be very uncomfortable and not work as designed.
Because the pad is designed to go inside of your sleeping bag, you will be sleeping on it directly which likely won’t feel as comfortable. The material is made of 75D polyester which is a very durable material but won’t be the most comfortable material to sleep on.
In addition, while their “loft pocket” technology definitely insulates the body from the ground, I wouldn’t recommend using this pad on cold winter nights. Simply put there are warmer pads available that offer more insulation than the Klymit Inertia X Frame.
Since the pad does what it is designed to do, we are going to give this pad an A+ rating!
However, keep in mind that this is a specialty pad so there are some definite pros and cons to consider before you purchase this product.
Here is the breakdown of the pros and cons.
Pros of the X Frame
- Only weighs 9.1 ounces (very light weight).
- Very compact – approximately the size of a soda can when placed in carrying case.
- Pad blows up very quickly (approximately 3-5 breathes).
- Pad inserts in to sleeping bag so you won’t fall off of pad.
- Very durable (made of 75D polyester)
Cons of the X Frame
- May be a little uncomfortable (you sleep directly on the pad).
- May not be as warm as a sleeping pad that goes under your sleeping bag instead of inside it.
- May not fit your body size (body mapping is specific to the average body size which is approximately someone 5 ft 10 inches tall).
- The pad is 18 inches wide which won’t be wide enough for some body types.
- Works better for people who sleep on their back.
- May be considered to be a little expensive for a sleeping pad.