TreeLineBackpacker

The Kelty PDa Sleeping pad is a minimalist, inflatable, uninsulated sleeping pad that serves as part of the Kelty Trail Logic Collection. The pad weighs 14.5 ounces, and specs out at  2″ thick, and 72″ x 20″ at it’s widest length and width. The kit includes the pad itself, carrying pack, and a glue free repair kit. The pad retails for around 70 bucks.

Upon initial inspection, I was skeptical that the pad would actually be able to offer the comfort and good night sleep that I’m used to. So, I decided to put it to the test. Pitching my tent upon rough, lumpy, rooty ground high upon “old butt knob”, I would risk a nights sleep for the sake of validity. I refused to clear the ground of sticks and debris, just for good merit. Let’s see how this pad stacks up.

What I liked

Blissfully unaware of the punge pit of debris that lie beneath me, I managed one of the best nights sleep in the back country I had in months. Sitting at over 5000 feet above the Shinning Rock Wilderness, listening to the whistling wind lull to me sleep, I faded away for a solid 9 hours with only the occasional roll. I woke refreshed, and anxious to hit the trail.

The pad has a firm feel when inflated fully, evenly distributing the weight of your body across the vertical baffles. The baffles create fairly large baps between the vertical air chambers, creating a pocket for your sleeping bag to loft into, providing some under body warmth. The pad inflates quick, with about 7 strong breaths.

The pad includes a very small stuff sack at 1.5″ x 6 inches x 8″ (rectangle), and the pad is quite easy to get back into the tiny stuff cube. The pad vanishes into your pack, taking up absolute minimal space, and deflates quickly. The pad itself feels quite durable, much more so than most pads I’ve tested in this weight range. The pad was plenty wide and long enough for me to stay on the pad, even while sleeping on my stomach. Quite notably, the pad was very quiet while rolling around in the night.

What I didn’t like

The pad requires a somewhat stiff inflation to perform at it’s best.  The pad is two inches thick, while I found this to be quite sufficient, some side sleepers may want something a bit thicker if they plan to partially deflate the pad for a softer feel. Those who don’t like a firm sleep may want to consider other options. Not really a con, but uninsulated pads can generally only be used at above 35 degrees.

Overall

I was pleasantly impressed with how well I slept on the PDa pad from Kelty. I managed one of the best nights sleep I’ve ever had in the backcountry, despite it’s thin profile and lack of insulation. The pad is light, packs up tiny, and offers a durable feel that surpasses others in the weight class. It’s a great addition to the Ketly Trail Logic system, or even a good standalone pad. Especially if you’re looking for a budget pad that won’t skimp on comfort or sacrifice pack space.

Recommended.

Thanks to the manufacturer for providing this product. For full disclosure, see our about me page.