There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
I started section hiking the AT with an Exped UL Synmat 7M. A a 72 x 20.5 rectangle with r3.3, 2.8” loft, weighing (ugh) 16.9oz. The r factor has been perfect for three season backpacking. I'm a side sleeper and that 3" loft was great. the side baffles are a tad higher than the others, creating a cradle effect.
I love it, but I didn't need the length, and am always looking for ways to reduce weight between sections. I bit the bullet and bought a short neoair xlite. God I hate that pad! With that skinny tapered form, there's just no way to get in a fetal position without feeling like I'm constantly trying to maintain my balance.
So I went back to my Exped for my last few sections. I'm leaving in Sept for an LT E2E, and would love to pare several more ounces off my pack.
I like to consider dollars per ounce of weight reduction when replacing gear for weight reduction. I've come to the conclusion that $25/oz is pretty normal, and anything made of cf is $50/oz. Exped makes some lighter, shorter, 2.5" pads in the 13oz range, but at $45/oz!
So I see the Klymet Static V Junior with a 23" width, 50.4" length, and 2.5" loft, at 13 oz, with a design that cradles the sleeper, and I think I've found the perfect summer pad for side sleepers. And at only $11.50/oz weight reduction!
Now, I hear you talking about making a shorter version of this pad, and I am tuned in! Perhaps getting it down to 11-12 ozs? I'd prefer it to be shaped like the current Jr. More rectangular than tapered ...
Keep rockin' L.Dog