UL Pad 15 (10mm)

¥3,520 (S) / ¥5,500 (L) / ¥6,160 (XL) Tax included

Introduction

Ultra Light Sleeping Pad

Made of XLPE foam, which has very high insulation properties and is extremely light. This is an original of the UL Pad series, which requires some care when handling. But if used with care, it is perhaps the lightest pad you will ever find.

– It is less than 1/3 of the weight of a conventional lightweight sleeping pad
– Made of XLPE foam with high insulation properties
– Nonabsorbent material to keep water out
– Made without chemical foaming agents to reduce pollution

  • UL Pad 15S 100cm−75g

  • UL Pad 15L 175cm-131g

  • UL Pad 15XL 200cm-150g

    • UL Pad 15S 100cm−75g

    • UL Pad 15L 175cm-131g

    • UL Pad 15XL 200cm-150g

      SPECIFICATIONS

      Material:
      XLPE Foam
      Weight:
      75g (S)
      131g (L)
      150g (XL)
      Size:
      100cm x 50cm x 1cm (S)
      175cm x 50cm x 1cm (L)
      200cm x 50cm x 1cm (XL)

      Product Story

      Akira Natsume, Yamatomichi Founder

      The UL Pad 15 was actually our very first product back in 2011.

      When I and my wife, Yumiko were working on the prototype of a backpack before we officially launched the company, we were looking for a good quality core material that was as light as possible to use for the back padding and shoulder straps. However, few companies were willing to listen to us because nobody knew us.

      That’s when we found a material which we thought was perfect. When we contacted the company selling it, the person in charge was a thru-hiker of the John Muir Trail, which we had also walked, and he was the only one who listened to us. Thanks to him we were able to test a variety of materials, one of which was XLPE foam, the material used in the UL Pad.

      Experienced once in a decade heavy snowfall in Yakushima.

      In the winter of that year, I went to Yakushima with a friend to test a prototype backpack. That day, it was snowing hard for the first time in 10 years on the island, so the hike didn’t go as initially planned and we had to bivouac in the snow.

      It was so cold that I couldn’t believe we were in Yakushima. I was searching through my bag for something to keep me warm, and I noticed the XLPE foam that I had inserted in my backpack as a back pad. I put it on my back and it was unexpectedly warm, allowing me to sleep without worrying about the cold.

      XLPE foam is extremely light and warm. Inflatable air pads and down pads for use in the snow are expensive and hard to come by, but this material is reasonably priced, and if it’s cold, it’s not too heavy to take two of them with you. In the old days you could cut off the ends of a closed cell pad and be happy that it was a bit lighter. With this material, the weight could be reduced to about 1/3 of the weight of sleeping pads that were previously considered lightweight. I knew I had to commercialize it as a sleeping pad right away.

      As it turned out, XLPE foam was not a good core material for a backpack, but if I hadn’t been cold in the snow that day, I wouldn’t have decided to use it as a sleeping pad.

      Even though it is not very durable because it’s so light, I’ve been using the same UL Pad 15 for over 5 years now. The edges are tattered and the torn parts are repaired with tape, but that I like it this way.

      Read More

      Material

      The UL Pad 15 is made of highly insulating XLPE foam, which is also often used as a thermal insulator.

      XLPE foam is a non-absorbent closed-cell foam that does not let water penetrate when placed on snow or wet ground (water can however seep onto the surface of the material). It is also an environmentally friendly material because it does not contain chemical foaming agents.

      • The picture on the left shows the surface of the UL Pad 15 and on the right the surface of the UL Pad 15+. The material is the same, but the texture is different due to the surface finish.

      • Comparison of the thickness of the UL Pad series. From the top, Minimalist Pad (5mm), UL Pad 15 (10mm) and UL Pad 15+ (13mm).

        • The picture on the left shows the surface of the UL Pad 15 and on the right the surface of the UL Pad 15+. The material is the same, but the texture is different due to the surface finish.

        • Comparison of the thickness of the UL Pad series. From the top, Minimalist Pad (5mm), UL Pad 15 (10mm) and UL Pad 15+ (13mm).

          Sizes

          The UL Pad 15 is available in three sizes: 100cm, 175cm and 200cm.

          The widths are all set at 50 cm, but you can cut them down if needed.

          For example, if the 200cm is too long for you, you can cut off 30cm and use the cutoff as a back pad for your backpack, as a cushion for resting, or as an extra pad to wrap around your waist when you get cold.

          *The UL Pad can be easily cut with an ordinary box cutter. When cutting, please press down firmly with a ruler and cut through in one go.

          Weight comparison

          We have compared the weight of the UL Pad 15 with other sleeping pads (data is as of September 1, 2017).

          Comparison of the weight of the UL Pad 15 S with other sleeping pads (120cm class)

          Comparison of the weight of the UL Pad 15 L with other sleeping pads (180cm class)

          Please Note

          Due to its ultra-light weight, please be careful that the pad is not blown away.

          – The UL Pad 15 prioritizes lightness over cushioning and durability.
          – Since there is no surface treatment the surface is easily scratched and the pad may be damaged if excessive force is applied.
          – To avoid unnecessary damage, please handle with care and choose a flat surface when sleeping. Avoid rocks and sharp surfaces when possible.
          – For those who value cushioning and durability, please consider the UL Pad 15+, which is embossed.
          – The material is anti-slippery, so it is easy to apply excessive force when using it as a frame for a backpack. Handle with care.
          – If you pull or push it too hard, it is likely to get damaged.
          – Scratches and signs of use will remain on the surface of the material.
          – Please consider using this pad in combination with other pads (layering) in snowy mountains.
          – Lay it inside your sleeping bag for extra warmth.

          Payment

          • We only accept payment by credit card. We currently do not accept payment via bank transfer from overseas accounts.
          • We accept the following Credit Cards: Visa, Master, American Express, and JCB.
          • To download your receipt, please click the link included in the Dispatch Notice, which we will send by email as soon as the items are dispatched.

          Delivery

          • Order Confirmation will be sent after the order.
          • The items will be dispatched within 3 days after the payment is confirmed.
          • The dispatch notice will be sent by email as soon as the items are dispatched.
          • The delivery may be delayed by unforeseeable reasons such as natural disasters and other logistics issues. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
          • We cannot ship multiple orders in one package due to how our delivery system is currently set up.
          • We will ship to regions in North America, Oceania, and Europe (excluding Russia) via DHL. For regions in Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, Africa, and Russia, we use EMS (International Express Mail Service) for shipping.
          • Shipping fees and delivery times vary depending on the shipping destination as well as the size and weight of the items.
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