Folding Accordion Sleeping Pad — Military and Hiking

Folding Sleeping Pad: A Compact Mat for the Field and the Trail

A folding sleeping pad collapses accordion-style from separate sections, so it never needs rolling up. Soldiers, hunters and hikers choose this format when they want a mat that unfolds fast on the ground, takes little room in a backpack. A military pad of this type works fully unfolded for lying down or partly unfolded as a seat at a rest stop or observation post.

How an Accordion Pad Folds and Is Carried

The sections are joined in alternation, so the pad folds into a stack in seconds. You do not have to unfold it completely: two or three sections already give you a place to sit, while the rest stays folded. This is the main advantage over a roll-up pad, which has to be unrolled in full.

When folded, the pad is secured with a strap and a side-release buckle. Make sure the buckle is adjustable, so you can tighten the strap and the stack will not fall apart on the move. For example, the 9-section coyote model is held by two side-release buckles on a reinforced strap. A carrying handle lets you carry the pad separately from your backpack or detach it quickly.

How Many Sections to Choose

The number of sections determines the length when unfolded and the volume when folded. The 6-section pad, 180×70 cm, with 10 mm PE foam (izolon) in rubberized Oxford 600D, is made for lying at full length. The 9-section pad has a 10 mm EVA layer and 10 mm foam in Oxford 320 g/m² fabric with a polyurethane coating.

If you mainly need a mat to sit or lie on at a position rather than sleep overnight, consider a shorter option: the 4-section pad in olive Cordura 1000D takes up less space and attaches to gear more easily.

Fabric, Attachment and Color

A cover made of dense fabric protects the filling from rubbing against rocks and branches. The Cordura 1000D model has MOLLE attachment. Choose the color to match the camouflage of your other gear: olive, pixel, multicam, coyote or black. For other formats, such as inflatable mats and seat pads, see the category sleeping pads for hiking and sitting.

FAQ

Can I unfold only some of the sections?

Yes, that is the main convenience of the accordion design. Unfold as many sections as you need for sitting and leave the rest folded under you or beside you.

How do I attach a folding pad to a backpack?

The simplest way is with straps and side-release buckles or the backpack's own straps over the folded stack. The 4-section model also has MOLLE attachment.