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Nemo

Nemo Switchback Ultralight Foam Sleeping Pad (Regular)

Where it fits

Also works for
Backpacking and wild camping
Not for
Bikepacking, Winter mountain
Why these labels
  • Backpacking and wild camping: Light to carry: 0.4 kg
  • Bikepacking: Bulky for bike bags: packs to 9.3 litres
  • Winter mountain: R-value 2: too little insulation on frozen ground

From the maker's stated use and the published specs.

Mid Confidence: Medium
  • Summer wild camp: 4/10 UK, roughly May to September, nights above about 8 °C, sheltered pitches.
  • Three-season hills: 4/10 UK hills in spring and autumn. Wind, rain, and nights near freezing. Below this trip's minimum: needs warmth 5+ (R 3 or more).
  • Winter camp: 4/10 UK winter or high ground. Below freezing, strong wind, possibly snow. Below this trip's minimum: needs warmth 7+ (R 4 or more).
  • Weight: 8/10 How much it adds to your pack, compared with the whole market.

R-value 2 (ASTM).

Lowest price we found

£44.96 at Alpinetrek

In stock. Checked 8 Nov 2026.

RRP £59.99, checked 19 Oct 2026.

Go to Alpinetrek Compare 3 shops

Cheap, fuss-free summer wild camps and bothy trips

Valve
no valve
Type
Foam
R-value
2 (ASTM)
Weight
415 g (Regular)
Thickness
2.3 cm
Size
183 x 51 cm
Packed size 9.3 L, 51 x 14 x 13 cm Compare with a 2-litre bottle

About one and a half 2-litre bottles long and a bit wider than one. Drawn to scale.

Where to buy

Alpinetrek £44.96 In stock. Regular size, price includes duties and taxes; free UK delivery from £85, cost under £85 shown at checkout.

View at shop

Ultralight Outdoor Gear £54.99 In stock. Free delivery. RRP £59.99 on its page; free UK delivery over £15.

View at shop

Tiso £59 In stock. Regular (415 g); delivery cost shown at checkout.

View at shop

Prices checked 8 Nov 2026 on each shop's own page; shops can change them. We earn no commission on these links; shops are listed by price. More

Our ratings (out of 10)

1 to 10, compared with the whole market. Each says what it's based on. How we score

Warmth

From maker's figures 3/10

How well it stops the cold ground chilling you. 3: Below average. Fine for some trips, not others.

Nemo's R-value of 2.0 is marked 'ASTM F3340-18' in the R-value graphic on its product page, in the R 2 to 2.9 band: summer and mild nights alone, or a layer under an air mat in winter.

Thickness

From maker's figures 2/10

How deep it is. Deeper is comfier, above all for side sleepers. 2: A weak point.

2.3 cm thick.

Quietness

Estimate from maker's specs: foam mats make no noise 8/10

How little it crinkles or squeaks when you turn over. 8: Clearly better than most.

A foam mat makes no noise when you turn over.

Weight

From maker's figures 8/10

How much it adds to your pack. 8: Clearly better than most.

Nemo gives 415 g (OutdoorGearLab weighed 411 g), in the 400 to 549 g band.

Packed size

From maker's figures 1/10

How much room it takes in or on your rucksack. 1: A real weak point.

A folded block 51 x 13 x 14 cm is about 9.3 L (OutdoorGearLab measured 9.0 L), over the 7 L line. It does not squash, so it usually goes outside the rucksack.

What reviewers say (out of 10)

Ratings marked * are from reviews and are not part of the trip score. They are reviewers' scores, not our own measurements. How we score

Comfort*

Reviewers' average 5/10

How comfy it is, including for side sleepers.

6 reviews on comfort, e.g. "a well-engineered and very comfortable closed-cell foam sleeping pad".

Reviewers disagree on this.

Stability*

Estimate: only 1 review about stability (fewer than the 3 we need, so never above 8) 8/10

How well you stay on it without rolling off or bouncing.

1 review on stability, e.g. "stayed in place better at night in both the tent and the hammock.".

In short

Good for

  • Cheap, fuss-free summer wild camps and bothy trips
  • A foam layer under an air mat to add about R 2 in winter and protect it from sharp ground
  • Walkers hard on kit who do not want to worry about punctures

Strengths

  • Cannot puncture or leak, and sets up in seconds
  • Hexagonal node pattern is more comfortable than a flat foam roll (Section Hiker, OutdoorGearLab)
  • R 2.0 adds with another mat: pair it with an air mat of R 4 for about R 6
  • Doubles as a sit mat

Weaknesses

  • Bulky: about 9.3 L folded and 51 cm long, so it rides on the outside of a rucksack
  • Thin at 2.3 cm: firm and poor for side sleepers (Better Trail, CleverHiker, OutdoorGearLab)
  • R 2.0 is summer-only on its own
  • Foam loses some spring over time (OutdoorGearLab)

Sources

We haven't tested this ourselves. Every score comes from these specs, tests and reviews.

ShowHide sources (7)
  1. NEMO Equipment: Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad (regular specifications) Specs, 19 Oct 2026. Used for: warmth, thickness, weight, packed size
  2. SectionHiker: NEMO Switchback Foam Sleeping Pad Review Review, 9 May 2024. The reviewer was sent it free by the brand. Used for: comfort
  3. CleverHiker: NEMO Switchback Sleeping Pad Review Review, 21 Nov 2024. Used for: comfort
  4. Better Trail: Nemo Switchback Backpacking Sleeping Pad Review Test, 20 Jan 2025. Used for: comfort
  5. OutdoorGearLab: NEMO Switchback Review Test, 23 Mar 2026. Used for: comfort
  6. Halfway Anywhere: NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad Review, 2 Jun 2022. Used for: comfort
  7. The Trek: Gear Review, NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad Review, 13 Mar 2019. Used for: comfort, stability