In backpacking circles CCF (closed cell foam) is most often used in relation to your choice of sleeping pad, which often comes down to one key decision – air pad or CCF? Both have pros and cons. A thick air pad is found to offer a more comfortable night of sleep for many and they pack small, but care must be exercised to guard against punctures and carrying a patch kit is recommended. And if you want one that’s both light and warm, they can be pricey.

CCF pads are warm for their weight and can’t suddenly deflate on the first night of a long trip. You can also throw them down nearly anywhere to sleep under the stars or for use as a sit pad on breaks or around camp (see our article on the multi-purpose foam backpacking pad). They’re also usually easier on the wallet and can be easily cut to size, but they’re bulkier to pack. As opposed to open cell (often found inside futon covers and inside self-inflating pads), closed cell foam offers greater durability and critically doesn’t absorb water.

Once nice thing about CCF is that you can cut it to the exact size you need to save some weight – even tapering the pad into a mummy shape if desired (if you’d just like a sit pad, there are pre-made options as well). Uses for CCF include a backpacking and hiking sit pad, as your dedicated sleeping pad, and as a way to boost the warmth of your sleep system by combining the CCF pad with your normal inflatable.

Examples of CCF Pad Options

Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest: 14 oz. / 2.0 r-value
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol: 14 oz. / 2.0 r-value
NEMO Switchback: 14.5 oz. / 2.0 r-value
ULA Siesta Ultralight: 2-3 oz. / .5 r-value +/- (est.)
Classic “Blue Foam” Pad: ~8-14 oz. / ~1.4 r-value (specifications vary)

All weights above are for the standard size. Between these options, you can select for warmth, packability, or value. The classic blue foam pad is cheap and available at many outdoor stores, but doesn’t offer the best warmth for its weight or packability. The Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest is the classic foam backpacking pad, but the Z Lite will pack up smaller with its accordion folding design. The NEMO Switchback (see our NEMO Switchback review) is another take on this design. Lastly, the ULA Siesta pad is an ultralight option that can help to boost the warmth of an inflatable just a bit.

Backpacking foam pads can either be your main sleeping pad, or serve to supplement an inflatable.

In Conclusion

While today inflatable sleeping pads dominate the market for obvious reasons (warmth to weight ratio and comfort), the closed cell foam backpacking pad still serves a valuable purpose, whether you’re looking for a ultralight sit pad, a backup to your inflatable that will also add warmth, or if you’re just old school and prefer CCF for its sleep system simplicity.

For me, while I prefer an inflatable for 3-season use, on winter and shoulder season trips and depending on the forecast I’ll either bring along an ultralight foam pad (the ULA Siesta pad or similar) or a thicker foam pad (such as the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest or the Z Lite Sol folding pad) to add warmth and redundancy on those colder trips. For more on sleeping pads, see our guide to choosing the best backpacking sleeping pad.

Editor’s Note: A version of this article appeared in Issue 18 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.