Thick Plastazote experiences anyone?

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
Talking about the pad, I was looking at P33 Plastazote 20mm thick foam and that weight would be pretty much the same as the GG pad. I was thinking that I could get 25mm pad and cut it to fit the pad sleeve to see if that'd be any stiffer than the original pad.

Anyone has any experience of 10mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm etc P33 foams and their stiffness?
How was it working with it?
Does it bend easily or is it stiffer a bit like styrofoam?
 

HillBelly

Section Hiker
No experience of that, but having just been in my workshop and noticing a sheet of plastic I have, could you stiffen your pad by making some strips or a skeleton to strengthen it up a bit? I can check the thickness of the stuff I have. Its flexible but got strength in it. Happy to send you a piece if you measure up your pad.

Edit - 1.5mm sheet. Tested some offcuts in the bin, and it flexes but has a strength that might be good for stays - definitely a wide strip might help.
 
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Mole

Thru Hiker
I went this way 10 years ago with messing around adding types of stiffening to a frameless pack.

My conclusion :

If one's load is such that it feels like one's frameless pack isn't stiff enough, then maybe

  1. Lighten the load (These days I need sub 8kg all in, for frameless to be comfortable over full days.)
  2. Pack it differently
  3. Buy a framed pack...
Edit: changed, not meaning to put anyone down. Just my experience. I wasted a lot of time mucking about with stuff that didn't quite work to my satisfaction.
I go frameless on certain trips in summer, or Overnighters. The rest of the time I use a GG Gorilla with a light frame.
 
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Odd Man

Thru Hiker
Thanks for the input so far everyone. I maybe should've been clearer about the reasons behind my question.

First of all, it's a new pack and I've yet to test it out with a proper load over miles.

My base weight is under 8kg, close to 7kg with a XL quilt, XL mat and XM2 (X-mid2), less when use missus' mat, summer quilt and XM1.

My inquiry was due to the original pad being floppy and thus a bit tricky to take in/out of the pack (at least when the pack is light/ly packet. So my thinking was that having a stiffer pad, it would make the breaks a bit comfortable by being able to use the pad without too much of a faff.

No experience of that, but having just been in my workshop and noticing a sheet of plastic I have, could you stiffen your pad by making some strips or a skeleton to strengthen it up a bit? I can check the thickness of the stuff I have. Its flexible but got strength in it. Happy to send you a piece if you measure up your pad.

Edit - 1.5mm sheet. Tested some offcuts in the bin, and it flexes but has a strength that might be good for stays - definitely a wide strip might help.

Thanks for the offer, it might work, I give it a think.

I went this way 10 years ago with messing around adding types of stiffening to a frameless pack.

My conclusion :

If one's load is such that it feels like one's frameless pack isn't stiff enough, then maybe

  1. Lighten the load (These days I need sub 8kg all in, for frameless to be comfortable over full days.)
  2. Pack it differently
  3. Buy a framed pack...
Edit: changed, not meaning to put anyone down. Just my experience. I wasted a lot of time mucking about with stuff that didn't quite work to my satisfaction.
I go frameless on certain trips in summer, or Overnighters. The rest of the time I use a GG Gorilla with a light frame.

I agree with everything you said, but it was based on a wrong assumption of the requirement as I didn't give enough detail to begin with, my fault, sorry about that.

I have a GG Crown2 framed pack for bigger/heavier loads. This question was all about the ease of use of the pad, not pack ridgidity.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
OK. Fair enough.

(though7kg base would be 8kg plus for my load even on an overnight trip)

So, as someone who has owned a few GG packs:

It's much easier to get the pad in the frameless type when it's loaded than when empty.
Maybe the pad in yours is different than the older type (dark grey egg box type?) but, I'd think stiffer would be harder to get in and you might have to overstretch the edge of the mesh holders to fit (if they are the same as other GG packs).
 

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
OK. Fair enough.

(though7kg base would be 8kg plus for my load even on an overnight trip)

So, as someone who has owned a few GG packs:

It's much easier to get the pad in the frameless type when it's loaded than when empty.
Maybe the pad in yours is different than the older type (dark grey egg box type?) but, I'd think stiffer would be harder to get in and you might have to overstretch the edge of the mesh holders to fit (if they are the same as other GG packs).

Yes, it's the new type. I've no experience with the old type. It's this one

Screenshot 2020-05-13 at 20.03.43.jpg

but, I'd think stiffer would be harder to get in and you might have to overstretch the edge of the mesh holders to fit (if they are the same as other GG packs).

You might be right. I'll need to pack it and test.

Also giving me ideas for a custom pack (I've already a few feature reqs for my custom pack, which I won't order until I know exactly what I want).
 
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Mole

Thru Hiker
Funky!
No idea how bendy it is in comparison.

Another idea is what I use in my Gorilla now.

4sections of a Zrest mat. Gives a double size sit mat.
 

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
Funky!
No idea how bendy it is in comparison.

Another idea is what I use in my Gorilla now.

4sections of a Zrest mat. Gives a double size sit mat.

I looked at different ass pads on ULOG, and the only one that'd fit this large size pack is a S2S flappy seat pad, but I did have a bit of a look also sleep mats with the idea of using sections, just have to measure the sections to fit them properly.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
That's what I meant.
4 sections of a Zrest sleep mat. (the other 10 are still a 3/4 mat)
 

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
That's what I meant.
4 sections of a Zrest sleep mat. (the other 10 are still a 3/4 mat)

Yes, I understood that. I initially looked at other sit pads, but because of my pack is sz Large, it's a bit trickier to find a suitable one.

I need to look at different CCF pads if their sections would be the right width to fit the 2 sections.

Have you done the cam snap mod to connect the 4 sections of the back support / ass pad to the 3/4 mat to create a full length mat?
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
No. Tbh I'd not used the zrest for years until I decided to cut it up last year. It's just been in my gear stores

I mostly use an Thermarest neoair xlite max the last 2 years, and klymit mats before that.
Occasionally I still use a 3/4 Thermarest prolite3 which I used before airbed type mats.
 
I may be misunderstamding but if you want to use that stock pad or replacement as a casual seat-take in and out whilst on the go I reckon it's not happening. You'd struggle to get it nack in the sleeve. Especially getting it back in without almost completely unpacking everytime. Isn't the GG one for the end of the day? Sorry if I'm off track.
 
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Mole

Thru Hiker
I may be misunderstamding but if you want to use that as a casual seat-take in and out whilst on the go I reckon it's not happening. Especially getting it back in without almost completely unpacking everytime. Isn't the GG one for the end of the day? Sorry if I'm off track.

Nah.

It comes out quickly n easily. Goes in slightly easier when the pack is loaded as when empty (even more so with the frameless type).
I use mine as a seat multiple times a day if the ground is damp, cold or mucky.
 
Nah.

It comes out quickly n easily. Goes in slightly easier when the pack is loaded as when empty (even more so with the frameless type).
I use mine as a seat multiple times a day if the ground is damp, cold or mucky.
Wow. I'm impressed is it the sleeve makes it work?
 
OK. Fair enough.

(though7kg base would be 8kg plus for my load even on an overnight trip)

So, as someone who has owned a few GG packs:

It's much easier to get the pad in the frameless type when it's loaded than when empty.
Maybe the pad in yours is different than the older type (dark grey egg box type?) but, I'd think stiffer would be harder to get in and you might have to overstretch the edge of the mesh holders to fit (if they are the same as other GG packs).
Stopped and was reading on my phone having a coffee out walking and missed this comment when I commented. Reading it now at home. Apologies.
 
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