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
- Lighten the load (These days I need sub 8kg all in, for frameless to be comfortable over full days.)
- Pack it differently
- 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.