I’ve been a fan of Tuff Possum Gear for several years now. Jayberry Miller owns and runs TPG, as well as designs the products. One of his greatest skills is an ability to see what’s needed in the outdoors industry and craft a solution. The TPG Multipurpose Sit Pad was on my wish list for a while before I pulled the trigger.
And for the life of me I can’t figure out why I waited so long. It’s an incredible addition to the pack.
The Tuff Possum Gear Multipurpose Sit Pad
This isn’t a new product. TPG has had this in their product line for about five years or more. But it’s definitely something that still sort of slips under the radar, in my experience. Based on its usefulness, that’s a shame.
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Features and Design
The Multipurpose Sit Pad is a fairly simple affair. It measures 17.5 inches by 11.0 inches, and about 0.625-inch thick. It consists of an outer sheath of sorts made from 500d and 1000d Cordura nylon. Inside is a 0.5-inch thick closed cell foam pad. It fits well into most of my packs, sliding right into the hydration pocket.
It’s available in about eight different colors/patterns, including Coyote Brown, Ranger Green, and various types of camouflage print. However, that’s just one side of the pad. The reverse is always Blaze Orange. The idea is that you’ll have one side that blends in and one side that stands out. The latter is ideal for hunting season as well as for emergency signaling.
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Along the long sides of the pad you’ll find six loops sewn in, three on each side. These can be used to strap the pad to the outside of your pack as a secondary carry option. At the top, there is an opening where you can access the foam pad. This is kept closed by a very secure hook and loop strip.
That’s it. Simple, right? But therein lies the beauty of the Multipurpose Sit Pad.
Multiple Uses
This really is a multipurpose piece of kit. The most common use is, as the name suggests, a sit pad. It provides a dry spot to park your bum when you take a break on the trail. It insulates you from the ground, helping to prevent heat loss through conduction.
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It’s also great as a kneeling pad when you’re working on getting a fire going or foraging for wild edibles. Anything that will help keep your pants dry is a plus when you’re out in the field, right? Once the fire starts to smolder, you can stand up and fan the fire with the pad, too.
In a pinch, you can open the top the Multipurpose Sit Pad and use it as a carry pouch to transport things like foraged plants back to camp.
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I mentioned earlier how you can use the loops on the side to strap the pad to your pack. Do this with the orange side out during hunting season to make yourself more visible.
That orange panel is also an excellent emergency signal. Wave it to help catch the eye of searchers, as the motion combined with the bright color will help get attention.
During a recent rather cold camping trip, I stood on it while getting dressed to help keep my feet a little warmer. I also used it as a seating pad at the picnic table in camp, providing both insulation and a bit of comfort. It served as a knee pad near the fire pit.
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It’s lightweight, about 3.8-4.4 ounces depending on the color/pattern. It really doesn’t take up that much space in the pack, given how thin it is. But it’s definitely worth adding to your load out. The Multipurpose Sit Pad is one of those things that, once you have it, you’ll wonder how you got along without it for so long.
Find it at Tuff Possum Gear for $36-$45, depending on color/pattern.
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