Quote Originally Posted by bladnik26 View Post
I have an Osprey Exos 48 that I have been training with for months and was planning on using for my upcoming 2017 NOBO thru-hike, but once I got all my gear together, I began to realize my minimalist pack-size mentality could be a problem. My sleeping pad is a ThermaRest ProLite Plus, and rolls up shorter than 12", so it cannot be held to the bottom of the pack with the given cords. My question then, is what is the best way of externally mounting my sleeping bag, a Kelty Tuck 22, to the bottom of my pack? Bungees? Accessory straps? How? Onto what? Thanks for your input, and happy trails!
I don't see the Osprey Exos 48 as a minimalist pack size. i don't see that pack being your larger issue. I see the synthetic Kelty Tuck 22* at 3 lbs (for up to 6' users) for that temp rating and 8"x13" packed size being more of the issue.

To each their own but I like sleeping bags stored inside my pack not outside and NOT hanging off the bottom of a pack which interferes with my stride. In this case if you stored the sleeping pad vertically via some UL cinch straps outside the pack making sure to thread one of the cinch straps through the included ProLite Plus stuff sack cord height med height on the back and used a compression sack to get that sleeping bag volume down a bit I'd go that route instead.

Disadvantage to this is possible hole in the inflatable ProLite Plus but the Plus is a bit beefier than say the Neo Air Xlite and the stuff sack, attaching up med-high on the back of the pack(as opposed to letting it dangle from the lower axe/trekking pole/gear loops or tying lower to pack) and with a little care to not just throw your pack onto the ground on it's shovel pocket/back side should be just fine.

If you still are adamant about the sleeping pad outside hanging from the lower Exos loops you could put cinch straps around the pad and then attach to the strap to the loops. This will likely result in a lower hanging sleeping pad.