Finest Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2025

It solely takes one fitful night time within the backcountry — shivering, hips bruised, cricked neck — to appreciate the significance of a terrific backpacking sleeping pad. However including a high quality pad additionally provides vital weight and price to your equipment, so it’s important to get the precise pad the primary time. After testing dozens of various backpacking sleeping pads from seven completely different producers, these are my high picks for the perfect backpacking sleeping pads for each journey. 

Finest Total: Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XLite NXT
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Finest Worth: Huge Agnes Rapide
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Finest for Chilly Sleepers: Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XTherm NXT
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Finest for Excessive Circumstances: Exped Dura 8R
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Finest Funds: Huge Agnes Divide
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Finest for Unhealthy Sleepers: Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft
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Exped Dura 5R
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Rab Ionosphere
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REI Helix
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Sea to Summit Ether Gentle XT
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Nemo Tensor All-Season
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Nemo Tensor Excessive Circumstances
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Alps Trailblazer
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Nemo Quasar
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Nemo Astro
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Why You Have to Have a look at R Worth First

Not worth, not weight, not noise. A very powerful specification of your sleeping pad is its R worth. R is a measure of insulation, which is essential as a result of the bottom is admittedly chilly, and it’ll steal your physique warmth if given the possibility. Excessive R worth pads are like cold-weather sleeping luggage. Low R worth pads are like summer-weight sleeping luggage. 

• Excessive R Values: 6 to 10
• Medium R Values: 4 to six
• Low R Values: 1 to 4

Present R worth suggestions from producers are geared towards scorching sleepers. For those who run chilly, it’s vital that you simply get a better R worth pad. R values should be ASTM R values; manufacturer-estimated R values are ineffective. 

Finest Backpacking Sleeping Pads: Opinions & Suggestions

Finest Total: Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XLite NXT

Purchase from REI

If there may be one backpacking sleeping pad in your quiver, it needs to be the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XLite NXT. With a 4.5 R worth and 13.1 ounce examined weight for an everyday pad, it has the perfect warmth-to-weight ratio on the market. And after intensive testing — together with frequent fail factors on the seams, material, and valve — it’s not sacrificing any sturdiness to get there. That’s the excellent news. However there have been, and proceed to be, some gripes in regards to the Therm-a-Relaxation XLite NXT that we have to handle.

The primary problem is noise, as this has lengthy plagued this backpacking sleeping pad. The up to date NXT solves a variety of this problem: If the previous model of the Therm-a-Relaxation XLite gave the impression of opening a bag of potato chips, this newer model feels like strolling throughout recent fall leaves. That’s to say, Therm-a-Relaxation has massively improved the noise problem, however it’s nonetheless louder than different backpacking sleeping pads. If you’re an additional delicate sleeper, that is one thing to remember. However you not want to fret about maintaining everybody within the campground. 

I used to be stunned that Therm-a-Relaxation, which has engineered the perfect backpacking sleeping pad, hasn’t discovered engineer a greater pump sack. It really works OK, but it surely’s surprisingly inefficient in comparison with the likes of Exped and Nemo, and it’s an actual ache to get on and off the valve. Talking of the valve, count on some confusion the primary handful of instances you utilize it, because the Winglock design is uncommon in comparison with different backpacking sleeping pads, and different valves for that matter. That being stated, it proved extraordinarily sturdy in my sturdiness take a look at, with zero points with delamination or ripping. 

Lastly, there’s the worth. For its R worth, it is a pricier sleeping pad. However I believe that for its versatility, mild weight, and sturdiness, it’s effectively value it.

Finest Worth: Huge Agnes Rapide

Purchase from REI

Throughout testing, I used to be stunned at how effectively the Huge Agnes Rapide carried out. Regardless of costing 25 % lower than the Therm-a-Relaxation XLite NXT, it had the same R worth and was simply as sturdy. And whereas the Rapide weighs 5 ounces greater than the perfect backpacking sleeping pad, it nonetheless weighs lower than different comparable fashions.

The Rapide got here with one of many higher pump sacks that I checked out, weighing lower than the Tensor and Exped variations, whereas inflating my pad practically as shortly. I additionally appreciated that its valve is straight ahead and straightforward to make use of. The stuff sack, nonetheless, wants enchancment. This can be very troublesome to get the Rapide again into its stuff sack, because it each requires you to fold into thirds or, higher but quarters, earlier than rolling it, and even then it’s an impractically tight match. 

Lastly, the Huge Agnes Rapide does run somewhat slim. It’s widest on the head and the foot of the sleeping pad, barely narrowing inward till you get to the center portion of the pad. Improve to the vast model in case you have a problem with slipping off your pad.

Finest for Chilly Sleepers: Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XTherm NXT

Purchase from REI

The commonest criticism that individuals have with their backcountry sleep setup is that they’re chilly. I’ve helped quite a few individuals diagnose their setup and the issue is nearly at all times their sleeping pad, not their sleeping bag. Present R worth suggestions are geared towards individuals who run scorching. For those who run chilly, you’re not going to be proud of an R worth of two within the alpine. You actually need an R worth of 6, at a minimal, to be comfy. 

If this sounds such as you, you need the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XTherm NXT. With an R worth of seven.3, it should maintain even the coldest sleepers comfy by way of three-season circumstances. And, as a result of it’s constructed utilizing the identical framework as my finest general choose, the XLite, it’s surprisingly mild weight, lighter than nearly each different pad that I examined. In fact, it additionally comes with all the identical minor faults — complicated valve, inefficient pump sack, and the sound of fresh-fallen leaves everytime you roll over — however you’re going to be heat and comfy, and that’s what actually issues.

Finest for Excessive Circumstances: Exped Dura 8R

Finest for REI

The Exped Dura 8R will not be messing round. Along with crusing by way of my sturdiness take a look at, at 175D, it had the thickest materials on the underside of the sleeping pad by a number of orders of magnitude. Even on the highest of the sleeping pad, the place you might be much less more likely to have an errant rock puncture the pad, it has 70D material. No sleeping pad is really invincible, however this one is definitely coming closest.

What’s actually completely different right here is that the Exped Dura 8R has literal goose down inside it boosting its insulation. The 7.8 R worth was the second highest of the twelve sleeping pads I checked out, and the inclusion of goose down — one of many world’s oldest and strongest types of insulation towards the chilly — additional persuades me that this sleeping pad will shield you from even excessive chilly. 

The Exped Dura 8R can also be very straightforward to make use of. The valves are easy. It’s straightforward to inflate utilizing Exped’s best-in-class pump sack. It’s even straightforward to inflate manually, with one of many quickest instances in my take a look at. The stuff sack, sadly, is so small it’s practically usable. However given how thick the material is right here, you possibly can in all probability simply rubber band it collectively and also you’ll be nice.  

In fact, all the things comes at a value, and with the Exped Dura 8R it’s a double whammy of weight and worth. That is each the heaviest and costliest sleeping pad that I checked out.

Finest Funds: Huge Agnes Divide

Purchase from REI

Kitting your self with backpacking gear can get dear, so for those who’re solely goal in buying a backpacking sleeping pad is worth, then go along with the Huge Agnes Divide. It’s acquired an inexpensive R worth for chilly sleepers to make use of in the summertime months, and scorching sleepers may use this one safely into the shoulder seasons. It’s not as heavy as a few of the different choices I checked out. It’s from a good model — Huge Agnes — with a restricted lifetime guarantee. 

Finest for Unhealthy Sleepers: Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft

Purchase from REI

The Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft has garnered a variety of reward for the way comfy it’s, so let’s begin by popping the bubble a bit. It is a bit more comfy than conventional air-filled backpacking sleeping pads, but it surely’s nonetheless an air-filled backpacking sleeping pad. It’s not your tempurpedic mattress at residence. Additionally, the marginal distinction in consolation throughout the night time goes to be offset by your discomfort throughout the day, if you’re carrying this factor. The NeoLoft weighs nearly a pound greater than the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XLite. 

For those who’re not nervous about carrying an additional pound, and also you’re a poor sleeper who can actually really feel the microdifferences in consolation, then this pad is value contemplating after you’ve tried a conventional air-filled sleeping pad. Simply remember the fact that if the explanation you might be sleeping poorly is that you’re chilly, the R worth of 4.7 is probably not excessive sufficient for all circumstances.

Exped Dura 5R

Purchase from REI

The Exped Dura 5R would definitely have ranked larger on my checklist of finest backpacking sleeping pads if it weren’t so dang heavy. Just like the Dura 8R, it has a splendidly thick 175D material beneath to guard it from punctures. It’s acquired a terrific pump sack. It’s shockingly reasonably priced. The stuff sack is manner too small, however that’s a small ding within the scheme of issues. 

However for the needs of backpacking, a three-season sleeping pad can’t weigh in at nearly two kilos. That’s simply too heavy. Nevertheless, in case you are packrafting or travelling with inventory animals and even simply on the lookout for a compact sleeping pad on your automobile tenting setup, it is a nice possibility.

Rab Ionosphere

Purchase from Amazon

Professionals

• Loads sturdy
• Versatile R worth

Key Options

• R Worth:
  4.8
• Worth Vary:
  $220
• Out there Sizes:
  Common, lengthy
• Seasonal Use for Chilly Sleepers:
  Summer time, alpine, early shoulder season
• Seasonal Use for Sizzling Sleepers:
  Three season

Report Card

• Pad Weight:
  19.5 ounces for an everyday
• Sturdiness Take a look at:
  Cross
• Time to Inflate Manually:
  1:35
• Time to Inflate with a Pump Sack:
  1:35
• Problem in Placing Away:
  Honest

The Rab Ionosphere is a serviceable backpacking pad. It’s not too heavy; it’s acquired an inexpensive R worth. It’s a lot sturdy. Its stuff sack had a unique design than I had been accustomed to, opening sideways with some elastic to carry it into place. Nevertheless it works nice. The one cause it’s not ranked larger up on my checklist is that for its R worth and weight, it’s somewhat dear. Save your cash and go along with both my general or finest worth choose.

REI Helix

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Professionals

• Reasonably priced
• Versatile R worth
• Nice pump sack
• Comes with velcro tags

Cons

• Was in a position to delaminate the valve throughout testing
• Somewhat heavy

Key Options

• R Worth:
  4.9
• Worth Vary:
  $169
• Out there Sizes:
  Common, vast, lengthy vast
• Seasonal Use for Chilly Sleepers:
  Summer time, alpine, early shoulder season
• Seasonal Use for Sizzling Sleepers:
  Three season

Report Card

• Pad Weight:
  21.3 ounces
• Sturdiness Take a look at:
  Failed the valve take a look at
• Time to Inflate Manually:
  1:25
• Time to Inflate with a Pump Sack:
  1:05
• Problem in Placing Away:
  Straightforward

There’s a lot to understand in regards to the REI Helix. It has a flexible R worth that may serve most individuals in most backcountry situations. It has a terrific pump sack and was straightforward to inflate each with that, and manually. It was one of many few backpacking sleeping pads I examined to return with velcro straps, inviting you to ditch these unimaginable stuff sacks. It’s reasonably priced, if somewhat heavy.

However within the ultimate part of my sturdiness take a look at, it bumped into hassle. I used to be in a position to seize the edges of the consumption valve and begin to peel the lamination away. Whereas I ended earlier than I compromised the integrity of the sleeping pad, the potential for delamination for a model new pad doesn’t encourage confidence for the lengthy haul. 

Sea to Summit Ether Gentle XT

Purchase from REI

For those who run furnace-hot, or solely plan to backpack at low elevation within the canine days of summer time, then you may get away with a decrease R worth backpacking sleeping pad. One of many higher choices is the Sea to Summit Ether Gentle XT. It’s mild and comfy, and proved a lot sturdy throughout testing. I additionally preferred the built-in stuff sack and pump sack, which labored fairly effectively. This pad is each inexpensive than my finest general choose and lighter weight than my finest worth choose. 

Simply do not forget that with an R of 1.2, you might be solely shielded from the hardness of the bottom, and will probably be very vulnerable to chilly seeping by way of the pad and your sleeping bag.

Nemo Tensor All-Season

Purchase from REI

For many of my testing, I used to be satisfied that the Nemo Tensor All-Season was going to return out on high. Whereas it’s barely heavier than my finest general choose, it had all the things else going for it. Cheaper price level. Superior pump sack. Consists of these helpful velcro straps. Quieter.

However then I acquired to the valve portion of my sturdiness take a look at. With most different backpacking sleeping pads, I used to be unable to make any type dent within the integrity of the seal, regardless of how exhausting I tugged. However with the Nemo Tensor Excessive Circumstances, I ripped open the pad utterly with one hearty tug. As a result of the design and fabrication of the All-Season and the Excessive Circumstances variations of the Nemo Tensor are just about equivalent, I’ve not repeated this take a look at on the All Season model simply but, as I’m planning on doing a long run rock take a look at to get a greater really feel for the material integrity of every backpacking pad. See under for extra data on the outcomes of the sturdiness take a look at for the Nemo Tensor Excessive Circumstances.

Nemo Tensor Excessive Circumstances

Purchase from REI

Regardless of having a noticeably larger R worth, the Nemo Tensor Excessive Circumstances is a really comparable backpacking sleeping pad to the Nemo Tensor All-Season. It’s the identical form, the material materials, the identical pump sack, stuff sack/velcro combo. And it’s the identical valve.

The valve turned out to be the downfall throughout my sturdiness take a look at. Once I gave the totally open valve a hearty tug, it ripped the material throughout the highest in a manner that you wouldn’t have the ability to restore. Whereas I admire that backpackers shouldn’t pull on their valves as exhausting as they’ll, there are at all times going to be moments when issues go mistaken: one thing catches in your sleeve, you get pissed off within the second. And for a pad that’s for use in excessive circumstances, there must be an opportunity of failure that’s a lot nearer to zero.

Alps Trailblazer

Purchase from Amazon

Cons

• Heavy
• Pump sack / stuff sack combo doesn’t work effectively
• Failed the valve take a look at
• Unclear if the R worth relies on the ASTM take a look at

Key Options

• R Worth:
  TBD
• Worth Vary:
  $160
• Out there Sizes:
  Common
• Seasonal Use for Chilly Sleepers:
  TBD
• Seasonal Use for Sizzling Sleepers:
  TBD

Report Card

• Pad Weight:
  25.5 ounces
• Sturdiness Take a look at:
  Fail
• Time to Inflate Manually:
  2:05
• Time to Inflate with a Pump Sack:
  2:10
• Problem in Placing Away:
  Arduous

Earlier than we get into this pad, a caveat: wanting on the producer specs for this backpacking sleeping pad, it’s unclear if they’re utilizing ASTM requirements for his or her R worth. The rationale this issues is that ASTM is the agreed-upon, third-party for R worth, to assist guarantee consistency for these rankings throughout producers. Previous to the introduction of the ASTM take a look at, R values diversified wildly, and weren’t a very great tool for customers. I’ll replace this story as soon as I hear again from Alps about their R worth rankings. 

One design element that I did discover irritating was the valve. That is the one backpacking sleeping pad I checked out that solely had an consumption valve, with no devoted outtake valve. So the one strategy to get air out of the pad, is to prop open the flap on the consumption valve while you’re pushing the air out. Let me inform you, this will get previous quick, and it doesn’t work very effectively. It’s additionally practically unimaginable to get all of the air out. 

However the worst a part of the valve is that it had simply the weakest lamination of any backpacking sleeping pad I examined. It pulled up with surprisingly little effort, leading to a gap on the edge. Any particular person who’s even remotely exhausting on their gear ought to keep away from this backpacking sleeping pad.

One thing I did admire in regards to the Alps Trailblazer is that it’s making an attempt one thing new with the stuff sack. Just like the Sea to Summit backpacking sleeping pads, this one has an built-in pump sack. They used this design change to make the stuff sack portion a roll high. Sadly, the stuff sack is so slim that you’d have to fold the Alps Trailblazer into thirds, ideally quarters, earlier than rolling up to make use of it successfully. And due to the above valve problem, that is truly fairly powerful to do.

Nemo Quasar

Purchase from REI

Sadly, the Nemo Quasar has the identical valve because the Nemo Tensor collection, and thus the identical potential for failure. The Quasar can also be pretty heavy by comparability, and it doesn’t have a very excessive R worth — even scorching sleepers ought to restrict their use to the sides of the shoulder season. That is an reasonably priced backpacking sleeping pad, although, and it has the superb pump sack and velcro straps that their different pads include. 

Nemo Astro

Purchase from Amazon

Professionals

• Quick to inflate with a terrific pump sack
• Comes with velcro straps
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Low R worth limits use
• Potential for failure with the valve
• Heavy
• No mummy model out there

Key Options

• R Worth:
  2.6
• Worth Vary:
  $150
• Out there Sizes:
  Rectangular sizes solely
• Seasonal Use for Chilly Sleepers:
  Not relevant
• Seasonal Use for Sizzling Sleepers:
  Summer time

Report Card

• Pad Weight:
  23.6 ounces
• Sturdiness Take a look at:
  Failed the valve take a look at
• Time to Inflate Manually:
  0:50
• Time to Inflate with a Pump Sack:
  1:00
• Problem in Placing Away:
  Straightforward

The Nemo Astro has a low R worth. Chilly sleepers ought to steer clear. It’s additionally pretty heavy. This was, nonetheless, the simplest sleeping pad to inflate in my take a look at, and it is likely one of the extra reasonably priced choices on the market. 

Because the Nemo Astro has the identical valve as the opposite Nemo backpacking sleeping pads, I repeated my valve take a look at. Pulling solely within the path that’s indicated to take away the consumption valve, I used to be in a position to delaminate the valve from the material, making a gap.

How I Examined and Evaluated the Finest Backpacking Sleeping Pads

R Worth

R Worth measures the extent of insulation being offered by a sleeping pad, and it’s a very powerful measurement regardless of who you might be or what you might be doing. Even the perfect chilly climate sleeping luggage solely present some insulation from the chilly of the bottom, so your sleeping pad is your finest protection. Too little insulation and also you run the danger of a horrible night time’s sleep, and even hypothermia.

Learn Subsequent: What Is R Worth? It’s Why Your Sleeping Bag Doesn’t Maintain You Heat 

A very powerful take a look at that’s carried out on backpacking sleeping pads is for R worth. As a result of R values are decided by third events in keeping with a mutually agreed upon trade normal, I don’t run unbiased checks of those measurements. Nevertheless, I’ve carried out a number of checks to search out out what R worth is acceptable for no matter season use by offering self-identified chilly sleepers with larger R worth pads at completely different instances of the yr. Based mostly on this, I’m offering rather more conservative suggestions for the R worth degree than gear producers and retailers. 

Weight

Many severe backpackers are obsessive about weight, and for good cause: the much less you’ve acquired in your again, the extra enjoyable you’re going to have. For every backpacking sleeping pad on this take a look at, I independently measured the load of the pad. I additionally individually weighed the pump sack and stuff sack, to assist people resolve if they’re value carrying or not. 

*The pump sack for the Sea to Summit Ether Gentle XT is built-in with the stuff sack

Ease of Use

Blowing up a backpacking sleeping pad as soon as is dangerous sufficient. However the longer the journey you’re on, the extra it should begin to put on on you. Thankfully, at the moment’s backpacking sleeping pads include pump sacks which massively reduce down on the quantity of effort and time it takes to blow this stuff up. I timed how lengthy it took to inflate these each manually and with a pump sack. I then ranked the diploma of issue in placing them away 

Sturdiness Take a look at

It’s occurred to each severe outdoorsperson at the least as soon as: in the midst of the night time, you get up to {a partially} deflated pad. By morning, you’re sleeping on the bottom. To assist reduce the possibility that occurs to you in your subsequent overnighter, I put the backpacking sleeping pads by way of an intensive sturdiness take a look at designed to imitate frequent fail factors. The primary is the over-inflation take a look at. Tiny weak spots within the seams can get greater over time, leading to leaks which are unimaginable to repair. To emphasize take a look at the seams and welding within the backpacking sleeping pads, I inflated every backpacking sleeping pad to capability with an electrical air pump, after which continued to inflate it for an additional minute. I then left the pads out for an hour with weights on high to see if any holes had developed. Lastly, I recreated the expertise of inadvertently popping your pad by sleeping on a sharp rock in a single day. For this take a look at, I blew up every sleeping pad and positioned a rock beneath it. I then loaded 10 kilos instantly on high of the place the rock was beneath the pad and left it for an hour. Lastly I stress examined the valves on every backpacking sleeping pad by torquing and tugging on every with reasonable hand energy. Every take a look at was evaluated as go/fail, with related particulars within the above manufacturing descriptions. 

A Fast Word on Consolation

I’ve slept on backpacking sleeping pads that use vertical baffles, honeycomb baffles, horizontal baffles. I’ve used backpacking sleeping pads which are three inches thick and 4 inches thick. In fact, I can barely inform the distinction between most fashions, even utilizing a quilt. Some people could have specific preferences for one design over the opposite, however for those who’re buying your first backpacking sleeping pad, you possibly can belief that every one the picks on this checklist will probably be fairly comfy, particularly in case you are drained after an extended day within the backcountry. On this assessment I’ve made some extent to focus on a number of pads which are exceptionally comfy, just like the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft and the Exped Dura 8R. Don’t be fooled by the self-inflating backpacking sleeping pads that comprise foam. These will not be thick sufficient to guard your hips from the bottom, and the load to R worth ratio is invariably worse. As such, I’ve not included them on this assessment. 

Why I’m Not Recommending Self-Inflating Backpacking Sleeping Pads

A mode of backpacking sleeping pad that continues to be fashionable regardless of higher choices available on the market are self-inflating pads. These pads incorporate foam into their design and construction their baffles in such a manner you could, theoretically, open up the valve they usually’ll inflate on their very own. The argument in favor of those sleeping pads is that, within the occasion that your pad develops a gap, the froth means you’ll have at the least some safety beneath you. Individuals additionally like the thought of self-inflating, particularly in distinction to laboriously blowing up a sleeping pad themselves. Lastly, including foam to a backpacking sleeping pad looks like it will make it extra comfy.

In contrast to the finest air mattresses for tenting, self-inflating backpacking sleeping pads will not be extra comfy than air-only pads. It’s because they don’t present sufficient top off the bottom, usually two inches or much less of top. In my expertise, you possibly can really feel the hardness of the bottom by way of the froth as quickly as you lay on it.

Most individuals discover that, within the area, self-inflating sleeping pads don’t inflate as shortly as they count on, or in any respect. It’s because most individuals retailer their sleeping pads packed away, which inhibits the froth’s potential to tackle air shortly. Usually, individuals will report that it’s going to inflate a bit, possibly midway, over the course of an hour or two, after which they’ve to complete inflating it the remainder of the best way manually. The place the self-inflating half often comes into play is if you pack it away once more, as these pads resist having the air squeezed out of them. That’s why their stuff sacks have compression straps on them, in contrast to typical backpacking sleeping pads.

For those who’re nonetheless tempted to buy a self-inflating sleeping pad, I’d advocate choosing pairing a low-cost closed-cell foam pad with a typical air-only backpacking sleeping pad, as a substitute. As you get extra comfy together with your setup, you’ll possible finally discard one in favor of the opposite.

Methods to Select a Backpacking Sleeping Pad

Your Sleep System

Your backpacking sleeping pad is the muse of your sleep system, so it’s essential to contemplate the way it integrates with both the finest sleeping bag or the finest backpacking quilt. Remember that the temperature rankings of sleeping luggage assume you might be utilizing a sleeping pad with a minimal R ranking of 4.8.

Noise

Whereas most inflatable backpacking sleeping pads aren’t precisely silent, they’re quiet sufficient. In my expertise, the backpacking sleeping pads with exceptionally excessive heat and a low weight usually have a little bit of a crinkle to them, because of the metallic movie within the insulation. Whereas the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir collection used to have a popularity for being exceptionally loud, they had been in a position to resolve this problem of their launch of the NXT replace.

Thickness

Too-thin backpacking sleeping pads can change into uncomfortable over the course of the night time, particularly for people who’re delicate to feeling the hardness of the bottom towards their backs or hips. In my expertise, thickness is extra essential than the inclusion of froth in an inflatable sleeping pad (a significant cause why I don’t advocate so-called self inflating mattresses for backpacking). 

Consolation

This can be a subjective measurement, extra in order there isn’t any backpacking sleeping pad which is really comfy — don’t count on to be as comfy as you might be at residence. Far and away a very powerful issue impacting your consolation is that if it’s thick sufficient to guard you from the hardness of the bottom. Subsequent up is the inclusion of froth (though this usually comes with a significant weight penalty). Lastly, there may be the baffle design. In my private expertise, the waffle design of backpacking sleeping pads just like the Sea to Summit Ether Gentle XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat are probably the most comfy, however others choose the horizontal baffle fashion of the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir or the the extra uncommon design of the Klymit Static V2. The one strategy to decide what your desire is is to strive a number of differing kinds out tenting. 

Issues to Think about Earlier than Shopping for the Finest Backpacking Sleeping Pad

Inflatable vs. Closed-Cell Foam

The selection between an inflatable sleeping pad versus closed-cell foam is one among efficiency versus reliability. Inflatable pads are hotter, lighter, match simply into your pack, and are nearly at all times extra comfy. Nevertheless, closed-cell foam pads by no means unexpectedly deflate in a single day, don’t take up room inside your pack, and double as a butt pad for breaks. (Be taught extra from our information to inflatable vs. cell-foam sleeping pads.)

Materials

The outside of inflatable backpacking sleeping pads is often constructed from both polyester or nylon at various thicknesses, which is measured in denier (D). Most backpacking sleeping pads are between 20D, the thinnest materials, usually used for ultralight pads, to 75D in thickness, which approaches the thickness usually seen on automobile tenting pads. Nylon is mostly a stronger materials than polyester, however laminates (which may make a pad extra hermetic) apply higher to polyester than to nylon. 

Closed-cell foam pads are clearly fabricated from closed-cell foam which is an insulating and water-resistant materials that may maintain hikers glad on heat nights and complement an inflatable pad within the chilly. The very best backpacking sleeping pads fabricated from closed-cell foam generally embody a metallic lining for an elevated R ranking.

Weight

A lot of the finest backpacking sleeping pads weigh between 1 and a couple of kilos, with the heavier finish of the spectrum offering better consolation and the lighter finish of the spectrum usually working fairly slim. It’s exhausting to place a worth on a terrific night time of sleep if you’re dealing with ten plus miles of mountaineering within the morning, so we advocate erring on the facet of warning. One strategy to save weight, for some backpackers, is to decide on a brief sleeping pad, after which tuck your backpack below your toes at night time. This fashion, your hips and shoulders get the profit for a fraction of the ounces. 

Dimension

There are two sizes that you ought to be involved with — the dimensions of the pad packed into your backpack or strapped to the skin, and the dimensions of the pad when it’s inflated. Most pads at the moment are available sizes starting from quick to tall, common to vast; nonetheless, in our expertise even the “vast” measurement — usually 25 inches — will not be all that vast. Two exceptions to this are the Klymit, which has a large measurement of 29 inches, and the Huge Agnes Q Core Deluxe, which works out to 30 inches. {Couples} trying to share a pad can search for a double-wide pad or one of many finest tenting mattresses for {couples}.

Form

Most sleeping pads are one among two shapes: rectangular or mummy. The concept behind the mummy-shaped pads is easy — your physique isn’t rectangular, so why ought to your pad be? This design additionally shaves off a number of ounces. However loads of backpackers, particularly facet sleepers, discover that the mummy-shaped pads are simpler to roll off of, and like an oblong pad for that cause. 

R Ranking

As anybody who has been backpacking throughout a shoulder season is aware of, the chilly from the bottom will suck out your physique warmth sooner than chilly air, leaving you shivering inside your 20-degree bag. The R worth measures how effectively the pad insulates (or “resists,” therefore the R) the chilly, with 1 being the bottom ranking (appropriate for lowland backpacking on the top of summer time) all the best way as much as 10 (usually solely wanted in excessive circumstances). Sleeping pad producers as soon as carried out their very own testing (or in some instances merely guessed), however as of 2020 R rankings are standardized by the American Society for Testing and Supplies (ASTM).

FAQs

Ultimate Ideas on the Finest Backpacking Sleeping Pads

Although not thought of one of many “Huge 3,” selecting the perfect backpacking sleeping pad on your sleep fashion and the temperatures you propose to trek out into is important for avoiding the dreaded Sort III enjoyable. I generally skimped on pads once I was youthful. However with extra expertise, I discovered {that a} good sleeping pad makes it lots simpler to get a superb night time’s sleep, and that in flip makes the subsequent day’s journey all of the extra enjoyable. I like to recommend occupied with your sleeping pad, sleeping bag or quilt, and, ideally, a pillow, as a whole system and price range your funds and ounces accordingly.