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Best Sleeping Pads
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
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Having a top-notch pad is important for many reasons. Even though comfort is in the top three reasons, it is not the most important one. A sleeping pad’s main role is to act as an isolator between you and the cold ground. Then why do you need a sleeping pad in summer? The truth is, even though the weather might make you think it’s a good idea that you hike in a swimming suit, the ground has a different temperature. The difference in the air temperature and the ground temperature could make you feel sore in the morning even though you were not cold during the night.
Value
Needless to say, more expensive products usually have more features, although there are exceptions. The prices vary from $30 to $300 dollars for a sleeping pad with the highest quality. This doesn’t mean that you should get the most expensive one unless you have the need to do so. Sleeping pads with high isolation properties are intended for adventurers going on high altitude exhibitions and backpackers who spend a lot of time sleeping on the ground. For the rest of you, a sleeping pad with a price range from $100 to $150 should get the job done. The final destination is also very important in the decision-making process. Rocks tend to be colder than softer terrains, therefore require a better isolation pad which means that the price will significantly increase.
Insulation
This is the first thing you should consider when looking for a sleeping pad or a sleeping bag. Even though most beginners are not familiar with the R-value of a sleeping pad, it is a feature that will provide you much greater comfort. R-value is a feature that becomes more important as the temperatures drop. However, if you are looking for summer sleeping pad only, feel free to ignore this value. R-value is the thermal resistance that your sleeping pad possesses. The bigger its resistance capacity, the greater is its ability to prevent the transfer of heat from the ground to your body. A sleeping pad with a higher R-value will have a bigger heat conduction resistance which will cause you to have a good and warm night’s sleep.
That said, if you are looking for summer sleeping pad, an R-value of 2 should be sufficient isolator from the ground. Most sleeping pads have R-value from 2-4 and they are promoted as 3 season pads. However, autumn on a mountain could feel like winter on lower altitudes. For this reason, we recommend a higher R-value. Sleeping pads with R-values above 5 would be ideal for temperatures below the freezing point. They are even suitable for sleeping on ice or snow surfaces. Nevertheless, cold sleepers are advised to choose a sleeping pad with a higher value in order to feel more comfortable.
Style
Sleeping pads come in two forms: foam sleeping pads and air pads. The comfort they both provide is pretty much at the same level, however foam sleeping pads are much lighter, therefore more suitable for longer backpacking trips. They are also being used for other purposes such as providing extra support for your back in case you are carrying a backpack without a frame. However, they are also bulkier than air pads and not as durable. Aid pads on the other side are more compact, which is the main reason why they are backpackers’ first choice. If you also prefer them over the foam pads make sure you bring with you a tape since they are known for their surprise punctures on the field.
Top Ten Sleeping Pads
1. Tenton Sports Outfitters
This sleeping pad is fully packed with comfort, features, and comes from a great brand. Not only is the sleeping pad offer the most comfort possible to allow you to get a comfortable sleep, but it also is easy to transport which makes it great for backpacking and camping.
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This sleeping pad is highly rated amongst the previous customers and for good reason. Just looking at this sleeping pad, you can sense the comfort it supplies to its owner. You can use this sleeping pad directly on the floor, on a cot, or as an extra bed if you have a friend staying over for the night.
Value
This sleeping pad from Tenton comes to you at a price of around $100. This is a reasonable price as the pad is built with quality and is quite versatile. Tenton is also a great brand and if you have any issues with the sleeping pad, have great customer service.
Insulation
This sleeping pad comes with great insulation and will keep you warm during the night if needed. This sleeping pad also has a pillow pocket for you to stuff your pillow so it stays in place as you sleep throughout the night.
Style
This sleeping pad looks sleek and rolls up nicely for easy portability. If you are a camper or backpacker this is a great option and will be with you for many years to come.
2. Lightspeed Outdoors
This may be one of the most comfortable sleeping pads on our list as the foam that the pad is constructed from sinks your body in and molds to it, to create the most comfortable sleep as possible.
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This sleeping pad from Lightspeed comes highly rated from their previous customers and for good reason. This sleeping pad is quite comfortable and is easily rolled up and fitted into a carrying case for easy portability.
Value
This sleeping pad comes to you at a price of around $85, which is a little expensive but for the comfort and portability of this product, it is justified and worth the investment.
Insulation
This sleeping pad will keep you quite warm and that is due to the insulation of the mattress and its ability to mold to your body.
Style
This sleeping pad is great and its ability to mold to your body is a great feature. This sleeping pad also comes with an integrated pillow for extra comfort.
3. Coleman ComfortSmart
This is another great product from Coleman, the outdoor kings! This sleeping pad is not only a comfortable pad but also comes with a cot to ensure you are lifted from the ground and have the proper support for a comfortable sleep.
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This sleeping pad comes from a great brand and is not only a sleeping pad but also gives you the feature of being a cot as well, which will add extra comfort and lift you from the ground to simulate a bed.
Value
This sleeping pad comes to you at a price of around $50 which is a steal for a Coleman product and that it has the ability to be turned into a cot. If you are looking for a product to get you off the ground, this is definitely a product to take a closer look at.
Insulation
This sleeping pad will keep you warm but could have some more insulation. The primary purpose of this sleeping pad is to make you comfortable and simulate bed. The pad itself is thin so you may want to have a thick sleeping bag if you are in colder climates.
Style
This sleeping pad has the difference from other sleeping pads of having the ability to be turned into a cot, which is great as it gets you off the ground and simulates a bed.
4. Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite
With its “reward” Amazon’s best choice, this Therm-a-rest Neo Air sleeping pad features a baffling structure which provides excellent stability and great support to your body. It is produced using advanced technology and its design speaks for itself.
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Although this is not a mummy sleeping pad, it does not have a bulky design like most rectangular pads. It is comfortable enough for sleeping, yet compact enough for packing it into your backpack.
Value
This sleeping pad is quite pricey as it comes to you at a price of around $125.
Insulation
Although the main reason for the pillowed structure of this sleeping pad is to provide comfort and support to your body, it is also providing extra insulation and isolation from the cold ground. In its manufacturing process, advanced fabrics are being used for the production, one of them being nylon material which is responsible for its waterproof properties.
It is promoted as a 3-season sleeping pad, although cold sleepers are not advised to use it in autumn on high altitudes. The insulation properties are provided by using the Core Matrix triangular construction design which minimized the heat loss of your body.
Style
This is the most lightweight sleeping pad from the 3 season category. With its 1 pound, it is perfect for long backpacking trips and expeditions.
5. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
NeoAir XTherm, as the name suggests is an air pad that will provide you with comfort without you having to look for an even terrain to set it up. It has horizontal baffles allows you to sleep undisturbed from the rocks underneath you. It is the ideal choice if you are looking for a durable sleeping pad, though the price might deter some buyers.
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The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm provides you 3,25 in elevation from the ground which means that the probability of you feeling the pine cones or rocks on the ground is significantly decreased. It is important to mention that the level of comfort significantly decreases if the pad is less inflated than its optimum capacity.
Value
This sleeping pad comes to you at a price of around $180.
Insulation
The best part of the XTherm is its warmth. This is one of the warmest pads on the list with an R-value of 5.7. This pad will definitely keep you warm on those cold nights.
Style
This is not a sleeping pad that is particularly lightweight. However, it is not in the heavy category neither. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a lightweight sleeping pad, take a look at our other suggestions such as the Sea to Summit Ultralight sleeping pad.
6. Sea to Summit Comfort Plus
Sea to Summit has indeed shown their skills with this sleeping pad. It is highly comfortable as the name suggests and its structure is unlike most models on the market. With an R-value of 5, it is ready to go in the mountains in the coldest weather conditions.
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This is one of the few sleeping pads that are supported with sprung cells to provide your body greater support and comfort. It is designed with 596 cells which guarantee that your body won’t bottom out into the pad and you will have a refreshing night’s sleep. It is an inflatable sleeping pad, though, which means it is recommended that you pay special attention to choosing the exact place where you are going to set it up. The pressure adjustment valve will allow that you wake up at the same elevation that you were when you fell asleep, which is a pretty rare feature.
Value
This is one of the most expensive sleeping pads on our list as it comes to you at a price of around $230.
Insulation
When it comes to weight, it is important that it is compared to the insulation rating. This particular sleeping bag has excellent weight to warmth ratios, which makes it a perfect choice for backpacking in cold weather conditions.
Style
The biggest problems when it comes to inflation and deflation are the bacteria that tend to grow inside the pad. However, this sleeping pad is treated with antimicrobial treatment, which prevents such conditions.
This Sea to Summit sleeping pad includes a repair kit in its package as well as a waterproof sack that is made from durable nylon material.
7. Sea to Summit UltraLight
As the name suggests, this Sea to Summit sleeping pad is the lightest option on the market, so if that is your focus, this would be the perfect choice for you. However, if you need a warm sleeping pad, then we suggest that you look through our other options.
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The inflation process is pretty easy with this sleeping pad since the construction takes up most of the internal space. For this reason, fewer breaths are needed to blow the pad completely.
Value
This sleeping pad comes to you at a price of around $180.
Insulation
This sleeping pad from Sea to Summit is made from thermolite, which will keep you warm and maintain body warmth to ensure you have a comfortable sleep.
Style
The design of this sleeping pad is pretty specific, and it is responsible for the comfort it provides. Instead of baffles, Sea to Summit uses dot weld construction, which is taking care of the bouncing issue and the weak edge construction, which is the most common issue in pads. This makes the pad extra supportive. Therefore your night’s sleep would be quite comfortable. However, the same dots that provide its comfort tend to collect dirt, which is making maintenance quite difficult.
8. Therm-a-Rest EvoLite
The EvoLite pad is an inflatable sleeping pad that is very easy to inflate and it is comfortable as well. It comes at an affordable price and its surface is pretty smooth which increases its comfort. However, if your main focus in on the size of the sleeping pad, you might want to look through our other options since this one is a bit bulkier model.
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Even though air sleeping pads are usually the more comfortable option, this inflatable pad proves this wrong. It is the perfect combination of a semi-inflatable sleeping pad and an air pad and it features the best of both models. Although its design features strips in a horizontal line, the surface feels like a flat one when sleeping on it. It is also a rather stable sleeping pad.
Value
This sleeping pad comes to you at a price of around $85.
Insulation
The R-value of the sleeping pad is 2.1 which means that it could withstand cold weather up to some degree. However, it is advertised as a 3 season sleeping pad which is good news for everyone except the cold sleepers who are advised to look through our warmer suggestions.
Style
It weighs only 17 oz which makes it pretty light sleeping pad. However, if this is the main feature you are focusing, it is good to know that there are lighter options you could choose.
9. Big Agnes - Q Core SLX
The support the Big Agnes provides is more pillowy than other mattresses, but it is still quite comfortable for those of you who prefer sleeping on softer pads. It has quite a compact design and it won’t take too much space into your backpack. Its length is a bit shorter than regular, but the comfort it provides is maximized.
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This sleeping pad comes from a great brand and is highly rated by previous customers and for good reason. This sleeping pad will provide you with a comfortable and warm sleep to give you the energy you need for the next day.
Value
The material used in the production process is much more durable than similar sleeping pad models, therefore the higher price.
Insulation
This sleeping pad will keep you warm and maintains body heat to ensure you are not cold during the night when sleeping in colder climates.
Style
Even though the material is a rip-stop fabric which is quite common, it is a bit thicker than most models, therefore its durability.
Additional features include a repair kit which is necessary for your backpacking or camping trips. However, due to its durability, it is likely probably that you are going to need one.
10. Klymit Insulated Static V Lite
The Klymit sleeping pad is known for its insulation properties. While it is good enough to use in warm climates, it is the ideal choice for lower mountain temperatures. However, it requires that you take good care of it since sharp objects and bumpy terrains are not the ideal environment for this sleeping pad.
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The feeling this sleeping bag provides while you are sleeping on it is unlike any other model on the market. It is specifically designed with side rails in order to increase comfort. Sleeping on vertical rails feels not so comfortable and horizontal ones tend to collapse on the edges. For this reason, Klymit’s side rails provide the perfect level of comfort!
Value
This sleeping pad comes to you at a price of around $50, which is a great price if you are trying to stick to a budget but want comfort for your next camping trip.
Insulation
The R-value of this sleeping bag is 4.4 and it is good enough to make you feel comfortable in snowy weather conditions. It is interesting to mention that comparing to other sleeping pads with the same R-value, this one, tends to feel warmer. The reason for this is simple, yet impressive. The baffles are designed a bit deeper than competitive models, so when the sleeping bag lays on top of the pad it fills the baffles. This leads to trapping the warmth inside, therefore you feel warmer and more comfortable. It is a brilliant and simple technology for increasing the warmth properties which is used in this sleeping pad only.
Style
It weighs 19.6 ounces, which is a bit more than competitive options, but the R-value compensates for this fact.
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