Some recommended products below may include affiliate links for which I may receive a commission if purchased when clicking through. Please note that I only recommend products that I feel are worthy, and you will not pay any extra when purchasing through these links. Click here to read the full disclosure statement.
When people think of camping, they often think of their childhood adventures, perhaps sleeping in the back yard. Often your “gear” was simply a sleeping bag on the ground. Many times your outdoor escapades ended with you heading to your bedroom and its nice, warm bed. Remember getting chilled sometime before dawn? Well, the main reason you got chilled is that you probably didn’t have an insulating pad under your sleeping bag.
Contrary to what most people believe, a sleeping pad isn’t just for softening the earth beneath you; it’s to provide insulation against the cold of the ground. Even in summertime, the ground is cooler than the air temperature. As you can read in the section on Sleeping Bags, insulation is provided by loft. While in a sleeping bag, the loft is compressed beneath you. This puts your body almost directly against the ground, where the coolness transfers itself to you. The purpose of the sleeping pad is to provide that insulation. There are several options available to you which are described below.
Now, I’m going strictly for comfort. I am just VERY careful where I put it down so I don’t puncture my pad!
Closed-cell foam pad. Dense foam provides good insulation but not much cushioning. This is a good choice for lightweight, durable, and inexpensive insulation. The standard flat pads do not provide much cushioning, but some makers have improved on the design by adding ridges that allow more softness and give. One of the more comfortable of these is the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite. Even though these pads are lightweight, they are bulky and difficult to strap on a pack where they won’t get beaten up.
- Lightweight and compact closed-cell foam camping mattress is a durable, dependable, and economical option for sleeping on the ground
- Trusted by mountaineers and backpackers for generations, the classic pad features folding accordion-style construction that is compact and easily...
- Designed with dimples in the padding to capture and trap heat for extra warmth in cold conditions, ensuring a cushioned and cozy night’s sleep...
- Sleeping pad foam is softer on the top for comfort, and denser on the bottom for extra insulation, durability, and protection from the ground
- Molded foam mattress measures 72 x 20 inches (20 x 5 x 5. 5 inches folded) and weighs 14 ounces; made in the USA
- Basic closed-cell foam sleeping pad is a lightweight, durable, and economical option for camping and backpacking
- Trusted by outdoor enthusiasts for generations, the classic ground pad rolls up compactly and is light enough (14 ounces) to carry almost anywhere
- Designed with supportive peaks and heat-trapping valleys in the padding for insulation and comfort; R-Value 2.0
- Virtually indestructible cross-linked polyethylene ensures durability and protection from rocks, and sharp uneven sleeping surfaces
- Closed-cell foam mattress measures 72 x 20 inches and weighs 14 ounces; made in the USA
Self-inflating air mattresses. Not to be confused with the air mattresses that you take to the pool. The pad is made up of a foam core bonded to a waterproof shell that expands upon opening a valve on the corner. Cascade Designs introduced this with their Therm-a-Rest Air Mattress and continues to make some of the best. These pads not only provide insulation against the coldest ground, but they are comfortable as well. I can’t imagine taking any trips without an inflatable pad. They tend to be heavier than the basic closed-cell foam pad, but the good nights’ sleep I get from them more than makes up for the extra weight. These pads are expensive but worth it! The newest designs weigh less, but this lightness comes at a cost of being more delicate. If you take care of them, they will give you many years of comfort and enjoyment. To help your mattress lasts as long as possible, store it flat with the valve open. This allows any moisture inside the foam to dry out and prevents the foam from breaking down. To minimize the amount of moisture that gets inside, allow the pad to self-inflate as much by itself as possible. Then blow any additional air into it to get it to the firmness you desire.
- Providing the essential and warmth needed for camping or backpacking, the Trail Scout sleeping pad is ready for any adventure
- Equipped with a dependable and rugged WingLock valve, the pad inflates 3 times faster than a standard valve and features lightning-fast deflation
- 3.1 R-value means the Trail Scout is perfect for three-season camping or backpacking
- Self-inflating thermal foam provides comfort and convenience in the backcountry; pad is 1-inch thick
- Regular measures 72x20x1 inches, packs to 11x6.3 inches, and weighs 22 ounces; stuff sack included; made in the USA
- Perfect for three-season camping or backpacking, the ProLite Plus self-inflating sleeping pad offers dependable, lightweight comfort
- Equipped with a dependable and rugged WingLock valve, the pad inflates 3 times faster than a standard valve and features lightning-fast deflation
- 3.2 R-value means the ProLite delivers added warmth and comfort during three-season camping and backpacking
- At 1.5-inches thick, this camping mattress with expanding self-inflating foam delivers convenience and comfort and is an ultra-compact expedition...
- Small measures 47x20x1.5 inches, packs to 11x5.8 inches, and weighs 16 ounces; stuff sack included; made in the USA
Non-Self-Inflating air mattresses. These include my “now” favorite like the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. However, these require even more work since they need to be blown up completely by your breath (or a pump, but who wants to carry the extra weight?) and they are even more susceptible to punctures. Others in this class are the Nemo Astro Sleeping Pad and Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air Sleeping Pad. One of the biggest selling points with these is the incredible high loft and exceptional comfort—even for sleeping on your side. It is also extremely important to air the mattresses out and keep the valves open in between uses to dry out the interior due to blowing air into them. Your breath is very moist and can cause bacteria to grow inside. Yuck!
- COMFORT – The Insulated Air Core Ultra is a light and compact insulated pad with a smooth sleeping surface thanks to its vertical baffles. Larger...
- TOASTY WARM – R Value of 4.5, Three-Season - THERMOLITE insulation works with a heat reflective barrier to trap body heat and reflect it back, so...
- LIGHT & DEPENDABLE - Built of durable, lightweight nylon double rip-stop fabric with aviation grade TPU lamination for extra durability. Despite its...
- EASY TO INFLATE - High volume valves with micro adjustments make for fast inflation/deflation and easy fine tuning to your preferred firmness. A pad...
- WHAT IS AN R-VALUE? - An R-Value indicates a sleeping pad's ability to resist heat loss. Unlike temperature ratings, R-Values are standard across all...
Open-cell foam. This is the foam used in egg-crate mattress pads and it is basically worthless for backpacking. It compresses too much to provide good insulation, and it’s extremely bulky as well. Some companies have come up with a combination foam pad by incorporating closed-cell foam bonded to open-cell foam. This provides more comfort and insulation, but the bulky size is definitely a disadvantage.
Air mattresses. Keep these at home on a nice carpet or for use in the pool. They are so vulnerable to punctures that you are taking chances of using them in the backcountry, especially in the rocky, thorny southwestern deserts.
Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API