Sleeping Pad R Values
Measuring Insulation
If you're a home owner, you are probably familiar with the concept of an R-Value. If not, it's a measure used in the building and construction industry to rate the thermal resistance of building insulation under specific test conditions. The higher the R value, the more effective it is.
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R value performance testing is done in a 70 F environment with no air movement. As such, it doesn't reflect many real world conditions where you'd use a sleeping pad, so I highly recommend that you augment any gear selection that you make based on it with field testing.
Sleeping Pad Selection Criteria
For purposes of backpacking, you also need to factor in weight, comfort, compressibility, and rigidity when you make a sleeping pad selection. For example, if you have a frameless backpack with a pad pocket like the Mariposa Plus or the Starlite, it makes sense to use a rigid closed cell pad. Highly compressible pads are useful when you have a small volume pack and so an inflatable pad may make the most sense.
For example, on my last winter backpacking trip, I used a Big Agnes Insulated Aircore sleeping pad in combination with a foam pad instead of an Exped Downmat 7 for camping on snow. The Insulated Aircore is much more compressible than the Downmat and I wanted to save some space. On hindsight, this was a poor choice because I was a little cold, but it gives you some idea of the trade-offs that can go into picking different pad combinations for different weather conditions.
I am still looking for a more compressible, warm winter pad and compiled the following table of sleeping pad R-values for this purpose. The table is sortable, so you can rank order products on any of it's dimensions if you want explore cost, weight, R-value, or thickness trade-offs. I've already found it very useful myself.
Sleeping Pad Comparison
| Manufacturer | Model | R-Value | Weight (oz) | Thickness (in) | Price USD | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Agnes | Clearview | 1 | 15 | 2.5 | 50 | Inflatable |
| Big Agnes | Aircore | 1 | 22 | 2.5 | 50 | Inflatable |
| Big Agnes | Insulated Aircore | 4.1 | 21 | 2.5 | 79.95 | Inflatable |
| Big Agnes | Dual Core | 5.0 | 38 | 2.5 | 99.95 | Inflatable |
| Thermarest | Z-lite | 2.2 | 15 | 0.75 | 29.95 | Closed Cell |
| Thermarest | Prolite | 2.2 | 16 | 1.0 | 99.95 | Self-Inflating |
| Thermarest | NeoAir | 2.5 | 14 | 2.5 | 119.00 | Self-Inflating |
| Thermarest | Ridgerest | 2.6 | 14 | 0.625 | 24.95 | Closed Cell |
| Thermarest | RidgeRest Deluxe | 3.1 | 19 | 0.75 | 34.95 | Closed Cell |
| Thermarest | Trail Lite | 3.8 | 32 | 1.5 | 59.95 | Self-Inflating |
| Exped | Downmat 7 | 5.9 | 27 | 2.8 | 150.00 | Inflatable |
| Exped | Downmat 9 | 8.0 | 33.2 | 3.5 | 160.00 | Inflatable |
| Pacific Outdoor Equip | Ether Thermo 6 | 6.8 | 21 | 2.5 | 70.95 | Inflatable |
| Gossamer Gear | Nightlight | 2.27 | 3.8 | 0.75 | 18 | Closed Cell |
| BMW | Torsolite | 3.5 | 11 | 1.0 | 69.99 | Inflatable |
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wow, thanks for the great chart. My wife and I tryed out tonight in the store the Big Agnes memory foam pad with a SI Mat inside and wow was that nice for bike camping.
No problem – I created this to do my own comparison in search of a lightweight winter pad and discovered the Ether Thermo 6. Got one on order from REI so I can easily return it if it doesn’t work the way I want it to.
We are planning a bike camping trip soon and the wife has an old flannel sleeping bag that needs upgrading to save weight. We tried the Big Agnes Lost dog bag with the memory foam pad in which the store had a thermarest matteress in it go figure. The wife really liked it. We are going to try just the air core tomorrow to compare the two. Do you own a air core? I wonder how long it takes to inflate?
Also earlyite is it true what the store told us a sleeping bag is rated by being in a tent on a sleep pad so for our application of summer camping a 50 degreee bag with a thicker pad would be great.
I’ve never heard that, but it sounds plausible. However, I just sold my 40 degree bag for summer use because I was too cold using it(in a tent and on a pad), and I now use my 20 degree for all 3 seasons. Your mileage may vary, but I’d be a little skeptical.
I own the insulated aircore but not the non-insulated one and I really like it. Super comfortable. Frankly, I’d go for it rather than the thermarest, memory foam combo. Save your money. My aircore takes about 20 breaths to blow up, but that shouldn’t be a problem for you tough bikers.
It also compresses down very well.
thanks for the input . We are going to give it a try in the local store today. http://www.apexoutdoors.com former EMS manager going on his own.
I second the BA insulated air core reccomendation. I use it in a BA 15 deg syn bag (BA Encampment) which has no fill in the bottom half and am very happy with it.
Well, tryed the air core with a 20 degreee BA on sale for 142.00 closeout. Then tryed the aircore with the BA 30 degree for 169.00. both minus the matress. I like both actually. I preferr the ranger 15 BA but for summer camping I think its going to be overkill as I don’t plan on winter camping with this new bag.
Came on this a little late, sorry. The Big Agnes insulated aircore does not take too long to inflate if you have reasonably working lungs. I was a child asthmatic and I can managed it after hiking all day. Instead of full inflation I find that around half filled is about right. When fully inflated I find the pad way too hard and bouncy. For reference I am a side sleeper, so this may affect my preference.