Sleeping Pad Reviews

The Therm-a-Rest Z-lite sleeping pad (long and short) is a top-rated non-inflatable foam sleeping pad you can buy from a mainstream manufacturer. With an R-value of 2, it doesn’t absorb rainwater and folds up like an accordion so it can be easily strapped to the outside of your pack. The …

The Sea-to-Summit Ultralight Sleeping Pad is quick to inflate and deflate, folds flat and compactly, and is covered with dimpled air cells that adapt to a sleeper’s curves like the mattress of their bed at home. Weighing just 12.5 ounces in a size regular, the Sea-to-Summit Ultralight  Sleeping Pad is also …

If you want to save gear weight, but you’re not willing to give up the luxury and comfort of using an inflatable sleeping pad, try a torso-length one like the 47″ size “Short” Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite. Weighing 8 oz*, it weighs 4 oz less than the 12 oz, 72″ size …

The Big Agnes AXL Air sleeping pad is a warm weather ultralight sleeping pad (mummy or full size) that beats the pants off the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite in terms of comfort and compressibility when packed. But it takes a lot of effort to inflate by mouth and you’ll definitely want …

The Therm-a-Rest Prolite is a self-inflating sleeping pad with an R-value of 2.4, good for use down to 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit. While self-inflating sleeping pads are not nearly as popular as they were 20 years ago, they are more durable and resilient than inflatable sleeping pads, and much less expensive. …

The REI Flash Insulated Air Sleeping Pad has an R-value of 3.7 and weighs just 15 oz. It rolls up incredibly flat and requires just 10 breaths to inflate, while deflation takes just seconds through a separate deflation valve. Priced just under $100, it’s a great value for a three …

I’m not a minimalist and while I believe in the value of lightweight backpacking gear, there’s something to be said for bringing a few creature comforts along on my trips once in a while. There are times when you want to be like Andrew Skurka’s “ultimate hiker” and times when …

Klymit has introduced an ultralight variant to its Static V line of sleeping pads, co-designed and sold exclusively by MassDrop, called the Insulated Static V Ultra Light. With an R-value of 4.4 (pre-sleeping-bag-standard), it’s an excellent pad to use for sleeping on cold ground in spring and autumn, but you’ll still want to add …

Klymit’s Static V Luxe Sleeping Pad is an interesting twist on a luxury inflatable sleeping pad, combining a decadent 30″ width, with a pad that is easy to inflate, and rolls up into a small bundle barely the size of many ultralight weight backpacking pads. It’s also incredibly inexpensive, only costing $89, …

The Big Agnes Green Ridge Sleeping Pad (MSRP $69.95) is a full-length warm weather sleeping pad that only weighs 12.6 ounces (on the SectionHiker digital scale). It packs up super small and is a good choice when you want to go light but not skimp out on your sleeping comfort. It reminds …

The All Season version of the NeoAir Sleeping pad has an R value of 4.9 making it suitable for sleeping on snow in winter. See Sleeping Pad R-Values. If you’re familiar with the NeoAir XLite, the All Season version is a good deal quieter than the original and has a much …

When Philip and I went car camping for the first time last December, I realized that I was a back sleeper and could not get a good night’s sleep on a standard 19 inch wide pad. My arms were not supported, putting a painful strain on my back and shoulders. …

The Therm-a-Rest LuxuryLite UltraLite Cot is designed for campers, backpackers, fisherman, or kayakers who need more back support than they can get from a foam or inflatable sleeping pad, prefer to sleep up off the ground, or want a cooler sleeping system for camping in hot weather. The UltraLite version of the LuxuryLite …

The Exped SynMat Winterlite insulated sleeping pad is a very lightweight, high R-value sleeping pad (R-Value = 4.9) that is warm enough for camping on snow, in addition to three season use. See Sleeping Pad R-Values. Mummy-shaped, the SynMat Winterlite is filled with a synthetic microfiber insulation which is bonded to the top …