An insulating sleeping pad is a must-have for backpackers who sleep on the ground in tents and under tarp shelters to prevent body heat loss to the ground. The best backpacking sleeping pads are air mattresses or foam pads because they’re lightweight and compact. While they vary in composition and thickness, they are all designed to complement your sleep insulation, keeping you warm, so your body can recover after a day of hiking.
When choosing a sleeping pad it is important to also consider its weight, R-value, durability, size, thickness, comfort, and price. What are your priorities?
| Make / Model | Type | R-Value | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEMO Tensor UL Insulated | Air | 4.2 | 17 oz |
| Exped Ultra 5R | Air | 4.8 | 20 oz |
| Sea-to-Summit Ether Light XT Insulated | Air | 3.2 | 16.3 oz |
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite | Air | 4.2 | 12 oz |
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm | Air | 6.9 | 15 oz |
| NEMO Tensor Alpine UL | Air | 4.8 | 17 oz |
| Sea-to-Summit Ether Light XT Extreme | Air | 6.2 | 26.6 oz |
| NEMO Insulated Quasar 3D | Air | 3.3 | 25 oz |
| Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol | Foam | 2 | 14 oz |
| NEMO Switchback | Foam | 2 | 14.5 oz |
Here are our picks for the best 10 sleeping pads available today based on these dimensions. Many of these sleeping pads are available in different lengths, widths, and weights, making it easy to find a good choice to fit your needs.
1. NEMO Tensor Insulated Air Pad
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | NEMO
2. Exped Ultra 5R
The Exped Ultra 5R Air Mattress is a lightweight inflatable sleeping pad that’s three inches thick and has an R-value of 4.8. It contains synthetic insulation, instead of reflective films, which makes it very quiet to sleep on, and is covered with a durable 20d polyester non-slip fabric. The pad has a pair of flat stemless valves for inflation and deflation and vertical baffles that are designed to keep you from rolling off the pad at night. The Ultra 5R is available in three mummy and three rectangular sizes including a regular width, a wide width, and a long and wide pad. All six sizes are priced identically so you can pick the size you want without having to sweat a higher price point. The Ultra 5R is also bundled with a large 45L inflation sack/dry bag called a Schnozzel (a $40 value, also available separately), which can be used as a waterproof pack liner.
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | EXPED-USA
3. Sea-to-Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Pad
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Sea to Summit
4. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Therm-a-Rest
5. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Therm-a-Rest
6. NEMO Tensor Alpine Air Pad
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | NEMO
7. Sea-to-Summit Ether Light XT Extreme
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Sea-to-Summit
8. NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Air
9. Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Foam Pad
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | Therm-a-Rest
10. NEMO Switchback Foam Pad
Available from:
REI | Backcountry | NEMO
Backpacking Sleeping Pad Guide
Choosing a sleeping pad requires prioritizing across multiple factors, some of which can be at odds with one another.
Sleeping Pad R-Values and Air Temperature in Degrees
What’s the correlation between air temperature and sleeping pad R-values? When do you need a pad with a higher R-value? This table is based on Exped’s recommendations in Fahrenheit and Celsius degrees.
| Air Temperature (F): | 50 | 43 | 36 | 29 | 22 | 15 | 8 | 0 | -7 | -14 | -21 | -30 |
| Minimum R-Value | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 |
| Air Temperature (C): | 10 | 6 | 2 | -2 | -6 | -9 | -13 | -18 | -22 | -26 | -30 | -34 |
| Minimum R-Value | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 |
In addition:
- R-values are additive, so you can combine two pads to increase your warmth level.
- Women need higher R-values pads because they have lower body mass than men. An additional R-value of 1 is usually a good hedge for women and other cold sleepers
Sleeping Pad Thickness
Thicker sleeping pads are often more comfortable for side sleepers because they provide more cushioning under the hip bones. Depending on their length and width, it may take more breaths to inflate a very thick air pad, something to factor into your decision.
Sleeping Pad Dimensions
Most popular sleeping pads are available in a wide range of lengths and widths. While large pads are often more comfortable, they’re often heavier. Most pads are available in a standard 72″ x 20″ size. But many pads are also available in longer, shorter, and wider sizes, or mummy and rectangular shapes.
Sleeping Pad Weight
A sleeping pad is one of the most important items on your gear list in terms of comfort and sleep insulation. While the weight of all backpacking gear matters, don’t make the mistake of being miserable at night by choosing a pad that compromises the quality of your sleep, simply to reduce the weight of your gear list. For example, most sleeping bag and quilt temperature ratings assume that you’re sleeping on a pad with an R-value between 4.0 and 5.0. If you sleep with a pad that has a lower R-value, even in summer, you probably won’t be able to experience the full temperature rating of your sleep insulation. That’s a sobering thought.
Sleeping Pad Compactness
The size and compactness of a sleeping pad can be an important fact depending on your style of packing and the size of your backpack. Inflatable pads usually pack up the smallest, self-inflating pads are usually larger, and foam pads are the largest. Depending on how you pack, foam sleeping pads may need to be attached to the outside of your backpack because they’re so large. While closed-cell foam pads don’t absorb water if they get wet, you’ll want to dry one off before you put a sleeping bag or quilt on top of it, after a wet day on the trail.
Sleeping Pad Types
There are three types of sleeping pads: air mattresses, self-inflating mattresses, and closed-cell foam pads. Air mattresses provide the greatest comfort and pack up the smallest when deflated. Most come with a lightweight stuff sack that can be used to inflate them. Self-inflating mattresses are usually the heaviest and will up partially with air when unrolled for use. You still have to blow them up a bit, but only a minor amount. Closed-cell foam pads are the least expensive but they are bulky have to be attached to the exterior of your pack. They are very reliable however because they’re made with foam so they can’t be punctured and they’re waterproof, so they won’t get heavier if it rains.
Sleeping Pad R-Values
The most reliable measure of insulation is R-value. Beginning in 2020, a new Sleeping Bag R-Value Standard was adopted by the outdoor industry and most of the major sleeping pad manufacturers including Therm-a-Rest, NEMO, Sea-to-Summit, REI, Big Agnes, and Klymiy have retested and re-rated their sleeping pads using it. Klymit, notably, has not. This new standard benefits consumers because it makes it possible, for the first time, to compare sleeping pads by their R-values because they all use the same testing methodology.
For three-season backpacking and camping, an R-value of 2, or higher, is recommended. For winter backpacking and camping, an R-value of 5, or higher, is recommended. R-values are additive, so you can stack two pads to increase your warmth level. Women need higher R-values pads because they have lower body mass than men. An additional R-value of 1 is usually a good hedge for women and other cold sleepers
Sleeping Pad Durability
Foam sleeping pads are the most durable, self-inflating pads are the next most durable, and inflatable air mattresses the least. Inflatable air mattresses tend to fail in two places: the valves and at the seams of fabric. Flat valves that are flush with the surface of the sleeping pad are more durable than stick valves because they have no moving parts and can’t catch on obstructions.
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Well, I am on my 4th sleeping pad. I first tried the EXPED Synmat HL, it has been durable and warm, especially for it’s R value. After 60 nights on it, I decided I wanted to look for something more comfortable. I have the S2S Womens Etherlight. While it has an R value rated higher than the EXPED, for me, it is not as warm. I will keep it and use it in the summer as it is luxuriously comfortable. After about 15 nights on it, I got tired of being cold so I tried the NeoAir Xlite. It is definitely warm! I never noticed that is was crinkly. Sure, if you are not laying on it, you can make it sound really loud, but once laying on the pad, it is a bit quieter. It was however, very uncomfortable for my lower back, no matter how much air was in it. Lastly, I tried the Nemo Insulated Tensor. It is definitely warm and quiet. It is quite comfortable. I only have 7 nights on it, but if it stays this way, I will consider it a great compromise between all the pads I have tried. It is only slightly less comfortable than the S2S and as warm as the NeoAir Xlite. I do use the Schnozzle to fill it. My only concern is how hard I have to push down to close the valve, I hope it does not cause damage to the pad. Now if only I could find a great lightweight pillow!
I used the XLite for years too and eventually found it just too hard to sleep on. It was good when my priority was gear weight, but now I’m willing to trade a few ounces for a more comfortable and thicker pad.
Oh – and hey – I got a honcho poncho that you were curious about to review.
Couldn’t you just review Sherpa’s and make hiking easier on us all? :)
If it was easy, everyone would do it.
This is such an informative site.
I appreciate your efforts and the compilation of your information.
Well done Phillip!
It’s a passion. :-) Thanks.
I really think the new Big Agnes Rapide SL should be in the group .I have just spent 5 nights on it and it’s top notch .
You might want to mention that exped mummy pads have zero insulation in the two outer most chambers- it definitely shows up when using a quilt not so bad in a zipped closed sleeping bag.