The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads For 2022
When you’re going backpacking, you typically have two options for shelter. You can sleep in a hammock or a tent. If you choose to spend your nights in a tent, you’ll need to get used to sleeping on the ground. While this may sound uncomfortable, the right gear can actually make it a pleasant sleeping experience. One of these key pieces of gear is your sleeping pad. The best backpacking sleeping pads can keep you feeling comfortable every night.
Unfortunately, finding the best backpacking sleeping pads can be a challenge. There is a lot that goes into choosing a sleeping pad. We cover what to consider when shopping for a sleeping pad in the article linked here. But if you’re looking for our recommendation, you’re in the right place.
Below are some of the most important factors to consider when shopping for a sleeping pad along with a few of our favorites.
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Why We Need a Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Some hikers may skip the sleeping pad in order to reduce weight and bulk in their pack. While ditching the pad will give you extra space and a slightly lighter pack, it’s really not an item I’d recommend going without.
A sleeping pad will improve your sleep experience in the woods…Significantly.
The extra warmth it provides is a key factor. You don’t realize how cold the ground is until you sleep on it! A sleeping pad will insulate you from the cold ground so you’ll stay warm on chilly nights. Your sleeping bag alone won’t give you the insulation you need, especially in cool weather. In fact, a sleeping bag will need to be paired with a sleeping pad in order to meet it’s temperature ratings.
Aside from warmth, sleeping pads give you a much needed layer of padding between you and the ground. The extra padding helps conceal the lumps and bumps of twigs and rocks that you pitched your tent on. If you’re a side sleeper, a pad will also save you from serious soreness in the morning.
Bottom line is, if you want to sleep well, you should consider adding a sleeping pad to your packing list.
Types of Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Foam Pads
Foam sleeping pads are the classic foldable or rollable sleeping mats that people have used for generations. They are made from dense, closed-cell material. Newer models will have a textured or shape that allows them to be thicker, yet more compact when folded.
material makes them far more durable than inflatable models. That durability makes them perfect for people who share a tent with their dog – you don’t need to worry about punctures.
Foam sleeping pads aren’t perfect, though. They can be rather bulky compared to other mats. Most backpackers will need to strap them to the outside of their pack due to their size. Unfortunately, that bulk doesn’t come with superior comfort. Most foam pads are thin and less comfortable than the inflatable or hybrid varieties.
Inflatable Pads
An inflatable sleeping pad is like a small, thin air mattress. However, unlike air mattresses, these pads are designed to be small and efficient with air.
They contain strategically built air chambers to disperse air, so only a small amount is needed for maximum comfort. This is an important feature, you don’t want to be huffing and puffing into your sleeping pad all night. After all, you already did plenty of heavy breathing on your way to your campsite.
Most experienced and ultralight backpackers will opt for an inflatable sleeping pad for most of their trips. It’s hard to beat how compact and lightweight they are! Many inflatable pads will shrink down to the size of a soda can and weigh under 1.5 pounds.
The only downside is that these are less durable. A puncture or tear could lead to you waking up on the ground in the middle of the night. Fortunately, most inflatable pads will come with a repair kit. However, it is still a major pain to have to patch up your bed.
Some people are also deterred by the effort it takes to inflate it. While most only require 15-30 breaths, it is still extra work at the end of a long day.
Self-Inflating Pads
Self-Inflating sleeping pads are like a hybrid between foam and inflatable. It has a compressible open-cell foam at it’s base with an air valve that allows it to expand and inflate. Opening and closing the air valve will trap air in or keep air out, allowing it to expand when it’s time for bed and compress when you’re packing up.
Some backpackers will argue that self-inflating pads are the most comfortable. While that is really dependent on personal opinion, you can’t deny that these sleeping pads are nice to lay on. They tend to be thick and you can alter the amount of air inside them to adjust firmness to your needs.
These are also incredibly easy to use. Most will begin to expand on their own, needing only a couple of breaths to plump it up to your desired firmness.
While these are more durable than inflatable sleeping pads, getting a puncture will soil much of the benefit of these mats. These do tend to come with a patch kit, fortunately. These mats tend to be more compact than a foam pad, but are far bulkier than an inflatable sleeping pad. If you’re tight on backpack space, this is something to consider.
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Best Foam Sleeping Pad
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite
- 51″ x 20″ x .75″
- 17.6 oz
- 1.7 R Value
If you’re looking for a compact but comfortable foam sleeping pad, this one from Therm-a-Rest will be your best bet. It’s dimpled design helps capture and trap heat within the small air pockets. The egg-shaped surface also allows it to fold thin while still providing plenty of padding from the ground. A key feature for this pad is the side texture that is optimized for comfort. The top side is a soft sleeping surface while the bottom is dense for insulation and durability.
Find it here!
Best Inflatable Sleeping Pad
Outdoorsman Lab Sleeping Pad
- 73″ x 21.6″ x 2.2″
- 14.4 oz
- 2.2 R Value
The Outdoorsman lab is a great lightweight and comfortable inflatable sleeping pad. It’s compact, packing down to about the size of a water bottle so it won’t take up much space in your pack. The hexagon design is for comfort and utility. It gives relief to pressure points while keeping the pad efficient with air use so it only takes 10-15 breaths to fully inflate. The material is durable ripstop 20D nylon, so you’ll also have peace of mind that it’ll hold up!
Find it here!
Best Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad
Pinpoint Nature
- 73″ x 23″ x 1.5-2″
- 41.6 oz
- 3.8 R Value
It’s hard to beat the Pinpoint Nature self-inflating sleeping pad. It shrinks down to 7.2” by 11.5”, but expands significantly for superior comfort. In fact, when fully inflated it can be up to 2 inches thick. The material is waterproof, so there’s no concern about moisture soaking into it. The interior foam is also incredibly resilient, so you can use it for years without any issue.
Find it here!
Photo by Ali Kazal on Unsplash
