Home
TOP
Great trail sleep can be surprisingly tough to come by. You’d think after a long day of hiking, most backpackers would be tired enough to fall asleep face-first in their rehydrated beef stew. But many hikers struggle with getting good sleep in the wilderness, even when their bodies are completely exhausted.
That’s one of the reasons why packing a great sleeping pad is so important. Sleeping pads provide the comfort your body needs for getting a good night's rest. But there’s more to it than that. Sleeping pads are also critical for keeping you warm. They help to insulate your body from the cold ground, which makes them not only important for comfort, but safety as well.
I’ve researched and tested dozens of lightweight sleeping pads to narrow this list down to the very best of the best. I hope this post helps you find the perfect sleeping pad to keep you snoozing soundly in the wilderness for many years to come. Enjoy!
COST - Good sleeping pads come in a wide range of prices. You can get an inexpensive foam pad for around $20 or purchase a top-notch air pad for closer to $200. The bottom line is that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a good pad. That said, many backpackers (myself included) are willing to spend more for a high-quality pad they’ll get a lot of use out of.
WEIGHT - Your sleeping pad will be one of the four heaviest items you carry in your pack (shelter, backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad). So this is a great place to save weight. The lighter your backpack, the more comfortable your hiking trips will be. All of the pads I recommend are light enough to take on a thru-hike or a casual weekend trek.
AIR PADS vs FOAM PADS - The two main types of sleeping pads are air pads and foam pads. Both types can be very light and comfortable. Foam pads are more affordable, quicker to setup, and can be used for multiple purposes - like extra support for a frameless backpack or a seat around camp. The main downsides with foam pads are that they’re bulkier to pack and they compress over time, so they’ll need to be replaced every so often. Air pads are more expensive, but most backpackers find them to be much more comfortable than foam pads. The main downside with air pads is that they can puncture in the field, so you’ll always want to bring repair patches.
REPAIR KIT - If you decide to take an air pad into the wilderness, make sure to pack a small repair kit. Sharp objects (rocks, sticks, cacti, etc.) can puncture air pads, so always look over your sleeping area before setting up shop. If your pad springs a leak and you don’t have way to fix it, you’re going to be one unhappy camper. Literally. Almost all of the air pads listed below come with a repair kit.
WARMTH - Your sleeping pad will help keep you warm at night when the temperature drops. The R-value of a sleeping pad measures how well it will insulate your body from the cold ground. The higher the R-value, the warmer the pad will be. In general, sleeping pads with R-values of 0-1 will be best for warm weather trips. R-values of 1-3 are good for most 3-season backpacking conditions. R-values of 3-5 are good when the temp drops around or below freezing. And you’ll likely want a pad (or combination of pads) with 5+ R-value if you’re winter backpacking where you’ll be sleeping on snow. It’s also important to note that, just like with sleeping bags, this is not an exact science. Some people sleep warmer than others.
BEST USE - The sleeping pads I’m focusing on for this post will be best for 3-season backpacking trips. That’s when most people hit the trail, so these pads will be a good fit for the most common trips. I’ll also recommend the insulated versions of these pads if you’re looking for something warmer. Also, it’s important to remember that if you’re interested in doing some winter camping, you can always combine pads (place a foam pad under an air pad for example) to increase insulation.
LENGTH - Your hips and shoulders are the biggest pressure points for sleeping pads. So it’s important to use a pad that will give you comfort in those areas. Ultralight backpackers often use shorter torso-length pads and let their legs hang off the end of the pad to save weight on thru-hikes. Most casual backpackers prefer the comfort of full-length pads that cushion their heels and keep their feet warm.
THICKNESS - Many times, the thicker the pad is the more comfortable it will be. Thicker air pads will give you more flexibility for finding the perfect firmness for your pad without bottoming out. That said, structure is important with an air pad as well. It’s never fun to feel like you’re sleeping on a pool floatie. The pads I recommend below are all thick enough to be very comfortable while still holding shape.
PACKED SIZE - Having a highly packable sleeping pad is a nice benefit. If your sleeping pad packs down small, it will be easy to fit anywhere in your backpack. If it’s bulky, you’ll probably have to strap it to the outside of your bag. That’s not really a big deal, but it can leave your pad exposed to rain and punctures if you’re not careful. All the pads I recommend are highly packable.
BUYING ONLINE - Check the seller's return policy before you buy, but you can almost always return an unused pad within a certain timeframe after purchasing. I recommend buying your top choice, testing it at home, and returning/exchanging it if it doesn’t feel quite right. I’ve been buying lightweight sleeping pads online for years and I’ve yet to have any problems.