We’re here to help you find the best sleeping pads, mattress pads and sleeping mats for your specific needs. Sleeping pads are the perfect solution for campers, hikers and even basement sleepovers. They come in a range of styles and thicknesses to suit a variety of needs. Also called roll mats, sleeping pads usually roll or fold up for easy storage and transport, and take up as little space as possible when not being used.
The best sleeping pad for your needs will depend on the activities you are planning as well as the temperature range and other considerations. Some sleeping pads are designed to prioritize ease of transportation, such as those made for hikers. They are lightweight, roll up sleeping mats which can be carried easily on one’s back, and they provide insulation and comfort when lying on the ground. Other sleeping mats are made for plush comfort, such as those made as mattress pads or blow-up (inflating) pads used for camping.
Sleeping pads are often made of foam; some with internal pockets that inflate with air, either manually or with a small pump, and some are flat foam; some have special construction such as closed foam cells or an eggcrate design to provide comfort in place of inflatable air pockets.
You will need to know what temperatures you will be using your sleeping pad in, so that you can choose the best sleeping pad accordingly. For very cold outdoor activities such as winter camping, choose a sleeping pad meant that will not crack or become brittle even in cold temperatures, preferably combined with a quality sleeping bag meant for colder temperatures.
Some Sleeping Pad Basics
Sleeping pads for camping are often inflatable, either manually or with a pump. A manually inflated sleeping pad, also known as an air mattress although they are different, contains cells or pockets inside which fill with air when pumped up, meaning you blow into it or use a small air pump (which often comes included with the sleeping pad as an accessory). Because the air circulates inside while you sleep, it cools down and offers less insulation from the cold than you might like. Sleeping pad and mat manufacturers have worked around this by creating smaller pockets, lining them with insulation, etc., however this makes blowing them up a little more arduous. Some sleeping pads contain materials such as a special foam that traps air and keeps it warmer, and these are known as self-inflating sleeping pads, as the air naturally fills the foam pockets when you unfurl the pad and lay it out, and open the air valve. The foam is very light and these pads are very popular with hikers and campers, as they require no extra work and trap warm air fairly well.
A solid foam sleeping pad does not require inflation, and simply rolls up for transport. They are lightweight and durable, although perhaps not as cushy as air-filled sleeping pads. Because they are made of a solid material, they have some advantages and disadvantages as compared to inflatable sleeping pads; for instance they cannot usually be folded into a small square and must be rolled up (somewhat like a yoga mat), and because they do not deflate they take up more space, although this depends on the pad style and material/s used. They may even be completely stiff and not foldable or rollable at all, as in egg-carton or ridged type designs and thick foam. These are great for storing in garages or basements and using for guests or for sleepovers. Memory foam sleeping pads are another example of a bulky material but they offer excellent comfort in return.
When looking at sleeping pads, some criteria you’ll find include thickness, materials, temperatures meant for usage, and weight. Of course you can also buy accessories on their own, such as pumps, extra foam padding, covers and specially made fitted sheets, etc. A popular Therm-A-Rest sleeping pad example below illustrates the benefits of an inflatable sleeping pad, along with some basic information.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir All Season: This sleeping pad is durable and extremely lightweight (14 oz.) and packs up, according to consumer reviews, into a tiny space, making it perfect for hiking, ie. easy to carry in a backpack. In fact, the manufacturer says it’s as easy to carry as a 1 litre bottle! The sleeping pad is easy to inflate manually and thus does not require a pump, and provides a lot of warmth and insulation due to the use of two patent-pending technologies. There are over 100 interior cells, and a reflective internal barrier, resulting in a pad which stays three times warmer than uninsulated air mattresses. The pockets keep it stable so you won’t roll off while sleeping, and there is no down, foam or other material inside to soak up any moisture from your breath as you inflate it. Therm-a-Rest has been making sleeping pads for a long time, and this is the best of the best from their R&D department. It is an all-season sleeping pad, designed for a range of temperatures, and can withstand rugged conditions such as those hikers and mountain climbers might encounter. It has a lifetime warranty, and includes a repair kit.
Some other popular sleeping pad brands include the Exped Downmat, Therm-A-Rest ProLite, and Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Sleeping Pad (Big Agnes sleeping pads are VERY popular).
