Their total lack of insulation was also a large part of this assessment, meaning they have a limited temperature window for use. The XTherm has the same slight crinkle sound as the XLite, but again, its considerable strengths outweigh this small downside. I tested it for several weeks and can confirm that the Vertex is just a cheap sleeping pad with aggressive marketing. This mat is on the expensive side, but the quality matches the price. They went from sleeping In a sleeping bag and ground to this. While many of these mattress manufacturers claim that their mats are self-inflating, many take at least half an hour for the foam to expand, with a fair amount of additional pumping to get them fully inflated. The one-flutter valve allows for easy adjustment of mattress firmness. This is great! The main downside to this big guy is its size. The Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated is one of the best sleeping pads for side-sleepers thanks to the slightly thicker side rails. From top to bottom: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite (summer), Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm (4-season), Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (3-season). You might assume that a warm sleeping bag will provide all the warmth you need for a night outside. These are the kinds of things that mean you have to carefully consider the weather and other conditions before packing up your car camping mattress. You need two layers separated by foam continuosly. We particularly enjoyed it for napping outside on a warm afternoon. This queen-sized mattress comes with a backpack-style storage bag and an electric pump for a fraction of the cost of the foam mattresses. The side-opening stuff sack that comes with the MegaMat 10 makes storing the mattress a breeze. PROS: Very comfortable, durable, good valve system - quick inflation/deflation, pump sack included, CONS: Can bottom out when shifting around, rubbery feel/sound, slightly heavier/bulkier than the XLite. For that reason, we looked at all the models in their stuff sacks side-by-side and rated them based on what was the largest (lowest score) and smallest (highest score). Best ultralight sleeping pads: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm & NEMO Switchback, Best lightweight sleeping pads: NEMO Tensor Insulated, Klymit Static V2, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated & Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated, The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (back) and the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm (front) have a good balance of warmth and low weight. The lighter your backpack, the more comfortable your hiking trips will be. One person who was ready to give up on camping altogether changed his mind after a deep night's sleep on the Therm-A-Rest MondoKing. You'll be turned on to new videos, trip reports, gear reviews, inspiring outdoor stories and much more. The most packable models are the Klymit Insulated Double V, which can sleep two, the NEMO Quasar, and the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe. If there is a downside to the MondoKing, it is simply the enormous packed size. You cannot get an R value of 4.2 with such structure of soldering between layers. Nothing beats a good night's sleep except a good night of sleep in the outdoors. Check out our full review of the XLite here. This mat has an R-value of 3.7, meaning that it will insulate you through the shoulder seasons but will not be ideal in the colder months. We used them in the back of trucks and vans, in tents, and loaned them out to as many fellow campers as we could find. For our review update, we bought 14 promising models and put them through extensive side-by-side testing. If youre a cold sleeper or you plan to backpack on sub-freezing, snowy trips, we recommend bumping up to the XTherm. Puting them inside the bag seemed to work best so they wouldn't slide out from under us. Sign up to get our curated emails with the best content from CleverHiker and around the backpacking world. We absolutely love how light, compact, quiet, and comfortable the UberLite is. The Ether Light incorporates the comfortable air sprung cells we love from their other pads with a lofty 4-inch thickness to prevent bottoming out. Just search for camping mat on Ali Express and you'll get the exact pad for cheaper. The following sleeping pads didnt make our final list, but theyve still got a lot of good things going for them. The truth is, we didn't realize how essential the insulating properties of our sleeping pad were until we camped out for a weekend in the mountains in near-freezing temperatures. Remember that the MegaMat 10's width provides extra comfort, but it also takes up a lot of space in a smaller tent, meaning you might crowd out your neighbor. This is not quite as wide as two singles pushed together (30 inches each), but it fits perfectly in the back of a pickup truck or minivan and in most bigger two-person tents. The Exped MegaMat Duo 10, which is the same mat as the MegaMat 10 but almost twice as wide, is also notable for its high level of comfort. I may look a bit more. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. Foam pads, like the NEMO Switchback, are affordable and quick to set up. We constantly update our guides when new products launch. Check out our full review of the Ether Light here. You never know, one of these [gear] might be perfect for you: Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol - Though the NEMO Switchback eked out the win over the ZLite for our top foam pad, the Z Lite is still an excellent option, and is actually a tad cheaper. Klymit pads do not work with quilts because it requires a sleeping bag to fill the pockets created by the design of the pad. For increased warmth, the Flash is also available in an all-season Thermal model. We had house guests sleep on them, inside, on the living room floor, to get more opinions on which mattress is the most comfortable. Cheers, I really appreciate this, Im going to edit the post so that anyone looking for information on it finds your review. None of these mats are the most comfortable in our review, but they pack down small enough to fit in your luggage and won't take up too much space in the SUV if you need mattresses for the whole family. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our latest posts then visit our Facebook page and Instagram to join the community conversation. Is it too good to be true? This can be especially bothersome for light sleepers who tend to shift around throughout the night. I have a klymit and have used it in 20 degree weather. For more insulation and durability, check out the NeoAir XLite and XTherm models listed below, which are also exceptional pads. Since 2012 our team of wilderness experts has tested over 40 sleeping pads on trails all over the world. Pay with the worlds most popular and secure payment methods. Large deflation valves dump air quickly for ease in packing. Check out this quick list of our favorites if youre in a hurry, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews. Sea to Summits new Pillowlock system on the Ether Light is designed to help keep your S2S Aeros pillow (not included) in place throughout the night. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Comfort is subjective; some people like a very firm sleeping surface, while others want a fluffy down pillow top to rest on. The Flash is slightly warmer than Sea to Summit's Ultralight Insulated Mat, but its not quite as wide around the shoulders. We weren't able to test it in the coldest extremes, but we did sleep on it when the temperature was around 20 degrees F, and the Roamer played a big part in keeping us toasty. I agree with the reviews - great quality. Air pads, like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite are more comfy than foam pads. They were impressed and didnt complain about hurting after a weekend camping trip like previously. We fully understand how tough it is to find trustworthy gear advice and thats one of the main reasons we built CleverHiker. The Klymit Static V2 is one of our favorite budget-friendly backpacking sleeping pads. The Exped MegaMats (10 and 15 models) feature a Sidewinder stuff sack that opens on the side instead of the top, making for easy storage while accommodating a slightly inflated mattress. This pad also comes in a slightly warmer and shorter womens version. The MondoKing is lighter than other mattresses of this type, but you aren't going to take it into the backcountry unless you have a packhorse. This could easily be the most comfortable backpacking mattress you have ever slept on while also making a decent car camping mat. Lastly, we lined all of the models up side-by-side and spent an afternoon rolling around from pad to pad, carefully comparing the merits and flaws of each to make sure we got the ratings correct. Some of the self-inflating foam mattresses are still comfortable, even when minimally inflated. Critical to your comfort and getting good sleep. However, if you were going to take two mats anyway, this is no big deal. It lacks insulation for sleeping out in colder temperatures, however. PROS: Very affordable, slightly wider and more durable than standard pads, CONS: Low R-value - summer use only (insulated versionavailable), can bottom out when shifting around, valve design not as good as some pads (slower deflation), heavier/bulkier than UberLite. R-values of 2-4 work for most 3-season backpacking conditions. Unexpected guests? AFFORDABLE LIGHTWEIGHT SLEEPING PAD FOR BACKPACKERS ON A BUDGET, PROS: Very affordable, comfortable, quick inflation/deflation, CONS: Can bottom out when shifting around, slight crinkle sound, valve can stick open when micro-adjusting, slightly heavier/bulkier than the XLite. Thicker foam mattresses were often harder to roll up small enough to fit in their stuff sacks. That said, Klymit makes several variations of this pad in insulated versions, including the Insulated Static V, Insulated Static V Lite, and the Insulated V Ultralite SL. REI Co-op AirRail Self-Inflating (view womens model here) - Features unique bumpers that help keep you centered on your sleeping pad. Want the very best mattress for car camping, with room for two? This pad does come at a premium price, but its well worth it once put to good use. I picked these because of the reviews. Many of these mattresses will allow them to sleep as well on your floor as they do in their own bed. It usually took me about 20 breaths or less to completely inflate and I never had any air leakage at night. We live for outdoor adventure, and we take these guides very seriously. There is no denying, however, that it is awkwardly large. Some mattresses have a smaller amount of foam, therefore packing up smaller, while still providing ample comfort. The Exped MegaMat 10 provides comfort equal to and sometimes exceeding our beds at home. Foam pads arent nearly as comfortable as inflatable sleeping pads, but the NEMO Switchback should be a top consideration if you dont mind sleeping on firm surfaces and you want a pad that will never pop. We hope this guide helps you find the perfect gear for your needs. Best sleeping pads for side sleepers: NEMO Tensor Insulated, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated, Big Agnes Q-Core SLX & Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra, Enjoying the super cushy 3.5 inch thick Big Agnes Q-Core SLX. Packing areliable sleeping pad is not onlyvital for comfort, but also for warmth, insulating your body from the cold ground. Well constructed and a patch kit. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Comfort is the main reason to add one of these mattresses to your adventure kit. CleverHiker.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Then the EnerPlex Camping Series Queen is for you. Thats all the Input I have. R-values of 4-6 are good in temperatures around or below freezing. Best ultralight sleeping pad for summer backpacking: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite, Best ultralight sleeping pad for 3-season backpacking: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, Best quiet, comfy & convenient sleeping pad: NEMO Tensor Insulated, Best sleeping pad for 4-Season backpacking & cold sleepers: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm, Best closed-cell foam sleeping pad: NEMO Switchback, Best budget-friendly sleeping pad: Klymit Static V2, Warm & durable pad that works well for side sleepers: Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated, Comfy & durable sleeping pad for 3-season trips: Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated, Thick, cushy pad thats great for side-sleepers & tosser-turners: Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core SLX, Affordable lightweight sleeping pad for backpackers on a budget: REI Co-op Flash 3-Season, We own and test all the sleeping pads we recommend. It costs 39$. Our sleeping pad recommendations are fully independent and our number one goal is to help our readers find products theyll love for many years of backcountry use. The Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D, like other self-inflating camping mats in this review, is comprised of four inches of luxurious foam comfort. If you have more questions or a suggestion, wed love to hear from you! For dedicated car camping, we are delighted by the plush luxury of foam mattresses. I ordered 4 for an upcoming mixed backpacking/car camping trip. PRICE - You dont have to spend a ton of money to get a good pad, but many backpackers (us included) are willing to splurge a little for a high-quality pad they plan on putting to good use. I would only use that pad for summer above 40 degrees. Highly recommend the sleepingo bed for its comfort and small size when folded up. This review is brought to you by a Dream Team of OutdoorGearLab contributors Laurel Hunter and Matt Bento. It's expensive but still less than buying two of the single MegaMats separately. The NeoAir line of sleeping pads are some of our all-time favorites. They list it as weighing 450/500g (they list different in description and specifications) and having an R value of 4.2 and it's only 40$ which is what surprises me. We offer competitive prices on all of our exclusive products. But, with the price so low, it might be worth it to have one of these lying around, just in case. Check out our full review of the Tensor here. The reality is that most of us only want one mattress that will work pretty much all of the time. We stand by our high-quality products and your satisfaction is guaranteed. A well written out review and you seem to have actually used it over a large scope of activities. These mattresses are primarily used for car camping, when taking the luxuries only requires a short stroll from the car to the campsite. BOTTOM LINE: REI Co-ops Flash 3-Season Pad competes with industry leading pad designs at a more affordable price. So when you camping you dont want a mattress that does this too! A pad with a 5+ R-value (or you can add a foam pad under your air pad) is great for cold sleepers or sleeping on snow. When choosing the best camping chair, we have a lot of Love to cook? Finally, we lined them all up side-by-side and measured inflation and deflation times, laying on them one after another to solidify our impressions from camping into a consensus of opinion. The V-shaped air tubes on this pad are comfortable, but the large spaces between air chambers mean you may bottom out while shifting around. The emerging pattern is clear the thicker, more comfortable foam core mats have a larger packed size, while the less comfortable air mats can stow away in smaller spaces. However, if you spend more time hiking to camp than hanging out close to the car, this model provides a good deal of comfort and a ton of flexibility. We agree that its a bit noisier than other pads, but its really not that bad. We used each of these mattresses in different situations to test this metric, from cold nights in the back of a truck to summer evenings in a spacious tent. I think I will try to get this instead. 90% of all knockoff shit is from aliexpress now from the same suppliers. We can't deny their limitations, however, and if you are short on space, spend a lot of time backpacking, or only have a budget for one mattress, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe might be for you. Read review: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe. We travel to industry trade shows to learn about upcoming product innovations. So this is a great place to save weight. Although often overlooked, the thermal properties of your sleeping pad play a very large part in how warm or cold you will be when you sleep outside. The warmest and most insulated car camping mattresses are the Exped MegaMat Max and the Exped MegaMat 10. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Exped SynMat HL - Similar to the Big Agnes AXL listed above, the Synmat is one of very few pads that can compete with the specs of the Neo Air XLite. But what about underneath you, where your body weight crushes out the heat-trapping loft needed to keep you snuggly warm? The typical dimensions are around 77 inches long by 30 inches wide for a single mattress (6.5 feet by 2.5 feet). This pad is also decently affordable, but it weighs more than most of our favorite pads on the main list. The well-designed zero-profile valve on the Tensor allows for quick inflation/deflation and micro-adjustments. A promising outing to the outdoors can turn into a bummer very quickly if the new air mattress you purchased keeps you awake all night. For this review, we did, and it was cold. Foam pads are bulkier, but theyre more affordable, quicker to set up, and can be used for multiple purposes - like extra support for a frameless backpack or a seat around camp. Same with the price. We also looked at how easy it was to make adjustments and if they impacted other aspects of mattress performance. WEIGHT - Your sleeping pad will be one of the four heaviest items in your pack (shelter, backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad). Check out our full review of the UberLite here. All of these earned high marks for comfort. This is super easy to inflate. The main knock on the XLite is that it makes a crinkle sound when you shift around on it (the heat reflective material increases its warmth). BOTTOM LINE: The Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm is a warmer version of the XLite pad listed above. 5. The pump doubles as a debatably comfortable pillow. PUMP SACKS - Pump sacks make it much easier to inflate an air pad. This camping mattress is worthy of your attention for the value alone, and fortunately for anyone who likes a good night's sleep, it also offers a high level of comfort and warmth. If you're in the market for a dedicated camping mattress, it might be because you've decided that you want something more comfortable than a lightweight backpacking pad or a blow-up air mattress. Plush foam mattresses turn your truck into a comfortable night out. If you choose a bulky sleeping pad, you may have to strap it to the outside of your bag. In general, sleeping pads with R-values of 0-2 are best for warm weather trips. Should the system fail (or if you don't want to bother your camping neighbors with the sound of a motor), it would be quite a feat to have to inflate one of these babies using only your lungs. If you like the most foam possible to protect from the ground below, the Exped MegaMat Max 15 features an eye-popping six inches of air channeled foam. If you're only using your mat occasionally, ease of packing might not be essential. The Tensor also comes with one of the best pump sacks on the market, which makes inflation fast and easy. If the answer is rarely, this might be the perfect pad for you. Air pads are more expensive, but most backpackers find them to be much more comfortable than foam pads. Testing backpacking gear is our full-time job and we take these guides very seriously, constantly watching the market for new innovations and updating this list regularly. The top has a soft, comfortable feel that doesn't get sticky or sweaty even without a sheet. It was quickly apparent which mattresses are a breeze to inflate and deflate and which other ones we literally (at times) spent ten minutes or more wrestling with. The tester dog loves the MegaMat 10, too. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations. Laurel Hunter lives in Central Oregon and is a car camping aficionado. Social media is great, but our bi-weekly newsletter is a much better way to stay in the know. Where it differentiates itself from other pads is its large side rails that help keep users centered in the middle of the pad. It is incredibly easy to inflate by attaching the stuff sack to the inflation valve and using the sack as a pump. This makes sense, as it has less foam, but all agreed that it is still very comfortable. It will not give you the comfort and warmth of most of the other mattresses in this review, but it will provide some cushion on a very low budget. This is especially handy for you rotisserie sleepers out there who often wake up with your pad on top of you instead of you on the pad. The range of packed sizes in camping mattresses. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Our top Ultralight summer pick - the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite. We also have some reservations about the rotating valve, which did not fail on us but seems a tad flimsy. It's not foam, but it's pretty impressive. I don't need insulation but the valve opening aspect is a bit of a no go for me. We rotated pads through the Tuolumne Meadows SAR site, where great sleep is essential for the job, and sore muscles make for very discerning sleepers. So get in the mix! CleverHiker.com 2022 - Privacy Policy - Terms of Use, Sea to Summit Comfort Light Insulated Air Pad. LENGTH - Your hips and shoulders are the biggest pressure points for sleeping pads, so its important to use a pad that will give you comfort in those areas. WARMTH - The R-value of a sleeping pad measures how well it will insulate you from the cold ground. If you are looking for something for backpacking or for carrying into the backcountry, you may want to take a look at sleeping pads, which will be lighter and smaller. If you live in your vehicle, then this level of comfort is worth its weight in gold. In addition, at 3.5 inches thick, the SLX is among the thickest pads on this list. AIR PADS vs FOAM PADS - The two main types of sleeping pads are air pads and foam pads. How can we improve GearLab? The NEMO Quasar is similarly useful, and while it is a tad bit smaller to sleep on, it packs up even smaller. None of these models felt sticky, even on warmer nights. Try sleeping outside with eight inches of un-insulated 40-degree air under your body and see how it feels. I thought it was weird that it was listed as 4.2, find that pretty nuts at sub 40 Im probably not going to get it. Its also relatively affordable, has a good valve system, and inflates/deflates quickly. Really, you can't ask for much more from a rollout inflatable foam mat. The Ultralight is made with thicker materials and is more durable than the average air pad, so its a great choice if you often camp in rocky areas or are particularly hard on gear. BOTTOM LINE: In our opinion, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite is the best all-around 3-season sleeping pad on the market. Pump sacks are good for keeping moisture from your breath out of your sleeping pad, which is especially important during winter trips when moisture from your breath can freeze and reduce the insulation value of your pad. We tested the XXL version for extra-deluxe sprawling pleasure, though it is available in a smaller size, meaning you might be able to fit two in your tent. Many of these options are the pinnacle of inflatable luxury that will have you looking forward to bedtime as much as you do your daytime adventuring. I didnt purchase it, I cant afford to make a purchase like that without it being worth it. I purchased this sleeping pad to take with me on a two week camping trip to Tasmania and New Zealand over the Christmas holidays. Likewise, nobody wants to spend an hour blowing up a large mattress with the power of their lungs. Almost all the air pads listed above come with a repair kit, but we always pack tenacious tapejust in case. Weve been buying lightweight sleeping pads online for years and weve yet to have any problems. Almost all the pads we list above come in a wide size option. Built-In Pillow:The top of the mattress is padded in the shape of a pillow to provide a proper cushion for your neck and head. Its updated dual-valve system is what nudged it into the top spot. With an R-value of 4.2, the Tensor will be great for most 3-season backpacking trips. Its three-valve system also makes deflation a breeze, and it packs up into a squat little package that is about half the size of many of the other mattresses while being significantly lighter. However, the NEMO Roamer has a neat trick of packing into half the height without being twice the width, making it much more maneuverable into small spaces. The NEMO Quasar uses a bottle-neck-shaped inflation sack for very efficient and speedy inflation. The next question is, how much are you willing to spend?