Best Sleeping Pads for Optimal Outdoor Comfort
-
Powerlix Sleeping Pad -
Gear Doctors Sleeping Pad -
Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pads -
REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad -
Big Agnes Insulated SLX Tent Floor Sleeping Pad -
Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad -
Buyer's Guide
Whether you are a cross-continental trekker or an adventurous car camper, you’ll need a place to sleep at the end of the day. While some individuals relish the idea of resting on bare ground, the rest of us require a good camping sleeping pad since comfort is a top priority.
We sifted through the saturated sleeping pad market in order to find the best camping sleeping pads currently available. These selections were made based on criteria including their durable, puncture-resistant material, ease of portability and overall level insulation and cushioning to ensure a good rest. Additionally these best sleeping pads in 2022 come highly recommended based on stellar online user reviews.
Detailing the Best Sleeping Pad of 2022
Powerlix Sleeping Pad - Best Sleeping Pads Overall
The Powerlix Sleeping Pad is all you need for a comfortable, grump-free, and peaceful trip! This 3-inch-thick sleeping pad offers thermal insulation and is made up of 30D Rip-stop Nylon and TPU layer. Plus, it is waterproof, tear-resistant, and the rip-stop ensures durability! Featuring an R-value of 9.5, this portable sleeping pad is not only sturdy, but it’s also ultralight and extremely convenient to carry. It comes with a built-in pillow and even with that pillow inside, its dimensions are 9.5” x 26” when packed. And the dimensions are 28” x 77” when it isn’t packed – ideal for every adult. Loaded with 2 dual action air valves, lifetime guarantee, 3 color options, and quick inflation, the Powerlix Sleeping Pad is an excellent partner to have on your side! The pad is self-inflating but you’ll have to blow a bit of air at the end to achieve that optimum air pressure.
Gear Doctors Sleeping Pad - Comfortable Design
The next entry in our list of the top backpacking sleeping pads comes from Gear Doctors, a trusted provider of outdoor items and accessories. This is a self-inflating backpacking sleeping pad, which means that it folds down into a super small and compact size in between uses and then pumps itself up whenever you need it. It's really easy and convenient to use, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who don't want to feel weighed down or spend hours inflating their sleeping pads.
This backpacking sleeping pad is also exceptionally comfortable. Unlike other pads, which are sometimes quite thin and weak, this pad is nicely cushioned to help you drift off to sleep, even on rough ground or uneven floors. Not only that, but thanks to its 75D micro-coated polyester shell, this sleeping bad is also hypoallergenic and skin-friendly.
Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pads - Runner Up
The Triple Core Air Pad from Big Agnes is a comfortable four season sleeping pad incorporating heat reflective technology while offering excellent insulation for winter camping trips. With 4.25 inches of thickness, you’ll have excellent support while you snooze without worrying about sinking to the ground during the night. You have your pick of four different sizes to better suite your height and sleeping space needs with lengths ranging from 66 inches to 78 inches. Consider pairing this pad with a closed-cell foam pad in very cold conditions for added insulation.
REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad - Contender
The Camp Bed 3.5 is arguably the best portable alternative to sleeping on an actual mattress. The cored foam is ridiculously comfortable and the top fabric is exceptionally soft and welcoming. Even if you tend to move around a lot while you sleep, this pads combination of support and thickness helps you sleep soundly throughout the night. The pad is self-inflating but you’ll likely have to use your lungs a little bit to finish the job depending on how firm you want the pad to be. With all this comfort and support the only real drawback is the pads size which is quite large and takes up a decent amount of space even when rolled up.
Big Agnes Insulated SLX Tent Floor Sleeping Pad - Honorable Mention
If the idea of four cushy inches of thickness in a backpacking pad gets you excited, the Double Z literally has your back. Since weight definitely matters in backpacking pads, the Double Z is thickest in the shoulder and torso area and gradually thins out towards the leg area where you don’t need quite as much cushioning.
This pad inflates in around ten breaths and deflates very quickly with the two piece valve adds major convenience points). The design and construction create an even, stabilized surface and thicker edges were even incorporated to help prevent you from falling off the pad. Please note that this pad isn’t insulated and best used for warm weather trips.
Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad - Consider
This sleeping pad is made of heavy-duty ripstop nylon fabric with a 20 denier thickness used only for the most substantial camping equipment designed to last a lifetime in the most severe conditions.
This sleeping pad weighs just 14.5 ounces and packs down to the size of a thin water bottle, so it’s easy to carry around when you’re on the go.
Buyer's Guide
If you have ever gone hiking, camping, or mountain climbing and had to spend the night outdoors in the cold, damp air, then you would realize just how important it is to have a sleeping pad. Sleeping pads provide campers and outdoor enthusiasts with a soft, comfy spot to spend their nights and also with enough insulation against the cold emitted from the ground.
The two main and most important functions of a sleeping pad are cushioning and insulation. Cushioning increases your comfort levels, soothing your aching joints as you lay down, while insulation keeps you warm, preventing pneumonia and other weather-related infections. This article contains a few helpful tips for picking out the best sleeping pads for yourself and your household.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SLEEPING BAG AND A SLEEPING PAD?
I consider it very important to shed some light on sleeping bags, and how different they are from sleeping pads. Basically, a sleeping bag is a padded bag that is designed for people to sleep in during camping. A sleeping bag is totally different from a sleeping pad in that it provides its user with a hole in the middle to sleep in. You can think of it as a cushioned enclosure of sorts. Sleeping pads, on the other hand, provide their users with a flat surface to sleep on and are also laid underneath a sleeping bag.
Also, if your sleeping bag is big enough to accommodate your sleeping pad, it can be placed inside of it. This creates a perfect combo of extra cushion and therefore, more comfort.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF SLEEPING PADS?
Closed-Cell Foam Pads
These are made of foams filled with closed air cells. They are lightweight, cheap, durable, and have great insulation. However, they are not quite as comfortable as other sleeping pads. These beds are not inflatable, meaning that they do not allow air into them.
Self-inflating beds
These are basically a combination of open-cell foams and air. They are sleeping pads that inflate by themselves through an open-cell foam that rises when the valve is opened. However, a little help from your lungs might be needed to get them to be firm. They are less compact than air pads, but are way more durable, and are much more comfortable than closed-cell foam pads.
Air Mattress/Pads
These come in varying sizes and styles and are mostly big, super comfy, and lightweight at the same time. They are perfect for car camping and their sizes could range anywhere between 4 and 20 inches. One of the biggest cons of air pads is that they are way more expensive than all other types of sleeping pads and they could get punctured easily.
WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER WHEN GETTING A SLEEPING PAD
Size (Length and Width)
The size of the pad you’re getting is important because it greatly influences your levels of comfort. A bed that is too small for you or one that doesn’t compliment your sleeping posture would prove to be a waste of cash. The basic length of a sleeping pad should measure at least 72 inches and a width of between 25 and 30 inches.
Intended Use
Some pads are better suited for certain uses and locations, and so the position you want to use the sleeping pad in, and the environment in which you would be using it play an important role in making a choice.
Warmth
As said earlier, insulation is the second major function of sleeping pads, after cushioning. A sleeping pad that doesn’t retain heat, or doesn’t have a heating system of its own isn’t an advisable choice.
Inflation Ease
For inflatable beds, easy and quick inflation is a very important feature. You definitely do not want to spend a lot of time and effort trying to inflate your bed after a long, tiring day of hiking.
Easy to Carry
This is a very important feature of sleeping pads that cannot be overlooked. Whatever sleeping pad you are going for should be lightweight and easy to bundle into a backpack or the trunk of a car. This makes the entire process of carrying it from one place to place way easier.
Price Ranges of Sleeping Pads
The prices of sleeping pads vary based on type, size, texture, insulation levels, and several other factors. However, here is an overview of the regular market prices you are most likely to find.
EXPENSIVE
$80 - $150. This price range spans the most expensive, high quality sleeping pads. Pads in this category are usually inflatable, with ultrathick and extra light foam. They are durable and are sure to provide you with all the comfort and insulation that you need.
MID-RANGE
$35 - $80. Sleeping pads that fall in this price category are most common. They provide you with all of the necessary features that you need at an affordable cost.
NON-EXPENSIVE
$20 -$35. This is the cheapest price category and the most likely sleeping pads to get here are closed-cell pads. It is not totally advisable to go for inflatable pads in this category as they might be low-quality products that would require a replacement in no time.
Best Sleeping Pads FAQs
Should you wear clothes in your sleeping bag?
Yes, generally, you should be dressed when going to sleep in your sleeping bag. This will not only provide extra insulation and keep you warmer but it would also protect you from insect or bug bites.
How long does it take a self-inflating sleeping pad to inflate?
It will generally take about 10-15 minutes for self-inflated sleeping pads to become inflatd. However, to quicken the process, and to make for a firmer bag, you might have to make use of your lungs in giving a few puffs.
Why are sleeping bags slippery?
Most sleeping bags are slippery because of the fabrics and materials used in making them. Materials like nylon and polyester which are usually used in their production, coupled with the waterproof finishing give sleeping bags a slippery feel.
