Sleeping mats provide both comfort and insulation, which are critical for a good night's sleep in the great outdoors. While it may appear that the most important purpose of sleeping mats is to provide a nice sleeping surface, the capacity to keep you warm throughout the night is often more significant.
Here's how to pick your camping sleeping mats:
- Learn about the three fundamental types of sleeping pads and how they work: air, self-inflating, and closed-cell foam.
- Use in mind: Choose an activity for your pad: hiking, vehicle camping, winter camping, and so on.
- Warmth (R-value): R-value refers to a pad's ability to prevent heat loss to the ground; greater R-values are warmer.
- System of sleep: Many other factors, including the temperature rating of your sleeping bag, have a role in how comfortable you are at a given temperature. Staying warm requires the proper combination of your pad and sack in your sleeping setup.
- Decide which additional attributes are most important to you, such as weight, cushioning, size, and ease of inflation.
- In person, give them a shot: Try to visit our store and test a few different sleeping mats before making your final pick. Lie down in your prefered sleeping position and move around as usual. It's also easier to judge weight and packed size when you see pads in person.
Sleeping mats are available in a range of forms, ranging from lightweight camping cushions to extra-thick glamping sleeping mats. To boost warmth, inflatble sleeping mats now include insulation and/or reflective materials. Alternative inflating methods are available on many sleeping mats, allowing you to save your breath. Sleeping mats are extremely pleasant and lightweight, and when packed, they are the most compact sort of bedding. By releasing or adding air from the valve, you can adjust the firmness of the mattress (s). The designs and intended end uses differ greatly. Make sure the one you choose has an R-value that is appropriate for the conditions you anticipate.
Cons: The lighter and more compact an sleeping mats is, the more expensive it is. They can be punctured or ripped (especially while sharing a tent with dogs), but field repairs are simple with the right patch kit.
Though the outside temperature changes, sleeping mats may feel as if they are losing air, so check and adjust the firmness before going to bed. Breath moisture can get trapped within, causing performance issues as well as bacterial and mould problems. Using a hand pump and storing your pad unrolled with the valve(s) open will assist avoid moisture buildup. When you move around on some air pads, they emit a loud crinkly sound, which might be annoying to yourself or your tent mates. This is just another incentive to try out pads at our store.
Open-cell foam insulation and air are combined in self-inflating sleeping mats such as the the ones from Oztrail. When the valve(s) are opened, the foam expands and air is drawn in automatically. Some are made specifically for backpacking and can be folded lengthwise and rolled up to fit into your pack. Others are made for car camping and may be rolled up instead than folded. Self-inflating sleeping mats provide a wide range of warmth, size, and price options.
Pros: They're comfy and compact, provide good insulation, and may be firmened or softened by adding or releasing air. They're more durable than air pads in general.
Cons: They're more expensive and heavier than plain foam pads, and they're not as small as air pads. They can be ripped or punctured, but field repairs are simple.
Closed-Cell Foam Camping Mats: Constructed of dense foam filled with small closed air cells, these basic backpacking and camping mats are made of dense foam. They're frequently folded or rolled up in a Z shape.
Pros: They're light, cheap, and sturdy, and they provide consistent insulation in all weather conditions. There's no need to be concerned about punctures or leakage. They're ideal for insulating and preventing punctures when used under other types of pads. Only these pads can be carried on the outside of your bag without risking harm. They can also be used as camp sit pads.
Cons: The disadvantage is that they are less comfy. They're rigid and firm, with a hefty appearance.
When and where:
The warmth of your total sleep system is the most important consideration when selecting a new sleeping mat (discussed below). It's also a good idea to consider your planned end use: When car camping, you can choose a thicker, larger mattress for sleeping comfort if your size and weight aren't a factor. These are frequently less expensive than their lighter cousins.
For car camping: self-inflating pads are frequently recommended. (If you don't want to use a sleeping bag and want to use standard sheets and blankets, large inflated air mattresses are another choice.) However, these mattresses are very heavy and thick, and they may be lacking in insulation, so make sure to read the product specifications. Proper inflation necessitates the use of a pump.)
Hiking: Those looking for good sleep comfort when backpacking (or touring by bike, canoe, or kayak) may want to consider self-inflating or air pads, which come in a variety of thicknesses, durability, insulating value, and weight. Optional chair kits transform your self-inflating or air pad into a comfortable seat with a backrest. Backpackers may find this to be a lightweight luxury.
Backpacking: Low weight and a tiny packed size take precedence over all other considerations in minimalist backpacking. Your best bet is likely to be an ultralight air pad. Some full-length insulated air pads are now under a pound. When you're in the store, make sure to check at the packaged sizes of your pad selections and factor that into your decision.
Thru-hiking: Here, minimal weight is vital, but long-term durability is also important. Your best bet is to use closed-cell foam pads. To save weight, many thru-hikers use a "short" or "3/4 length" foam pad (you can lay your empty pack or extra clothing under your feet for a bit of insulation if needed).
Winter camping: For cold air temperatures, an insulated, high R-value air pad is ideal. Snow camping necessitates more insulation. Because R-value is cumulative, consider placing a closed-cell foam pad below an insulated air pad or self-inflating pad with a moderate or high R-value. The insulating closed-cell foam pad also protects the inflatable pad from punctures and other damage. It also acts as a backup in the event that the inflatable pad becomes damaged and cannot be repaired.
Warmth of the sleeping pad:
R-Value and Insulation: Because you lose body heat to the cold ground beneath you, a sleeping mat's insulation is essential for a good night's sleep. Sleeping mats employ a number of materials and construction techniques to limit heat loss to offset this. The R-value of a sleeping mat is a measurement of its ability to resist heat transfer through it (hence the "R"). The R-value of a pad indicates how well it will insulate you from chilly surfaces. The R-values of sleeping mats range from less than 2 (barely insulated) to 5.5 or more (very well insulated). Manufacturers now use a standardised method to test sleeping mats for R-values, so you can compare this important metric between any two pads, independent of brand, model, or kind.
Key facts:
More insulation equals a higher number. The R-value scale is simple: a pad with an R-value of 2.0 is twice as warm as one with an R-value of 1.0.
Simply add the R-values of the piled sleeping pads to get the overall insulation.
Your sleeping pad and bag complement each other:
Many factors, such as humidity, wind, kind of shelter, ground conditions, clothing, and personal preferences, have always caused your real-world warmth and comfort to differ from the tested temperature levels. Your sleep system, however, is the most important factor to consider. Three basic components make up a sleep system: The sleeping bag, the sleeping pad, and the sleeper's clothing are the first three items on the list.
If you use a less-insulated sleeping mat in cooler temperatures, your sleeping bag may not be warm enough. It's vital to remember that the test rating for a sleeping bag is based on a person wearing long underwear and socks and sleeping on an insulated pad with an R-value of around 5.5. (Accurate measurements require keeping those variables consistent throughout all tested bags.)
Weight of the Sleeping mat:
Backpacking pads are ideal for ultralight backpacking, although they are more pricey. You can lose weight by opting for a mummy or tapered design, which has less volume and packs more compactly. Short-length closed-cell foam pads are also light in weight. A two-person lightweight sleeping mat might save ounces if you're hiking with a buddy.
Length of Sleeping Mat:
At the very least, your shoulders and hips should be able to rest on a pad. Regular (72-inch long) and long (78-inch long) cushions can insulate your legs and feet, which will come in handy on chilly fall and winter journeys. A short or 3/4-length pad (typically 47 or 48 inches) is lighter and easier to pack (you can put folded clothing or your pack under your legs and feet for some insulation).
Width of Sleeping Pad:
A standard width of 20 inches is available on almost every pad. If you're tall or like to roll around a lot, a width of 25 or 30 inches could be preferable (but consider the size of your tent to ensure you can fit two wider pads side by side). Although you can obtain a broad pad that is of "normal" length in some styles, the "long" version of a pad often defaults to being wider as well.
Larger side baffles, referred to as "rails," on certain pads cradle you and keep you from rolling off as you turn during sleep. These are very appealing to children.
Inflation of a Sleeping Mat:
Some pads contain a high-volume inflation valve as well as a deflation valve, allowing for faster air movement in and out. Larger "neck" apertures on some modern pads enable for faster inflation with fewer breaths. Separate inflating chambers or layers in pads can provide piece of mind since if one layer fails, the other will still provide cushioning.
Surfaces of Sleeping Mats:
Look for a pad with a textured or brushed-fabric surface if you're a restless sleeper. This prevents you and your sleeping bag from slipping off in the middle of the night. It's also possible that it'll be quieter.
Pad sleeves: Some sleeping bags come with a built-in sleeve for storing a pad. This will keep you and your sleeping bag from slipping off in the middle of the night. Before purchasing a pad, make sure the sleeve width is correct.
Hand pumps: If you don't enjoy squandering breath after a long hike, search for a pad with an integrated hand pump or buy a bag-style hand pump that folds up compact and weighs only a few ounces (sold separately).
Backpacking with patch kits is a smart idea. Check to see if they're included with the pad or if they're available separately. Before you leave home, make sure you know how to patch a puncture in case you need to do it in the dark.
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