This simple pad will keep you much warmer than most AeroBed-style air mattresses. The more layers between your sleeping pad and the ground, the better. It may be obvious, but dont store your [inflatable] sleeping pad on the outside of your pack during the day. Even though the Z Lite Sol is relatively thin, its solid foam is an effective insulator that delivers an R-value of 2.6. Like most pads, the Z Lite Sol will wear down with heavy use, which can decrease its insulating properties. You can strap this kind of pad to the outside of a backpack, use it as a seat near the campfire, try to float on it in a river or lake, and otherwise treat it badly without fear of retribution. Give your glue plenty of time to dry out without touching other surfaces; depending on the material, this can take three to 24 hours. It packs down to the size of a 1-liter Nalgene bottle, and its R-value of 4.2 means you cant find a lighter-weight pad thats as warm. The pad is made with foam and has additional air pouches throughout, and the face fabric is soft and durable. During our first testing round for this guide, in 2016, we spent a dozen hours sifting through the hundreds of items in this category to determine our testing lineup of 15 backpacking pads and car-camping pads. If youre headed out on a car-camping trip where weight isnt an issue, this is the couples pad to choose. This pad has a comfy mummy shape and a quilted air-cell design that keeps you from bottoming out, whether you prefer to sleep on your side, back, or stomach. Without the insulation of a sleeping pad, your body tries to create temperature equilibrium with the earth. Some pads use valves and inflation techniques that are particularly intuitive or have smart protections against clogging with dirt or breaking. Nothing ruins an outdoor adventure like a hole, rip, or tear in a sleeping pad. This product is sold direct from the manufacturer. And even when the bed is packed down as small as possible, it still barely fits into its carry sack. (Denier is a measure of how thick the fibers are in each individual strand of a fabric; the higher the denier, the more durable the fabric!) Sea to Summit uses a slightly less durable face fabric (30 and 40 deniers, compared with the 50 and 75 deniers of the LuxuryMap, our car-camping pick). But, of course, where you place your pad, the type of camping youre doing, and the weather patterns will also factor into how warmly you sleep at night. But several sleeping pad companies have introduced their own air pumps. Finally, we preferred pads that are easy to deflate and pack up in the morning. She has been a writer on the emergency-prep and outdoor beats at Wirecutter and has also covered natural disasters for Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines. If you suspect a puncture and are near a bathtub, fill the tub with soapy water, inflate the pad, and then submerge it in the tub (the soap bubbles make any air leakage more obvious). The type of pad you want depends on where youre headed, so we have picks for car campers (anyone who wont be lugging their pad far and so are more concerned with comfort than with heft and weight) and backpackers (anyone who intends to carry all of their gear on their back for miles and so is best served by a compact, lightweight pad). This simple pad will keep you much warmer than most AeroBed-style air mattresses. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad: This popular, moderately priced option in Therm-a-Rests line is comfortablebut not as comfortable as our top car-camping pick, the LuxuryMap. Counterintuitively, these types of pads are often more comfortable, warmer, and likely more durable than full-size air mattresses. It outpaces air mattresses by a mile. It has an R-value of 8.1, which, according to the company, means you can sleep in temperatures down to -54 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, the pad takes longer to fill with your breath, compared with the Ether. If youre looking for a sleeping pad thats supportive yet still light enough to carryfor backpacking trips in the spring, summer, and fallthe 4-inch-thick Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat is a solid choice. Some people can sleep soundly on the hard ground, but they are rare birds. Theyre far more compact and easy to transport than a futon or cot, and theyre more cushy and comfortable than most exercise mats. Nothing ruins a backpacking or camping trip like a hole in a sleeping pad. Some pads have been known to squeak or crunch like a bag of potato chips. We compared this pad side by side with a $12 Stansport Pack-Lite closed-cell foam mat (aka a blue pad) that we bought at Walmart, and it was no contest: The Z Lite Sol was far more comfortable. But it has similar problems to sleeping on an air mattressless stability, a popcorn effect, and less durability. As our team pursues -- bring high quality products to our customers,add more joy to the family life of consumers. The Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Sleeping Pad has been our car-camping pick for the past five years because it offers the best balance of comfort, features, and cost for campers who dont need to carry their pads long distances. But the surface fabric on both the top and bottom of this pad was annoyingly slippery. For larger holes, use the self-adhesive fabric patch that comes in your kit (for most pads), and apply a little glue beforehand, just to make sure it sticks. The BaseCamp is 2 inches thick versus the LuxuryMaps 3 inches, and it lacks the higher-end pads pressure-mapped foam. Some of the pads in our test group worked with electronic pumps, hand pumps, or a converted stuff sack for inflation, saving our testers from huffing and puffing their way into bed each night. The only downside: This pad is heavy. Big Agnes SLX Tent Floor Pad: With room for two people (50 by 78 inches), this tapered air-construction pad is meant for couples who backpack or for backpackers who want to spread out. Take a Sharpie marker or an oil crayon and circle the area, and then dry the pad thoroughly. If youd like, you can buy an after-market inflatable down pillow, which is advertised as locking into the top of the Ether Light XT. A closed-cell foam pad is a smart choice for kids because a tear or puncture is no big deal (unlike with inflatable pads). Self-inflating open-cell foam pads are among the most popular options for car campers and others who are not particularly concerned about weight and mass. The Ether Light XT is slightly roomier than most other sleeping pads, with a regular size running 72 inches by 21 inches at the widest point; those few extra inches mattered to our testers, especially in the hip area. One downside: Though its less than half the weight of our car-camping pick, the Ether Light XT is about 5 ounces heavier than some of the other backpacking pads we tested, and its slightly harder to pack down. But over the years, weve given up on the valve and the included hand pump, and instead opted for an air pump (try the Exped Widget) for optimal firmness and efficiency. Sign up to receive exclusive offers in your inbox. Every pad we tested could be blown up without the fancy add-ons, though. But that weight cut comes at a cost: The NeoAir XLite receives consistent complaints for being narrow, crinkly-sounding, and less supportive for side-sleepers. We scoured online reviews, collected informal opinions from a range of camping friends from Maine to Alaska, and sorted through the science and technology behind a solid nights sleep under the stars. But they are also susceptible to punctures and thus require extra care to ensure their longevity. At just 14 ounces, the Z Lite Sol is light enough for most backpackers. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, 77 inches long, and 25 or 30 inches wide, respectively, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat, A comfortable double-pad option for couples and families, A cheap, warm, close-to-indestructible pad, Our pick for car camping: Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap, Our pick for backpacking: Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat, Nemo Tensor Insulated Insulated Sleeping Pad, Teton Sports ComfortLite Self Inflating Pad, Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pad, Stansport Pack-Lite Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad, REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL Self-Inflating Deluxe Bed, and author of National Geographics The Ultimate Hikers Gear Guide, and founder of hunting gear and apparel company Kuiu, co-director of the Institute for Environmental Research at Kansas State University, long-distance hiker, instructor/guide with Andrew Skurka, author of PMags.com, host of the Trail Show podcast, and contributing author to the Colorado Trail guidebook. The LuxuryMap was also among the warmest pads we tested. And if you ever decide to upgrade, the Z Lite Sol becomes a go-to backup or loaner pad that you can expect to pack for decades to come. Still, the pad has an R-value of 2.6, which is impressively warm for how thin it is. The Ether Light XTs larger size also makes it slightly more annoying to pack down than some of the other pads we tested. The MegaMat Duo also stays firmly inflated for several days, but we do recommend a pre-sleep top-off of air (using an air pump like the Exped Widget, not the included self-inflate valve or pump). If youre willing to be slightly inconvenienced by the size of this bed and its deflation process, we think youll reap some serious benefits from sleeping cozily under the stars. Its mummy shape is wider in the hip area (21 inches) than most of its competitors, including our former backpacking pick, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite. The pad has an ultra-toasty R-value of 6, the second highest of all the pads we considered. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Regardless of whether you like firm or soft, the LuxuryMap feels supportive no matter your sleep position, due to what Therm-a-Rest calls a pressure mapping interior (foam thats more dense in the areas where a body is likely to exert more pressure). You can also buy after-market patches and repair kits from companies like Sea to Summit and Therm-a-Rest. This model is more like a double bed than a sleeping pad, with most of its 3.9-inch support made up of foam and a layer of air cores throughout. Purchases from these Sellers are generally covered under our. And some online reviewers mentioned a squelching noise, similar to that of a balloon, every time they turned in the night; our testers didnt notice this. So choose your method based on your preferences. Our long and narrow testers found the baffles comfortable and said the design prevented them from slipping off the pad during the night. (We noticed that the LuxuryMap didnt pick up lint and dirt the way some competitor mattresses did, likely due to these material choices.) Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad: This slightly heavier (and cheaper) version of the Klymit pad we tested for backpacking inflated quickly and easily. The included pump bag will get you most of the way there. We slept on 15 different sleeping pads during our first round of testing, and we tried an additional 10 pads in our most recent roundcarrying them on a total of seven car-camping and backpacking trips. Learn more. Luckily, most inflatable air mattresses come with repair kits. And since it really cant be damaged, you cant go wrong loaning this pad to friends. This sleeping pad isnt small, and it isnt light. If cost or durability is a top concern for you, the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol is the standout choice. The surface of the sleeping pad has a frosted touch and adopts a silent design to keep you away from noise. This pump charges with a USB and comes with two sizes of adaptors (which we found we didnt need to use, given the strong stream of air). But if cost is a concern and you want a self-inflating pad, the BaseCamp is a reliable choice. And we found that over the course of a few hours, the beds air pressure reduced, resulting in less support for side-sleepers especially. The self-inflating Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Sleeping Pad has long been a favorite with our testers, and it has stood the test of timefive years of car-camping trips, to be more specific. And the pad moved out of place in tests at home on a hardwood floor, as well as in the field in a tent. The MegaMat Duo inflates with a self-inflate valve. Enter your phone number and we'll send you a download link. Side-sleepers, back-sleepers, and stomach-sleepers all found this pad to be supportive and warm through the night. When setting up camp, avoid rough spots whenever possible, and clear your camping area of spiky plants, pine cones, and rocks; these could puncture or abrade your sleeping pad (if you use your pad as a sitting area for breaks during the day, follow the same precautions). The regular LuxuryMap (20 by 72 inches) weighs 4 pounds (the pad is also available in large and extra-large, both 77 inches long, and 25 or 30 inches wide, respectively). Theres enough padding to support side-sleepers hips and shoulders; stomach- and back-sleepers appreciated the beds lower-back support. You can also grab a few extra inches by purchasing a large size, which runs 78 by 25 inches. When possible, avoid storing your sleeping pad in a hot car or hot tent during the day, and resist the temptation to take your pad close to the campfire, since stray sparks have ended the life of many a pad. This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan. It also inflates quickly, like our top pick for backpackers, and is easy to pack down. But in our tests, the pump was strong enough to speed up the inflation process tenfold compared with blowing up a pad with our breath. And though it isnt particularly compact, you dont have to worry about damaging it simply by bungeeing it to the outside of a pack. If you do discover a defect in your pad, though, know that it also comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Jenni spends much of her time in the Central Oregon mountains with her toddler son, husband, and dog. Several testers reported that their hips and shoulders were on the ground by the morning, and they ached all over. Fully inflatable air-construction mattresses get almost all of their loft from your own lungs or from an electric pump. Do you need a sleeping pad at all? Without the insulation of a sleeping pad, your body tries to create temperature equilibrium with the earth. She is the instructor of Backpacker Magazines online Thru-Hiking 101 class. During a backpacking trip in the Upper Peninsula, this 4-inch-thick pad was the most comfortable one we tested. *At the time of publishing, the price was $44. Most people find self-inflating pads to be the most comfortable of the three types. To keep pads with holes from ending up in the landfill (and to save you from dropping more cash on a new pad), most of the companies that make our picks will repair damaged pads for a fee, generally starting at around $15 (plus shipping), depending on the severity of the damage. You can use most air pumps (including ball pumps or bike pumps), even if the seal between the pump and the bed isnt perfect. Despite its being the widest pad we tested, at 23 inches, our broader-bodied testers found the design less comfortable, with one describing the experience as like sleeping on a cord of wood. The Insulated Static V Lite weighs about 20 ounces, making it one of the heaviest backpacking pads we testedand less appealing to serious backpackers seeking the lightest possible load. That said, the extra foam doesnt add any extra comfortbut it does add extra insulation. When Linn repairs pads in the field, he uses barge cement, which is similar to Shoe Goo but multipurpose. Turn the valve core into open-status and allow the mattress to self inflate and wait for around 1 to 2 minutes. The pad was also easier to inflate than the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite; surprisingly, the included pump bag actually inflated the pad to max capacity fairly quickly. But as long as youre parked close to your campsite, this shouldnt bother you. (The company also sells an extra-large version, which is the same length as a large but wider.) To reduce the chance of problems, look for a pad made with thicker, higher-denier fabrics (lower-denier fabrics offer the thinnest, lightest, and softest threads; fabrics with higher-denier counts, like the LuxuryMap, offer a beefy protection against the elements). One of our testers dubbed it the Cadillac of backpacking pads.. The interior of the mattress is composed of PU foam and a certain gap, and weighs 13.6 pounds, so it is not suitable for backpacking or short-distance light travel. by Claire Wilcox, Kit Dillon, and Kalee Thompson. The MegaMat Duo offers the warmest, most-insulated sleeping environment of any pad we tested for this guide. Richard Nisley, retired engineer, Backpacking Light gear guru, phone interview, May 12, 2016, Andrew Skurka, record-setting long-trail hiker, outdoor guide, and author of National Geographics The Ultimate Hikers Gear Guide, phone interview, April 8, 2016, Jason Hairston, co-founder of hunting apparel company Sitka, and founder of hunting gear and apparel company Kuiu, email interview, April 5, 2016, Elizabeth McCullough, co-director of the Institute for Environmental Research at Kansas State University, phone interview, May 23, 2016, Ryan Linn, long-distance hiker, instructor/guide at National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming, author of Guthooks hiking apps, phone interview, May 25, 2016, Junaid Dawud, record-setting long-distance hiker, guide at Adventure Travel West, email interview, May 26, 2016, Paul Magnanti, long-distance hiker, instructor/guide with Andrew Skurka, author of PMags.com, host of the Trail Show podcast, and contributing author to the Colorado Trail guidebook, email and in-person interview. Its not easy to inflate. This means youre less likely to roll off of it overnight and end up cold and aching come morning. Still, you can take some measures to protect your gear. Closed-cell foam pads are relatively simple and indestructible strips of solid foam, sometimes with sophisticated textures designed to help cushion your body and trap heat. But if youre car camping or hosting guests in your living room, you wont find a sleeping pad for two people thats more comfortable, supportive, and durable. And its easier to inflate, deflate, roll, and store than any other car-camping pad. Investing in some high-quality basics can get kids excited about camping outand help you avoid a mid-trip detour to the nearest big-box store. A good sleeping pad can transform hours of tossing and turning in the wild into a decent nights sleep. The Exped Widget Pump isnt directly compatible with non-Exped bedsits seal works best with Exped pads. Backpackers looking for a supportive, sturdy sleeping pad thats wider at the hips should be delighted by the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat. This pad is warmer than most backpacking pads, and it has a standout two-valve system (the in valve is one way, so you dont lose any air when youre taking a breath). And most testers found it comfortable, though not as comfortable as the cushier self-inflating pads, like the LuxuryMap, we used while car camping. These pads are filled with a couch-cushion-like foam that decompresses when you unroll the pad and open up the air valve; our top pick for car camping and our double pad pick are both in this category.
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