20 Best Sleeping Pad For Hiking (2023 Updated)

I bought 2 of these pads 2 years ago as my son and I were getting into backpacking on a budget. They lasted through several trips with zero issues, were durable, and almost more importantly. they weren’t loud.

If you’ve ever backpacked with someone who has a loud, squeaky air pad you know what I mean. Recently during a camping trip one of the pads developed a slow leak. I contacted Sleepingo customer service, and even though I no longer had the Amazon order #, they sent me a brand new one.

Sleepingo is definitely a gem and I always recommend them to the Boy Scouts in my troop and friends that I backpack with.

Super awesome sleeping pad! I’ve been using it for about 2 months now. I’m about 6’3 and it works perfectly for me. I definitely don’t treat it with as much care as I should, but despite this, it has held up in perfect shape.

It inflates in roughly 7 blows, which still has me amazed. Its not super loud when shifting through the night and its super comfy. I’m a side sleeper too, which kind of had me worried for a sleeping pad.

But this thing really works well. It also packs down to the size of a water bottle, saving me tons of room in my backpack. I’ve never written a review before but this one definitely felt worth it!.

PROS: For the weight, value, and packable size, this is decent for short backpacking trips, which is what I used this for. Very comfortable when fully inflated. CONS: It doesn’t seem to want to hold air.

After inflation, I double-checked to make sure the valve was shut correctly, and it held air for a couple of hours while I was laying down on it. Throughout the night, however, the pad slowly started deflating and was making a loud whining noise while doing so.

Between the noise and the discomfort, I was constantly being woken up through the night and into the morning. By the time sunrise has come around, it was completely out of air. This is disappointing considering how comfortable this sleeping pad is when it’s fully inflated.

Either the valve is defective, or it’s the overall design of the product. I will be looking elsewhere for a sleeping pad.

It’s the lowest price of Therma-a-rest sleeping pads–other than closed-cell foam models, which I used for decades, primarily because they were light, cheap, and bullet-proof. (You could literally shoot a bullet through one, and it simply wouldn’t matter.

) But then this thing happened to me out of the blue. I got old. and my scoliosis of the spine finally caught up with me. So I emulated my clever wife, who had been happily sleeping on a TAR Trail Scout model for several years.

This thing is only an inch think, pretty light, and compact when rolled up, and I could’t believe how comfortable it was. I started awaking in my tent in the morning backache-free. Due to my back issues, I had to give up sleeping on my stomach, and this pad was still comfortable for side-sleeping.

Upon unrolling the pad, It only takes a few breaths to fill it to one’s preferred firmness. Recently, we returned from a week-long canoe trip in Utah. My wife and I slept well, while our friends kept slipping off the new ultra-light blow-up pads they had purchased for the trip.

A few years ago, another friend purchased a fancy new pad for a canoe trip, and it sprung a leak on the first or second night out. She didn’t sleep well for the remainder of the trip, while our basic Trail Scouts just continued to do their job and do it admirably.

Today I took a nap in an underground parking garage while my wife was upstairs in the hospital having eye surgery. I slept on a plywood platform in our Subie Outback. Once again, no issues with side sleeping on this hard wooden surface.

Okay. so maybe my experience is limited. In 50+ years of car-camping, river-camping, and backpacking, I’ve only experienced sleeping on closed-cell foam sleeping pads and the TAR Trail Scout pad. (I’m 74 next month.

) So it’s quite possible that TAR and other manufacturers produce even more comfortable pads. Maybe so. But I have no reason to look for a different pad when I already own a reliable pad that is light, packable, and provides a good night’s sleep on Mother Earth.

Tip: The Trail Scout comes with a stuff sack that requires you to fold the pad in half before rolling it up. I didn’t like this configuration–not good for packing in my situations. so I purchased a separate, full-width stuff sack from Thermarest (longer but skinnier).

It’s slightly roomier than the full-width stuff sack that came with my wife’s pad, so it’s easier to pull over the rolled-up pad.

Agreed to go on a couples backpacking trip with some friends and needed some cheap packable sleeping-pads for me and my girlfriend. I am 6’4″ and my girlfriend is about 5’0″. I was going to buy this mat for both of us and accept that my lower half would drastically hang of but i decided last minute to get a mat that would fit my my full height.

I picked this mate up for my girlfriend and it was a little short for her, leaving her feet hang of the end. However, she did not mind too much. I feel like this would be a bigger issue on colder days when you want to isolate your entire body from the ground.

Overall though for a shorter person or a kid this mat is great. Easy to inflate and fairly comfortable alternative to an air only mat.

Virtually indestructible is a stretch*, but this pad is still a great investment. I’ve used it by itself and as a base layer for my inflatable pad. Great for extra insulation and reducing the slip ’n slide of the air pad on the tent floor.

Good sit pad, good for lounging lunches and midday naps on trail. Love the accordion folds. I had a rollable RidgeRest previously and it was a bit much to pack down. You will not get a good night’s sleep if you use this pad by itself, but you will have a better night sleep than you would without any pad at all.

It will keep you warmer and slightly more cushioned than if you were directly on the ground. Good for minimizing pack weight and the thermal reflection technology is legit. If it’s all you have, get really tired before crashing for the night 🙂 then you won’t care how thin it is.

*If you end up in a scramble-y situation with a CCF pad on the exterior of your pack it will lose some chunks. It’s sad, but it happens.

As happy as I am getting this on sale, if this pad is regular price, I’d reccomend the Nemo Switchback for $5 more as it packs 20% smaller & has a luxurious ~0. 2 inches on the zlite. Nemo’s thermal coating also seems to have a protective layer on it for better durability.

Otherwise: Amazing for EVERYTHING! instant comfy layer for picnics, beach seat, pre/post-portage napping, sun shade, fire-fanning, warm up a cold seat, or even a just-alright lake floatie (not a PFD ofc).

I’m a side sleeper so glad to have something underneath my neoair in case of issues with the inflatable, plus extra warmth, and a foamy layer to contend with the rocks underneath. Saw these everywhere around fairy creek blockades and understood why once I was inflating my all air pad in the rain, certainly will use zlite alone for more backcountry stuff from now on.

I like this pad in general. It’s my second Z-Lite (gave the first away to another backpacker) and I like the comfort to low weight ratio of Z-lites in general. For summer backpacking the Z-Lite provides plenty of insulation from the ground.

For winter, it’s a nice second layer. I also have a Nemo pad; the Z-Lite is more comfortable. I do have two minor gripes: I prefer the short length, but they don’t seem to be available anymore; and, the reflective coating is not as durable as it was on my prior Z-Lite (the coating is visibly wearing away after only 4 nights of use).

This sweet little cot is just fantastic! Very comfortable & great to use for extra guests. Easy. t blow up! thank you!

Right price! I am happy to have come across this inflatable mattress for camping. I needed one more and the quality of this one is comparable to the one I purchased at 5x the price.

I have been hunting for a warm and comfortable sleeping pad for a few months now and read tons of reviews. I was really excited about this mat because of the open cell foam, R value, and non slip features.

It wasn’t for me unfortunately, I returned it after one use but I’m glad to have tried it. I give it 3 stars because for a small person, I think it would be fine but for an average built person it’s pretty small and confining, unless you sleep on your back the whole night through maybe.

What I did like: -It had a nice, soft surface. If you use a quilt, this is lovely. -Pillow lock is a nice bonus -Easy to inflate (takes a little extra oomph the first inflation but it is compatible with the Ether Light pump sack) I promise it will puff up.

– Even though it’s touted for car camping, I think it could be worth it to backpack with if you are not ultralight oriented. – It did keep me (A quite cold sleeper) warm at about -5 Celsius. If you sleep cold and use it for deep winter, pair it with a 2nd mat.

-The valve is effective and easy to use to deflate it with the one way feature (just twist it so the bottom is out and when you roll it up, this prevents reinflation) -If you are a good “roller” the stuff sack works for the size just fine, it’s just a matter of keeping it tightly rolled from the get go.

What I didn’t like: – I am a bit of a tosser, turner and end up generally sleep on my front or side, and this pad was just too narrow and short for me (I’m 5’3″ with an average build. A petite person might have better luck) Either my feet or head were a bit off the ends.

When I tried sleeping on my back, my elbows hit the cold ground. It was just too small and I don’t think I could have gotten used to it, -The anti-slip features didn’t keep my bag in place, I had to camp on a slight slope with it and trusted the anti slip to help, as it is marketed to do so.

– Even after deflating slightly for a bit of a softer sleep surface, I found it a little too firm (if you like a firmer surface you will probably like this better) -As with any SI mat, you will probably have to double roll it to push all the air out (less of a dislike and more a reality with SI mats) Overall, I think it is a good mat for a much smaller, quieter sleeper than myself.

If you are restless and all over the place, then look for a rectangular mat, or consider the long/wide as this will be too confining.

I was looking for a sleeping pad that had certain specifications. This ended up as my top pick after many hours of looking at every sleeping pad on the market that I could find that met these specifications and was under $140.

In short. it is compact, has foam and air for r-value – comfort – and compactability, it is 3 inches thick which is enough so you don’t touch the ground, it is long enough for a 6 ft person and a pillow, it has a high r-value of 4.

3 which is good for most temperatures year-round (except perhaps snow). It seems fairly durable and does not make a lot of noise when sleeping on it as some other brands do. It is wide enough to lay with your hands at your side but not extra wide.

It is fairly lightweight and can support a lot of weight. It can be used for camping and backpacking (although it is the widest (when packed) pad I would recommend for backpacking). I do not like pads that when packed are longer than your backpack.

I like this pad because it is not long when packed. It has a 3 in 1 valve for fast inflation/deflation, inflating without deflating when you stop, and deflating without inflating when you stop. You can buy a separately sold compatible air pump sack by Sea to Summit for inflation without electricity or breathing a lot.

and using it instead of your breath introduces less moisture into the pad – which can lower the r-value and cause mold. Few downsides: I would like it more if it was less wide and overall smaller – both in regards to packed dimensions.

but that may be difficult to design and use materials that result in a higher cost. I like that is is wide instead of long. It is the most difficult pad I have rolled when packing it up. but it is still doable.

I would have liked if it came with a bag/sack that could easily be secured well to the outside of most backpacks – and if it was rain-proof. If it wasn’t obvious this in not the pad for ultralight backpackers, but if you want these specs under $140 this is compact and the #1 I found.

(The next best pad #2 which I will not list here is about 2 inches less wide and 2 inches wider when packed – it however is less wide unfolded and and unnecessarily thick) (a top pick but further down on the list is very compact however it is noisy and has an unreliable R-value due to its design).

This is a camping mattress beyond par. I purchased it to replace a bulky camp mattress that, although comfortable, took up too much valuable space in my car, when on base camping trips, that I often left it at home, as I had to choose between room for the tent or room for my mattress.

Not a decision I will have to make again! Combined with a camp stretcher, it is the ultimate sleep system for tent camping, as I get older and less inclined to scramble up off the floor in the mornings, unless I am actually hiking.

That said, if you are thinking of using this as a mattress for hiking, I would say there are better options in terms of space and weight. That is why I also have it’s non self inflating counterpart, in the mummy shape! Make sure you fully open the big valve on this mattress as soon as it arrives, as it takes a good few hours to fully inflate, especially after it has been packed for shipping.

Pack down was relatively simple, as long as all the air is out. It squeezes in to its carry bag and can be further compressed, thanks to very clever compression lacing on the side of the bag. The regular size is big enough to accommodate myself and my whippet at my feet, so even better! This is probably the best camp mattress I have ever owned, if I combine its comfort levels and convenience of its small pack size, as well as its level of insulation.

Got to hand it to Sea to Summit for truly excellent design, that seems very durable.

I previously owned a regular Insulated Static V. I purchased the lite version for a few reasons. 1. I hammock camp and just adopted a second dog, who wouldn’t fit on the Klymit dog bed, but I also couldn’t fit a second dog bed in my hammock bug net.

2. My boyfriend and I camp together, but having two different sleeping pads led to them sliding apart and one of us ending up on the ground. I bought this with the intention of using it with the Double V sheet per the company’s answer on their site that the sheets would also fit this version.

I just took this pad on a 5-day camping trip and used it as my pad, putting the non-lite version on the ground for the dogs (which did work out, FYI). Pros: It is just as comfortable as my original non-lite version and it is substantially lighter.

However, on the cons end, it does not fit the regular Static V sheet. The edges kept popping out because it seemed to be just a bit wide for the sheet. It was also awkwardly fitted in the corners since the sheet is designed to fit over the air nozzle on the non-lite version.

I haven’t used it with the Double V sheet yet, but I can’t imagine it will fit the two different versions either. Surprisingly, it also didn’t fold down quite as small as my non-lite version, but this may have been the fault of the stuff sack.

I also preferred the older style of inflation valve versus the single flip top style for inflation, but it did work better to deflate the pad, so that seems to be up to personal preference.

This is a very well designed and made sleeping pad, incredibly lightweight and super easy to inflate. I can get it fully inflated with a maximum twelve blows or puffs, there is no need for a pump. I’m a big guy at over six feet tall weighing 95kg, and I’m a side sleeper as well and the V-Chambers design of this pad giving a height of 6cm’s when fully inflated provides a very comfortable ammount of loft and support for my big frame while lying on my back or side.

I also like the side rails design feature that helps keep you centered on the pad while sleeping, or in my case while I toss and turn in my sleep. It is a very quiet sleeping pad and does not have the dreaded crinkle noise that other insulated sleeping pads can have.

This is another feature I like very much. I have found by folding it twice length ways before rolling it up it actually rolls up to fit inside the carry bag about two inches shorter than the bag which is another small bonus.

One thing I question is Klymit’s claim that is has an ‘ R ‘ value of 4. 4. Having done some research before I purchased this pad there are some very good reviewers on Youtube channels who explain that Klymit have their own rating system on ‘ R ‘ values that does not follow what is widely accepted as an industry standard.

I still went ahead and purchased this pad because my priorities were the size and weight factors, as well as how easy it is to inflate and the comfort factor. Now that I have one I would have to agree with other reviewers in saying I very much doubt it’s ‘ R ‘ value is 4.

4. The smart thing to do is to use a lightweight closed-cell foam sleeping pad underneath the Klymit pad. I use a Therma-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic which is virtually indestructable and gives excellent protection from sticks and branches or rocks in wild terrain, and it also has an ‘ R ‘ value of 2.

6. It also helps keep you off the cold ground in Winter or in cold climate situations and provide a much better nights sleep. Even one of the cheap closed-cell foam yoga mats you can get from BCF would be great for this purpose.

Over all I’m extremely happy with this pad and can highly recommend it.

I don’t consider myself to be huge but with a normal 20 inch air mattress I’d find my hands on the ground so I needed something wide and this fit the bill. This replaced a 25 inch self-inflating mat that also fit the bill but those are just too big when packing gear on an airplane.

This is a fraction of the size. We have 2 of these and have used them for at least 5 2 week camping trips in addition to regular weekend camping trips over 5-6 years now and had no issues with comfort.

We have a AAA powered thermarest neoair pump as well since this is a not that easy to fill by mouth regardless of what the company says. It takes a few minutes and still needs a few breaths to finis the job but very convenient.

So extremely happy with these mats for comfort, packed size and durability. Highly recommended especially for the price. My only warning is in cold weather you really feel it, meaning below 5C. We put a blanket on top but still.

I didn’t love this sleeping pad (regular size), but I think that’s just bc it wasn’t right for me. It was very narrow feeling and maybe that’s just something I’d have to get used to but it felt like I was just trying to stay super still so I wouldn’t roll off the side.

Comfort wise, it’s definitely plush feeling and if you sleep still or are just better at backpacking than me the width is probably fine for you. The pump sack/stuff sack combo was a nice feature and easy to use.

It is noisy when you move around, but not in a way that was a big deal or would make me not buy it if I were fine with it otherwise. I made the mistake of not having long pants for sleeping and I get sweaty when I sleep and I found that my bare sticky legs on it were super uncomfortable when I tried sleeping on the pad and using my sleeping bag unzipped like blanket (which otherwise was the most comfortable set up I tried).

Sleep quality is always an issue for me even at home, so I just think this particular item didn’t work great for me. So I’m giving this 3 stars because of my personal experience with it, but I can understand why others like it, so I would suggest trying this pad if you’re interested in it.

Also, I probably would have faired better with the large size. This was my first backpacking trip.

I really wanted to love this women’s sleeping pad because it has so many great things going for it: thick, super warm, easy to inflate/deflate, seemed have great reviews online and videos, but I could not get pass the crinkly noise it would make every time you moved.

I set up my brand new Copper Spur HV UL3 in my living room and threw this pad inside. The noise was unbearable, so I added a thin sleeping pad under (one that the kids use on camping trips) thinking the hard vinyl floor was causing the noise.

Nope, still noisy. Then, I added my new Big Agnes Tent Floor comforter as another barrier, thinking it would help. Nope, laughably noisy that I’m sure that I would wake myself up in the middle of the night as I am a light sleeper.

I’m so bummed because I have literally spend hours and hours researching but I may try Nemo Tensor Insulated Alpine but I’m worried about the reviews of how the Tensor has durability issues. Maybe, I’ll try another S2S pad like the Comfort Plus.

My goal is to be able to throw this pad into a suitcase since my old Thermarest MondoKing 4″ is gigantic for airline travel.

I was looking for a relatively light weight pad for backpacking that would be good comfort for a side sleeper. The ease of inflation, the pad thickness, and the comfort level are all winners for this pad.

There are two main drawbacks that I am not sure I can live with. The first is the noise when moving around. This is by far the noisiest sleeping pad I’ve ever had or been around. If you have any knowledge of the SpongeBob squeaky boots episode, you will have a great reference point for what I am talking about.

It was loud and distracting enough to wake up fellow tent campers whenever I moved. The second issue is the width of the pad. I am 5’7″ but relatively broad-shouldered, and while laying on my back my arms would fall off the edge of the pad.

I wish the 25″ width was available in a regular-length pad. Adjusting the inflation tension on the pad was very easy, and the overall quality is excellent. I own a lot of Sea to Summit products, from pillows to down blankets to cookware and they have never let me down.

Love their stuff. I just don’t know if I can live with this pad’s noisiness and narrow width.

Ordered direct from Therm a Rest because no one else had stock. Delivery was better than promised ~ a week. Tried it out on a three night snow camp with temps around freezing. Used a Z Pad underneath the TR as I usually do.

Pad performed well without any cold spots. Could not distinguish any difference in performance between my new TR and my older (heavier/ bulkier) Exped Down mat. The TR has an exceptional R factor/packability for its low weight which was why I chose to shell out the $250+ for the TR.

Winter camping always strains my weight carrying capability and challenges the volume of my backpack with puffy down coats, sleeping bag, and extra bottles of wine so it was worth it (to me at least) to spend the money.

We have gotten into winter camping more frequently in the last three years so are ramping up the equipment to facilitate this extension of our normal backpacking seasons. To the “occasional” camper this outlay may be a bit much but everyone is different.

I use the TR X lite during the other seasons. The XTherm is heavier so though I would like it to be my all season pad its extra weight precludes its (for me). People have commented on the noise factor for various TR inflatable pads.

I have never been bothered by any noises but after a long day I sleep very soundly. The wing valve is new to me (thanks TR for inventing after I bought my summer pad). Its one way valve is very handy to keep air from escaping while inflating.

The inflate bag is handy and snaps into place securely so it won’t fly off during inflating. Material seems sturdier than what is used on my summer pad (but then summer pad is also lighter) and it packs up quite nicely.

I always buy the wider / longer versions so you end up folding (summer and winter) the pads into thirds to roll up. The XTherm seems to fold easier than the summer pad. But then I have the older (pre wing lock… did I remember to thank TR for that yet???) summer pad so that might have changed.

As a past product manager I am always considering improvements. One simple one would be to note which side of the mat goes down. Something really crazy like printing “This Side Down” on the mat would be awesome.

I had to look online to find the answer and in the end I located a product walk through that had the mat inflated and laid on a bench. The side pointing up had the TR name printed on it so I assumed this was the correct positioning.

I know “assume”… So I’m satisfied with the pad after my first use. Since I’ve used TR pads quite a will let history be my guide and expect that this new pad will hold up just as well as my other TR equipment has.

If not then my experience with Cascade Designs is their warranty process is quite good and they have always stood behind their products so kudos to them. If you are a serious winter camper than I would def shell out the bucks for this item.

You won’t regret.

2 stars, and a fair review The short tax is however many times one replaces an item at full cost due to voided warranty, that taller people do not have to pay. If you’re short, your pack is smaller or it doesn’t fit you well.

Smaller pack = less room for stuff. If you sleep VERY cold and need to keep your pack weight down, the Thermarest Xtherm is the only way to go. But here’s the rub: the shortest length these come in is 72in (138cm).

And altering (resizing) it voids the warranty. (If a short person doesn’t void the warranty, they must suffer through the excess size in an already crowded smaller bag and carry unecessary ounces of extra weight against, tempting against the max load of smaller, ultralight bags.

) The baffles began going bad after my first night. And the pump bag leaked air so bad I had to give up and just use my tiny lungs. Oof! If not for the short tax I wouldnt be too terribly upset about these things.

Sometimes, there will be a bad batch of just about any product. It happens. Warranties exist to offer correction such times, so people don’t end up spending $440 for a $220 dollar product. Ok, aside from the short tax, how does this (essentially $440) pad perform? I sleep COLD.

Just spent 4 winter days/nights in the desert with this air pad. First night was dropped close to 30F and humidity around 68F. It takes a while for the air in the pad to warm up. (This isn’t a sign of underperformance.

The pad is 2. 5in of insulating space between sleeper and ground. It is a godsend for side sleepers. ) Once the air in the pad soaks in body heat, it holds it well. This is the warmest sleeping pad of its weight by miles! It’s not a fluke, either.

I got to use an xtherm for a 26F snowshoe backpacking trip a few years back. It was the old model, but just as warm. In summary, Pros: Warm Lightweight Good for back, side, and stomach sleepers Cons: -Baffles are giving out after the first 3 days of use.

-Thermarest doesn’t offer a short wide size. (Or any short size at all). -Pump sack leaks terribly (the pump sack of previous Xtherm I used did not leak. ) If another brand offered the same but shorter, I’d migrate.

My first Thermarest Xlite Womens without Winglock lasted well over 200 nights until End of Life of the fabric. Unfortunately, I have now had two of the new Women’s Xlite with Winglock that both exhibited the same failure after 15 nights on trail.

The Baffle nearest to the winglock unwelds (pops) during normal use, creating a bubble. A few nights later, more baffles start to fail, creating a huge bubble and an unuseable, unrepairable mat. My first Thermarest with popped baffle was replaced through warrenty, and now the warrenty replacement has failed in the exact same way.

This happens when turning from back to side and just laying on the mat not overinflated and in sinking, not warm, temperatures. I loved my first experience with Thermarest, the quality and durability.

But the last two have shown a trend, and I am no longer sold on the Thermarest brand with these quality concerns. On a positive side, the warrenty and customer service response was fast, positive, and did replace the first mat.

I bought this specifically for camping bc my other pads are streamlined for backpacking. I’m a side/stomach sleeper and I wanted something wider, more comfy and less time consuming to inflate for camping.

Since most of my car camping is done in the warm summer months, I also wanted something with a lower R value. I compared similar models by other brands and this one had the lowest R-value and price for the specs I was looking for.

Plus I got a 20% off discount as a student. Pros: wide, comfortable, adjustable (can make less firm by letting air out), price value, and best of all, you don’t gave to do ANY blowing (the stuff sack finishes it off nicely.

) Cons: it’s super hard to get in and out of the stuff sack! I could barely get it out when it arrives to test it out. I also think I received a used/returned one bc there are some dark stains on the bottom.

Tips: use a vacuum when you get home from camping to suck out any extra air before trying to put it in the stuff sack. Much much easier than trying to roll the air out since the foam gives it some resistance.

I am quite surprised by all of the positive reviews. It seems like others had a better experience than I did with this product. I bought this pad at ****’s Sporting Goods because I knew I would be camping for many nights this summer and wanted a comfortable pad.

The pad was awesome for the few nights that it held air. I started to wake up with the pad deflated and tried to diagnose the air leak issue. After spraying soapy water over it I noticed that there were MANY tiny air leaks throughout the pad.

I am very disappointed with this product.

These are absolutely amazing. We used these to replace some older Kelty pads that we had, which were all air, but having the foam in these makes them easier to inflate and also makes them so much more comfortable.

I may just sleep on these instead of my mattress at home! One tip is to not over-inflate these, I found after a few nights that you can sort of match your home mattress firmness if you don’t put too much air in them.

The first night, I pumped it up and it was way too firm, but after that, I let a little air out and slept like a baby. My only criticism of the product is that I wish that the stuff sack had some sort of handle to use while packing/unpacking.

I will be honest: I don’t care who says the air mattresses are lighter and therefore better for backpacking. I’m sticking with my tried-and-true Thermarest Pro-Lite Plus. After two times trying two different top-rated air mattresses that deflated (like on-the-ground-in-the-morning deflated) the second time I took them backpacking, I went back to Ol’ Betsy and am not looking back! There have been upgrades to the last version I had.

For one, the mat is all red, whereas the old one was grey on one side (not sure why? I always wondered if it had some sort of other quality I had forgotten about). The upgraded knob has a tightener in addition to the pop-out valve so when you’re blowing up the mattress, it doesn’t deflate while you’re huffing and puffing.

The stuff sack is also waaaaaaay better (i. e. larger) and has compression straps. The only thing I would add to this setup? A velcro strap so you can actually keep the pad compressed after you’ve rolled it up so it will fit inside said stuff sack and/or won’t inflate when you’re changing altitudes (contrary to what TaR says, the mat does inflate a little even when the latch is sealed).

So, bottom line: Yes, it’s slippery. Yes, it’s also a little too narrow (Hello! Women have HIPS. ) And, yes, it’s heavier and bulkier than a fancy-pants air mattress. but my old one lasted 8 years before it started deflating when it wasn’t supposed to, so I’m sticking with it.

After 25 years of use, one of our original Thermarests got damaged so we needed to find a replacement. We do canoe trips of up to 10 days and at the end of a long day of paddling and portaging, a good sleep is pretty important.

We tried out three sleeping pads on our search for something just as comfortable as what we have now that also had an R value close to 4 for near-zero nights. We wanted something just as comfortable and warm and we were hoping for something that packs up a bit smaller.

Of the three pads we tried, two were air pads – the Topo Neo and Topo Luxe. Both packed up very small and were very light but the Topo Neo was so noisy and not cozy at all. The Topo Luxe was a little less noisy and had a nicer surface but neither was as comfortable as the Trail Lite.

The air pads are essentially air mattresses with material that helps keep you warm (that’s what makes the crinkly noise) so they don’t support in the same way as a self-inflating pad that has a bit of foam inside.

This pad, the Trail Lite, has some hefty foam inside of it and a soft outside which makes it more comfortable. It is also self-inflating, so much easier to inflate than the “air pad” style of sleeping pads and it doesn’t make any noise at all.

We opted for the regular length but the wide version as the regular width versions were just too narrow for us. In the long run, this pad probably doesn’t take up much less space in our packs than the original Thermarest from 25 years ago but I have slept on it once already and it is very comfortable.

My partner has had nothing but wonderful things to say about his Therm-a-Rest (which is still going strong after MANY years) so when the time came, I knew I would invest in one for myself. Unfortunately for me, I chose this one and absolutely wasted my money.

Not sure if this is how they all are or I just got one from a bad run, but considering how pleased so many friends and family members are with theirs, disappointed is an understatement. When it first arrived, I was thrilled – having tested it for only about 10 mins.

Big mistake. Fast forward to camping: I’ve used it for 3 trips this year (only one of which was within the “better sleep” guarantee window) and each one has left me more and more disappointed with the product.

This past weekend it was actively leaking air. the sound woke me up several times in the middle of the night and by morning, I was in a lot of pain). New to these, I first thought it may be user error but reread all instructions and my partner confirmed correct use as well.

So, we decided to do some more home testing and sure enough, even without any weight on it, the thing lost so much air overnight that I could roll it up and back into the stuff sack with ease. I would be better off sleeping on my yoga mat.

I have used the sleeping pad multiple times since I purchased it this summer! It is compact and very lightweight, though a little bit bigger than I was expecting when it is rolled up and packed down.

I am not disappointed but didn’t really know what to expect-from shopping for this pad online during the pandemic (not getting to see in stores). Dries quickly when laid out/hung if it gets wet. Made with soft material.

Comes in nice drawstring bag with elastic bands to pack it. I have not taken it backpacking yet but that is my intention, paired with the Women’s Cosmic Synthetic mummy bag. Love that the color of the bag and the pad match one another.

Thank you for making a great product, Kelty-I’ll def be back for more and will recommend to a friend.

Quality and R value seems good, but it’s too big for backpacking in a 50L pack. The customer service and return policy are not good. I bought around $400 worth of items and the minimum I expect was a response from there warranty department within a week for something which is clearly broken.

It’s been a month and no response. Stay away from companies who have just excuses for a customer service department. The sleeping pad wouldn’t be useful for me, so I thought of returning it. But since I have to pay the return shipping and I got it for 25% discount during 4th of July sale, I think I will just eat the cost as it’s not worth the effort to get $30 out of it.

Stick to REI and Sports Basement, much much much better warranty and returns.

When going down your list of gear, check-off this sleeping pad for a comfortable choice. I normally select the zpad for light weight and mild comfort. When sleeping on this pad for the first time I was impressed and surprised at the comfort level.

Sometimes I combine both the zpad and the Kelty for maximum insulation and comfort. Although I selected this pad for a bike ride across the United States and can spare a little space fudge. I am not so sure I would carry this unit on a long backpacking trip.

Although if comfort is your tool of travel, worth the weight.

I bought the RidgeRest Classic for a camping trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I had been using a backpacking inflatable (small) sleeping pad from another company. This pad kept deflating during the night and got holes in it too easily.

I needed a pad that would not get holes in it and could survive if my three year old and 18 month old children decided to be monkeys in the tent. The RidgeRest Classic seems light and rolls up nicely into a compact shape for packing.

It is made from a material that can withstand rugged conditions but is also comfortable for sleeping.

Brilliant! Looks old fashioned, got teased by mates, but absolutely brilliant keeping me warm and comfortable! I’m a light weight fanatic, try to keep my pack weight(including pack, not water) under 10kgs and this well and tryly earns its place in my essentials list.

Served several functions such as seat, eating mat etc beyond its core duty of sleeping mat. Well worth the investment!.

my buddies and i were up in the goldfiels in the glaciers of tustemena lake. they had a tent and air matresses. i had my ruck with a ridgerest,sleepig on frozen ground. they almost froze to death. the permafrost went through thier air matress but not the thermarest ridgerest.

when ever going off grid ,you have to have the very best of all your equipment. there are no cell phone towers where i go. just you, your compass,map,gear and gun.

I had an Old style thermostat finally got too many holes in it to using anymore. I wanted a simple mat to lay on a cot without taking up too much room and this fit the bill perfectly. Provided enough padding and insulation to stay warm and temps easily down into the 30s.

Happy with my purchase.

So I bought this air pad for an alpine trip in wyoming…for 2023… but because I’m a child I had to air it up and play with it. Holds air, compresses small, and is pretty warm while it’s on my cold garage floor.

I’d say she gets the job done.

Bought this sleeping bad for a trip to Northern Michigan in winter. Made a huge difference keeping me off the cold ground! Def recommend! love it!

I was really surprised how light and compact this sleeping pad actually is. There could be lighter and/or smaller ones available but this is fine for my current needs. I wanted something for more comfortable tent and car camping, even as back up for a friends floor etc! Once lying on the pad it feels well cushioned, at least on hard floors, for back or side sleeping.

It’s a perfect size for me, as I didn’t want anything much wider or longer than my body. I haven’t had a chance to try for any length of time, I’m exited to try it on rocky shores and uneven forest terrain.

It feels like a good and sturdy material. Time and use will have to determine the durability and puncture proof quality of this pad. I like being able to pump it up manually, or with the option of a pump (sold separately!) I was able to inflate it in 13, maybe 14 breathes.

I am hoping this provides a more comfortable sleeping experience than just using the foam roll up pads!.

I have the regular Static V Luxe which works very well for me in the summer. And I’ve been very happy with the peformance of that and how well it’s held up for being inflated non-stop over 4 nights at a time – never losing air or firmness.

I’m glad I could finally get the Insulated Static V Luxe for cooler spring/fall camping. The pack size is a little bigger than regular one, but it’s not a big deal for my car camping. After inflation, it performs exactly the same as the regular one as far as inflating and comfort on the ground as a side sleeper.

I used the inflation sack to blow it up and it only took 4. 5 times. As for being warmer: Yes it is. The floors in my house are very cold b/c of crawl space and 27 degree outside temps. Anyway, after laying on it for a few minutes, I could feel a warmth coming back to my body.

If I could feel warm laying on my freezing cold floors, then it will definitely be helpful when I’m out in mid-40s to mid-50s to help with night chill. The Static V Luxe line has made it possible for me to camp and sleep in comfort, and I’m thrilled to finally have the insulated one.

I chose this rather than the easier to carry folding Therm-a-Rest because of the higher R value (2. 8). It is quite bulky — using a strap and rolling tightly, I was just able to squeeze it into the side straps of my pack.

I combined it with a Static inflated sleeping pad, but it on its own it seemed reasonably comfortable for what it is (a thin foam pad). I ended up a bit cold in the morning when it got below freezing, but I could tell that was from the inflated pad; had I put the Therm-a-Rest on top, I would have been fine.

The nights above freezing were fine. I have no idea what the cosmetic blemish was, but it isn’t worth worrying about. All in all, a great purchase if you don’t mind the size.

It definitely is a “steal. ” I don’t know how Mountain Steals does it. I actually have not tried this mat. I ordered it to store in my closet in case someone visits for an overnight stay, or an occasion like that.

This is supposedly a high quality mat. Thermarest is supposedly one of the top manufacturers of camp mats and sleeping pads. This one would cost at least $100 otherwise. I have read pros and cons about it.

It might not be thick or comfortable enough for “side sleepers” meaning if you sleep on your side you will feel your pressure points eventually but I have heard that some people get this kind of mat ( “closed cell”) because inflatable ones can be a problem if they get punctured and inflatables need care that “closed cell” ones don’t.

I have not tested the long-term durability of this mat. It seems to be essentially well made even though that is strictly according to how it looks brand new and never having had been used. It is definitely good that it comes in a size of 25″ by 77″ because I have sleeping cots in my apartment rather than beds and this Thermrest pad is of the right dimensions to fit one of the cots.

I don’t intend to use it for camping, or not yet. It seems to be good for indoor use too. I guess one thing if you go camping with it, is that it does not roll into a compact size. It is rather bulky and if you carry it on your backpack you will have to tie it a certain way onto the backpack.

it is lightweight enough though and should not weigh you down even though its dimensions may still cause you to feel a certain gravitational pull on your backpack eventually as you walk. Or so it seems.

The “texture” of the mat is such that there are certain “grooves” or indentations on the material. It is designed this way. It is not a flat surface type of mat as you should be able to see by the photo on the website.

I would not know how that feels to sleep on it directly at this point, especially for a certain amount of hours, but you can put a sheet or blanket on top of it. I have heard if the mat gets dirty or if dirt gets into the indentations, you can just clean it with a damp cloth and let the mat dry.

If you have a hose you can also hose it and then leave it out to dry. If you have a back yard and a garden hose that is. It seems that would work. I think that for this price the mat definitely seems worth it.

If it is not exactly the best design and style or model, then the low give-away price at Mountain Steals will have still made it worth buying. I am sure there are expensive mats of less than mediocre quality.

I guess when it comes to camping gear such as sleeping cots there aren’t enough people going out camping or living in the woods so that there is a bigger industry in which manufacturers make really ergonomic and effective camp equipment.

A lot of the stuff is just costly but still not good enough in ergonomic design even though the quality may otherwise be good, and people have to settle for what comes closest to what they need. I am making a general statement there.

But I like this sleeping mat and may get another one in case a friend needs to stay overnight at my apartment.

Got this lightweight foam pad for extra warmth with my inflatable pad in cold weather. Works great lightweight and adds additional protection from ground elements. Also can be used to line your pack and just a seat while hiking.

Durable design and have no signs of wear or blemishes. Does take up slightly more room then a fold design but overall glad to have.

This sleeping pad rocks. We’ve used air mattresses and other sleeping pads in the past, but since we started car camping with our toddler into the shoulder seasons (spring & fall) we needed a solution for the colder ground temps when sleeping.

After much research and reading lots of other reviews it was clear Exped was a leading candidate and we’re glad we purchased it. It’s a little bulkier when packed than others but it really is like sleeping on your mattress at home.

I’m a side sleeper and this sleeping pad is so comfortable I sleep soundly. The two valves work flawlessly. Our air previous sleep pads (and especially our air mattress) always leaked some air overnight; but not the Exped.

And the release valve really helps keep the air out as you’re rolling up the mattress to pack it – no fighting to prevent air sneaking back in while you’re trying to deflate it. We also a single size Exped sleeping pad and using it with this duo is perfect for the 3 of us.

They also seem to be solidly built so we’re looking forward to years of good use out of them. The only cons is that it is bulkier when packed and they’re not cheap. But those cons are easily outweighed with a comfortable night’s sleep when sleeping in a tent.

A couple of tips: Definitely lay out the pad and allow it to self-inflate itself for a few mins while you continue to set up camp. When you come back to set the amount of firmness you want it will only take a couple of pumps on the foot pump to get the air pad firm (be sure the valve on the foot pump is facing up towards you and not the ground).

Also, if you’re considering ordering the wider size of the Exped pads like we did initially, note that those pads are also much longer too. We returned those once we realized the normal width sleeping pads was enough for us and we got more floor space in the tent because these pads are 72″ long instead of 80″ long in the wide versions.

If sleeping is your least favorite part of camping this mat might be for you. Traditionally I spend most of the night half awake, tossing and turning but with this mat I actually got GOOD sleep. I had been a bit concerned that the high R value would make it uncomfortable in the warmer months but I used it during a trip in June and was perfectly comfortable with the mat and a light blanket.

I have no idea why people are having so much trouble inflating and deflating the mat, both of the valves are one-way valves. I left the inflate valve open in the tent for about an hour or so then gave it a few dozen pumps to make it agonizingly hard.

You can then push on the little flap to let air out until it feels right. To deflate I opened the deflate valve and then used the heaviest thing I could find – myself, splayed out like a starfish – to press the air out.

When it was deflated enough to start folding I folded it in half then laid on it some more. Eventually I started rolling it and sat on it with my knees. Again, it’s a one-way valve so as long as you’re putting weight on the mat you’re making forward progress.

It took me maybe ten minutes to get it basically as small as new. It was barely more difficult than sleeping on it.

This mat GREAT. If you see the bad reviews about it not being thick enough they probably did not follow the directions because I’m 220lbs and my hip does not touch the ground when I sleep on my side.

You need to fill it up before your trip (read the inductions). Additionally when you get camping give it a lot of time to auto fill and use the pump till it’s firm, disregard whatever time the instructions say.

I just finished a trip in Yosemite and I never had to add air unlike my last mats. It was warm, firm and I could sleep on my side very comfortably. Other negative reviews refer to design flaws the Exped has corrected, like how you put it back in the bag.

Its really easy to pack up compared to other mats. It does take some work deflating and folding but so do most mats. The fill was great though. It fills itself most of the way. I am so pleased with this pad.

Buy it and try it before a trip and I think you will be very happy too. The price tag stung a bit but I have wasted hundreds on previous air mats that don’t hold air, are bulky when packed or too thin when setup.

I have a back issue and just can’t say enough about this mat. I feel comfortable going camping again :).

This is a great pad overall and I’d highly recommend to anyone looking to get into backpacking/camping! Pros: – This thing packs down SMALL! Helpful for when I’m carrying all my gear and a few days of food.

– The crinkle and noise associated with a lot of inflatable pads is very minimal. Way quieter than my old Nemo! – This pad is very easy to inflate without a bag or extra accessory. I didn’t feel at all lightheaded and it only took a few minutes.

– Cost! A really nice pad with quality materials for a very affordable price. Perfect for those looking to lighten their pack and skip those $$$ Ultralight gear purchases. Cons: – A little cold in the early spring, but not enough to ruin the trip.

Paired with a warmer bag, I don’t think that this will be a huge problem. – The weight is pretty high given the size of the pad, but I’d still consider this a lightweight option. Despite being a short, it still came out just about as heavy as my usual full-length pad.

Overall, I’d say that this is a good option for people new to the hobby or looking to lighten their pack on a budget. Paired with a few other lightweight and ultralight options, my base weight for a week long trip was still under 13lbs before food/water.

Pretty nifty! Definitely going to be recommending this to friends looking for an affordable and more accessible way to enjoy backpacking.

I was worried about sleeping on a sleeping pad because I typically “glamp” and this was my first time since middle school sleeping in a sleeping bag on the ground (I’m 36!). I’m also a side and stomach sleeper, so that makes it extra difficult to get comfy on hard surfaces.

At the suggestion of another reviewer, I left it partially deflated and that gave me enough give for shoulders and knees to sink in. It was easy to inflate, a little challenging to deflate but easier once you do it a few times and get a process.

Only thing I would change is getting the wider XL version, but it wasn’t in stock and we needed it sooner. After looking all over REI and the internet, definitely the best quality/thickness/rating for the price.

For the price, I’m happy with pretty much every aspect of this pad’s performance. It rolls up really small, and is quite compact. However, it’s a little heavier than some pads out there with higher R Values, so if I had spent more money on it I would expect a lighter pad.

I don’t do a huge amount of backpacking. I mostly use this for kayak and car camping, so the weight is fine for that, and it’s warm enough for three season use. At first I found the pad very difficult to stay on, and had a couple of restless nights rolling off the pad every time I dozed off.

The trick I’ve found is to just underinflate it a bit, and at that level it’s still comfortable and cushy but cradles you a little better. I am not a heavy user, but so far it’s proven durable. It’s also awesome for hammock camping, because the mummy shape of the pad really fits well with the shape of a hammock and it provides good support and insulation.