And the classic Therm-a-Rest air valve (which youll find on other Therm-a-Rest products) is prone to collecting sand and dirt over time as you open and close it. These trips took us everywhere from Southern California to the Grand Canyon to New Mexico. She is the instructor of Backpacker Magazines online Thru-Hiking 101 class. The pad is made with foam and has additional air pouches throughout, and the face fabric is soft and durable. Todays camping-specific sleeping pads are generally one of three types: closed-cell foam pads, self-inflating open-cell foam pads, or fully inflatable air-construction mattresses. And it will keep you just as warm as camping-specific pads that cost five times as much (although its not as insulating as either the LuxuryMap or the Ether). But if youre exhausted after a long day on the trail, youre an adult who isnt picky about sleeping surfaces, or youre a kid who doesnt know any better, the Z Lite Sol could very well be the pad for you. A higher R-value means a warmer pad. Our other picks remain the same. In our tests, the LuxuryMaps face fabric seemed to reject lint and dirt better than fabric on rival pads. By contrast, using the LuxuryMaps roomy carry bagsmartly equipped with a large shoulder strapwas hassle-free. It outpaces air mattresses by a mile. To fit a couple of other pads back into their bags, we had to straddle the pads in an effort to push out every last puff of air. The surface of the sleeping pad has a frosted touch and adopts a silent design to keep you away from noise. Instead of blowing up a sleeping pad with a pump bag or your own breath, consider using an air pump like the Exped Widget, which is lightweight and powerful. Should a small, hard-to-find hole develop, most companies suggest that you repair it using just the glue in the factory repair kit. And the pad moved out of place in tests at home on a hardwood floor, as well as in the field in a tent. But because it has 3 inches of cushioning and a vertical-baffle design, many people will find it more comfortable. The only downside: This pad is heavy. Eventually, if the pad does have a leak, bubbles will form. Liz Thomas has hiked more than 15,000 miles and once held the womens unassisted speed record on the Appalachian Trail (over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine). Some of the pads use higher-denier fabrics on the bottom for extra protection. A tent footprint, a groundsheet, and/or a tent with a bathtub floor will help protect your pad. (Most of the other air beds we tested had horizontal air tubes, which we found created a less stable surface. But for the price, this pad is always a better investment than whatever $10 pad you can find at Walmart. 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. The more layers between your sleeping pad and the ground, the better. However, deflating this bed is a pain. Yes, you can use your breath to inflate your sleeping pad when youre out on the trail. So choose your method based on your preferences. This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan. If youre looking for an inexpensive but dependable pad that will keep you warm for three-season camping, its hard to go wrong with a Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol. On a cold or rainy morning, the quicker and neater this process is, the happier the camper. It also inflates quickly, like our top pick for backpackers, and is easy to pack down. Still, you can take some measures to protect your gear. 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. Fully inflatable air-construction mattresses get almost all of their loft from your own lungs or from an electric pump. This pad is bulkier and heavier than the NeoAir XLite, and it is comparable to our top pick. (This is the main argument against the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite.) She now has two boys, a 26-pound family tent, and a garage full of dusty backpacking gear. Without the insulation of a sleeping pad, your body tries to create temperature equilibrium with the earth. This simple pad will keep you much warmer than most AeroBed-style air mattresses. The lightest pads can have tops as low as 20 denier, or 20 D (very thin threads), which leads to an increased risk of abrasion. 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). However, its slightly heavier than our also-great pick. So we werent able to test the Exped SynMat HL, the REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL Self-Inflating Deluxe Bed, the Nemo Roamer Sleeping Pad, the Big Agnes Q-Core Deluxe Sleeping Pad, or the ALPS Mountaineering Outback Mat. If youre looking for more insulation during a car-camping trip: The Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D is comparable to the LuxuryMap, our car-camping pick. R VALUE is 9.5, Excellent temperature isolation ability keeps your body at a comfortable temperature during sleep, free from hot or cold weather, This camping pad is made of TPU material which is non toxic and it doesn't have any bad smell. Its not easy to inflate. We independently review everything we recommend. Enter your phone number and we'll send you a download link. Even though it wasnt the lightest pad we tried, our testers found the Ether Light XT offered the best balance of comfort and a light-enough carrying weight for an overnight backpacking trip. We even inflated the pads in our living rooms, allowing kids and dogs to trample them in service of durability testing. And though the LuxuryMap might not be the fastest to inflate or deflate, its easy enough to use in a dark tent, even after a long drive or an exhausting all-day hike.
When we conducted another round of tests for the 2022 version of this guide, this former runner-up pick for backpackers was out of stock. Some pads have been known to squeak or crunch like a bag of potato chips. Kalee Thompson, a senior editor at Wirecutter, is a longtime hiker and camper who made the transition from backpacking to car camping when her first son was born. We preferred valves that are easy to manipulate with hands that are frozen numb or swollen due to hyponatremia (when the amount of sodium in the blood is too low) or to a too-tight backpack. 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. Our budget pick will work for people who are just getting into camping or backpacking and want a solid model before they invest in a higher-quality pad. This sleeping pad isnt small, and it isnt light. 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. 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. This pad can last for decades, especially if it sees infrequent use. Over the course of two years and dozens of camping trips with a small child, our testers never observed damage to the MegaMat Duo. Kalee Thompson is the senior editor heading up the team responsible for health, fitness, sleep, and baby/kid coverage. And its not easy to carry around. 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). Nemo Tensor Insulated Insulated Sleeping Pad: During the first round of testing, our backpacking testers found this 15-ounce pad to be comfortable, and they loved its two one-way valves (one valve that only lets air in, plus a larger valve that only lets air out). Shes also a life-long hiker and camper whos logged hundreds of miles on Pacific Northwest trails. 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. 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). The included pump bag will get you most of the way there. We also initially tried some car-camping pads that didnt self-inflate. The pad has an ultra-toasty R-value of 6, the second highest of all the pads we considered. Some people can sleep soundly on the hard ground, but they are rare birds. Many sleeping pads have to be inflated with your breath (as youd inflate a balloon) or with a sack (called a pump bag). The mummy shape meant that multiple testers of different sizes were less likely to roll off the pad in the night (compared with a rectangular pad, which tended to be more uniformly narrow). 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. Sign up to receive exclusive offers in your inbox. 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. Even though the Z Lite Sol is relatively thin, its solid foam is an effective insulator that delivers an R-value of 2.6. Theyre far more compact and easy to transport than a futon or cot, and theyre more cushy and comfortable than most exercise mats. This lightweight (14 ounces) pad is warm, durable, and inexpensive. Its no surprise that this pick is not nearly as comfortable as any of our other choices, since its made with basic foam and is the thinnest of the bunch (3.4 inches). You can buy this pad in the Womens Ultralight versionif youre a shorter person with wider hips. *At the time of publishing, the price was $120.
We also tested double pads for car camping, landing on the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 as the ideal option for families and couples. But it is absolutely the most comfortable double sleeping pad you can buyso comfortable, in fact, that many of our testers found themselves using this pad for guests in their home, instead of a typical air mattress. These days, her camping trips are mostly of the car-oriented variety (kids change things!). Most people find self-inflating pads to be the most comfortable of the three types. Luckily, most inflatable air mattresses come with repair kits. Unlike the typical popcorn effect that two people of different weights can experience on a classic air mattress, the MegaMat Duo kept us from bouncing up and down. 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 as long as youre parked close to your campsite, this shouldnt bother you. You can use most air pumps (including ball pumps or bike pumps), even if the seal between the pump and the bed isnt perfect. However, we soon became convinced that we preferred the greater comfort and easy setup of a self-inflating pad, and we made self-inflation one of our criteria for choosing a car-camping pad. And the air-cell design protected side-sleepers shoulders and hips while also keeping the pad from slipping on the ground. Its harder to pack down, compared with the LuxuryMap, and it takes more time to inflate. This means youre less likely to roll off of it overnight and end up cold and aching come morning. Jenni Gritters has been reviewing outdoor, travel, and childrens gear for more than five years and has worked in journalism for nearly a decade. Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad: This slightly heavier (and cheaper) version of the Klymit pad we tested for backpacking inflated quickly and easily. It may be obvious, but dont store your [inflatable] sleeping pad on the outside of your pack during the day. But if youre looking to buy a sleeping surface specifically for camping, our dozens of hours of research and testing have led us to this conclusion: Your best bet is a camping-specific pad that rises just a couple of inches off the ground. Even so, be sure to test this pad at home before you head into the wild (or pack some earplugs). 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. We were able to inflate a single airbed in about 30 seconds, and this pump added just 7 ounces to our pack weight. After sleeping in 27 tents, we think the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 is the best tent for two people and the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 6 is best for most families. For our 2017 round of testing, we took nine popular sleeping pads on two group car-camping trips and also slept on each pad at home in a living room before concluding that the LuxuryMap is the best car-camping pad. It features a soft but sturdy 50-denier fabric on the top and an even hardier 75-denier fabric on the bottom; this helps protect it against punctures or damage from sharp surfaces. If youre headed out on a car-camping trip where weight isnt an issue, this is the couples pad to choose. By contrast, the Ether Light XTs smaller air pockets created a more evenly balanced environment.) In all ways but price, however, its far inferior to any of the other pads we tested. 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. When Linn repairs pads in the field, he uses barge cement, which is similar to Shoe Goo but multipurpose. Our long and narrow testers found the baffles comfortable and said the design prevented them from slipping off the pad during the night. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). If you have these items around your houseand you find them comfortable and warm enough, and you have room to stuff them in your carany of them could become your camping bed. At just 14 ounces, the Z Lite Sol is light enough for most backpackers. After five years of testing sleeping pads, were fed up with stuff sacks that are a struggle to stuff. Nothing ruins an outdoor adventure like a hole, rip, or tear in a sleeping pad. (Weve also added a fast-acting, lightweight pump, the Exped Widget, to this guide, if youd like to go that route.). We also spoke with Richard Nisley, a former Apollo-mission engineer and lifelong outdoor adventurer who has dedicated his retirement years to solving gear-related physics puzzles in his home laboratory in Northern Californiaan expertise he shares as an influential voice in the Backpacking Light community.
Its vertical baffling was especially popular with side-sleepers. And it will keep you just as warm as camping-specific pads that cost five times as much. (We noticed that the LuxuryMap didnt pick up lint and dirt the way some competitor mattresses did, likely due to these material choices.) If youre focused on weight, look to our Other good sleeping pads section for a better solution. Do you need a sleeping pad at all?
Take a Sharpie marker or an oil crayon and circle the area, and then dry the pad thoroughly. Keep in mind, too, that your sleeping system is about more than just cushiness. At the end of an exhausting day, simplicity rules. 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. Klymit Insulated Static V Lite: The Insulated Static V Lite has an R-value of 4.4, making it feel like heat is radiating from under me, as one tester put it. And most testers found it comfortable, though not as comfortable as the cushier self-inflating pads, like the LuxuryMap, we used while car camping. And we found that over the course of a few hours, the beds air pressure reduced, resulting in less support for side-sleepers especially. Thorns that puncture the top of the pad can sometimes poke through to the bottom. These are simple, low-tech design decisions that make for a drastically improved overall user experience. Luckily, most inflatable air-construction-design mattresses come with repair kits, as do some self-inflating car-camping pads. You do need to charge the pump before a backpacking trip by using a USB. We found that some sleeping-pad surfaces were more slippery than others. But they are also susceptible to punctures and thus require extra care to ensure their longevity. 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). Then treat the pad well to prolong its lifespan. Are you contemplating a first-ever backpacking trip or wondering what type of sleeping pad to buy for a kid whos going on their first camping trip? The Exped Widget Pump isnt directly compatible with non-Exped bedsits seal works best with Exped pads. But as Linn told us, if youre in the backcountry, you should not introduce soapeven biodegradable soapto natural environments. Yet if youre making a choice based on insulation and have the budget to pay slightly more, the MondoKing is worth considering. 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). If you prefer sleeping on a firmer surface: Consider the Exped SynMat HL. 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. Basic but absolutely reliable, our budget pick works for backpackers, car campers, and kids. Of the nine pads we tested for car camping, fourincluding the LuxuryMapwere self-inflating. It also provided stability for side-sleepers who need padded hips and shoulders. And even when the bed is packed down as small as possible, it still barely fits into its carry sack. If you do discover a defect in your pad, though, know that it also comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Turn the valve core into open-status and allow the mattress to self inflate and wait for around 1 to 2 minutes. But the process isnt as streamlined as it could be. If you are still in the backcountry when you discover a hole, Linn suggests submerging your pad (not fully inflated) in a lake or (in a pinch) a puddle. (The company also sells an extra-large version, which is the same length as a large but wider.) This pad has a single valve thats simple and intuitive to use. As our team pursues -- bring high quality products to our customers,add more joy to the family life of consumers. 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. Due to the inflatable design of the mattress, it can be compressed and folded to a more suitable size for storage and carrying.
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