Our product selection has been tested by editors and recognized by experts. We may earn commissions through links on our website.
Relax under the stars.
If you are planning your next camping trip, you need to figure out your sleep status in advance. Self-inflating sleeping pads are becoming an increasingly popular choice for backpackers because of their supportive and ergonomic design, and they are highly accommodating when deflated. That's why we have now found the best sleeping pad to buy, so you can sit back and relax under the stars.
Read more: Best sleep gadgets and products for men
The brand was established in Nashua, New Hampshire in 2002 and is one of the most highly rated sleeping mat brands by REI. Their initial headquarters was only a short drive from the state’s majestic White Mountains, which provided a natural, repeatable testing ground for their products. In 2005, Nemo won the ISPO BrandNew Award, which recognizes the most innovative products in the outdoor industry from all over the world. Today, their products can be found in the backpacks of some of the country's top outdoor athletes.
Known by REI as a "sleeping mat recliner", this model from NEMO has a slightly raised headrest to keep you away from the cold ground. Quasar also has a gently curved body mapping stand that can be supported and held on the mat throughout the night.
If you want to go on a journey with your partner or friend, this double mattress is perfect for you. Known as the brand's most luxurious sleeping mat for 2 people, it is suitable for camping in all seasons, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable sleep. The flowing core structure of the cushion reduces weight and maintains a stable support throughout the night, so you won't wake up on the ground.
Big Agnes is a supplier of high-quality outdoor sleep equipment, worthy of the name, known as the "Mother of Comfort". If you hang your new sleeping pad on a rock or tree branch, they also provide extensive warranty and equipment repair services.
This model of Big Agnes provides you with excellent protection from cold weather at an affordable price, and is perfect for anyone looking to backpack for late autumn and early spring. Its warm and foldable THERMOLITE insulation material can be used to capture and reflect body heat to avoid unnecessary emission.
Read more: Best outdoor gear for men
Backpacking in cold weather is not a secret for everyone. This is why we recommend Big Agnes' AXL model. The lightest cushion in the company's armory (under 1 pound), you will hardly notice it when folded and placed in a backpack. However, faithful to the roots of Big Agnes' Steamboat Springs, AXL will still provide you with excellent protection from the cold weather on those cold spring nights. The pad has Primaloft Silver insulating material and a polyester film layer, which can reflect body heat back to you to increase the sense of warmth.
Read more: Best camping air cushion
Exped has been a distributor of other outdoor brands since the early 1980s and began to build its own equipment in 1997. Since then, the brand has been responsible for some of the most innovative designs in the outdoor industry. Exped also prioritizes environmental sustainability as a brand. Starting in 2021, all of the company's sleeping pads will be carbon dioxide offset by Myclimate. This makes their cushion the only and the first climate-neutral cushion on the market. Exped expects that more of our products will follow the climate-neutral footsteps of their sleeping mats. The company's goal is to achieve full climate neutrality by 2024.
DownMat XP 9 is filled with a super warm mixture of 700 layers of goose down insulation and is one of the warmest sleeping mats on this list. If you are planning any winter backpacking trip, this is your best choice. Exped's design also has partitions between the down-filled partition chambers to prevent cold spots and create a thick, stable and comfortable cushion.
This sleeping mat is not only one of the most highly rated mats on the REI website, but also one of the largest. It is called MegaMat for a reason. This mat can accommodate one person to spend the most comfortable night in remote areas. It also has a very high R value, making it an ideal insulator against extreme cold temperatures.
Read more: Best camping gear for men
The brand was established in the 1990s and named after the equipment provided by its founder for the Everest expedition, which climbed from sea level to 29,028 peaks. If this is not enough to convince you of the brand's outdoor prowess, then the company's founder Roland Tyson (Roland Tyson) began to test his equipment in the difficult and ruthless outback of Australia. Today, their brand produces a variety of tents, sleeping equipment and other outdoor equipment.
Another cold weather sleeping pad, Ether Light provides suitable insulation materials for winter backpackers to keep warm in extreme cold conditions. Worried about extra calories? Don’t do this. The antibacterial treatment added to the mat helps prevent mildew problems caused by the warm and humid body heat trapped in the mat.
If comfort and portability are your first and second priorities, then this model from Sea to Summit is your best choice. However, if you might be worried about its durability, don't worry. The product adopts a unique nylon structure, which is soft to the touch and durable.
Read more: Best backpack tent
Therm-a-Rest's 40-year dominance in the field of outdoor sleep technology has been transformed into modern high-quality and mature products. Therm-a-Rest focuses on comfort and consistently produces beloved high-quality products. The company mainly operates in Seattle, Washington and Cork, Ireland.
The XLite backpack mattress is the gold standard for budget ultralight backpacks, providing unparalleled comfort and warmth with the smallest backpack weight. In addition, its sturdy and reliable WingLock valve makes the cushion inflated 3 times faster than the standard valve, and has a lightning-fast deflation function that allows you to clean up after the camp.
Read more: Best camping tents
All sizes weigh less than a pound, and this cushion takes its name very seriously. Although it is very light, the triangular core matrix structure of the mat minimizes the body's heat loss through the 2-layer stacked triangular chamber, creating hundreds of independent cells to keep warm and stable. Are you ready to go back to your real bed? Don't worry, when you use UberLite, it will shrink to the size of a water bottle.
You should look for something that suits your body type and sleeping style. Sleeping mats come in many shapes and sizes, so it is important to find a sleeping mat that suits you. Another trick is to find something that suits your intended use. If you are looking for something that can help you face the Grand Tetons bravely during a months-long mountain hike, you may be able to focus your search on lightweight options and add synthetic insulation to the cold nights in your tent. If you only plan to use the mat a few times a year, try something lighter, which may take up more space in your backpack.
Many of the top brands in the outdoor industry, such as North Face, Patagonia and Columbia, do not regularly produce self-inflating sleeping pads-instead, a combination of other little-known brands dominate the market, consistently producing high-quality, professional products.