The Best Winter Sleeping Pads for Frigid Adventures
We tested dozens of pads in an effort to find the very best on the market, ideal for everything from mild winters to the world’s most extreme climates.
Sleeping Pads
Sleeping pads are often used in conjunction with sleeping bags to provide padding and insulation. Find which type of pad—air, self-inflating or closed-cell foam—is best for your next overnight trip with advice from the gear experts at Backpacker.
Deal of the Week: Grab the Lightest Sleeping Pad on the Market for Less Than $20
You won't find a lighter mat than the 2.7-ounce Gossamer Gear Thinlight.
Latest in Sleeping Pads
Want to Sleep Better in the Wilderness? These 10 Backpacking Pads Are The Ticket.
We lost sleep over narrow, scratchy, crinkly pads so that you don’t have to.
Deal of the Week: The Most Luxurious Sleeping Pad Our Testers Have Tried
The Exped Megamat is a camping pad that sleeps like a full-on mattress.
Can Sleeping Pad Inflators Really Be Ultralight?
We put the latest, lightest pad pumps to the test.
The NEMO Tensor Elite is the Lightest Inflatable Pad Ever
It’s featherweight, but is it durable? We tested all summer to find out.
Therm-a-Rest’s New NeoLoft is the Plushest Backpacking Pad We’ve Ever Used
At under two pounds, the brand’s latest mattress offers car camping comfort at backpacking weight.
Review: The Nemo Tensor Trail is a Plush Mattress for Summer Trips
Choosing a low R-value sleeping pad doesn’t mean skimping on comfort.
Winter Campers Rejoice, This Sleeping Pad Boasts an Insane Warmth-to-Weight Ratio
The Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions weighs just over one pound and is unbelievably warm
The Best Car Camping Sleeping Pads of 2023
These three deluxe mattresses cured our testers’ campground insomnia.
Deal of the Week: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Sleeping Pad
Dual air chambers make this sleeping pad cushy and reliable.
Deal of the Week: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Sleeping Pad
This pad provides a dream-worthy sleeping surface while resisting night-ruining punctures.
Deal of the Week: Therm-a-Rest Trail King SV
Easy inflation and deflation make this sleeping pad a camp favorite.
NEMO Quasar 3D
The best cushion-to-weight sleeping pad of 2021
Klymit Klymaloft XL
The most comfortable sleeping pad of 2021
Big Agnes TwisterCane BioFoam Pad
The most eco-friendly sleeping pad of 2021
The 3 Best Sleeping Pads of 2021
You deserve to relax. Snooze better than ever before with our favorite sleeping pads of the year
Deal of the Week: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Sleeping Pad
Check out Chris Meehan's author page.
Deal of the Week: Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite
This warm foam pad is a smart shoulder-season pick.
Member Deal of the Month: Big Agnes AXL Air Sleeping Pad
This featherweight pad doesn't skimp on cushion.
NEMO Flyer Sleeping Pad
Best self-inflating sleeping pad
Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Women’s Mat
Women's sleeping pad pick
Sierra Designs Shadow Mountain Pad
Best bargain sleeping pad
Exped FlexMat Plus
The last word in in affordable, worry-free sleeping pads is one of our Editors' Choice 2020 winners.
Deal of the Week: Klymit Inertia X Frame Sleeping Pad
This futuristic-looking pad slashes weight, but not comfort.
Deal of the Week: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
Sleep warm on this ultralight, compact, insulated sleeping pad, now available for 32% off.
Deal of the Month: Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Sleeping Pad
This thick pad provides lots of warmth, and at 50% off, it couldn't be a better deal.
NEMO Cosmo 3D Insulated
Best shoulder-season pad
The 3 Best Self-Inflating Camping Pads
Skip the pump, and the huffing-and-puffing, with these three trail-tested self-inflating pads.
The Best Shoulder Season Sleeping Pads
Create the perfect sleep system for cooler autumn nights by putting the right insulated mat under your sleeping bag.
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 LW
Luxurious Pad
NEMO Tensor Alpine
Best warmth to weight
Exped SynMat TT 9 M
Warmest
Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe SL
Most luxurious
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Mattress
Lightest sleeping pad
Paria Recharge S
Best value sleeping pad
NEMO Switchback
Toughest sleeping pad
The 2019 BACKPACKER Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
Chocolate and champagne are fine, but this year, give your Valentine something that will keep them happy on the trail.
The 4 Best Sleeping Pads of 2018
Snooze like royalty on these backcountry beds.
Deal of the Week: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus
One of the comfiest pads out there is a steal this week.
Exped Synmat HL Duo Winter M Sleeping Pad
Double-wide winter pad
Klymit Double V
Lightweight Double Pad
REI Co-op Flash Insulated
Lightest
Sea to Summit Comfort Light SI Pad
Best Self-Inflater
Therm-A-Rest Trail King SV
Extra Cushion
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
Check out Liz "Snorkel" Thomas's author page.
Thermarest Neoair XTherm
Check out Liz "Snorkel" Thomas's author page.
Gossamer Gear Nightlight
Check out Clint "Lint" Bunting's author page.
Big Agnes Q-Core SLX
Sleep warm from the ground up.
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol
This multipurpose mat makes winter better.
Big Agnes Double Stuffed Double Z Air Pad
Big Agnes added 5 ounces of synthetic fill to the Editors’ Choice-winning Double Z sleeping pad, perfect for cold sleepers.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Camper SV Sleeping Pad
This sleeping pad offers big-time comfort for just a little extra bulk.
Exped Synmat Hyperlight Duo
Say goodbye to the gap with the best couples’ sleeping pad for backpackers.
Exped DownMat Winterlite Sleeping Pad
Check out cmalexander's author page.
Exped SynMat HyperLite
This sleeping pad offers big-time warmth but packs down almost as small as a beer can.
Therm-a-Rest Evolite
This sleeping pad has all the appeal of old-school self-inflators—roll it out and watch the pad do all the work—but compresses to half the size of its predecessors, thanks to some new-school tricks.
2015 Editors' Choice: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus
This super-plush sleeping pad comes with an insurance policy.
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic Sleeping Pad
This closed-cell pad adds instant warmth to your winter sleeping system—and it’s a steal.
Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
It’s warm enough for mid-winter, light enough for extended treks, and packs up small.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Venture WV Sleeping Pad
You get bigtime bang for your buck with this lightweight, two-inch-thick pad.
Editors' Choice 2014: Big Agnes Double Z
Snooze soundly on the most plush backcountry sleeping pad we’ve ever seen.
Exped DownMat XP 9 M
Stay warm with this down-lined inflatable sleeping pad from Exped.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Dream
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gear Review: REI Flash Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
Features abound in this three-season sleeping pad from REI.
Gear Review: Exped DownMat Lite 5 Sleeping Pad
Stay warm with this down-lined inflatable sleeping pad from Exped.
Gear Review: Klymit Static V Sleeping Pad
Save money and reduce bulk with this summer sleeping pad from Klymit.
Gear Review: Mammut Alpine Mat UL Sleeping Pad
Get more for less with this durable foam pad from Mammut.
Gear Review: Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core SL Sleeping Pad
Take the comfort of your bed outdoors with the Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core SL.
Gossamer Gear ThinLight 1/4 Wide
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gossamer Gear ThinLight 3/16
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gossamer Gear ThinLight 1/8
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gossamer Gear NightLight Torso
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Gossamer Gear ThinLight 3/8
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Solar
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Solar
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.
Therm-a-Rest, MSR, Platypus, SealLine Z-Lite Sol
Check out Katie Herrel's author page.