We stand behind everything we sell. If you are not satisfied with your REI purchase, you can return it for a replacement or refund within one year of purchase. REI's guarantee doesn't cover ordinary wear and tear or damage caused by improper use or accidents. If your item has a manufacturing defect in its materials or workmanship, you can return it at any time. See our limited warranty. At REI, we live and breathe the outdoors, and we're passionate about sharing our expertise with people of all skill levels. Whether you're new to the outdoors or a seasoned explorer, we'll take the time to understand your needs and help you find the right gear for you. Anyone can shop at REI, but for a one-time $20 fee you can become an REI member and enjoy a lifetime of benefits. These include an annual member refund, typically 10% back on eligible purchases.* *10% is typical but not guaranteed. Your refund is based on eligible purchases, which exclude REI gift cards, services, fees, REI Adventures trips, REI Garage, and discounted items.
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2016 Weight and packed size continue to dominate the sleeping pad conversation, but the comfort dial also is turned up in our top picksBackpackers have more options for ultralight sleeping pads in 2016 than ever before. There are dozens of different backpacking pad sizes, shapes, and types of construction, ranging from dirt-simple foam pads to lush inflatable cushions four-inches thick. How do you choose the best backpacking sleeping pad for 2016 and beyond? The answer gets easy once you understand the basic types of backpacking sleeping pads, their sizes, weight, and how much they cost. There are three basic types of backpacking pads — foam pads, self-inflating pads, and air pads. All backpacking sleeping pads are designed to keep your body from contacting the ground, which is usually cold, as well as cushion your body from rocks or roots. The most important factors for most backpackers are weight, cost, and comfort. Foam pads are dirt-simple — they are thin, lightweight, super durable, shed water, and are inexpensive.
Because they don’t compress, they are relatively bulky. You roll them up and usually attach them to the bottom outside portion of your backpack. I usually pack a short foam pad with me (in addition to an air pad) because a foam pad is so easy to use as an ultralight seat, either folded up on a rock or laid out on the ground with some sort of backrest. Keeps your legs and butt from getting wet or dirty, and because it won’t “pop,” I can throw it down on sharp rocks and never worry. Sleeping on a backpacking foam pad, though, isn’t that great. If there is a bump underneath your foam pad while sleeping, you’ll always know that bump is there. Get a foam pad if you’re on the tightest budget . . . or you expect to be camping out in a very thorny area. Therm-a-Rest took the backpacking world by storm years ago by creating an open-cell foam insulating material inside of an inflatable pad. The foam crushes down to pack tightly for travel, but when the sleeping pad is opened up inside a tent, for example, the foam will push up and suck air into the pad.
Add a few puffs of air and you can firm up the pad to your own personal liking. These pads are about 1-to-2 inches thick. Because of the interior open-celled foam, they offer a bit more insulation from the ground for cold-weather backpacking than typical non-insulated air backpacking pads. Self-Inflating backpacking sleeping pads are usually heavier than closed-cell foam backpacking pads, but they are much more comfortable. In addition, if you end up with a small hole or depression under your sleeping spot that you didn’t see when you pitched your tent, you can throw a t-shirt into the depression and add some air pressure to your self-inflating pad . . . to create a sort of bridge effect to even out your bed. Less expensive self-inflating pads are heavier and bulky — you roll them up like foam pads — but the more expensive models are surprisingly foldable and packable into spaces smaller than a football. Get a self-inflating pad if you want a durable air pad that is quiet to roll around on or want the ability to really crank up the firmness level.
Air Pads bring a whole new level of comfort to backpacking. They are usually two-to-four inches thick and resemble the vinyl inflatable air mattresses people bring to the beach. Air pads for backpacking, though, are much higher quality and are manufactured from ultralight materials. Plus, air pads are amazing to sleep on. Big guys should error toward wider air pads, though, because the thicker ones can feel “tippy” for guys with wide shoulders and their arms will hang off the edges. Tip: Use a t-shirt to level ground under your air pad or roll some stuff sacks or a jacket under the edges to combat any lean or tip you encounter in your tent. The downside to backpacking air pads is the cost — super-thick, big-name brands can easily rocket past $100. While you can buy insulated air pads for cold-weather camping, it increases their weight and cost. Most air pads tend to make a crinkly noise or sometimes a squeaking sort of noise when you roll around on them. If you move a lot when you sleep — or have sensitive sleepers as backpacking buddies — you might be better off with a self-inflating pad.
In addition, air pads are utterly worthless if you poke a hole in one, but you can usually repair holes on the trail with the repair kits that come with them. and get fast & free 2-day shipping on most orders over $50. In this day and age, don’t buy any backpacking sleeping pad that weighs more than 2 pounds. Look for something 16-to-24 ounces, which is 1-to-1.5 pounds. As for length, consider your height. If you’re a tall guy, get the long versions so your feet don’t hang off the edge. (Of course, I know one 6’3″ guy who uses a super light, ultra-short backpacking pad — which lets his lower legs rest on the ground inside his sleeping bag. The weight savings are worth it to him, but for most people, the best backpacking sleeping pad is a full-length backpacking sleeping pad.) Most pads are 20 inches wide. Big guys should consider getting the 24-inch wide models — I think it’s worth the extra weight and cost. In fact, I think a more restful night in the backcountry is worth at least 8 extra ounces.
and get free shipping on many pad options. Is there truly a best backpacking sleeping pad? If cost isn’t a factor, the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Mat is very compelling. It weighs 25 ounces in a 21.5″ x 72″ size with a 2.5-inch thick cushion of air. Sure, that’s a bit heavier than ultralight options, but it’s also insulated — and comes with two separate layers you can inflate to different pressures. For instance, you can crank up the pressure in the bottom layer to give you support over uneven ground but keep the upper layer softer. For a similar feel, Sea to Summit’s UltraLight Insulated Mat and Comfort Light Mat forego the dual layers in favor of lighter construction. Of course, is it really the best if it’s out of your budget? What if you could buy two backpacking air pads for the price of one bigger-name brand air pad? The Klymit Static V is offering the best bang for your sleeping pad buck that I’ve ever seen. Consider the specs: 23 inches wide by 72 inches long by 2.5 inches thick with a weight of 18.1 ounces . . . and a price that flirts around $50.
For around $60, you can opt for the new Static V2, which ships free from Amazon. It boasts the same size specs in an even lighter package — 16.33 ounces. If you really want a wild-but-surprisingly comfortable super ultra-light backpacking pad, check out our Klymit Intertia X Frame review. At 9.5 ounces, the Inertia X Frame is an amazing feat of engineering. It’s best for serious ultralight backpackers, though. There are several other easy-to-recommend backpacking sleeping pad options for you. Here’s a roundup of some of the best backpacking sleeping pads, each of which has a great balance of durability, weight, quality, and cost: Shop all ultralight backpacking sleeping pads at Moosejaw and see which pads are ‘Made in the USA’ + free shipping on orders over $49. We want to say again that there are many great backpacking sleeping pads available these days — and puzzling out the “best” comes down to a lot of personal preferences and budget. Generally, though, we recommend that you invest in a good pad from a reputable manufacturer.