CLOSEEnter your information to sign up for our emails CLOSEFREE STANDARD SHIPPING FREESHIP Home Shop Sleeping PadsDesigned with rock and roll in mindHow you measure the performance of a pad changes from the spec sheet, to when it’s finally deployed for a night’s sleep. Too often, what excels on paper, disappoints in the real world. FeaturedNamePrice View Accessories for TentsFeaturedNamePriceFeaturedNamePrice View Accessories for Pads & PillowsFeaturedNamePrice Compare selected0 Compare {{thumbID=product.internal_id ;""}}What’s the worst thing about camping? Maybe you don’t like the mealtime restrictions. It is harder to prepare food, and there is not usually a backup McDonald’s plan. Maybe you don’t like the bugs… Sprays and running away get tiresome. Maybe you don’t like being stuck with that particular person that you didn’t know was THAT annoying, and now you can’t get away. But for most of us, the worst thing about camping is the change in sleeping arrangements.
Particularly when it is cold. Or when it is really cold. Or when it is really, really, really cold. And staying warm is important! I like the comfort of an air bed, but camping on an air mattress in cold weather might seem problematic. I have found, though, that even the cold can be dealt with. Sleeping while camping in the cold does not have to be tragic. In fact, with a little thought and care, and the right air mattress, you can sleep quite comfortably. The first step, as with every aspect of camping, is to be prepared. Know your camping environment and your own limitations. I know that I will not be able to sleep if the temperature gets below zero, Fahrenheit. No matter how many blankets, or heaters, or layers of thermals, or campfires, that is just beyond my ability. But within my limits, I also know what I need to deal with the colder temperatures. I check the weather, and pack accordingly. But what to pack? There are plenty of equipment options to help make the cold bearable.
The ground will be cold, and separating yourself from that cold source is the goal of packing. A frame to keep you off the ground is ideal. Frames can be used for sleeping bags, foam mattresses, and even air mattresses. I don’t like the inconvenience, but you might find it worthwhile. Insulated air mattresses are also available. Some even include heaters that can be plugged into a vehicle, although again, I find them inconvenient. And easier methods of providing insulation exist. If, like me, you want something simpler and more versatile, then consider packing extra insulating material and using it properly. My air bed is my favorite camping gear for sleeping. And with some additional material, I can still use my air mattress for cold weather camping. Remember, if the weather is cold, the ground will be miserably cold. Your main goal in sleeping warmly is to separate yourself from that cold, cold, ground. Whatever material you choose, do not place it against the ground, but rather use it between the air mattress and your body.
Let the air in the mattress take the initial sting out of the cold, and then the insulating material will be used efficiently. A foam strip, perhaps high density or memory, is the best. It is designed to keep you insulated while you sleep. It is also the most inconvenient, being hard to pack and not multi-use. Old fashioned felt is also very good. I use old felt from other projects. It packs up well, and can be used for other needs, like a blanket or picnic table. Sometimes I have used an extra sleeping bag, zipped up and placed between the air mattress and myself. Warm, but bulky for packing. And finally, in desperate times, a folded sheet of plastic will help keep the cold away from your body while asleep. If you want to take an extra measure, you can separate yourself from the cold ground with a cot style air mattress. We recommend the Coleman QueenCot. Check out our recommended camping air mattresses here. Cold weather does not have to ruin your sleep. Camping on an air mattress in cold weather is easy, and can be warm and comfortable.
Think, pack, and use your material and you will rest easy!My wife and I have owned this mat now for just over two months, and our one-word opinion of this mat went from questionable to incredible. We bought this mat in December of 2016, getting ready for a two-year trip where we will be visiting conservation destinations around the world, many of which will be national parks, and in many of which we'll be camping. We've been using two ultralight Thermarests for the last several years, which have been great, and when reviewing every opportunity to cut down… Lightweight, durable and extremely warm all season sleep pad. Comes with stuff sack, NeoAir Mini Pump and repair kit. I found the Neoair All Season Sleep Pad comfortable and light, it took up very little space in my pack. On a recent outing, with an R value of 4.9 I stayed nice and warm in my bivy at -15 C, I found it very comfortable at 6.3 cm thick, yet a little narrow. The pump adds about 70 g. with batteries and inflates the mat in about 3 minutes, though you do have to add an extra breath to…
I got this one because I need a good night sleep or I morph into a Hulk abomination. It can be inflated by mouth, but it also has its own pump and that was what I was after. With the pump, both sides inflate under a minute. One side is firmer, one side is softer, the pad is way quieter than my old crinkly Thermarest. It is on the heavier side, so keep that in mind when figuring out your full pack weight, but for me it's well worth it. I don't know if I should brag or cry...this is my first real air pad. I've used cheaper ones like from Walmart and yoga pads. The older I get the thicker my pads keep getting. This was a Christmas gift. I was unsure of it but after a week camping, I love it. It's light and comfy. And a nice price after looking around. I've use cheap pads all my life. But this pad blew my mind. Uses very little pack room. And for the first time my back side was never cold, not one bit!!! A big plus for me. Light, but not very sturdy. I have had my Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite for a few years now, purchased in 2009, but it has never really done it for me: Although it is light I found it small for my frame size (6'-1"/ 1.85 m tall).
I just went for convenience since the plan was to have it for backpacking and bought the biggest size available at the time. It has always been barely comfortable to sleep in and I always slide off from it. Every time I found myself sleeping on the tent bottom. The Dutchware Gear folding sit pad is ultra lightweight, durable, multi-use, and cheap. It provides a lot of basic functionality -- at this weight, size, and price there’s no reason to not carry one. This is a review of the Dutchware Gear folding sit pad. Dutchware sells mostly accessories for camping but also offers a limited selection of shelters, tarps, quilts, and hammocks. I am not affiliated with Dutchware Gear in any way. For the sit pad I paid the current price of $6.75+shipping. Light, compact, and very comfortable. I have used my NeoAir for several years, having purchased it when they first came out. They are noisy when outside a bag but are the most comfortable pad I have packed. It is about 1/4 the size of my old Thermarest standard.
I now put it in my Big Agnes down bag pouch where it makes no noise and works beautifully. Blowing it up is not too much work. I leave it inside my Big Agnes, deflating it and stuffing it in the bag sack where it is easily re-filled. This is a very good pad. Comfortable and fairly warm too. Started using it at basecamp tenting for over a month in France and Turkey. Held up well for at least a year or so before developing flex fatigue holes between the inflation piece and the fabric. (I am rough on gear, leaving it in my car in summer heat etc.) This probably had some to do with the heat as well loosening the fabric at the spot. The supplied patch glue had long since melted in the heat so I just used some JB Weld that was handy… Excellent and durable pad. Slightly heavy by today's standard, but cheaper than the ultralight bunch. I've used a Prolite 4 (that's today's ProLite Plus) from 2003 to 2016. I have the 3/4 version. The most important thing about it is that it works, it really self-inflates, and it's durable.