Sleeping Mats & Pads UNDERSTANDING R-VALUE A sleeping mat’s ability to insulate your body is measured using “R” (resist) value. The higher the R-value, the higher the mat’s ability to resist heat flow (generally measured on a scale of 1-10). Thicker mats generally offer a higher R-value, but often come at the expense of weight and packability. DIFFERENT MATERIALS FOR DIFFERENT USES When choosing the best pad or mat for your needs, consider the amount of cushioning needed to be comfortable, but also the size, shape, and packability that it offers. Air Pads: Offer greater comfort and cushioning, but are generally heavier and more expensive than foam pads. Short or ¾ air pads are great for long distance hiking.Foam Pads: Are Lightweight, inexpensive, waterproof, and have high levels of insulation. They tend to be stiff and firm, and can be bulky to carry. Best used for winter camping in combination with an air pad, or for backpacking when weight is less of an issue.If you’re tired of pumping up an air bed and have no room for a camp bed, then a self-inflating mat is what you need.
But are they any good for family camping, and which is the best to buy? Read on to find out. Heard about SIMs for camping? They’re nothing to do with phones. SIMs are Self Inflating Mats. Self-inflating mats are ideal for camping when backpacking as they fold down smaller than the old Karrimat and are a lot less bulky than air beds….plus of course, they inflate themselves. You can use them for family camping too, cutting down on the amount of things you need to take to camp and shortening the time it takes to setup. A SIM is also useful as additional insulation, both on top of an airbed or camp bed, for when it’s cooler at night. Self-Inflating Mats are not the same as a full air mattress. So expect a ‘firm’ bed when lying on them. Obviously, some of the cheaper mats may be thinner (and so potentially less comfortable) and have less insulation (insulation from the ground is important for keeping warm). Some self-inflating mats are shorter, just covering your body.
These are ideal for backpacking as they take up much less space but you might as well choose a full-length SIM if camping by car. As you can see, Self Inflating Mats are primarily designed for backpacking where space is a priority over comfort…They are a lot quicker to set-up. An airbed doesn’t take long to put up, but if you have to do the entire family, then that time is taken away from enjoying camping with them. The good news is that Outwell has introduced a range of self-inflating mats in 2014 specifically designed for family camping and not the backpacker. I’ve tried the new Outwell Dreamboat, Outwell Deepsleep, and Outwell Dreamcatcher – all were extremely comfortable. They’ve completely changed how the mats are constructed to put the priority on comfort rather than space saving. This makes them feel much more like a real mattress – even more so than an air bed – yet they still fold down small and self inflate. We shall be bringing you more details of these fabulous self-inflating mats as they become available.
Yes, you can get a double-bed self-inflating mat. These tended to be two single SIMs connected together, but you couldn’t find any high-end self-inflating mats (i.e. ones with really good insulation) as doubles. However, the brilliant new Outwell SIMs do come in a double size. If you use an air bed and your partner moves, you can expect to be ‘bounced’ too (think what lying on a bouncy castle must be like and you get the idea). However, when I tried a double Outwell Dreamboat SIM, you didn’t really notice any effect of the other person moving at all. The , and all represent a big leap forward in self inflating mats for families and come recommended. : We’ve got an Outwell Dreamcatcher and have been very impressed. Click here for more details on this fantastic SIM for family camping. Be in the know! Join thousands of other parents and receive our regular newsletter containing a round up of the latest articles, days out, campsites, and reviews for helping you get your family outside and active.
It's 10:45 on a Sunday and tea is all prepared and ready to go on later! Want to keep warm at night? Check out the MondoKing 3D SIM Caravan, Camping, and Motorhome Show 2017 HighlightsA sleeping pad’s R-Value measures its ability to insulate you from cold ground and keep you warm. The higher the R value, the more effective it is. Sleeping Pad R value performance testing is done in a 70 F environment with no air movement. As such, it doesn’t reflect many real world conditions where you’d use a sleeping pad, so I recommend that you augment any gear selection that you make with field testing.If you are interested in sleeping pads for early spring, late autumn or winter conditions, R-Value is additive. When it gets cold, I like to use two pads, a closed cell foam pad and an insulated inflatable one with a combined R-Value of at least 5.For purposes of backpacking, you also need to factor in weight, comfort, compressibility, and rigidity when you make a sleeping pad selection.
In addition, side sleepers may not receive the full R-value of benefit of an inflatable insulated pad because their bodies are not in full contact with the surface of the pad. This is particularly true for insulated sleeping pads that depend on your body heat to warm them up, including the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir product line, Exped’s DownMats and Big Agnes’ Insulated Pads.The following table provides a side by side comparison of the major sleeping pads available in the US market. The pad weights listed are sized for 72″ long x 20″ wide pads, though there are a few exceptions below. The R-Value of a pad should still remain the same if you select a longer, shorter, or wider variation of the pad. If a sleeping pad has a R-Value of “Not Available”, it’s because the manufacturer has not supplied one or R-value testing has not been performed. If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.Self inflating mattresses are starting to become as popular as airbeds, mainly due to the fact they are far more affordable than they used to be.