winter backpacking sleeping bag Staying Warm Backpacking - All About The Sleeping Mats

Sleeping pads play two very important roles for getting a solid night's sleep in the great outdoors: cushioning and insulation. While it might seem like having a comfortable surface to sleep on is a pad's most useful function, its ability to keep you warm throughout the night is often more important.

Here’s how to choose a sleeping pad for camping or backpacking:

Types of sleeping pads: Learn about the three basic types of pads and how they perform — air, self-inflating, and closed-cell foam.
Intended use: Decide which activity your pad is for — backpacking, car camping, winter camping, etc.
Features: Decide which features are most important to you — weight, cushioning, size, insulation.
Try them in person: To make your final decision, try to visit your local REI and test a few different pads. Be sure to lie down on your back or side as you would typically sleep, and try rolling on the pad as well. This will give you a sense for what feels comfortable, and you can easily assess the weight and packed size.

Closed-Cell Foam Pads
These basic backpacking pads are made of dense foam filled with tiny closed air cells. They’re usually rolled up or folded in a Z formation.
Pros: They’re lightweight, inexpensive, durable and offer good insulation. You don’t need to worry about punctures or leaks. These are the only pads that can be carried on the outside of your pack without fear of damage. They can also double as sit pads in camp.

Cons: They are less comfortable. They’re relatively stiff and firm, so they tend to be bulky.

Self-Inflating Pads
Self-inflating pads offer a combination of open-cell foam insulation and air. Open the pad’s valve and air fills the chambers automatically. Some are specifically designed for backpacking and can be folded lengthwise and then rolled up to fit inside your pack. Others are designed for car camping and are rolled up without folding. This category has the options for the warmest, widest and (aside from closed-cell foam pads) the least expensive pads.

Pros: They’re comfortable and compact, they offer excellent insulation, and you can adjust their firmness by adding or releasing air. They’re made with stronger fabrics than many air pads so are a good choice for children. They don’t feel like they lose air at night.

Cons: They’re heavier and more expensive than simple foam pads, and not as compact as air pads. They can be punctured or ripped, though field repairs are not difficult.

Air Pads
Air pads have gotten lighter than ever and are ideal for backpacking. Most air pads now contain insulation or reflective materials to increase warmth. You’ll need to inflate them, usually with your breath (most can be inflated in 3 minutes or less). However, some models feature a built-in hand pump and some brands offer a lightweight bag-style external hand pump (usually sold separately).

Pros: Air pads are incredibly comfortable and lightweight and the most compact type of pad when packed. Most are designed for backpacking or camping in warm conditions (about 3 R-value) while others are designed with additional insulation for four-season use. You can customize the firmness of the mattress by releasing some air from the valve while you’re lying on it.

Cons: Air pads tend to be more expensive the lighter and more compact they are. They can be punctured or ripped (this is most common when sharing a tent with dogs), but field repairs are not difficult.

Air pads have a tendency to feel as if they are losing air if the outside temperature fluctuates, so try to blow them up right before you go to sleep. While rare, moisture from breath can get trapped inside, leading to freezing issues in winter or mold issues in summer. (Using a hand pump will help prevent moisture build-up.)

Some air pads make a loud crinkly sound when you move around, which can be annoying to yourself or tent mates.

How about all this R-Rating stuff?
Technically, R-value is a measure of thermal resistance; the higher the R-value, the more thermally resistant the material or structure is. This isn’t just used to measure sleeping pads. It’s used by engineers and scientists to measure everything from windows to fiberglass.




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winter backpacking sleeping bag Staying Warm Backpacking - All About The Sleeping Mats
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