How do I choose a sleeping pad?

Which sleeping pad you should choose depends on your budget and where and when you will use it. Today there is a variety of sleeping mats to choose from – light and space-saving inflatable sleeping mats, smart and comfortable self-inflating sleeping mats and classic and reliable cellular plastic sleeping mats. In this guide, we will go through which one that suits you and your adventures.

When you are buying a sleeping pad, you need to think about in which season you will be using it and what´s important to you; comfort, price, durability or weight?

When will you be using the sleeping mat?

Different sleeping mats are suitable for different seasons. To measure the sleeping mat's ability to cope with cold, r-value is used. The higher the r-value, the better the insulation. Think about when you will use the sleeping mat the most and choose a sleeping pad based on that.

• R-value 0.5 to 2 is suitable for spring and summer
• R-value 2 to 3.5 is suitable for autumn and mild winter
• R-value 3.5 to 4.5 is suitable for winter

Tip! Remember that a good sleeping mat should not only be comfortable but also insulate from the ground. The sleeping bag's insulation keeps you warm but is made to be compressed and thus does not insulate optimally under your body. So if you are cold on the parts of your body that lie against the ground (shoulders and hips), you probably need a warmer sleeping pad, not a warmer sleeping bag.

Different types of sleeping mats

There are three different types of sleeping mats to choose from – inflatable sleeping mats, self-inflating sleeping mats and cellular plastic sleeping mats. All sleeping mats have different properties and thus different advantages and disadvantages.

Air Pads

• Filled with, for example, air or down
• High comfort due to thickness and adherence to the surface
• Weighs little and takes little space in the pack
• Needs to be inflated with a pump, pump bag or by mouth
• Puncture risk
• Generally more expensive than a cellular plastic sleeping mat

Self-Inflating

• Filled with foam, as in a mattress
• Self-inflating, no pump required
• Weighs more than an inflatable sleeping mat
• Puncture risk
• Generally more expensive than a cellular plastic mat

Closed-Cell Foam Sleeping Pads

• Made of cellular plastic, foam or foam plastic
• Abrasion resistant
• Low weight
• Relatively cheap
• Does not require a pump
• Lower comfort than an inflatable or self-inflating sleeping pad
• Takes up a lot of space in the pack and cannot be compressed