Here are some general guides to keep in mind when buying a new sleep pad. When traveling backpacking, we recommend sticking to inflatable cushions or automatic cushions (although usually heavier), which provide the best insulation and can buffer size and weight. No matter what you need, your goal is always to find the best warm ratio. More warmth means more weight. Please remember the following tips.
Know what you are looking for. Every ounce is important, and so is the packaging size. Smaller, lighter mats take up less space in the packaging, making them perfect for a path through the journey where you try to minimize gear size to make room for food. Also, consider the climate. If you plan to camp in Michigan in the fall that is almost guaranteed, you need a more insulated mat to protect you from cold grounds, rather than camping in the Everglades in August. Bonus tip: Don’t camp in the Everglades in August.
Know yourself. Everyone has a different sleep, and different mats will be better for different people. Are you a cold side sleeper? Choose a thicker mat with more insulation. Do you always wake up when sleeping in every way? Get a quiet ultralight pad so your toss and turns won’t bother your tent companion.
Consider your entire sleep system. The mat is foundation, but the warmth of your sleep can also be affected by the sleeping bag, the pillow, and even which kind of bottom layer you bring. (Many people don’t know this, but the sleeping bag temperature rating assumes you’re wearing a base layer.)
You may need two. A sleeping mat is not a cookie-cutter solution. Lightweight mats are not cut in the alpine camps in early spring on pleasant summer nights. Just getting a summer mat and bringing a heavier sleeping bag in the spring can be tempting, but it won’t lead to a quiet night. A good sleeping mat means the difference between warmth, resting all night or shaking even in the same sleeping bag. Trust us. We do this, so you don’t have to.
Comfort is key. I know I’m joking about sleeping on tiny closed-cell foam pads, but no longer needed. This guide proves that a comfortable sleeping mat exists with almost nothing. Even if I did sleep on the ground 35 years ago, you can’t pay to do it now. Now, I almost always carry two mats: an inflatable and a thin closed-cell foam. The latter gives me a place to sit for the night and adds a lot of warm sleep surfaces when I need it at night.
