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Sleep in comfort without the weight penalty with these cozy sleeping pads.

A person places the inflated Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad into a tent

Credit:Travel + Leisure

What is the difference between a sleeping pad and camping air mattress?

Conversely, I use a sleeping pad for backpacking and bikepacking trips when weight really matters.

Side sleepers might want a thicker option.

Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

Credit: REI

It’s a bit short and doesn’t have enough support for side sleepers.

In case of popping or tearing, the pad also comes with two patch kits.

We think this can mostly be remedied by adding asleeping bagor mat for some extra plushness.

Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad Laying Outside On Tarp On The Ground

Credit: Travel + Leisure

The inflator and valve cap took us a few tries to get used to.

The materials include Bluesign-approved, recycled fabrics and the insulated versions of this sleeping pad use recycled PCR PrimaLoft.

Nemo uses a lie-flat valve with micro-adjustments so you might deflate to your preferred level.

Close Up of Vent on Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad Laying Outside

Even packed down, this mattress is on the bulkier side.

Enter the self-inflating mattress.

This sleeping pad has a fast inflation that set up with just one valve twist.

Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad Laying Outside

Its on the thinner side and you might feel the ground while kneeling.

It has a durable dual-denier nylon, with 40-denier on the bottom and 30-denier on the top.

We found it easier to roll off this mattress in the night than others we tested.

Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad Laying Outside On Tarp On The Ground

This mattress is inexpensive, simple to inflate, and felt comfortable throughout all of our nights testing.

The foot pump inflation is another interesting design element and it ended up being fast and easy to use.

Fully inflated, this is fairly bouncy and doesnt cradle the body as well.

Close Up of Vent on Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad Laying Outside

This latest version is also quieter than past models, and more compact as well.

The insulation combined with the surface fabric makes for a crinkly night.

We then sit and lay on the pads in various positions to determine comfort, stability, and support.

Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad Laying Outside

Stuff sacks also make these easier to keep tightly rolled in your backpack.

Know your camping setup

Different camping setups call for different styles of sleeping pad.

The two biggest considerations are R-value (which impacts warmth) and weight/packed size (which impacts portability).

Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Insulated

Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Insulated.Credit: REI

Most of the sleeping pads on this list come in at least two sizes and dimensions.

If youre on the taller side of things, look for a sleeping pad with longer dimensions.

For this piece, she worked withTravel + Leisuretesters to test and pick the best sleeping pads.

A person laying on the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in a tent

Credit: Travel + Leisure

A person pressing on the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in a tent

A person inflating the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in a tent

A person pressing on the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide

The Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in its carrying case next to a water bottle on grass

Two hands opening the air cap of the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide

A person rolling an inflated Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide

A person laying on the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in a tent

A person pressing on the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in a tent

A person inflating the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in a tent

A person pressing on the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide

The Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide in its carrying case next to a water bottle on grass

Two hands opening the air cap of the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide

A person rolling an inflated Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide

Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

Credit: Nemo Equipment

A person weighs the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad in its bag

Credit: Travel + Leisure

A person rests on the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad inside a tent

A hand twists the inflation port on the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A person places the inflated Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad into a tent

A person places the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad bag into a camping backpack

A person uses the inflation sack to inflate the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A hand presses on the NEMO Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad after it is fully inflated

A person weighs the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad in its bag

A person rests on the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad inside a tent

A hand twists the inflation port on the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A person places the inflated Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad into a tent

A person places the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad bag into a camping backpack

A person uses the inflation sack to inflate the Nemo Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A hand presses on the NEMO Quasar 3D Lightweight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad after it is fully inflated

Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

Credit: Thermarest

A person places the fully inflated Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad into a tent

Credit: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Hands removing the cap on the inflation valve on the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

A person places the folded Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad into its carrying bag

A person inflates the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad by mouth

A person carries the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad in its carrying case on their shoulder

A person rolls up the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

Hands placing a cap on the inflation valve on the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

A person measures the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

A person places the fully inflated Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad into a tent

Hands removing the cap on the inflation valve on the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

A person places the folded Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad into its carrying bag

A person inflates the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad by mouth

A person carries the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad in its carrying case on their shoulder

A person rolls up the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

Hands placing a cap on the inflation valve on the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

A person measures the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

Credit: Sea to Summit

A person rolls up the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

Credit: Travel + Leisure

A hand measures the width of the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A person lies on the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

Hands press on the corner of the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A person places the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad into a tent

A person carries the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad in its bag

A person rolls up the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A hand measures the width of the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A person lies on the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

Hands press on the corner of the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

A person places the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad into a tent

A person carries the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad in its bag

Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

Credit: Amazon

A person stands on the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad to assist with deflating it

Credit: Travel + Leisure

A person folds up the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

A person places the fully inflated Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad into a tent

Hands rolling up the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

Hands holding Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad bag next to a water bottle

A person stands on top of the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

A person lies on the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

A person measures the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

A person stands on the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad to assist with deflating it

A person folds up the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

A person places the fully inflated Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad into a tent

Hands rolling up the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

Hands holding Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad bag next to a water bottle

A person stands on top of the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

A person lies on the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

A person measures the Fun Pac Yuzonc Camping Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

Credit: REI

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Credit: Travel + Leisure

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

person assembling Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

person assembling Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad on a carpet

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad on a carpet

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

person assembling Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

person assembling Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad on a carpet

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad on a carpet

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite NXT Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Backcountry Nemo Tensor Trail Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad

Credit: Backcountry

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad in a tent outside

Credit: Travel + Leisure

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad in a tent outside

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad in a tent outside

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

person assembling NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad

NEMO Insulated Sleeping Pad in a tent outside

A person holding a measuring tape to the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe Sleeping Pad, Regular Wide

Travel + Leisure