Best 10 Backpacking Mattress Pads Of 2024

If you want to sleep well while in the wilderness then getting a very good backpacking mattress pad is important. There are lots to choose from with very different designs. However, it is important that you get something lightweight and compact. You have a limited amount of backpack space and you cannot carry infinite amounts of weight, so having a very lightweight and compact mattress or mattress pad is ideal. I have listed a few that are very good. I am certain that you will find at least one of them to be good because these outdoor beds I have listed have lots of extremely good qualities.

Best Backpacking Mattress Pads – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Mattress Pad

Types Of Backpacking Mattresses Pads

Self-Inflating

Self-inflating mattress pads are very lightweight and compact. These mattress pads are very popular and if you do not want to wait for the pad to self-inflate, you can always blow air into it. Most of the time, it will only take a few breaths of around 12-15. These mattress pads are ideal for backpacking purposes.

Air Mattress With A Pump

Most air mattresses that come with a pump are rather bulky and heavy. They are meant more for car camping or RV camping. These mattresses are very comfortable and they feel good to sleep on. They provide lots of comfort but they are not meant for backpacking.

Closed Cell Foam

Closed cell foam mattress pads are pads that can be used for backpacking. They are often foldable or rollable. An example of a closed cell foam mattress would be a yoga mat. Yoga mats are very thick and they do not allow air to pass through. They are not breathable but they provide enough comfort to be used in the outdoors.

Open Cell Foam

These mattress pads are very comfortable but they are not compact. Memory foam mattresses are a good example of open cell foam mattress pads. These pads are hard to roll up and hard to fold because they often want to retain their original shape. These pads are very comfortable though and feels good on the back.

Hammock Pads

One of the best ways to know that you are looking at a hammock pad is if it has wings or rails. There are not a lot of hammock pads since most people would just use normal inflatable mattress pads with their hammock.

Types Of Outdoor Activity To Consider

Minimalist Backpacking

For minimalist backpackers, carrying as little weight as possible is very important. It is for this reason that a lot of them would carry a self-inflating mattress pad or none at all. Self-inflating pads are often very light in weight and compact which makes them ideal for minimalist backpackers.

Backpacking

For people that are not going to hike for a lot of miles and just want to go backpacking near the parking lot, they will often bring an open cell foam mattress pad. These are very comfortable but not very compact. They are great and feel very good though which is why a lot of people still get them.

Winter Backpacking

If you are planning on backpacking during the winter then you will want to be as insulated as possible. The cold ground can take away all of the warmth and heat that your body produces. Most people would use a very high quality closed cell foam and inflatable mattress pad to shield their body against the ground.

Car Camping / RV camping

If you are planning on going camping using your car or RV then you can carry bulkier and heavier equipment. You can bring a very comfortable air mattress. These mattresses are very heavy and not ideal for backpacking. However, they are very good for car camping.

Understanding R-Value And Insulation

R-value in a mattress pad is all about warmth and insulation. The ground is very cold and you want your mattress pad to shield you from that cold. You don’t want that mattress pad to get cold as well. The R-value is the rating at which the mattress pad can resist the cold ground. The higher the value, the better it is at resisting the cold and providing insulation.

Backpacking Mattress Pad Features We Should Consider

Weight

The weight of the mattress pad is very important. In terms of backpacking, we always check the weight of the backpacking gear that we are going to bring. No matter what item we bring, it is going to have a weight. The weight can add up very fast. I was packing my survival gear and before I know it, I had 25 pounds already. I didn’t even pack my tent and sleeping bag yet. So always check the weight of the item. We cannot bring a big and bulky bed because it is going to weigh too much.

Comfort

The comfort of the bed is very important. There are a lot of people that cannot sleep on a hard surface. If the bed is not comfortable enough, they will not have a good night sleep. They are going to be grumpy in the morning and they will barely have enough energy to hike. It is best that you get a bed that is comfortable for you. Even if it weighs a pound more. As long as you can have a good night sleep. You will have more fun in the morning if you sleep well at night.

Durability

The durability of the sleeping pad is very important. We don’t want a bed that falls apart after one use. There are beds like that. Some inflatable beds burst after one use. So we should make sure that the item we are getting is very durable. It should last for years. We should make sure also that they are meant to be used outdoors. If they are meant for indoor use, they will fall apart easily.

Inflation

Inflating a backpacking mattress pad should be easy and effortless. There are just lots of mattress pads out there that are very hard to inflate. We really don’t want to put a lot of effort inflating a backpacking bed. After hiking for a lot of miles, we just want to go to sleep and relax. It is important that the bed is easy to deflate and inflate.

Compact

The outdoor bed should be more compact. It is because we all have a limited amount of backpack space. We use that space for cookware, tent, gadgets, survival gear and so on. So we have lots of other items that we want to bring. If the bed takes too much space, we may not have enough room for other items.

Backpacking Mattress Pad Accessories

Pillows

Pillows bring a lot of comfort to the outdoors. If you are having a hard time sleeping in the outdoors then getting a pillow for yourself would be ideal. There are a lot of pillows meant for backpacking. These pillows are very light in weight and compact as well.

Air Pumps

If you want to get a lightweight air pump to inflate your mattress pad then you can do so also. Be warned though, air pumps add weight and room in your backpack. This is more of a luxury item rather than a necessity.

Patches

Patches are a great way to extend the life of your mattress pad. Instead of getting a new one when your mattress pad gets a hole or puncture, you can just get patches to repair your existing mattress pad. This works for air mattresses or air beds. It is good to bring a few while backpacking just in case your mattress pad gets a puncture or hole.

Best Backpacking Mattress Pads

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1. Klymit Static V Lightweight Sleeping Pad

Technical Specs
Weight: 18.6 Ounces
Material: 75D Polyester
Inflation: 10-15 breaths
Packed Size: 3″ x 8″
Feature Summary: Affordable lightweight camping pad with v-chamber design to limit air movement and heat loss for better support and comfort, easy-to-use push valve allows for quick inflation and deflation

Short Review: You will be amazed at how exceptional this backpacking mattress pad is. This is constructed with durable 75D polyester fabric designed to stand up to any surface you decide to set it on. This features an innovative V-chamber that limits air movement and heat loss for all-night support and comfort. Amazing sleeping pad that inflates in just 10-15 breaths so you can get to sleep faster. This is incredibly budget friendly. You can save some cash if you obtain a really affordable item like this one. I love that this saves a lot of space which gives us more room in our backpacks. Having a great item like this is great for the outdoors. This is one of my top picks even though there are a whole lot of items in this category considering that this is pretty comfortable yet lightweight.

2. Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad

Technical Specs
Weight: 14.5 oz
Material: 20D Ripstop tear resistant nylon
Inflation: 10-to-15 breaths
Packed Size:
Feature Summary: Super sturdy and extremely comfortable, great for any sleep position, tough, durable, large and comfy sleeping pad features a lifetime warranty, lightweight sleeping pad is made of super strong waterproof and camping grade ripstop nylon fabric

Short Review: I am lucky enough to have been in the position to try this outdoor sleeping pad for the reason that it is fantastic. This is constructed out of tear resistant with heavy duty ripstop nylon fabric. Made out of super strong, waterproof, camping-grade ripstop nylon fabric that is perfect for the outdoors. This is ultra-light and super-portable sleeping pad will fit in any backpack and won’t cause backaches from its weight. I am incredibly happy with my purchase. I know large amounts of people are happy too which explains why I am recommending this to a whole lot of men and women. This provides lots of comfort to help you fall asleep so that you will have more energy tomorrow.

3. OutdoorsmanLab Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Technical Specs
Weight: 16 oz
Material: 20D Ripstop Woven Nylon
Inflation: 10-15 breaths
Packed Size: 8″ x 3.5″
Feature Summary: Ultralight sleeping pad can roll up to 8×3 and weighs only 14.5oz – similar to a water bottle, perfect for backpackers who want to pack light and compact, R-value of 2.2, you can stay nice and toasty camping out in temps all the way down to 40 F (4 C)

Short Review: Among the finest things that you can obtain is this backpacking sleeping pad. This ultralight, compact backpacking sleeping pads are the perfect accessory for your camping and hiking adventures. This has patented sleeping pad technology that provides optimal support, comfort, and warmth. You can also pack it down to the size of a water bottle, taking less space in your backpack. This is pretty good with an inexpensive price tag. I recommend this mainly because this is extremely sturdy. The amazing compact and space saving construction makes this ideal for the outdoors.

4. Gear Doctors Self Inflating Sleeping Pad

Technical Specs
Weight: 2.2 Pounds
Material: Polyester, Foam
Inflation: Self-inflating
Packed Size: 8″ x 12″
Feature Summary: Specialized thermo-insulation 4.3 r-value foam of our fully self-inflating compact sleeping pad units, inflating and deflating our sleeping pads is as easy as 1-2-3, twist the pad’s leak-proof valve and unroll your pad, air starts filling up the pad’s open cell foam

Short Review: There are a great deal of things that I really like relating to this lightweight sleeping pad. This features specialized thermo-insulation 4.3 R-value foam of the fully self-inflating compact sleeping pad units. Pretty large item that fully inflates to a hefty and comfortable 72 inch by 22 inch by 1.5 inch sleeping pad. One of the finest purchases I have done in a while is this particular item. This item does the job pretty well. The space saving design is great and should give us more room in our backpacks. This is a multipurpose outdoor item provides a very comfortable place to sleep in.

5. MEETPEAK Camping Sleeping Pad

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.76 Pounds
Material: 40d Nylon
Inflation: Built-in Pump
Packed Size: 11.81″ x 5.51″
Feature Summary: V shape air cells ergonomically support all of your pressure points, no matter lying flat or on side, sleeping pad made of extra thick non-toxic 40d nylon provides a unique balance between low weight & durability

Short Review: This is an awesome sleeping pad for the outdoors that I have grown to like a lot. This is constructed out of extra thick 40d nylon provides a unique balance between low weight & durability. Features  thermoform sealing and TPU coating make the camping mat performance better in severe conditions. With 3.2 – 4 inch thickness & 27.6 inch width keep you body away from the ground and insulating the coldness. A high quality sleeping pad that is very comfortable and very durable at the same time. Setting this up is very easy and instructions are very easy. One of the best items to have for outdoor purposes.

6. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Ultralight Backpacking Air Mattress

Technical Specs
Weight: 8 oz to 1 lbs, variable sizes
Material: 30D rip HT nylon
Inflation: Self inflating
Packed Size: 9″ x 4″
Feature Summary: Equipped with a dependable and rugged winglock valve, the pad inflates 3 times faster than a standard valve and features lightning-fast deflation, 4.2 r-value means the xlite can keep backpackers and campers warm

Short Review: There are a number of people that bought this backpacking sleeping pad because this is fantastic. This comes with patented Triangular Core Matrix delivers warmth using a continuous layer of thermal foam nestled between alternating ridges of air and foam. Provides warmth against the cold ground with 4.2 R-value means the XLite can keep backpackers and campers warm in anything but the most extreme conditions. This item is one of the greatest that is available right now and I am glad I can recommend this to large amounts of people. Amazing design that saves space and frees up a lot of room in the backpack.

7. EcoTek Outdoors Hybern8 Ultralight Inflatable Sleeping Pad

Technical Specs
Weight: 18.0 oz
Material: 70D woven polyester material
Inflation: 10-15 breaths
Packed Size: 10″ x 3″
Feature Summary: Innovative rapid one-way valve design makes both setup and stow a breeze , with 2.5 inches of loft and an r value of 2.2, the hybern8 provides 3 season warmth and comfort you can count on to help get you the shuteye you deserve

Short Review: This sleeping pad is one of the best that I definitely love. This is extremely resistant to cracks and it is meant to be pretty sturdy. This comes with patent-pending FlexCell technology that causes the air passages to constrict and the cells to self-isolate as the pad is inflated, reducing airflow and increasing insulation and stability without additional bulk. This is designed to have isolated cell structure that provides loft enhancing compartments for your sleeping bag insulation to increase warmth. The amazing design of this item gave it lots of functionality and capabilities. I love that this is very compact which provides us with more backpack space. This just makes the outdoors a lot easier and a lot more fun.

8. IFoRRest Sleeping Pad – with Armrest & Pillow

Technical Specs
Weight: 2.3 lbs
Material: Waterproof 190T Polyester
Inflation: Self inflating
Packed Size: 17.70″ x 6.30″ x 6.30″
Feature Summary: This camping foam air mattress is made of strong waterproof 80d polyester, will protect you from the wet rough ground in all extreme conditions, a true 4-season camp bed with an R-value of 4.9

Short Review: I have been testing a lot of backpacking mattress pads, and this is marvelous. This is constructed from strong waterproof 80D Polyester, will protect you from the wet rough ground in all extreme conditions. This includes include built-in armrests and adjustable pillow – suitable for tent, cot, hammock and sleeping bag. Very warm also as this true 4-season camp bed has an R-value of 4.9. I know a lot of people are satisfied with this item because this is very light and very compact. I love that this is pretty durable simply because an exceptionally fragile item will get destroyed easily and you will only waste your money.

9. Ultralight 17oz Camping Sleeping pad- Gear Doctors ApolloAir

Technical Specs
Weight: 17 oz
Material: Nylon
Inflation: Pump Sack
Packed Size:
Feature Summary: Silent ergonomic design with 5.2 R-rating, 4 step anti leak valve system, to store just vertically trifold it after deflation then roll towards the valve direction and it’ll perfectly fit into it’s carry pouch, water-resistant hexagon shield 40d nylon fabric with e-last coating makes Apolloair camping mattress 2.5 x times stronger than current market standards

Short Review: There are tons of people that acquired this sleeping pad for camping considering that this is awesome. This is very compact as it packs small 8.5” Height *3” Diameter  when deflated. Once inflated, this goes up to it goes as large as 72” * 23″ which is enough for most people. This has an E-Last Fabric Coating works as perfect insulation achieving 5.2 R-Value which means the ground won’t suck the heat from your body. The design is very simple and it is the reason why this item is easy to use. It is a good thing that this is very light which means we can carry more items. A very good item to have if you love the to on backpacking trips.

10. Trekology UL Sleeping Pad

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.19 Pounds
Material: 40D Nylon
Inflation: Blow air or electric pump (not included)
Packed Size: 7.3″ x 4.7″
Feature Summary: Stay warm and comfortable from cold, wet, and uneven camp floor, larger valve opening for faster inflation and deflation, upgraded 40d material making it super light and ultra durable

Short Review: This backpacking sleeping pad is very budget friendly and it works well also. This is constructed out of upgraded 40D material making it super light and ultra durable. Amazing sleeping pad that keeps a person insulated by elevating them 10cm from ground. This is extremely lightweight to carry around and easy to fit into your backpack. I had read up on the feedback for this item, and was amazed at how a large number of men and women love this. I love how easy it is to setup this item which requires practically zero effort. Versatile item that makes the outdoors a lot more comfortable and very durable also.