How to choose a sleeping pad

Sleeping pads provide 2 vital benefits: cushioning and insulation. Cushioning might seem like a pad's most useful function, but often more important is its ability to insulate your body from cold surfaces.

How Do Sleeping Pads Work?

Sleeping pads insulate the same way that sleeping bags and clothing layers do. They trap and hold a layer of dead (non-circulating) air between your body and the cold (in this case, the cold ground). Your body gradually warms this layer of dead air and it becomes an insulating barrier.

Beneath you, though, a sleeping bag's heat-trapping loft gets compressed to almost nothing due to the weight of your body. As a result, you need a pad to buffer you from heat-depleting contact with the cold ground (this is known as "conductive" heat loss). The insulative performance of a pad depends upon how much air it holds inside and how free that air is to circulate.

Types of Sleeping Pads

Air Pads

Backpacking air sleeping pad

These pads use air for comfort and must be manually inflated. Some models integrate foam, insulative fill or reflective materials to increase warmth.


Cons: Can puncture, though field repairs are not difficult. Noninsulated models offer poor insulation due to free circulation of air inside.

Shop REI's selection of air pads.

Self-inflating Pads

Self-inflating sleeping pad

Pioneered by Therm-a-Rest® pads, these offer a combination of open-cell foam insulation and air. Open the pad's valve and air fills the vaccuum. These pads are wrapped in air-tight, waterproof nylon shells. Popular with backpackers, a few of the thickest models are better suited for car campers.


Cons: Heavier than simple foam pads and more expensive. Can be punctured or ripped, though field repairs are not difficult.

Shop REI's selection of self-inflating sleeping pads.

Foam Pads

Foam sleeping pad

These basic backpacking pads feature dense foam filled with tiny closed air cells.

Pros: Lightweight, inexpensive and durable; excellent insulators; won't absorb water.

Cons: Less comfortable. Relatively stiff and firm, so they tend to be bulky.

Shop REI's selection of foam pads.

Air Mattresses

Camping air mattress

These car-camping mattresses use air for comfort and are much thicker than foam pads. They are as close to a real bed as you can get and are usually sized to take regular sheets.

Pros: Very comfortable. Easy and quick to inflate with a pump. Suitable for car or boat camping, or as a guest bed at home.

Cons: Relatively heavy and bulky. Pump required for proper inflation. Can puncture or leak. No insulation; for mild conditions only.

Shop REI's selection of air mattresses.

Choose a Pad Suited to Your Style

Your pad decision can be narrowed quickly by considering your type of travel.

  • Minimalists and long-distance hikers: If you seek the lightest possible pad, pick a basic foam pad or a "short" or "3/4 length" of a self-inflating or air-pad model. Low weight and a small packed size override all other concerns.
  • Backpackers: If you prefer a bit more comfort, compare pads with greater thicknesses and durability. The tradeoff, of course, is a moderate increase in weight.
  • Family campers, boat campers, car campers: For you, size and weight are not limiting factors. You are free to choose a thicker, larger mattress for more luxurious sleeping comfort.
  • Winter campers: Camping on snow requires more insulation. REI recommends the use of 2 pads: a self-inflating or air pad atop a closed-air-cell foam pad. The foam pad adds insulation and offers insurance in case the inflatable pad is punctured.

Compare the Specs

Length: At a minimum, your shoulders and hips need to fit on a pad. Regular (typically 72" long) and long (from 75" to 78") pads will insulate your legs and feet—a big plus on chilly fall and winter trips. A short or 3/4-length pad (usually 47" or 48") weighs less and packs smaller.

Width: Nearly every pad offers a standard width of 20". If you tend to roll around a lot, you may want a width of 25" or 30" that's found in some large sizes. Tapered designs reduce volume a bit and pack smaller.

Women's pads: These pads are shorter (66" is typical), with added insulation at the hips and feet where women need it most.

R-value: Insulation is measured according to its capacity to resist (that's the "R") heat flow. The higher a pad's R-value, the better you can expect it to insulate you from cold surfaces. The R-values shown on product pages are provided by the manufacturers and range from 1.0 (minimally insulated) to 9.5 (well insulated). Thicker pads generally offer higher R-values.

Eco-friendly pads: A growing trend is pads made with recycled foam or shell-fabric materials.

Try Before You Buy

Sleeping pads come in a variety of styles, shapes and lengths. If possible, visit your nearest REI store to try out a few different pads before deciding on a single model. This will help you get a feel for:

  • How much cushioning (thickness) you need to be comfortable
  • How long and/or wide you want your pad to be (many models are cut short to save weight and packing space)
  • How quick and easy the pad is to inflate, deflate and/or pack away.

Consider the Extras

Finally, consider any additional pad features. These include multiple air chambers (for a custom adjustment), built-in pillows (for comfort), textured pad surfaces (for better insulation, less slip and more comfort) and tapered pad shapes (for less weight and bulk).