The 6 Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2023

We tested sleeping pads from Therm-a-Rest, Nemo, Sea to Summit, and others to find the best option for your next excursion

Over the last decade, our backpacking experts have tested over 60 of the best backpacking sleeping pads. This update features 16 of the market’s top models, pitted against each other in a side-by-side comparison to find the best products for your needs. Not only do we purchase them at retail prices, but our experts thoroughly test these sleeping pads in the field. These pads have been hauled around the world and put to the test while guiding, hiking, and exploring. We’ve carried them on bikes, boats, and with our own two feet. Whether you seek the warmest or most packable option out there, we’ve got you covered.

Being comfortable in the backcountry requires the right supplies, and lightweight is better when it comes to the best backpacking gear. We’ve been testing the top sleeping bags and the best tents for over a decade, and you can trust our expertise to guide you to the products you need. If car camping is more your style, have a look at our review of camping mattresses. And if you are looking for the top picks for women’s-specific sleeping pads, we’ve got a dedicated review for that, too.

Editor’s Note: We updated our sleeping pad article on June 9, 2023, adding the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT, NEMO Tensor Alpine Air, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme, Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated, and Tame Lands Sleeping Pad to our testing lineup.

Why You Should Trust Us

For this review, we examined what makes a great sleeping pad based on years of experience sleeping in the backcountry. Then, we formulated a test to compare the best pads in a side-by-side comparison test.These pads went on guided hiking expeditions in Colorado and New Mexico, and we carried them with us on journeys in the Eastern Sierra and Utah. Throughout the experience, we remained vigilant to examine the performance of the pads in crucial aspects that we had previously designated as paramount to the functionality of a sleeping pad.

We tested sleeping pads in five rating metrics:

• Comfort (30% of total score weighting)

• Weight and Packed Size (30% of total score weighting)

• Warmth (20% of total score weighting)

• Ease of Inflation (10% of total score weighting)

• Durability (10% of total score weighting)

Our extensive and diverse sleeping pad review team is led by Sam Schild, a backpacker, trail runner, and mountain biker based in Colorado. He has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and Colorado Trail three times, along with numerous shorter backpacking trips. Sam is joined by OutdoorGearLab Senior Review Editors Andy Wellman, Matt Bento and Brian Martin. These three arrive at the campsite with substantial climbing backgrounds — a pursuit where you learn to appreciate a rejuvenating night’s sleep outdoors. Andy has been testing and writing for OutdoorGearLab for over five years and climbing for over 20. He has climbed extensively worldwide and has also managed a publishing company that produces bouldering guides to the Southwest. Matt and Brian are both former members of Yosemite Search and Rescue, where adaptable, dependable, and sturdy equipment is an essential aspect of everyday life.

Analysis and Test Results

 

Our sleeping pad review truly offers something for everyone. We dispatched individuals of various sizes equipped with each pad to undertake a thorough exploration of crucial attributes such as coziness, packed size, warmth, ease of inflation, and durability. Utilizing these metrics as a starting point for evaluation, we assigned a rating to each product based on its performance. While there are numerous high achievers, many possess specific niches that should not be overlooked.

Value

Worth can connote numerous different things to various individuals. We aren’t simply looking at the cost of a sleeping pad — we’re examining how well it performs across an array of metrics and if this performance justifies the cost. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT are exceedingly costly but are a highly commendable worth as they present long-lasting construction and some astonishingly impressive performance.

This evaluation has many high-worth choices, but we’d like to highlight a few that perform well without breaking the bank. If you desire the best of the best, be prepared to spend a few additional dollars. In general, the lower the price, the less warm the pads tend to be.

Of them all, the Klymit Static V2 presents exceptional comfort at a lower price. The Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated is a good worth for a comfortable and dependable pad that’s easy to utilize.

Other low-priced (and high-worth) choices are the Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol and Nemo Switchback. While these closed-cell foam pads score low in the comfort metrics, they’re one of the most reliable pad alternatives out there since they won’t burst in the backcountry.

Discovering a balance between price, durability, warmth, comfort, and weight can certainly be a challenging process. Our objective in this evaluation is to take an in-depth look at the pros/cons of what is accessible on the market today.

Credit: Brian Martin

If you’re anything like our testers, your initial sleeping pad may very well be a closed-cell foam pad, and rightly so. These pads are an excellent option for those getting into backpacking because they are lightweight and super affordable. When you realize how strenuous they can be on your body, you don’t have to throw it away. Instead, keep it for an additional layer of warmth during winter camping. Now that’s worth.

Both the Z Lite Sol and Switchback offer a versatile layer of insulation one could use for winter warmth or tear in half and have an extremely lightweight solution for fastpacking.If you desire us to nitpick (which we anticipate is the rationale for your presence), the Switchback possesses a superior sensation on the surface, loftier indentations, and it appears to provide marginally greater satisfaction.

A powerful contender for other heat reflective foam pads. The Switchback just narrowly surpasses the competition for a hint of additional comfort.

Credit: Brian Martin

Comfort

In the comfort measurement, we evaluate how effectively each pad can handle the various lumpy miseries of the landscape. The more comfortable a sleeping pad is, the better night’s rest you’ll get without things like roots, rocks, and uneven ground digging into your back.

Many of our testers have observed their priorities shifting throughout the years from going ultralight and minimalist to looking more toward comfort. Maybe this is due to life’s natural course of trending towards feeling like the tin man needing oil, but it is indisputable. A plush air pad offers significantly better sleep than the shoulder-crushing closed-cell pads from decades past.

The thicker pads in our review were generally the most comfortable as well.

Credit: Sam Schild

Without a doubt, the most comfortable pads we dozed off on are the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme, and the Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated. These pads provide a pleasant variation in firmness while keeping you well-padded from the uneven surface beneath.

The Comfort Plus is quite unique, as the dual inflation zones can be inflated to different pressures, creating a nice pillow top with a sturdy foundation. Although this does increase the overall weight of the pad, the ability to have dual density results in a distinctly comfortable pad. The Ether Light XT Extreme also offers an impressive level of comfort. With a substantial four inches of thickness, you cannot perceive any lumps underneath you. The Quasar 3D Insulated is also an exceptionally comfortable pad overall, with air baffles that are 3.5 inches thick.

The Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated provides an impressive level of comfort, with spacious side rails being the noteworthy party trick. It is undeniable how much overall comfort is enhanced when you don’t feel like you are sliding off to one side of your sleeping pad.

While most of our testers preferred horizontal baffles instead of those that run the length of a pad, everyone agreed that the quilted Comfort Plus was the most comfortable among the pads we would be willing to pack on a backpacking trip.

Credit: Sam Schild

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and NeoAir XTherm offer excellent comfort at a fraction of the weight of the most comfortable pads. They are considerably narrower than the more comfortable and heavy options on the market but still retain the necessary features to ensure a restful night’s sleep. Sea to Summit presented the Ether Light XT as a pad that provides a high level of comfort without adding excessive weight. We discovered that this pad is extremely comfortable, even more so than our award-winning Therm-a-Rest pads.

The Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated has plush padding that makes sleeping on uneven ground a non-issue.

Credit: Sam Schild

A recent revelation by our testers is the supreme comfort provided by “tent floor” sleeping pads. This is an excellent way to enhance comfort in the wilderness for couples and cuddle-worthy companions. Attempting to cuddle on two separate pads brings to mind a phenomenon similar to Moses parting the Red Sea. Tent floor pads eliminate that misery and allow two people to share warmth without ending up on the hard ground. The Exped Ultra 3R Duo was incredibly comfortable and offered us some of the best nights of sleep in the great outdoors that we can recall.

The Exped Ultra 3R Duo is a fantastic option for backpacking couples who value comfort.

Credit: Sam Schild

Weight and Packed Size

Mass is an ever-present factor when choosing and utilizing outdoor gear. Assuming all other factors remain the same, if one item weighs less than another, it is advisable to opt for the lighter item. Unfortunately, when it comes to ultralight equipment, there are always compromises. When it comes to sleeping pads, if you want to save weight, you’ll have to compromise on either durability, warmth, or the pad’s size. However, it’s crucial to prioritize your specific requirements over weight, rather than simply opting for the lightest possible option.

Before purchasing a lightweight pad, make sure to check its warmth rating to ensure it suits your needs. Many pads come in various sizes, and some testers reduce weight by opting for shorter, torso-length pads and using their backpack, boots, or other gear to support their legs.

The weight of the individual pads tested ranges from the sub-nine-ounce Therm-a-rest Uberlite to over 25 ounces.The Uberlite is incredibly lightweight, but you compromise on coziness and sturdiness if you desire this level of weight reduction.

The Therm-a-Rest Neoair Uberlite is extremely lightweight and compresses down very small.

Credit: Matt Bento

Our favored pad for super light backpacking is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT. It weighs significantly less than a pound and has an impressive R-value considering its weight. It compresses down to roughly the size of a liter bottle and provides a generous amount of comfortable cushioning.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is one of the lightest pads we tested and has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio.

Credit: Matt Bento

The NEMO Tensor Alpine Air boasts similar weight specifications but compresses down to a smaller size. Additionally, the Tensor includes one of our preferred inflation pads, allowing you to quickly transform this pad into a luxurious mattress.

The NEMO Tensor Alpine Air compresses down into one of the tiniest stuff sacks among all sleeping pads we tested.

Credit: Matt Bento

The Klymit Static V2 was not the absolute lightest, but it was one of the lightest wider pads. It’s important to note that most options weighing under 17 ounces are typically narrower and achieve weight savings by reducing the sleeping area. If you tend to move around during sleep, a wider pad like the Static V2 may be worth the slight increase in weight.

The Klymit Static V2 may not be the lightest, but it is one of the lightest wider pads.

Credit: Matt Bento

Warmth

When it comes to warmth, if you’re anything like us, you go backpacking and camping to enjoy nature, not to freeze through the night and rush back to your car for warmth in the morning. Those who have endured bone-chilling nights understand the importance of a reliable insulation layer between you and the frozen ground you sleep on. We’ve experienced nights with uncontrollable shivering, so we hope that you won’t have to. Fortunately, there is a new standardized insulation testing metric that applies to all brands. Thanks to the ASTM R-value standardization, we can now have a fairly reliable idea of how well a sleeping pad will insulate based on its published R-value.

Warmth isn’t nearly as crucial for summer hikers as it is for winter wanderers. Unless you are a cold sleeper, most of the pads in this evaluation will be cozy if you only enjoy outdoor activities in mild climates. If you camp in hot conditions, you probably don’t want a warm pad. If you feel chilly when camping, upgrading the R-value of your sleeping pad is recommended but often comes at the cost of increased weight and bulk.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT provided an unparalleled level of warmth for its weight and packed size. While it isn’t as lightweight as some pads, the 7.3 R-Value is astonishing, considering the pad compresses down small and barely weighs a pound.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT is remarkably warm and is also lightweight in comparison.

Credit: Sam Schild

For most backpackers, we believe the amount of warmth that the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT offers is more than sufficient. We’ve used this pad with a down quilt in temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has kept us adequately warm. For most backpacking situations, this pad provides the appropriate level of warmth.

The Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme is another one of the warmest pads we tested. This pad is suitable for year-round use, but the substantial insulation within the air chambers means this pad does not compress down very small. It is also one of the heaviest pads we tested.

The Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme is a true year-round pad that is suitable for winter camping.

Credit: Sam Schild

If having some customization with your gear is essential, consider using an inflatable pad with an added closed-cell foam pad during extremely cold days out.This will contribute a substantial quantity of insulation to your sleeping pad. The Z Lite Sol presents an extra 2, and the marginally more pleasant Switchback also furnishes an extra 2. Irrespective of the choice, incorporating one of these pads into your system will grant you the adaptability to utilize either pad individually or in conjunction with an inflatable for exceedingly frigid circumstances.

Layering your pad over a closed-cell foam pad will increase the insulation value.

Credit: Sam Schild

The arrival of tent floor-sized sleeping pads like the Exped Ultra 3R Duo has caused a significant shift in the overall warmth that can be achieved while camping. Adventurous camping pairs should consider the advantages we have encountered while testing this new generation of large format pads. While the R-ratings are being assessed through ASTM standardized testing, the insulation of two-person sleeping pads now covers the entire floor of your tent. The outcome for us was a substantial increase in warmth, often necessitating the opening of additional flaps to let in the cool air.

Although they are usually heavy, the warmth and comfort benefits of tent floor-sized sleeping pads cannot be disregarded. We discovered warmth benefits beyond the stated R-values when compared to single person pads.

Ease of Inflation

In this review, we have included convenience of inflation as one of our metrics. Since the difficulty of inflation is one of the main disadvantages of air construction mats, manufacturers have developed a range of valve styles to help alleviate this problem.

Aside from the closed-cell foam pads, which require no inflation, the simplest pads to inflate were the NEMO Tensor Alpine Air and the Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated. We discovered that the included inflation sack worked the best of any inflation system we tested. Both of these pads were filled with air after fewer than four rounds of filling the inflation bag.

The Nemo Tensor Alpine Air was one of the simplest pads to inflate thanks to the extremely helpful inflation sack.

Credit: Sam Schild

The latest design in the extensive range of valve/sack options is the Winglock valve attached to the XLite NXT, XTherm NXT, and Uberlite. The Winglock isn’t flawless, but it is a significant improvement to these pads, allowing air to enter and exit much more quickly and easily than before. These pads come with an inflation sack that also serves as a stuff sack, although we didn’t find the stuff sack quite as convenient as some others.

The XTherm NXT’s Winglock valve and pump sack make inflation easy.

Credit: Sam Schild

The advantage of inflation bags is that no moisture from your breath enters the pad. While moisture accumulation in pads is not a major concern, it is something to monitor and could eventually lead to mold growth inside your pad.

Inflating the Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated with the Nemo inflation bag.

Credit: Sam Schild

While some pump bags can be frustrating, the introduction of the Exped Schnozzel pump sack was a pleasant surprise. The extremely lightweight fabric and generic nozzle made for easy inflation with almost every pad we tested that was equipped with a modern valve.

Credit: Sam Schild

Self-inflating pads have been available for many years and make the inflation process easier. However, the disadvantage of self-inflating pads is that they are less comfortable, bulkier, and heavier than air-construction pads. While these pads have a dedicated following among hardcore wilderness traditionalists, the new sleeping pad technologies are definitely becoming lighter, warmer, and even more comfortable, making these self-inflating pads a bit less appealing.

Filling up a sleeping pad the traditional way can be quite tiring. While pump bags may seem like a gimmick, they are extremely useful for keeping moisture out of your pad and speeding up the process.

Credit: Sam Schild

Durability

Advancements in textile development have made lightweight inflatable pads sturdy. We have used inflatable pads for 150-day thru-hikes without any durability issues and are impressed by how well our inflatable pads handled abuse without tearing or delaminating. Take care of your pad, and it will take care of you. That being said, we always recommend traveling with a mini repair kit.

The most long-lasting pads tested were the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL and Nemo Switchback because they are made of foam and are practically indestructible compared to inflatable pads. Even when they tear or deteriorate, they still work as a barrier between you and the ground. For those who want to go ultralight and fast, give some serious time and consideration to both of these pads. They can be trimmed down to reduce more weight and will practically never completely fall apart. An important note with closed-cell pads, they do compress over time, losing valuable millimeters of loft.

About six months of use versus a brand new Z Lite. You can see the foam cells break down eventually losing a significant amount of padding over time.

Credit: Brian Martin

Some of the most long-lasting inflatable pads are the Sea To Summit Comfort Plus Insulated, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm, Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated, and Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme. They all utilize thicker materials that won’t puncture as easily.

Conclusion

Selecting the appropriate sleeping pad can be an intimidating task. This crucial piece of backpacking equipment can be quite pricey, but we believe that investing more in it is worthwhile in many instances. Hopefully, this will assist you in narrowing down your options in the hunt for the ideal sleeping pad for your requirements. We will continue to incorporate the finest and most promising sleeping pads into this category with the objective of discovering the top sleeping pads accessible so everyone can rest well in the wilderness.