Topic: The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 31 times)
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Topic: The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 31 times)
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This was the easiest pad to inflate of all I tested. It uses a pump sack that’s integrated into the stuff sack for the sleeping pad, a thoughtful touch that worked exceptionally well. After connecting the nozzle to the inflate plug, you hold the bag about a foot from your face and blow air at it to inflate the bag, then you squeeze the air from the bag into the pad. It only took six rounds with the pump sack to inflate the Ether Light XT on my first try—less than a minute. I also like that the inflate plug and the deflate plug use the same opening, as this reduces the number of fail points for the pad.
The dimpled structure of the baffling on the Ether Light XT made it easier to find a co*fortable position than pads that had vertical, horizontal, or honeyco*b baffling, and the 4-inch height meant my hips were well protected from the ground when sleeping on my side.
While not quite as warm or quite as light as our best overall pick, the 3.2 R rating of the Ether Light XT will work well for backpackers looking to start their trips in late spring and make their last trip of the year before the leaves fall. 30D and 40D nylon strands are woven together to make this pad more robust than our lightweight picks, although backpackers should still be sure to protect it from the ground with a lightweight tarp if they aren’t using a tent.—Laura Lancaster
Key Features
Backpackers who like the baffling of the Sea to Summit Ether Light but are tempted by the low weight of the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT will find some middle ground with the Tensor Ultralight series. I like that the Tensor co*es with an optional lightweight pump sack, so that backpackers can choose, trip to trip, between a couple of ounces of weight savings and the convenience of rapid inflation when they reach camp.
For another couple of extra ounces, there is also the option to increase the R value of the non-insulated pad (appropriate for lower elevation summer treks only) to an R value that will get you out to the shoulder seasons and up to alpine terrain. This amount of customization makes the Tensor stand out from the other best backpacking sleeping pads, and it’s something that backpackers who oscillate between casual weekend trips and big-mile days and week-long treks will appreciate.
The thinness of the fabric means that you’ll need to take special care to ensure the Tensor doesn’t develop a leak. New backpackers should go with the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite NXT or Big Agnes Insulated AirCore Ultra for better durability.—Laura Lancaster
If you’re headed into the snow, then a 2.5-R rating isn’t going to cut it. But most heavy-duty sleeping pads are well over two pounds, adding both bulk and weight to your (probably already heavy) winter backpacking kit. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm takes the lightweight insulation of the NeoAir Xlite and ratchets it up a notch. Rather than using three layers of the metallic insulation, the Xtherm boasts six, which brings it up to an R rating of 7.3 while still clocking in at only 17 ounces.
While the valve and pump bag on the Xtherm have the same issues as the Xlite, the R value and weight of this pad make it a must-have for anyone looking to cut weight on their winter camping kit.—Laura Lancaster
This backpacking sleeping pad is so light and so tiny, you’ll barely notice it’s in your pack during the day. But at night, it’s just as co*fortable as the standard Xlite. There are two catches here—the first is that this has about half the R rating of the Xlite, similar to top-performing closed-cell foam pads. It’s suitable for summer camping (and early fall if you run hot), but you’ll be co*promising the performance of the rest of your sleep system if you take it into colder conditions than that.
The second is that this sleeping pad is fundamentally more fragile than the Xlite. Instead of a 30D ripstop nylon, it only uses 15D nylon for the shell. If you’re used to getting away with only a cursory kick of the largest rocks before throwing your sleeping pad on the ground, you’re going to need to take more care with this pad(some kind of groundsheet beneath it is a must).—Laura Lancaster
If you want one pad for car camping and low-key backpacking trips, look no further. The Klymaloft has a foam topper above the inflatable air chambers, which makes it feel closer to an actual mattress than anything we tried—including traditional car camping pads. You could almost forget you weren’t at home in your own bed.
One thing I noticed during testing was that the construction of the valve is different from standard backpacking sleeping pads—some of our testers thought at first that it needed a pump to inflate—but it works the same as a regular air valve once you get the hang of it. Two tie-down straps make this one more of a chore to pack down than other backpacking pads, but once I had it cinched in, its packed volume was surprisingly close to other pads in the test.
While the Klymaloft is unacceptably heavy by lightweight backpacking standards, the extra weight is worth the good night’s sleep, at least on low-mileage trips.—Laura Lancaster
Whether you are looking to share a pad with a significant other, or just want the extra space for your own co*fort, the Ultra 3R Duo is a great choice. Its simple vertical baffles were co*fortable to lie on in multiple positions—back, side, stomach—and the tapered foot design mirrors the shape of a number of backpacking tents on the market.
Couples will like that the baffles for each side of the mat are inflated separately, which reduces the likelihood that your partner will wake you up in the middle of the night, while individuals using the Ultra 3R Duo will appreciate that they roll through seamlessly, avoiding an unco*fortable spot in the middle of the mat.
During testing, I found that the large pump sack captured a surprising amount of air (I was able to inflate the entire air mattress in four rounds), but I had to watch the neck of the pump sack to make sure it didn’t get twisted. While not as intuitive to use as the Sea to Summit pump sack, the roll-top design made this one more efficient with practice.—Laura Lancaster
