Best Backpacking Sleeping Pad of 2021

Best Overall Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm

Weight: 18.2 ounces | R-Value: 6.9

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm is an absolute beast that balances remarkable warmth (6.9 R-value) with a packable and lightweight design. No other pad on the market offers this amount of warmth and comfort while maintaining versatile features. With a new and greatly improved valve system, we didn't have any hesitation in giving the XTherm our highest honors.

Yes, the Xtherm is indeed our favorite pad, but that doesn't mean some of the more wallet-friendly options won't get the job done in a similar fashion. If you're put off by the narrow profile of the XTherm, check out the wider Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Max for a bit more wiggle room.

Read review: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm

Best Bang for the Buck

Klymit Static V2

Weight: 17.5 ounces | R-Value: 1.3

There are many inexpensive sleeping pads on the market. However, the Klymit Static V2 is one we highly recommend. It's light, comfortable, and packs down small. Surprisingly, the Static V2 is much wider than most pads we tested, making the low weight and price that much more impressive.

The bargain-basement price does come with a big drawback. The Static V2 has one of the lowest R-values of any pad we tested, making it unsuitable for temps below freezing unless you have a burly sleeping bag or a closed-cell foam pad to boost the insulation. For three-season use, it's hard to ignore the price, comfort, and durability of this pad.

Read review: Klymit Static V2

Best for Ultralight

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite

Weight: 16 ounces | R-Value: 4.2

Once again, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite takes home our highest honors in the ultralight category. While there is always a temptation to utilize the lightest equipment on the market, this isn't always the most pragmatic. The XLite is extremely light, but just as important is the performance packed into that tiny mass. We feel it is critical to retain decent insulative properties to be versatile enough for the mountains. The 4.2 R-value settles the XLite firmly in the three-season category, making it comfortable even for fall days in the desert when you wake up with a bit of frost on your bivy.

The dimensions are a bit tight for larger individuals. Consider checking out the wider option if you're over six feet tall — with shoulders to match. The newest update of this pad did gain some extra warmth, a cool new valve system, and unfortunately, a few ounces.

Read review: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite

An Excellent Level of Comfort

Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated

Weight: 25.5 ounces | R-Value: 5

The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus is the only pad in our review to utilize two separate air chambers allowing for different pressure and density for fine-tuning one's sleep surface. While the Comfort Plus has been around for a bit now, it remains shockingly comfortable compared to the rest of the field. Bounciness has been all but eliminated, and the dual-density option allows for a nice soft top while taming the lumps, bumps, and slumps.

The Air Sprung cells, coupled with variable density chambers and a high R-value, make for one heck of a sleeping pad. The only real downside of its weight relative to our highest rated warm sleeping pads. It's not one we'd recommend for those that love to save on the ounces. If you seek lavish comfort while backpacking, this is the pad to buy, but it comes at the cost of packability and weight.

Read review: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated

Best Pad on a Budget

Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol

Weight: 14 ounces | R-Value: 2.6

The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL has been on the market since our gear testers can remember, and for good reason. Its versatility is attractive for people from all types of outdoor pursuits. We've even seen people use their old Z Lite for carpet padding in their van builds. It's composed of a simple, lightweight closed-cell foam pad. This pad offers reliability in the background that's hard to beat. While most other contenders can pop the inflatable design, you don't have to worry about thrashing this highly durable contender around on the ground. Also, the high 2.6 R-value can be stacked with other pads, making even those with a lower R-value suitable for cold climates and adding some protection for your pricey inflatables. Overall, the reliable and durable design at a low cost is one that's hard to beat.

While the Z Lite SOL is an excellent choice for those wanting to add a bit of versatility to their arsenal of camping equipment, it is one of the least packable pads we have tested and miserably uncomfortable on hard surfaces. The closed-cell foam definitely won't pop, but it also takes up a lot of space for how little comfort it actually provides. If you're seeking high value, outstanding durability, and reliability on the trail, this is an excellent choice.

Read review: Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL

Why You Should Trust Us

This review is brought to you by the sleeping pad testing dream team, aka OutdoorGearLab Senior Review Editors Andy Wellman, Matt Bento and Brian Martin. These three come to the campsite with heavy climbing backgrounds — a pursuit where you learn to appreciate a restorative 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 run a publishing company that put out bouldering guides to the Southwest. He is joined by Matt and Brian, both alumni of Yosemite Search and Rescue, where versatile, reliable, and durable equipment is a necessary part of everyday life.

The quest for the best sleeping pad began by delving deep into what was available in the market and what products among those were the high performers. We analyzed over 70 models before choosing the models discussed here. We then bought these pads at retail and disbursed them to our trusty gear testers. These pads went on guided backpacking trips in Colorado and New Mexico, and we brought them along on trips in the Eastern Sierra and Utah. All the while, we paid attention to how well the pads performed in key areas that we identified ahead of time as most important in the function of a sleeping pad — things like weight and packed size, durability, and warmth, in addition to comfort.

Related: How We Tested Sleeping Pads

Analysis and Test Results

Our sleeping pad review quite literally has something for everyone. We sent folks of all different sizes out equipped with each pad to do a deep dive into critical features such as comfort, packed size, warmth, ease of inflation, and durability. Using these metrics as an anchor point for assessment, we rate each product based on performance. While there are many high performers, there are also many that have specific niches that shouldn't be missed.

Related: Buying Advice for Sleeping Pads

Value

Value can mean many different things to different people. We aren't just looking at the price of a sleeping pad — we're looking at how well it performs across a range of metrics and if the price is justified by this performance. The Therm-a-Rest pads we tested were incredibly expensive but are indeed quite good value as they offer durable construction and some mind-blowingly good performance. There are many high-value options in this review, but we'd like to point out a few that won't break the bank but will provide a great deal. If you want the creme de la creme, be ready to shell out a few extra clams. In general, the lower the price, the lighter and less warm the pads tend to be.

Of them all, the Klymit Static V2, one of our award winners, offers excellent comfort and warmth at a lower price. If you're seeking packable and light, the Sea to Summit Ultralight should be looked at, but it's not as warm as the Klymit Static V2. Another super low-priced (and high value) option is the classic Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol. While it scores low in the metrics, it's one of the most reliable pad options out there, as it's made of foam and won't pop in the backcountry. If car camping is your dig, be sure to look at the Nemo Astro Insulated which offers exceptional warmth, but it a bit too large and bulky for backcountry carry.

If you're anything like our testers, your first sleeping pad may well be a closed-cell foam pad, and rightfully so. These pads are an excellent choice for those getting into backpacking because they are lightweight and super affordable. When you realize how hard on your body they can be, you don't have to chuck it, just save it for an extra layer of warmth during winter camping. That's value.

There are now two competitive closed-cell pads that get our stamp of approval; the old reliable Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol and the newer Nemo Switchback. While these pads have remarkably similar attributes, there are a few components worth noting. The Switchback is a few bucks more expensive but does have a smaller packed size and offers a hint more comfort on hard ground. Our testers went twelve rounds with the Z Lite and Switchback, grinding our elbows into the pads, trying to side sleep, and pitching camp on unnecessarily hard ground to get a sense of which pad we would have.

Comfort

Here we evaluate how well each pad can handle the various lumpy miseries of the landscape. Things that typically disrupt a nice night out under the stars such as roots, rocks, and reggae. Well, actually the pads didn't help much with the reggae, but there were some amazing pads that kept us elevated above lumps and bumps and others that didn't have such stellar performance. Many of our testers have noticed their priorities shifting through the years from going ultralight and minimalist to looking more towards comfort. Maybe this is due to life's natural course of trending towards feeling like the tin man needing oil, but it is undeniable. A plush air pad offers significantly better sleep than the shoulder crushing closed-cell pads we all started backpacking within the 90s.

Hands down, the most comfortable pads we snoozed on are the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated and the Exped Synmat 9. These pads both offer an excellent footprint and a nice variability in firmness while keeping you well-cushioned from a rocky surface below. The comfort plus is quite special, as the dual inflation zones can be inflated to different pressures giving a nice pillow top with a firm under construction. While this does bump the overall weight of the pad up, the ability to have dual-density creates a uniquely comfortable pad.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm offer excellent comfort at a fraction of the weight as the most comfortable pads. They are significantly narrower than the more comfortable and heavy offerings on the market but retain the necessary features to get a good night's sleep.

Weight and Packed Size

Weight is an omnipresent factor when selecting and using outdoor equipment. If all things are held constant, and one item weighs less than another, you should absolutely select the lighter item. Unfortunately, there are always tradeoffs when using ultralight equipment, be it durability, warmth, or size of the pad's footprint. More important than weight is making sure whatever you end up with something that satisfies your specific needs rather than just selecting whatever is lightest.

The weight of the pads tested ranges from 8.8 ounces, like the Therm-a-rest Uberlite, to over 44 ounces, the Exped Megamat Lite 12. Check the warmth score of a lightweight pad before purchasing it to make sure it will meet your needs. Many pads are available in multiple sizes, and some testers minimize weight by taking short, torso-length pads and using a backpack, boots, or other gear under their legs. The Therm-a-Rest Uberlite is an excellent choice for ultralight backpacking in the warmer months, weighing in at 8.8 ounces, but it's not warm enough for winter camping and feels shockingly fragile; use with caution!

Our favorite pad for ultralight backpacking is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite. Sixteen ounces give you an R-value of 4.2 — a packed size roughly equal to a liter bottle and a lot of plush comfort to boot. The Nemo Tensor Insulated boasts similar specs but edges past the XLite in comfort thanks to a rectangular design, box baffles, and less "crinkly" materials for a quieter night's sleep. The Klymit Static V2 was not the absolute lightest, but it was one of the lightest wider pads. Keep in mind that most of the options under 17 ounces are usually pretty narrow and achieve part of their weight savings by reducing the sleeping area. If you toss and turn a bit, a wider pad like the Static V2 may be worth the few extra ounces.

Depending on the model, a self-inflating pad may or may not pack down small enough to fit inside your backpack. Older designs are bulky and don't pack down much smaller than foam pads. Newer designs use less foam and can pack down relatively small. While we didn't have any self-inflating models in our pad update this go-around, they are still on the market and fill a niche for those who want a super comfortable sleep without all the fiddling.

Warmth

If you're like us, you go backpacking and camping for enjoyment and return to nature — not to rattle your fillings out shivering through the night only to run back to your car for the heat! Anyone who has suffered through a bone-chilling night out knows the value of a solid insulation layer between you and the frozen tundra you're sleeping on. We spent nights with teeth chattering, so hopefully, you won't have to. There is a new standardized insulation testing metric across brands. Keep an eye out for updated ASTM R-values as many previous models have differing claimed values that have now shifted with this new standard.

If you're a summer hiker, warmth isn't nearly as important as it is for winter wanderers. Unless you are a cold sleeper, most of the pads in this review will be warm if you only like recreating in temperate climates. If you camp in the heat, you probably don't want a warm pad. If you're cold when camping, upgrading the R-value of your sleeping pad is recommended but often comes at the expense of added weight and bulk. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm supplied an unmatched level of warmth for its weight and packed size. While it isn't ultralight, the 6.9 R-Value is mind-blowing considering the pad packs down small and barely weighs over a pound.

If having some customization with your kit is crucial, consider utilizing an inflatable pad with an added closed-cell foam pad during frigid days out. This will add a significant amount of insulation to your sleeping pad. The Z Lite Sol offers an additional 2.0, while the slightly more comfortable Switchback also provides an additional 2.0. Either way, adding one of these pads to your system will give you the versatility to take either pad alone or a combination to combat the cold.

Ease of Inflation

In this review, we've included ease of inflation in our metrics. With the difficulty of inflation being one of the main drawbacks of air construction mats, manufacturers have developed an array of valve styles to help alleviate this issue.

The newest design in the vast sea of valve/sack options is the winglock valve fixed to the XLite and XTherm (and Uberlite). We were skeptical but hopeful when we found out the dated Therm-a-Rest valves were being updated. The Winglock isn't perfect, but it is a massive upgrade to these pads, allowing air in and out exponentially faster and easier than in the past.

You can inflate the pad by opening the stuff sack, so it fills with air, then folding it closed and pushing the trapped air through the valve and into the pad. The Nemo Tensor employs a similarly effective design. The upside, other than speeding inflation, is that no moisture from your breath enters that pad. While moisture accumulation in pads is not a major deal, it is something to keep an eye on. After a trip, you should keep the pad inflated, with the valve open, to allow moisture out.

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 nearly every pad we tested that was equipped with modern valves. The included Therm-a-Rest pump bag was made from heavy material that resisted poofing up effortlessly like the Schnozzel.

Of course, self-inflating pads have been on the market for decades and make the task of inflating easier. The downside of self-inflating pads is that they are less comfortable, bulkier, and heavier than air construction pads. While these self-inflating pads have their cult following among hardcore wilderness Luddites, the new sleeping pad technologies are certainly getting lighter, warmer, and even more comfortable, making these self-inflating pads a bit less attractive.

Durability

Advances in textile development make lightweight inflatable pads durable. We have used inflatable pads for 40-day backpacking trips without any durability issues and are impressed by the amount of abuse our inflatable pads handled without tearing or delaminating. Take care of your pad, and it will take care of you. That said, we always recommend traveling with a mini repair kit.

Thankfully, inflatable pads are usually easy to patch if the leak isn't too minute and not emanating from the pad's valve system. Additionally, most pads do come with patch kits. The most durable pads tested were the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL and Nemo Switchback because they are made of foam and are virtually indestructible in comparison with inflatable pads. Even when they do rip or break down, they still function 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 the Switchback and Z Lite as they can be cut down to shave off more weight and will virtually never completely fall apart. An important note with closed-cell pads, they do crush over time, losing valuable millimeters of loft. The most durable inflatable pads are the MegaMat Lite, Comfort Plus, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm, and the Nemo Astro Insulated that all utilize thicker materials and even dual air chambers in the case of the Comfort Plus.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite is constructed from a 15 denier nylon that feels alarmingly thin, while the Nemo Tensor uses a slightly thicker 20D nylon. We never punctured these pads during our testing but would never leave home without a patch kit while hiking with these pads. If you're seeking the most durable and reliable pad option out there and don't want to carry a patch kit, consider the less comfortable but highly reliable Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol that utilized close-cell technology.

Conclusion

Every year we get one year older. The ground seems to become harder, gravity stronger, and our personalities crustier. Having a plush, pillowy pad betwixt the meat vehicle and terra firma is critical for getting the most out of any adventure. We once again tested a wide variety of models in all the conditions we could so you could make a choice that matches your needs before getting out there. We evaluated the overall performance and value of these pads down to give you an idea of how they might perform for you. It might not be a surprise, but with the new updates to overall warmth and ease of inflation/deflation with Therm-a-Rest pads, they ran away with some serious bling when we were divvying up awards.