The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2024

The Klymit Static V ($65) is an incredible value. For less than 70 bucks, you can get a super-packable and quite comfortable backpacking pad. At a little over a pound, it’s not ultralight, but it’s certainly on the light end of the spectrum.

It packs down easily and only takes a few breaths to inflate. We’ve had one in testing that wore out after 6 months of hard use and stopped holding air, but we’ve had another in testing for more than 18 months with no durability concerns.

For the summertime backpacker on a budget, the infrequent camper, or someone looking to pad out their whole family, Static V is a killer value. It offers a significant bump up in comfort from a closed-cell foam pad. While not as light or plush as our pads from Therm-a-Rest or Big Agnes, we can confidently say you can get a good night’s sleep in warmer conditions.

Since the Static V isn’t as thick as some of its competitors, you’ll be able to inflate it more quickly. Your tent mates won’t need to worry about noise, as we could toss and turn in silence all night while testing.

If you sleep cold or camp during the fall or winter, you may want to consider a pad with a higher warmth rating. The Static also comes in a long and wide version if you need a little more wiggle room. They weigh and cost a bit more, but they’re a little more comfortable and still clock in under or around $100.

Read Review: The Klymit Static V

Whenever “17 ounces” and “8.5 R-value” fall in the same sentence, you know there’s going to be drama. We’re used to NEMO churning out groundbreaking, innovative products, but this one took the ultralight cult by surprise. The new Tensor Extreme Conditions ($250) (EC) pad touts the bold claim of having the best warmth-to-weight ratio on the market. And well — objectively — they’re not wrong.

We were lucky to get an early look at this pad, and have been throwing it at some seriously gnarly adventures over the past few months. But, as a disclaimer, we haven’t been able to test it in the arctic conditions it was designed for — and therefore, can’t speak with total authority on its claims. Make no mistake, this pad yearns for far-flung adventures on the very fringe of life-threatening conditions.

We brought the EC on several chilly fall backpacking trips, overnight climbing excursions in Appalachia, and even a frigid five-day ascent of El Cap in Yosemite to truly test its mettle. While a few qualms arose during testing, the Tensor EC undoubtedly sets a new bar in ultralight sleeping pad innovation.

Capitalizing on NEMO’s established sleeping pad tech, Thermal Mirror Insulation, and new Apex baffles churn out serious heat without packing on pounds. For stellar warmth at an ultralight weight, this is quite literally as good as it gets.

Let’s start with the cons. During our first night with the EC, we quickly realized we very much disliked its stuff sack. You have to roll it up with factory precision if you want to stow it easily — and it’s more difficult if you dare to add the included pump sack. Considering the EC is designed for use in ungodly temps, this is the last thing you want to fumble with as you try to retain the feeling in your fingers on freezing alpine starts.

Additionally, the fabric is on the slippery side, and the pad is a bit narrow compared to its competition, resulting in limbs sliding off occasionally at midnight. Also, the valve construction isn’t our favorite. It can be a pain to inflate or top off by mouth.

In light of what this pad accomplishes, however, those quibbles seem downright trivial. An 8.5 R-value at an impressively low 17 ounces — with a 3.5-inch stack height — is plenty to blow the pad’s competition out of the water. No existing pad touches these stats. And, in our experience, it’s not all talk.

We were stunned at how warm it kept us on near-freezing nights, and how well it insulted us from cold seeping in from granite stone while sleeping on ledges in Yosemite. This is due to a new unique tech called “Apex Baffles” within the pad.

In basic terms, Apex entails four layers of thermal film placed over trapezoidal trusses (flexible, vertical supports within the pad), reflecting body heat back at the user, and guarding against radiant heat loss — while also deflecting cold from the ground. This design cuts weight, boosts heat, and is shockingly quiet.

We also found the Lay-Low valve to afford some of the easiest micro-adjustments of any pad we tried, even while fully weighted. Finally, the 20D and 40D nylon fabric held up to more abuse than we expected for a pad in this weight class.

For the ultralight madmen braving arctic temps on hunting excursions or winter thru-hikes, you may have just stumbled across the backcountry bed of your dreams. We’ll be sure to update our review as we test it in the temps it was made for. But frankly, as it stands, we’re finding the NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions hard to beat.

Read Review: The Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions

The most impressive thing about the NeoAir Uberlite ($230) is its weight — or lack thereof. At just 8.8 ounces, it certainly won’t weigh you down. And because it packs down to the size of a soda can, you’ll have more room in your pack for other gear and snacks.

But what really won us over is its comfort level. We were pleasantly surprised to find it felt great and wasn’t noisy when we shifted positions during the night.

As GearJunkie editor Seiji Ishii noted, “It was just as comfortable as other air mattresses of the same thickness. I could sleep on my side at my preferred air pressure without shoulder or hip pain. I flip sides while sleeping, and the UberLite was worlds quieter than the XLite, something tentmates and campsite neighbors will appreciate. I’ve had neighboring campers get up and move in the middle of the night because of the crackling of my XLite.”

Since 2020, Therm-a-Rest backpacking sleeping pads have featured the WingLock Valve. The wings toggle for one-way inflation, making it far easier to blow up. It’s the same easy-to-use Therm-a-Rest valves we’ve reliably used for years, except greatly improved. It’s also available in a large version, which retails for $250 and weighs in at 12 ounces.

Our favorite pad in the Therm-a-Rest lineup is the NeoAir XLite NXT, which has almost twice the R-value and weighs around 4 ounces more. The XLite NXT is a better option for most folks, but if cutting your toothbrush in half and going as fast and light as possible is your jam, the Uberlite should be your pad.

Read Review: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite

New for 2024, the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft ($240) puts the focus on warmth and comfort while barely compromising weight savings. If you’ve been intrigued by the superior packability of the NeoAir XLite, but need the cushion and comfort of a larger, thicker pad, the NeoLoft is twice as thick, has a 4.7 R-value, and only weighs 12 oz. more. That’s adding the equivalent of a beercan to your ultralight kit, and if it means better sleep in the backcountry, then it’s well worth the extra weight. 

The brand has been the king of sleeping pads for a long time now, but it isn’t a stranger to innovation. The Neoloft is constructed from a soft, stretchy knit fabric that’s quiet, comfortable, and conforms to the body. It’s 50 denier on the top and 75 on the bottom, adding some durability compared to the NeoAir’s 30-D ripstop nylon. It’s also a main culprit contributing to the added weight. We found it to be very comfortable, with one tester describing it as supple and gel-like.

This pad is a whopping 4.6 inches thick — that’s an inch and a half more than the NeoAir, and an inch thicker than the Exped Dura 8R (the warmest pad in our guide). It’s only available in the rectangle shape, eschewing the weight savings of the mummy design, but that only makes it more comfortable. If you’re a larger person, a pad this thick is going to feel awesome compared to the typical ultralight fare. The only complaint we have comfort-wise is that you don’t roll off this pad — you fall off. 4.6” is kind of a long way down, something serious toss-and-turners should consider.

Inflation with the included pump sack takes around a minute. There’s a lot of pad here to inflate, but using the pump sack won’t leave you breathless, and it will keep moisture out of the pad. A two-valve system borrowed from the brand’s camping mattresses allows for fast inflation and deflation. If you’re ok with the extra weight, we recommend the Flextail Tiny Pump 2X to speed up the process.

Comfort and weight savings are always going to be a compromise, but at least with the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft, you’re compromising less. If you’re just not getting the sleep you need on an ultralight pad, the NeoLoft is the way to go.

It’s hard to add even more innovation to the simple design and concept of an accordion-style foam pad, but the NEMO Switchback ($50-60 depending on length) continues to impress backpackers and campers with each new design and update.

Their latest iteration offers even greater plushness via taller nodes in a smaller pack size for a cozy, warm pad that will hold up to the wear and tear of weekend use or a months-long thru-hike. Plus, at $55, it’s a nice break for your wallet.

For years the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite has been the industry’s foam pad standard, without much competition. Now, with the Switchback making a name for itself in the backpacking world, it’s not the only slab of foam seen strapped to hiker’s packs on trail.

Though it’s 0.5 ounces heavier than the Z Lite and has the same R-value of 2, it’s a tad bit thicker, and we feel like it offers just a little more cushion and comfort. It’s definitely one of the best foam pads we’ve slept on.

A metalized thermal reflective film bounces heat back to your body, while dual-density Axiotomic foam provides a soft layer of comfort, paired with a tougher layer for support. This makes the pad a solid insulator on its own in milder temps, or a great way to add more comfort, protection, and warmth when paired with an inflatable pad on colder adventures.

While we haven’t had the chance to put it through a 2,000+ mile trek yet, it’s shown little wear and tear as we’ve tested it, and a plethora of online comments praise its durability and comfort over the length of a taxing thru-hike. We’d say you don’t have to worry about this falling apart any time soon.

As an ultralight standalone pad for fast and light missions or another addition to your sleep system for freezing expeditions, the NEMO Switchback will have you in a deep, comfortable slumber every night.

Our editor has been testing the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus ($239) since it came out in 2015. And as of 2024, it’s still going strong, having never sprung a leak.

One of our favorite things about this pad is the double air chambers. This feature has proven to be integral in preventing tears and gives it a built-in redundancy. If one side pops (which it hasn’t after many, many camping trips with this pad), the other should still be good, keeping you off the cold ground.

The double chambers also allow you to create a custom firmness. You can inflate it by blowing, which is very easy to do and doesn’t take many breaths to fill. You can also use the pump bag that comes integrated into the stuff sack. Either way, it’s fast and easy to fill this pad.

At 1 pound, 13.8 ounces, this pad is on the heavy side for backpacking, but we’re willing to carry a little extra weight for when temps drop low at night. The redundancy alone is worth a few extra ounces, and the pad works great for car camping too.

Although the 40-denier fabric isn’t the toughest possible, we’ve found it plenty strong in addition to being warm, packable, and comfortable. And if something does go awry, the pad comes with a repair kit. All in all, the Comfort Plus Insulated is a great backpacking and car camping sleeping pad.

Exped’s Ultra 7R ($240) is a super-cool pad. Here’s the bottom line: it’s made with a layer of down insulation that boosts the R-value to an absurd 7.1. All while tipping the scales at a relatively scant 22.9 ounces and packing down small enough for lightweight backpacking or mountaineering. It’s rad. For the alpine athlete needing maximum warmth in sub-zero conditions, or those intrepid winter thru-hikers, the Exped Ultra 7R could be a game changer.

Exped employed what they call Downmat Technology in this pad, including a layer of premium 700-fill down coupled with a 9cm air cushion, offering one of the coziest, warmest nights of sleep our testers have had on a backpacking trip. It feels like they hit that massive, plush air mattress you use for sleepovers at your friend’s house with a shrink-ray gun and made it packable.

Notable features of the Ultra include a 20-denier ripstop face fabric that fends off poky sticks or rocks, an included “Schnozzel” pump bag (which we feel worked better than some other designs out there), and an “in” and “out” valve for simple inflating and deflating.

While there are lighter pads out there with R-values that come close to the Ultra’s, this is one of the thicker ones on the market and, therefore, more comfortable. This also makes it a great pad for side sleepers.

We found it somewhat difficult to top off the air in the pad with our mouth after doing the bulk of the work with the Schnozzel, as the valve lays quite flush with the pad. A quick word of caution on this — it’s important to use the Schnozzel to inflate it as often as possible, as moisture buildup from your breath could damage the down inside over time.

It is on the heavier/bulky side, but for the insulation and overall comfort you are getting, we feel they’ve kept it very light and manageable.

The Ultra 7R is an incredible and surprisingly affordable piece of engineering. We have no hesitation recommending it to any dedicated adventurer who needs a reliable, mega-warm pad for gnarly conditions in the mountains.

The NEMO Tensor Sleeping Pad ($200) has always been wide, supportive, quiet, and relatively warm. The original Tensor was somewhere between good and great. It was upgraded in 2022, and the results are top-notch. Sharing similar tech with the toasty Tensor EC above, this pad is plush and comfortable.

The pad’s improvements come from the inside out. NEMO redesigned its Spaceframe — what the brand calls the structural baffles inside the pad that give it support and stability — to make both the insulated and uninsulated pads warmer.

The new baffle design still has individual tack points that prevent the pad from feeling like a raft underneath you, and the insulation is still woven between the baffles in a way that keeps it quiet. There’s no pad squeaking or crinkling while rolling around.

The pad comes with the NEMO Vortex Pump Sack, which inflates all sizes of the pad quickly and efficiently without filling the pad with moisture from your breath.

It’s available in mummy and rectangular shapes, two lengths, and as both insulated and uninsulated options. Though the NEMO Tensor pad is light and compact enough to use for backpacking, it’s plenty comfortable and durable for car camping too. The only drawback here is weight.

The larger version of this pad is approaching a pound. All that comfy real estate has to weigh something, though, and it only weighs a few ounces more than the NeoAir XLite. Folks who typically have trouble sleeping in the backcountry should consider the Tensor over our top pick.

Read Review: The Nemo Tensor

The NEMO Flyer ($140) combines the best of foam-core comfort with air bed packability. At 1 pound 6 ounces, it’s not the lightest, most packable option, but the added comfort is worth it if you don’t mind a few more ounces.

As one of our reviewers noted, “The NEMO Flyer is a lightweight, three-season pad that hits the sweet spot between an air pad and a self-inflating foam pad. The unique air-filled foam baffles create stable, cushioned thickness with more durability and resistance to bottoming than an air pad, with a slight weight and bulk penalty. But it’s lighter and packs smaller than a self-inflating pad.”

We got to take a look at the updated Flyer for 2023, and can confirm that it is still worthy of the pad’s stellar reputation. This popular hybrid design is now made with Bluesign-approved fabrics and is produced in a resource-conserving way that greatly reduces its impact on the environment. We’re big fans of that.

Right out of the bag we were initially impressed by how quickly the Flyer inflates, whether you want to let it fill up by itself or top it off with your own breath. This thing deploys fast, which is a welcome reprieve from the light-headed task of inflating full-on air pads.

The low-profile valve is pretty easy to use and allows you to make micro-adjustments to the pad’s firmness. We did find it a bit difficult to let small amounts of air out while making adjustments, though, as air would sometimes continue to seep out of the two-way valve until blowing into again or putting the cap back on.

The 3.3 R-value is a solid boost from a dedicated foam pad like the NEMO Switchback, but the added bulk may not be worth it for some. We also appreciate how soft and quiet the outer fabric is, which contributes to a restful night of sleep.

Overall, this is a great option for those who love the reliability and ease of a foam pad but may want a bit more of the loft and comfort found in air pads.

Read Review: The Nemo Flyer

If durability, warmth, and comfort are more important to you than carrying around a little bit of extra weight, then you should give the Exped Dura 8R ($250) a serious look. Although it weighs between 30.2 ounces (med.) and 36.9 ounces (long wide), the added weight may well be worth it for those seeking a backpacking sleeping pad that can handle the abusive conditions of winter mountaineering, river trips, or camping with pets.

The added heft of the Dura 8R pad is due primarily to the use of the super tough recycled 75D/170D ripstop fabric. Not only is this material resistant to punctures, but it has a surprisingly pleasant face feel that avoids feeling plasticky or unpleasant against the skin.

Inside, Exped uses their Downmat Technology, with 700-fill down lining the full-length air chambers. This gives the Dura 8R a 3.5-inch thickness, a high R-value of 7.8, and a temperature rating down to -40 degrees F.

The Dura 8R has a rectangular shape, and it comes in three sizes. The medium and medium-wide sizes are 72 inches in length, while the long wide inflates to 77 inches long. The standard width medium is 20.5 inches wide, and the wide versions expand to 25.6 inches in width. The sizing options make it so most users can find an appropriate size for their body and preferences.

With the included Schnozzel Pumpbag, inflating the Dura 8R is relatively easy. It takes a couple of practice runs to perfect the process, but once you do, the pad is easy to inflate without the need to tax your lungs by blowing it up.

The marked “in” and “out” valves also make it pretty foolproof. Once inflated to your liking, the full-length air chambers provide excellent support, and the thickness of the pad allows you to choose the ideal level of firmness for your preferences.

Given its durable construction and plentiful insulation, the Dura 8R packs down to a reasonable size, about the same as a Nalgene bottle. That’s not bad, and well worth the pack space if a warm and comfortable night’s sleep is something you want. If you’re not heading out on an extended mission, this pad is also tough enough to handle duties as a truckbed or car camping pad given its durable exterior.

The Dura 8R doesn’t make the top of our list because of the Nemo Tensor Extreme conditions. The Tensor is lighter and has a higher R-value than the Dura 8R for the same price.

Read Review: The Exped Dura 8R Sleeping Pad

The Ionosphere 5.5 ($210) stands out as a solid balance between lightweight packability, and comfortable warmth. At 24 ounces (19.4 ounces for the Ionosphere 5), it clocks in heavier than the gold standard Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite NXT, but stuffs down almost as small, packs a higher R-value, and boasts subtle, comfort-oriented tech that could make the penalty worthwhile. The devil is in the details.

We were initially struck by the ergonomic shape of the pad. Oversized outer chambers seem to lightly hug you without feeling constricting, while the soft outer fabric is stippled with grip print designed to keep your sleeping bag or inflatable pillow in place. The mummy shape (on the 5) cuts weight and bulk, but the slightly raised sides make it feel larger than it is.

The heat retention of the pad is noticeably efficient. Using bleeding-edge TILT technology within Stratus R synthetic insulation, it is able to greatly diminish radiant heat loss. This is a complex system offering lightweight, low-bulk warmth for chilly nights in the wild.

While we’re still gauging its durability, our initial complaint has to do with the low-profile two-way valve. The included pump sack (which is one of the easiest to use we’ve tried and is creatively illustrated to look like an elephant) does a good job of inflating the pad entirely by itself.

However, if you do have to top it off with your mouth or decide to save weight by not bringing the sack, the valve sits super close to the fabric, making filling it a bit difficult. The valve also pops out of the pad quite easily when you remove the pump sack, which can get pretty annoying.

We do like that the valve lies on the bottom of the pad, keeping it out of your way at night. But, we can imagine this being a con if the pad develops slow leaks and you have to top it off mid-sleep. Something our tester seems to always find himself having to do near the end of a long thru-hike.

Can we say these pads will be just as good as the other time-tested legends in this guide? We just haven’t put enough miles on them yet. But, if we know anything about Rab, with a bit of love, there’s a good chance they will be inching their way toward the top in no time. From a brand that knows what you need in the alpine, you better believe they’re quality.

Check out our coverage of the launch for a bit more information on the new lineup.

 Ether Light XT ($189) packs down small and has some extra features that make it stand out.

First off, we liked the integrated pump bag that’s built into the stuff sack (called the Airstream pump). Basically, you lightly blow into the bag and then squeeze the air into the pad. It seems weird at first, but it’s much less energy-intensive than directly blowing up the pad.

This pad also has a “pillow lock” that helps certain Sea to Summit pillows stay in place. Its sticky felt grabs onto the pillow to keep it from moving around while you sleep. If you already have an Aeros Pillow, this could be great. If not, it might not do you any good.

These features aside, this pad provides extra insulation for cold nights and is light enough to easily take backpacking. It’s not the cheapest out there, but this is an excellent choice if extra insulation and less weight are important to you.

There’s a reason closed-cell foam is a cult classic. It’s light, it’s warm, and it’s virtually indestructible. It’s no surprise that you regularly see it listed among thru-hikers’ favorite pieces of gear.

The crazy popular Z Lite Sol ($48) has been the leader in ultralight foam pads for a long time and still stands as a good choice today. The aluminized surface (the silver side) reflects heat back toward your body and provides extra warmth at night, while the egg-carton pattern increases comfort and insulation.

Even if you don’t plan to use this as your sole sleeping pad, it’s a great addition to whatever else you choose to use on top. It provides unmatched durability and extra insulation, which are integral factors for getting a good night’s rest at camp.