Sleeping Pads

When you sleep in a sleeping bag, the part of the bag that's underneath your body is compressed, which significantly decreases it's level of insulation and increases heat loss through conduction with the cold ground.  A sleeping pad isn't just nice padding for your back, it insulates you from the cold ground.  The pad is worth more than it's weight. 

Sleeping Pad Recommendation

• 3-Season (Washington)

  • Closed-Cell Foam Sleeping Pad with 2.0+ R-Value

    • This will work for most Scouts and Male Adult Leaders for 3-seasons

  • Example:

    • Therm-a-rest Z Lite Sol

• 3-Season Cold Sleepers

  • Some people are just a little colder at night or need/want extra cushioning

  • Inflatable Pad with 3.0+ R-Value

  • Example:

    • Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout

• Winter (Washington)

  • 2 Pads:

    • Closed-Cell Foam Sleeping Pad

      • Indestructible and multi use

      • Use as bottom layer

      • Example: 

        • Army Closed Cell Foam Pad 

          • Affordable

          • Durable

          • 3/8" thick

    • Inflatable Sleeping Pad

      • Better insulation/weight ratio than closed cell foam

      • Use as softer top layer

      • Can be substituted with second foam pad(s)

      • Example:

        • Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout

Sleeping Pads

Prior to Leave No Trace practices, one way of insulating yourself from the cold, hard ground was to pile up 6-12 inches of leaves, pine needles or pine boughs.  This practice is of course outdated and will get in in trouble in many places.  The modern approach is to use a foam or inflatable pad to limit heat loss through conduction and to make for a nice soft sleeping area. 

Pad Types

• Closed Cell Foam

  • Durable and it doesn't matter if you puncture it

• Inflatable 

  • Better insulation value to weight ratio

  • Generally more comfortable unless you puncture it

Sleeping Pad Ratings

• See our Sleeping Pad Ratings Page

• Summer: 1-2

• 3-Season: 2-5

• Winter: 5+

Foam Sleeping Pad Examples:

• Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad

  • Similar to yoga mat

  • R-Value: 0.5

• Reflectix

  • Mylar insulation

  • Slippery

  • R-Value: 1.1

• The Exped FlexMat

  • 0.7" thick

  • R-Value: 1.5

• Therm-a-Rest Z Lite

  • 0.75 in (2 cm) Thick

  • R-Value: 1.7

• Oware Foam 1/2″ Thick

  • Plastazote Foam

  • "Winter weight"

  • R-Value: 2.0

• Therm-a-rest Z Lite Sol

  • 0.75 in (2 cm) Thick

  • R-Value: 2.0

• Nemo Switchback

  • 1.5" thick

  • R-Value: 2.0

• Ozark Trail Folding Closed-Cell Foam

  • Walmart

  • R-Value: 2.0

• Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic Foam Camping Sleeping Pad

  • 0.625" Thick

  • R-Value: 2.0

• Generic Blue Pad

  • Ozark Trail Closed Cell Foam Blue Camp Sleeping Pad

• Featherstone El Cordion

  • R-Value: 2.1

• The Exped FlexMat Plus

  • 1.5" of foam

  • R-Value: 2.2

• Marine Corps Folding Sleeping Mat

  • Z-Fold

  • 1/4” thick 

  • NSN: 8465-01-606-8756

• Army Foam Pad

  • 3/8” thick polyurethane

  • NSN: 8465-01-109-3369

Inflatable Sleeping Pad Examples:

• • Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

    • Expensive

    • R-Value: 4.5

    • Weight: 13.2oz

  • Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat 

    • Inexpensive 

    • R-Value: 3.1

    • Weight: 17.9oz

  • Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Mat 

    • Expensive

    • Extremely comfortable

    • R-Value: 3.2

    • Weight: 16.6oz

  • Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad

    • Expensive

    • R-Value: 7.3

    • Weight: 22.3oz

  • REI Flash Insulated

    • R-Value: 3.2

    • Weight: 16.3oz

  • Sea To Summit Comfort Light Insulated

    • R-Value: 3.7

    • Weight: 23oz

  • Big Agnes Insulated AXL

    • R-Value?

    • Weight: 12.9oz

  • Klymit Static V Ultralight SL

    • R-Value: 1.9

    • Weight: 15.2oz

Winter Sleeping Pads

A Sleeping Pad is essential for insulating your body against the cold ground.  This is NOT an optional item for winter camping. 

Sleeping Pads

• Required (NOT optional) for snow outings

• Vital if sleeping on snow or frozen ground

• Ideally carry 2 sleeping pads if sleeping on snow or frozen ground

  • One closed cell foam - indestructible and multi use

    • Army closed cell foam is reasonably thick and affordable

  • One inflatable - better insulation/weight ratio

• Military Sleeping Mat: NSN 8465-01-109-3369