Sleeping Pads for Backpacking (Inflatable vs. Foam)

If you're into backpacking or backcountry hunting, a good sleep system is absolutely crucial. And while a whole lot of attention gets paid to sleeping bags, the sleeping pad is actually just as crucial. But, should you opt for the reliability and light weight of a foam sleeping pad, or should you accept a little more weight (and the risk of springing a leak) on an inflatable sleeping pad? That's what we'll dig into in this video!
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And you can find the Nemo sleeping pad in this video here -

[@fiskmasadventures]

I'm not a big guy, so comfort is easier for me than for heavier people, but I actually prefer the foam mats since they are so much quicker to deploy and pack up. Of course they aren't as comfortable, but I weigh that against having to pack it all up the day after and such. But, if you're into foam mats, I'd recommend to look at the Robens ones - the ZigZag Slumber (normal and the Wide) have a 2.2 R-rating, and the ZigZag Slumber Pro has a 2.4 R-rating. A little foil mat underneath and you're good down to at least 0 degrees.

[@scottsever7656]

Not only was this video informative. It was entertaining. Great video.

[@Dominyk1000]

Decathlon makes a folding foam mat with an R Value of 2.2 (Officially tested).

[@benhikescamps]

Great, honest video. Many thanks from the UK 🇬🇧

[@jakeoutsideofficial]

This was the most entertaining sleeping pad video I’ve ever watched hahaha, great video man!

[@LatetotheGameOutdoors]

Haha...thanks man! I didn't mean to make it almost entirely Jim Carrey, but that's just how it worked out :)

[@johnrobertd748]

I had an inflatable go flat on my living room floor. Returned it and never used another inflatable

[@CarlosWilkie]

I brought the alpine tensor pad and i love it. Its comfortable and warm! Great for our New Zealand climates!

[@Louis-uy6gh]

You've never felt the cold a day in your life belove me saying the mats warm in new Zealand is like saying a flat sheet is warm in Australia of course it is😂😂😂

[@CarlosWilkie]

@@Louis-uy6gh Antarctica is colder than New Zealand and Australia! Haha 🤣🤣

[@richardschafer7858]

I had a hip replacement due to a parachute accident in the Army. I put my air mattress on top of my foam pad when backpacking and I'm golden. either alone does not cut it for me anymore.

[@johnrobertd748]

Does it help to keep it from getting a puncture?

[@michaelbeary]

that's what I was thinking, then you always have the insurace of the foam pad as well

[@cheez-itconnoisseur2222]

Great review

[@Squirrel200]

A old person with 50+ experience camping / Long-term expeditions. I have spent $$$$ on air pads and never again except for extreme cold In conjunction with a closed cell pad. Yes I am a cave woman and not a Cupcake . I don't pamper myself at home so camping is great!😁👵 I believe in gorilla proof gear when your life depends on it and you can't just walk back to the car. Reason on trip the walk back to the car was 6 months so it's not over night for fun it a way of life for me . good video ! Do what's appropriate for the conditions / entire purpose of your journey. There is no right or wrong just what works for your individual circumstances ! Just get out of nature and have fun and be safe enjoy! Don't forget 🐕🐈🐓🐤🐻🐑🐇🐿🐐🐀🐪🐁🦂🐢🐍 all have killed my air pads and a patch kit is useless when one cat attack put fifty holes in my pad and yes I counted them so just be aware. Your mileage may vary.

[@HaakonTheViking]

The foldable foam pads seems to have lower r-value than the higher end rolled ones. My rolled pad has a value of 3,5. Also I think military foam pads, especially from place like scandinavia, have pretty good insulation.

[@krzysztofjackiewicz9620]

3,5 metric or imperial? What exact model do you have? Could you recomend a good model of winter military foam pad?

[@HaakonTheViking]

@@krzysztofjackiewicz9620 3,5 is the R-value, in other words the insulation property, not the thickness. The exact model is "Bergans Extreme". It's about 1,4cm thick and weighs 659g. The Mammut Bamse Extreme is a comparable product. Both are civilian, but some Norwegian soldiers prefer them to the issued military one, because they are lighter and better insulated. If you want a Military pad, then the Norwegian ones and the Finnish ones should do the job just fine. Just keep in mind that high-end inflatable ones are better insulated, but they are less durable. The foam ones are near indestructible.

[@bippitybopitybooty4208]

Thinking about putting the foam pad in a sleeve of some kind to increase the warmth

[@Disinherited72]

Get a section of mylar to put on top of your sleeping pad. Works wonderful. Litewieght and cheap.

[@dmythica]

Yeah I'm doing the same. Got the ridgerest and a reflective picnic blanket on order.

[@inlumina_punctro]

How can you compare the comfort of self-inflating mattress with that of a sleeping pad? I've already tried a sleeping pad, it wobbles and gives the feeling of tipping, but I'm looking again to see the difference with other models.

[@aywithbeard]

nice

[@davidjd123]

I tried a air mattress, but I just deflated it and sleeping on the hard ground where I found I slept better lol, I prefer harder surface, i think Im going to get the matt

[@1xayekim]

Ive had terrible luck with inflatables and I dislike how loud they are when moving. I trained myself to be a back sleeper just because I enjoyed being in the woods so much. I switched to the Exped Plus mat .... Its 77 inches long 1.5 inches thick and its a bit rough to get use to... It takes some breaking in and what I did I just laid it out and put a few boards on it and after that it was fine. I also carry a thermarest seat pad and I just roll the Plus Mat about a foot behind me and then put the sitting pad on my hips and I am golden. I basically end up with nearly 3 inches of protection on the head, neck, and upper back and every thing else gets 1.5. Ill never go back to inflatables as long as Exped makes their plus mat.

[@eunlawon5290]

That took you long. Anyways, that was helpful. Thnk u

[@KM-rh4zl]

Am I still an animal if I usually only use a bath towel as a sleeping pad?

[@FlyManChimera]

Yes, atleast use a yoga mat lmao

[@kevinmurphy1538]

Soft

[@bubbalovesoatmealadventure108]

Inflatable pads always fail...it might be the first time you use it...it may take a couple years. Overpriced garbage is what they are. NOT the way to go.

[@FlyManChimera]

I agree, if comfort is really an issue you can get really thick foam pads and/or double layer.

[@toejamr1]

That’s strange. I’ve had nothing but great luck with inflatables. Just buy quality. Sounds like maybe you went cheap?

[@arterberryml]

@@toejamr1 What's your current inflatable mat!?? Is the best quality really make it $300? Nothing else for less?

[@toejamr1]

@@arterberryml I’ve had a sea to summit for years. Did the whole AT with it with zero issues. In fact. I used up the patches on other things in my pack. Then I had a big Agnes Qcore that I’ve used a bunch and let friends use with no issues and now I have my Nemo Tensor that I’ve used maybe 5-8 times with no issue. Been camping and hiking trails for the last 8 years. Only people that have issue that I’ve noticed are the ones that don’t care for their stuff and the super ultralight pads like the thermorest Uberlite. There are some very random leaks I’ve seen people get but that’s what the patches are for. I will say that I’m VERY careful with my stuff. I try to keep everything as clean an pristine as I can.

[@chucktrivette5723]

I lost all respect watching this video when you had to mix in you squatting only 295 🤔

[@joshslaster]

God this was annoying.

[@DimatiDJKL]

U must to shave