6 Sleeping Pads for Camping and Sleeping Under the Stars

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Why the hell would you want to sleep on the ground? This is the most common—and frankly, valid—criticism you hear of camping. Getting outdoors, out beneath old trees or big skies, doesn't mean shit if you wake up with a tweaked back and have to drop hundreds on a massage gun. So, how do you sleep outdoors? How do you bring that luxury mattress feel to the campsite?

Well, you don't. But! These days you can get pretty damn close with a sleeping pad. Whether it's a piece of foam, self-inflating pad, or full-on air mattress, the best sleeping pads for camping will help you get a full eight hours when you're outdoors. Your tents and tarps protect you from what's above. A sleeping pad protects you from the hard, cold ground below. We put some of the market's most popular models to the test and found these to be the absolute best sleeping pads money can buy.

Ether Light XT

Sea to Summit's Ether Light XT does everything you'll want from a sleeping pad. It gives great three-season insulation. It gives you four inches of comfy loft. It packs down to the size of a water bottle. Sure, the price is a bit steep, but that's what you pay for sleeping pads these days.

If you want a model that's comfy enough for car camping but light enough to take backpacking, this is it.

NeoAir Xlite NXT

Or for just a little bit extra, Therm-a-Rest makes a sleeping pad with just that little bit more insulation. It's slightly lighter than the Sea to Summit model, but it's got a higher value. It keeps you just that little bit warmer, and takes up just a little less space. If you're worried about either, this is the best option.

RidgeRest Classic

Will it feel like a hotel bed? Or your fancy-shmancy king-sized mattress? Absolutely not. But millions of campers sleep on these thin foam Therm-a-Rests, and plenty of thru-hikers do as well.

They are incredibly light and easy to attach to the outside of a pack, which is why backpackers love them. They keep a layer between you and the ground. And so long as your tent isn't over any large rocks, they're plenty comfortable. For $30, that's more than you could ever ask for.

Double Cloud Camp Bed

We actually prefer this two-person sleeping pad to a lot of the single-person ones out there. Because they need to be less reliant on air, two-person sleeping pads tend to feel a bit more mattress-y than other sleeping-pads.

This double sized pad from STOIC was our favorite. It's incredibly comfortable and packs down to a decent size—perfect for car camping. Because of the extra foam though, it's not an option for backpacking. But if you're doing some casual camping, $100 is a whole lot better than two $200 sleeping pads.

Ether Light XT Extreme Cold

If you're doing some late fall camping or don't use a sleeping bag, for whatever reason, this is a great sleeping pad for you. It's a beefed up version of the Sea to Summit model that we awarded Best Overall. It's big, plush, and warm, which makes it perfect for anyone who just needs a bit more.

It's a bit heavier, but still packs pretty small. It's small enough for backpacking, but if you're counting ounces, you might want to steer towards something lighter.

Pack-Away Camping Cot

We're breaking the rules here for one reason: If you are car camping, chances are you can afford the space. Sleeping on a cot—especially a cot like this—will change your life. As far as sleeping in the outdoors goes, this is the hotel mattress. You're off the ground, so temperature is a non issue. You get additional storage underneath the cot. You even get a bedside table and cup holder!

It's heavy, but it packs to a reasonable size. It's overkill for some, but if you want to sleep in luxury, this is the way to do it.

How We Judged Sleeping Pads for Camping

There are a few main criteria we looked at when testing sleeping pads. Every option on this list excelled in every aspect of testing. Those aspects are:

Comfort: The most important part! How well can you actually sleep on this thing. There is zero science involved here—a real Goldilocks situation. Some thinner, colder, budget pads were more comfortable than thicker, warmer, luxury ones. We tested them, so you don't have to.

Packability (Weight + Dimensions): This is relative to what you'll be using the sleeping pad for. For backpacking, single-person sleeping pads should be under three pounds and pack light enough to stuff or attach to your pack. For car camping, it should just pack away neatly, so it can be stored in a closet and tossed in a trunk when the time comes.

R-Value: This is as science-y as we'll get, but essentially R-Value is a given material's insulation rating. There's a whole formula behind it, but for context the insulation in your walls has an R-Value of around 15-20, insulation in your ceiling is upwards of R-30. Sleeping pads will always be below R-10. Anything above R-5 is warm, below R-5 is standard. If you camp late into the year, or just don't appreciate the chill of the ground, go above R-5. Most people, however, will be fine below R-5.

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