Do you Need a Sleeping Pad for Camping?

Preparing for a camping trip, you decide to drop your sleeping pad to keep the weight low or for whatever reason. A sleeping bag should be enough, no? Then you see all your buddies packing their fancy pads. Makes you wonder if you are making a mistake. Your buddies are willing to haul some extra weight for a good night’s sleep. Are they all crazy or do you really need a sleeping pad?

You should bring a sleeping pad on a camping/backpacking trip. A sleeping pad has two functions; it keeps you comfortable by keeping you off the ground, it keeps you warm by keeping you off the ground. In short, it keeps you off the ground.

But you have a sleeping bag, why do you need a pad to keep you off the ground? A sleeping has insulation and cushioning so it can also do that, no? Well, no! A sleeping bag loses all of its cushioning and insulation after it gets pressed with your weight. That is why many manufacturers don’t add cushioning and insulation on the underside of the sleeping bag.

You can go ahead and try it. You can try sleeping on the hard ground in a sleeping bag. After a while, you will start to feel sore in your bones, especially your hip bone if you are a side sleeper. The ground below is a huge conductor. Once you come in contact with the ground because of lost cushioning, the ground will start taking away the heat from your body. You will wake up at 3 am in the night with cold aching bones. It makes you feel like an old man even in your twenties.

There are different types of sleeping pads. Their build and R-Value determine the comfort and insulation they provide. It should be obvious that the more the comfort and the higher the R-Value, the more the pad costs. If you are on a budget, you would have to find a balance in all of these.

Types of Sleeping Pads

There are three types of sleeping pads:

• Air Pads
• Closed-cell foam pads
• Self-inflating pads

Air Pads

Air pads, as the name suggests, have air in them. These are inflatable pads that come in a variety of styles. They are the lightest and the most comfortable among all the pad types. If you are looking to pack light, then this is the type you should go for.

Air pads use reflective surfaces to provide insulation. You can also customize the firmness of the pad by releasing or adding air to it. Some high-end air pads feature self-inflation methods so you can spare your breath for other things.

However, there are some downsides to an air pad. They are the most expensive of all types of sleeping pads. They are also the least durable and can easily be punctured like a balloon. You would have to be careful about pointy rocks and twigs with thorns on the ground.

Closed-Cell Foam Pads

Closed-cell foam (CCF) pads are foam-filled pads. They are more like mats than pads. They can be rolled up or folded in a Z-formation. CCF pads are inexpensive and the most durable. They provide consistent insulation in all types of conditions.

CCF pads are the only pads that you can carry on the outside of the backpack without worrying about punctures or damage. These are versatile pads that can be used as sitting mats or to add protection and insulation to other types of pads. But they are stiff and bulky making them harder to pack. They are also the least comfortable of all the pad types.

Self-Inflating Pads

Self-inflating pads are a combination of air pads and CCF. They are foam-filled pads that inflate with air. There is a valve that you open and let the air in and out. You can customize the stiffness of the pad just like in air pads.

Self-inflating pads offer the best of both worlds. They provide the comfort of an air pad and insulation of a CCF pad. They are more durable than air pads and they can easily be damaged but are easier to repair. Self-inflating pads are the heaviest type. They fall in the middle of air and CCF pads when it comes to price.

What is the R-Value?

The R-Value is the measure of insulation or warmth that a sleeping pad provides. The higher the R-Value the warmer the pad will be. Sleeping pad R-Value ranges from 1 to 5.5, 1 being least insulated and 5.5 being the most insulated.

Make sure to check the weather forecast of your camping site and choose the pad with the right R-Value. It is recommended that you choose a sleeping pad rated for a lower temperature than the lowest temperature at the camping site. In case the temperature drops more than the forecast predicted, you will still stay warm.

Alternatives to a Sleeping Pad

The function of a sleeping pad is to insulate you and provide comfort to you. In case you don’t have a sleeping pad, you should find something to insulate yourself. Nothing does a better job of a sleeping pad than a real sleeping pad. But in case you don’t have a sleeping pad, you can use the following alternatives:

• Air mattress
• Cot
• Hammocks
• Gym pads
• Thick sleeping bags
• Thick yoga mats
• Thick piles of leaves
• Thick yoga mat

Final Thoughts

A sleeping bag is not enough on its own but your sleeping bag and pad work together to provide you with insulation and comfort. They take up space and increase the weight of your backpack but it’s worth it.

Make sure you have the right sleeping bag for you that provides you with adequate comfort and the right amount of insulation. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential. If you don’t get proper rest you may end up injuring yourself because of poor judgment during demanding tasks on the hike.