I got the Exped 7R mummy about a month ago when it was super cheap ($110). I'll be taking it out to the MD Appalachian trail in January, temps are currently projected to be a low of 13F. I'm hoping I like it because it's significantly lighter than my 5R sleeping pad.
I've used sleeping pads from Exped, Sea to Summit, Thermarest, Klymit, and a bunch of random off brands like outdoorsman lab and ampex. In my experience all brands will hold air all night and are roughly equally reliable out of the box, the difference is the higher end brands have better support if you get a defective product.
That being said, Exped makes my personal favorite inflatable sleeping pads and if you mostly camp in warm weather you can currently get their 1R from their website for $50
https://www.expedusa.com/products/ultra-1r-mummy
If you go out in colder weather, add a 1/8" EVA foam pad like this one:
https://www.gossamergear.com/products/thinlight-foam-pad
Combine those and you get a sleeping pad that can get you down to just about freezing (in my experience) for a total weight of ~1lb and a cost of ~$80
It really depends on how cold you sleep. I'm in my 50s, don't have much fat on me and sleep quite cold, -10°C is around my cutoff for a comfortable night's rest. I have a 1-person, lightweight tent with a 4-season inner. Below 0°C I sleep with varying combinations of the following:
- CCF pad
- Exped Downmat HL Winter (R-value 7.1)
- -15°C rated sleeping bag
- bag liner (maybe another 5°C warmth)
- down-fill booties and hood
- wool sweater
- down puffy jacket
- merino base layers + wool socks
- water bottle 3/4 filled with hot water and then stuffed into a spare wool sock
A high carb snack and some jumping jacks before you retire for the night will help you get into bed warm.
Rab and Exped are comparable in terms of gear quality. Rab is one of my favorite brands. I will buy anything from them with confidence. I've used an Exped 7 downmat in winter and I personally wouldn't go lower than that r value for winter, but you might run hot - YMMV.
Dump the nemo Astro out of the running:
Its R value is listed at only 2.6 and it's 1lb 11 oz. The others are warmer and lighter. Plus it's a 20" wide pad. I don't know why, after all these years, we don't have a 23" option - more comfy than a 20", which tbh sucks but lighter than a 25". But I digress. We don't. It's either 20" or. 25". 25" is a way nicer nights sleep and Some of the pricier pads you've chosen here come in at this size for a very similar weight and significantly more warmth. And since all of these options are in your price range, according to you, then I'd say dump the nemo Astro. By comparison, the other Nemo pad, the extreme conditions, is an 8.5 r value and the Long and Wide size Is only 1 lb 10 oz. That's WAY warmer and more comfortable. It may suffer from a little less durability.
Rab is a REALLY solid brand. I would categorically buy anything they made, and I have a lot of Rab gear. So if you are ok with a 20" pad, then this might really hit a sweet spot for you if price is an issue. I would forever and always buy a 5.5 R rating pad over a 2.6.
The Thermarest has a very, very good 7+ R rating while also being very light for a long wide mat at 1lb 8 oz. Kinda seems like the winner to me. Again, the question is durability and how you will use it. If you expect to be at altitude or in cold weather or shoulder season, you'll want at least a 5 R value.
Fyi Exped pads are really super too. I rock an older down filled Exped mat that's been good to me for a very long time now. R rating of 7+ - Have taken that into 20 degree temps on Mt Rainier for winter camping etc.
I actively dislike my summer pad (Exped UL) and sleep terribly even when exhausted so now I carry my winter mat (Exped DownMat UL) year round. It’s insulated and just enough cushier that I can sleep decently and wake up ready to roll.
Hammock doesn’t work well above timberline, for those folks suggesting that option!
Not necessarily. Baffle direction makes a difference.
Also, I’m not sure why, but Exped blew me out of the water. I take a 7R everywhere. Never slept through the night quite like this….
And quiet. No potato chip noise, or rubber on tent. Although, you can hear the ‘swish’ of fabric on fabric, when sheets are not used.
It’s quite comfortable, and protects me from ground dips/bumps and cold earth, far better than my big Agnes. I generally use about 60% of the possible inflation. That’s perfect, to me.
Get something with a super high R rating - higher than you think you need. Look for a baffling system that is either dimpled or vertical. For whatever reason, horizontal baffles don’t have a lot of “give” to them so they are less comfortable for side sleepers in general.
Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xtherm is probably the warmest pad out there (not the highest R rating per se but the most effective insulation system means it is still warmer than other pads with higher R values). It may not the most comfortable for a side sleeper because of the horizontal baffles, however. But this is the pad you want if you want to prioritize warmth.
If you want to prioritize comfort, Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro will probably not sleep as warm but will be more comfortable for a side sleeper because of the dimpled baffling system. Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions is also very warm and only slightly less comfy than the Ether Light.
Exped Ultra 7R is a bit heavier and bulkier but is very comfy for a side sleeper. It uses down rather than reflective film for insulation. So it won’t be quite as crinkly as a lot of warm pads, but I’m not sure if the down insulation is more or less effective in this application.
Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe is quite bulky and heavy for a backpacking pad but is super, super comfortable and has a very respectable R value of 7.
The other big, bulky “luxury” comfort backpacking pads - Exped Megamat Ultra and Therm-a-Rest Neoloft - are great options for comfort but with lower R values so they may be less warm than you might want.
Other things to consider - even a well-insulated sleeping pad will only stay as warm as your body is able to heat it. The bigger the pad, the more of your body’s heat it will draw away from you. So don’t buy a massively oversized sleeping pad thinking it will automatically be more comfortable. For insulating purposes, something that is only as big as you need it to be will be more efficient for your body to keep warm.
Make sure you take advantage of all the usual strategies for staying warm in the backcountry: Use your Nalgene as a hot water bottle and keep it in your sleeping bag/quilt with at night. Do some jumping jacks or other activity to get your heartrate and body temperature up before going to bed. Make sure you are properly hydrated and getting enough food to keep warm. Etc.
Top Sleeping Pads on Reddit
1
Exped
MegaMat Series
92% positive of 454 users
Car camping comfort champ, but some side sleepers find it thin.
flobbley
