Finding The Right Sleeping Pad

Finding The Right Sleeping Pad

Sleeping pads are the most underrated part of your camping setup.

Sleeping pads are often one of the most overlooked aspects of camping gear, yet they play a crucial role in ensuring a good night's rest. Despite being frequently left behind or associated with pool toys, the right sleeping pad can significantly enhance your camping experience. It is the only barrier between you and the cold, hard ground. A wonderful sleeping pad transforms camping from something you endure to something you love. Here’s our guide to choosing the ideal sleeping pad: 

1. Intended Use 

The first step in choosing the right sleeping pad is to consider how you plan to use it: 

Backpacking, Bikepacking, Packrafting, Thru-hiking: 

For lightweight backcountry comfort, look for air chamber sleeping pads that offer durability without the added weight. 

  • Divide Insulated: If you're new to camping and don’t want to break the bank, this is the pad for you.  This model is also available in a non-insulated version for the warm weather campers out there. 

Hunting, Ski Touring or Winter Camping: 

Cold weather camping requires greater insulation. Conventional wisdom says to select a pad with an R-value of 5 or higher when sleeping on snow or frozen ground. More on R-values below, but here’s our best recommendations for the colder trips! 

  • Hinman: Excellent for winter, with self-inflating convenience. 

  • Campmeister Deluxe: Smaller pack size and plenty of insulation between you and the snow 

  • OR: Pair your existing lightweight insulated air pad with a Twistercane BioFoam Pad for additional insulation. 

Car camping: 

Any sleeping pad with an appropriate temperature rating will work for car camping! Car camping allows you to carry a bit more bulk for added comfort. 

  • Hinman: Reliable warmth and convenience. 

2. R-Value Temperature Ratings

A sleeping pad R-Value is a rating that essentially shows how warm the pad is, thus helping you stay warm at cooler temperatures. The higher the R-Value number, the warmer the pad. A good place to start is with the season in which you’ll be camping. This will help you determine the minimum R-Value you need. 

If you’re new to camping, it’s reasonable to invest in one mid-range R-Value pad for every outing. As you start camping through the seasons, you’ll appreciate the function of a cold weather pad with a higher R-Value, and the importance of a warm weather pad when you’re out camping in a hot desert valley. 

Pro Tip: Wanna nerd out on R-Values? Research ASTM F3340-18, the standard to which all our R-Values conform 

Here’s how to choose based on the season: 

  • Summer/Very Warm Weather (R-Value 2 or lower) 

    • Divide(R-Value 1.5) - Great value for warm-weather trips. 

  • Spring through Fall (R-Value 4 - 4.8) Shoulder seasons still have cold nights! 

    • Divide Insulated (R-Value 4) - Versatile for three-season camping.  

    • Rapide SL Insulated (R-Value 4.8) - Best balance between insulation, weight, and comfort. 

  • Winter (R-Value 5+) 

    • Hinman (R-Value 5) - Self-inflating, reliable warmth for winter.  

Pro Tip: Pair any of our three-season Air Chamber pads with a Twistercane BioFoam Pad for a combined R-Value of 5+.   

    3. Sleeping Pad Sizes

    • 20x66: Petite - Ideal for smaller frames or minimalists. Matches with Women's Petite Big Agnes System Bags. 

    • 20x72: Regular - Our standard size. Matches with regular sized Big Agnes System Bags. 

    • 20x78: Long - Perfect for taller campers or for sleeping with a dog at your feet. Matches with Long size sleeping bags. 

    • 25x72: Wide Regular - Great for a little extra room. Matches with regular sized Big Agnes System bags. 

    • 25x78: Wide Long - Extra room for big and tall folks, or those who want plenty of room. Matches with Park Series Sleeping Bags. 

    • 40x72: Double Wide – Perfect for couples or those who want more space. Can be used with any our doublewide sleeping bags.  

    • 50x78: Double Wide XL – For extra room. Can be used with any of our current doublewide sleeping bags.  

    • 50-40x78 Tapered: Tent Floor Pad - Covers the whole floor of most two-person Big Agnes tents, for ultimate coverage.  

    4. Types of Sleeping Pads

    Air Chamber: 

    Lightweight and comfortable, ranging from 2.5 - 4.25 inches thick. They require nothing but lung power to fill up, but you can use the included pad inflation sack, Pumphouse, or Pumphouse Ultra for easier inflation. 

    Self-Inflating: 

    Durable and easy to inflate, these pads range from 1.5 - 5 inches thick. Just unscrew the cap and let it auto inflate. These pads are ideal for car camping or winter backcountry trips. **Please Note – these pads should be manually inflated the first few times you use it, or after it’s been in storage for an extended period of time.** 

    Closed-Cell Foam:

    Highly durable and compact, these pads provide additional insulation underneath an air chamber pad or for minimalists looking for reliability. 

    5. Camp Pillows

    It may seem like a luxury, but resting your head on a comfortable pillow as opposed to a balled-up jacket, your arm, or nothing at all, can make a big difference in your sleep quality. Choose from our lightweight inflatable options for better support: 

    Still Stuck?

    Get in touch with our support team by starting a support case, or giving us a call at 877.554.8975.

    Our phone hours are:

    Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm
    Friday 10am-1pm

    All times in Mountain Time

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