(Part 3) Best self-inflating camping pads according to redditors
We found 205 Reddit comments discussing the best self-inflating camping pads. We ranked the 68 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.
You generally get what you pay for.
That pack is $70 and the sleeping bag is $30. Those are very low prices compared to other options.
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For example, the most popular/recommended backpack is the Osprey Atmos 65. It's $260 retail.
A budget option would be in the $125 range. Like this REI pack on sale for $94:
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The North Face Cat's Meow is a popular/recommended mummy sleeping bag. It's $150 and compacts reasonably small for 20F rating.
A quilt would be even more packable, and I think way more comfortable too. Enlightened Equipment options are great, but here are some a bunch of brands to check out:
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The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pads can get expensive, but they do offer a variety of styles. This one is a mix of big/comfortable and packable:
A budget option would be the Klymit brand, they make a 'luxe' model that may work for you:
A lot of people here are saying that there's way too much stuff, but it seems to me that a lot of people just don't understand how tricky it is when you double up.
A very basic idea:
Just two sleeping bags take up 60% of my 46L topbox. The two air mattresses will take up 2/3rd of a 35L side saddlebox. I've done a few motocamping trips with my girlfriend, and it's tough. Just the above five items already account for 70% of our stuff, and they can't really be reduced unless you're camping in very specific conditions. On top of that you're having someone sit on the rear seat so that removes space as well.
If you're going solo or with two bikes, then the tent + air mattress + sleeping box will easily fit into a topbox (tent strapped on top) with room to spare. So what looks completely overpacked is now normal.
That said, I do agree with a lot of people that the setup seems quite precarious, and I would be afraid of doing the same without installing some sort of pannier system that can guarantee the bags won't be sucked into the wheels.
Here you go - 1 cent under your budget!
https://www.amazon.com/Exped-AirMat-Lite-Sleeping-Pad/dp/B01NBTD84K?th=1&psc=1
For an occasional ground sleeper I think it's perfect. A little bit heavier but budget friendly, and durable enough to loan out to friends without worrying about damage. Not everyone is a fan of the vertical baffles of the Exped but I like them a lot.
The only downside is the R value, you may want to pair it with a thin foam pad. And the weight, but sleeping pads are actually one of the few places I prefer to go heavier to get more durable fabric (but most of my camping is in the desert, with pokey things and sharp rocks).
The ground is turf on top of concrete, it’s bearable, but I HIGHLY recommend getting a camping style sleeping pad. You can get a foam one that folds really easily for less than $30 bucks. If your budget is higher and you want an actual camping inflatable mattress, you can find decent ones for under $60 that you can use to camp outdoors as well. I’ll link some here in a bit.
Edit: (These two that I am linking are decent, but I’m sure you can find a better deal if you search. Either a cheaper or higher quality pad for the same price) Foam pad
Air pad
This is what I take out with me:
Kelty Redwing 50
Eureka! Midori 2 (I don't own this, I borrow my father's, I own a larger Eureka! Tetragon)
Kelty Tuck sleeping bag
Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite sleeping pad
Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX boots (they have put out a new version in the past year or so labeled the 3.0, I believe)
Let me know if you have any questions about any of the gear, or general questions. Happy Camping my friend!
Try this Therm-a-Rest EvoLite Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PZKXBWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4HvyybZ0678BP
My sleep setup is the most important gear I have. Invested in a Nemo Tensor UL pad and I love this thing. It's incredibly light and because it's inflatable, it can be packed down quite small.
You'll pay extra for those benefits, though.
Use the included patch kit. if you don't have one, get one.
https://www.amazon.com/Therm-A-Rest-Permanent-Home-Repair-Kit/dp/B00G7H78BY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491611597&sr=8-1&keywords=thermarest+patch+kit
Vulcanizing cement was never going to work as the surface of the sleeping mats are not rubber but plastic.
My wife and I used an air mattress until we bought this. We find these much more comfortable than our old mattress.
Lightspeed Outdoors PVC-Free Self Inflating Camp Sleep Pad https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JSO9VH2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apu_i_ucZdBbG8BP1PH
It’s way too big to backpack with, but it’s great for car camping.
Looks like a clone of this.
It's only a shell for holding air so it'll get chilly quick, which may or may not be for you based on where you're sleeping and how chilly you can tolerate. You can stack it with a CCF knock-off though if you want comfort and price above all else with some insulation.
I'd warn against buying an air mattress with no warranty though because there's a lot of things that can go wrong that would be a pain to repair, so you may not want to buy a Chinese product with no support.
If all you want is a simple sleeping pad, those are cheap and easy to find, and they'll serve you pretty well indoors. The Therm-a-rest Ridgerest Classic should do you fine (I've been using Therm-a-Rest's stuff for ~20 years), and it's inexpensive. Or you could literally just go get a Coleman from Walmart, or something similar from pretty much any outdoor gear store, and that would be fine for indoors, and should work OK on the occasional camping trip.
If, however, you want something that packs up a lot smaller, weighs less, and is far more durable and comfortable (like if your camping trips involve hiking miles from your car before making camp, or camping in the snow), then maybe look at some of the better options from Therm-a-Rest, like the ProLite or ProLite Plus (I use the Plus, and have for ~10 years, as I'm a pretty tall guy (6'4"), and it's nice to have both my head and feet on a pad when I'm camping in the snow). I'm not trying to say that Therm-a-Rest is the best/only option here; I just have a lot of personal experience with them, and they've always been a great sleeping pad. Light, durable, and very comfortable. Well worth the extra money, in my experience.
>little funnel for your vagina.
You pee from your urethra, not your vagina. r/badwomensanatomy
If you're hiking in all your gear on your back, you don't want a huge heavy sleeping pad. I have this one. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world but like...you're sleeping basically on the ground in a tent, its not going to be luxurious. Any mats that make sound put me in mind of an air mattress? And I wouldn't want to carry that weight for an overnight hike.
Sweat is sweat. Gonna happen. Cotton undies will help prevent infections and are more breathable. Bring some spares.
Grab a tree and squat for toileting. Dig a little hole and bury your shit if you have a BM. The female urinal/stand and pee things suck, not worth the investment IMO. But if you're adamant, I have 3 unused ones from a 4 pack I bought a year ago that I could send you 🙄😂
Now my question, do you already hike? Like day trips? Or are you just jumping in head first to an overnight hiking trip? Cuz that seems very unwise
Klymit Cush IMO super underrated piece of gear. I am a side sleeper and I can fold it 3 times to get a nice height. It also doubles as my seat cushion which is amazing for cooking and campfires.
I live in Canada and got a great two person sleeping pad at SAIL. It is at our new house, ( in the process of moving) so I'll get the name for you tomorrow. Was under $100 and is amazing. I can sleep on my side and don't feel the ground at all. Perfect for car camping as it rolls up.
Edit: The brand is TrailSide. Here is a link to the pad.
Not a mattress topper, but I use a KingCamp mattress for my van.
KingCamp Light Single Outdoor Camping Air Mattress Mat Pad Bed with Built-in Foot Pump, Blue, Single https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D19MKD6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0Se6Cb0ZEQ1TV
Thank you for all the advice!
I'm did some looking at sleeping pads and found this one, which is a pricey but the reviews indicate very high quality. We would probably be doing some overnight stays, yes.
So say we bought the tent, the pad, and the sleeping bag, $300 for everything. Those three would be enough for a quality camping experience, yes?
How long could a tent be safely left up before it needs to be taken down? Does it require maintenance (cleaning?) between setups? And is there any way we could safely store it all in the woods? It's just that it would be better to avoid our parents finding camping gear in our rooms...
Edit: like, what if we put the equipment in a watertight bag and then hung the bag over a tree branch with rope?
I saw it at Costco as well. It looks like this one from Outdoorsman Lab , but I’m not sure.
I arrived at 5:40 and got lot 8 row 10. We were a group of 4 and didn't get to the lot until 10am. Word of advice for the waiting lot (lot 10), if you are waiting for a large group, tell your group to wait all the way to the right of the lot. This let's you cut in the line at the closest point.
Also, I recommend this foam pad for your tent.
2 Inch Thick Foam Self Inflating Sleeping Pad KAMUI | Connectable with Multiple Mattresses for Tent and Family Camping (Green) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXE4E1O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VFx9yb755NKVZ
I've been outdoor camping for 15+ years and this has been the best purchase I made so far. Doesn't deflate like an air mattress does and allows me to sleep on my side without hurting my hip
I just placed my order, I had been looking at the Insulated Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad for some time but decided I liked the profile of yours better. At half the thickness it should offer a bit more room.
After completing a road trip from MN to the NC in my Model 3, I realize I should have taken more naps besides the charging ones. This would make it much easier to do so.