Backcountry Beacon

Camping as a kid my sleeping pad options were pretty simple. Do I want a black foam pad or a blue foam pad? These days, there are hundreds of different options to choose from, and they all seem to be designed for some very specific task, so getting the right one can actually make a difference. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision:

Inflatable vs. Foam:

This is usually the first question you need to answer when picking out a pad. It’s a pretty basic one, but something that a lot of people stress about, and for good reason. The weight difference between the two types usually isn’t much if you can find a good one in either category. The main difference is that inflatable pads tend to take up very little space in (or on) your pack, and are (usually) more comfortable. The drawback, of course, is that if you pop the pad, you’re completely SOL. If you’re going to be in a place with sharp rocks or lots of pointy objects (like crampons), then you have to be pretty careful with an inflatable pad. Foam pads, on the other hand, are completely idiot proof. Not to mention the fact that they’re usually much cheaper, and can be used for emergency splints or trimmed to fit for you tag-cutting, weight-obsessed freaks out there.

Insulated Pads:

Some cold-weather insulated pads come with down or synthetic fibers inside. While a regular sleeping pad simply separates you from the ground with a little foam, these pads allow the feathers or fibers to expand inside the air chambers and provide high-loft insulation similar to a sleeping bag. Because of the extra material, these pads are a touch heavier and slightly less compressible than non-insulated pads, but the added warmth is very worth it if conditions are nasty.

R-Value:

R-value is the rating system used to differentiate the insulating property of different sleeping pads. Technically, it’s a measurement of a pad’s ability to keep heat from escaping your body and transferring through the pad and into the ground. The higher the R-value, the warmer you’ll be when sleeping on top of a given pad. If you’re planning on winter camping or mountaineering, you should look for something with an R-value of 3.5 or higher. For the other seasons, something with a lower R-value will get the job done. Most manufacturers will list the R-value of the pad on the packaging or on their Web site.

Campground Pads:

These are handled separately from other pads because their sole purpose is to provide comfort. They’re big and heavy enough that you definitely don’t want to carry them far from your car. These pads usually feature oversized dimensions with some bordering on twin-bed size. Almost all of these pads are inflatable, and some use hand, foot, or even electric pumps to get the job done because of the massive amounts of air needed. You don’t want to spend all night in camp inflating a pad, do you?

Making Your Choice:

So, what do you really need from your sleeping pad? It must keep you warm by insulating you from the cold ground. It must be soft enough to provide a ‘comfortable’ night’s sleep. It must be light enough to be easily carried. And it must be tough enough to withstand the hazards of your trip. Warm, comfortable, light, and tough mean different things to different people. Lots of backpackers look for the lightest thing out there and sacrifice all else. Some mountaineers never buy inflatable because they can pop. Pick one or two values that you want your pad to have and focus your search there.

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• Sleeping Bag Technology for 2010

Tags: sleeping bags, sleeping pads