One of the most important parts of your camping equipment after a tents and sleeping bags is sleeping mats. A sleeping mat can be the difference between a great night’s rest and a night of misery. If the ground your tent is pitched on is rocky or uneven or if you are camping in the winter then a sleeping mat is a must. You can’t rely on sleeping bags to provide you with much cushioning or insulation as your weight makes it next to impossible for the bag to offer you adequate comfort or protection.
When shopping for a mat you will need to consider price and the level of comfort and protection the mat can provide. The mat you get should also be lightweight and compact since it will have to be carried to the campsite. Especially on a long camping trip, the mattress should be very lightweight. Now, no sleeping mattress will be low cost, light weight, comfortable and provide superior protection. Therefore, you would have to compromise on something or another. What you compromise on depends on your requirements and the nature of your trip.
There are mainly two types of camping mats: inflatable sleeping mats and foam sleeping mats. While the inflatable mats are more expensive than foam mats, they are also more comfortable. But, if it is a simple inflatable sleeping mat (which is the lightest type of mat to carry) without any foaming inside, then there are high chances of it getting damaged due to sharp surfaces. The solution to this shortcoming is self-inflating sleeping mat. These mats have foam cushioning with nylon covering and are meant to be inflated a bit through an air valve. But these types of mats are among the costliest variety in sleeping mattresses. Their price can go as high as $150.
In contrast, a foam sleeping mat would not cost you more than $40. Foam mattresses are of two types: open cell foam mats and closed cell foam mats. While if you are looking for better cushioning, you should go for open cell mats, if you require more protection from cold, you should go for closed cell mats. But there is a problem with open cell pads, if they happen to absorb water, they might become useless.
So, as is clear, there really isn’t any such thing as the best sleeping matt. However you can get a mat that best suits your needs. Some popular and preferred brands of sleeping mats are: Nemo, Big Agnes, Therm-a-Rest and Pacific. I highly recommend visiting somewhere like Amazon.com to read reviews from people that have actually used the type of sleeping mat that you are considering. Below, I’ve put together a widget with my recommendations. Check them out and see if they fit what you are looking for.
