Best & Tested: Camping Pad

Best & Tested:

camping mattress

BEST & TESTED:

CAMPING MATS

Title

Full review of our TOP 3 Best Sleeping Pads!

Full review of our TOP 3 Camping mats!

Welcome back to our "Best & Tested" series! Today, we're reviewing backpacking sleeping pads. We've got our expert panel lined up with Emily Carson, Ethan Tremblay, and Madeleine Niemi ready to give you the lowdown.

Ever woken up on a camping mattress that's gone completely flat? You know, where you can feel every pebble and the cold earth underneath? Well, we believe you deserve a solid night's sleep, even out in the wild. And guess what? The right sleeping pad can make that happen!

So, what's the best camping pad to ensure you wake up refreshed? How much should you expect to pay for a decent inflatable sleeping pad? What's the weight like? And are there any budget-friendly options out there that don't skimp on quality? Let's find out!

Our Mission

Our mission was clear: to find the best sleeping pad that delivers a good night's sleep without breaking the bank. We test and compare factors like comfort, weight, inflation, insulation, packing volume, and price.

Our Promise

The right gear shouldn't cost a fortune! We're here to guide you through the choices so you can get top-notch quality at a low price!

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OUR TOP 3

TOP-PICK

HIKULT Sleeping Mat

Inflatable R4

$99

9.7

Mountain Equipment

Aerostat 7.0 Mat

$175

8.1

EXPED Versa 1R M

Sleeping Mat

$96

7.6

TOP-PICK

HIKULT Sleeping Mat Inflatable R4

$99

9.7

Mountain Equip.

Aerostat 7.0 Mat

$175

8.1

EXPED Versa 1R M

Sleeping Mat

$96

7.6

Thickness

4 "

2.3 "

2 "

Insulation Capacity

4R

1.4R

Weight

2 lb

1.5 lb

1.2 lb

Packing Dimensions

10 x 4.3 "

9.5 x 4.3 "

8.6 x 4.3 "

Inflation

Built in pump

Windsock

Pumpbag

Vent

Fortified 2-way

2-way

Best Price

HIKULT

REI

Backcountry

HIKULT

Inflatable Sleeping Pad R4

HIKULT

Inflatable Sleeping Pad R4

Measurements

Height: 75 inches / 195 cm
Width: 27 inches / 70 cm
Weight: 2 pounds / 950 grams
Mattress Thickness: 4 inches / 10 cm
Pillow Thickness: 6 inches / 16 cm
Packed Size: 10 x 4 inches / 25 x 11 cm

Features

Inflation: Built-in foot pump
Waterproof: Yes, TPU inner layer
Thickness: 4 inch / 10 cm Ultra-thick
Shape: Horizontal panels & built-in pillow
R-Value: 4 - suitable for all seasons
Extension: Double sleeping pad
Material: 40D Fabric, Military grade

Connectable: Yes, can turn into a double sleeping pad.

TO HIKULT

Ethan Tremblay

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hikult’s sleeping pad really wowed me. It's incredibly comfortable to sleep on and far surpasses the others we tested. It feels sturdy and durable, the air stays in, and it's easy to inflate with the foot pump. I highly recommend it!

Madeleine Niemi

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My top pick is the Hikult mattress! You get a lot for your money, and the comfort is unmatched. It packs up easily and fits into your gear without a hitch!

Emily Carson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Hikult’s inflatable camping mat! It offers great value and the quality feels solid. I love that you can connect it to make a double camping mat. It's so easy to pump up! You'll sleep wonderfully and it's super easy to pack!

Ethan Tremblay

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hikult’s inflatable camping mattress really wowed me. It's incredibly comfortable and far surpasses the others we tested. It feels sturdy and durable, the air stays in, and it's easy to inflate with the foot pump. I highly recommend it!

Madeleine Niemi

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My top pick is the Hikult mattress! You get a lot for your money, and the comfort is unmatched. It packs up easily and fits into your gear without a hitch! Its the best camping mattress for couples since they are connectable

Emily Carson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Hikult’s inflatable camping mat! It offers great value and the quality feels solid. I love that you can connect it to make a double camping mattress. It's so easy to pump up! You'll sleep wonderfully and it's super easy to pack!

TEST: Best Sleeping Pad

Our mission was clear: find the ultimate sleeping mat for camping that can deliver a good night's sleep without breaking the bank.

After careful testing and comparison of factors like comfort, inflation, packing, insulation, and price, which we will discuss more below, it was clear that HIKULTs inflatable camping mattres was the best.

Why we love it

Hikult Inflatable sleeping mat R4 was the clear winner with a 4-inch thickness. This means you can comfortably sleep on your side without sinking into the cold hard ground. Even our heaviest tester, who weighs 210 pounds, agrees.

Despite features like a high R-value and a TPU coating, that you'd typically find in pricier models, they've managed to keep the price down. The thing is, Hikult sells non-branded high-quality gear, which means you're not paying extra for a fancy brand name. You pay for the quality – that’s is

We love the construction. The reinforced valves prevents air from leaking, and the sturdy seams ensures that the air is distributed evenly. Plus, it's super easy to pump up!

Hikult’s sleeping pad has a built-in pump that you pump with your feet! Just step on the “pump” a few times and it’s fully inflated within minutes. It truly offers unmatched comfort and quality for the price, making it the top choice in our tests.

Does it pack well?

All camping mats were quite easy to pack! It was a bit quicker to deflate Hikult’s and Mountain Equipment’s inflatable camping mats. The last bit of air whooshes out pretty easily with a quick fold maneuver.

Weight-wise, Hikult’s air mattress with a built-in pump is the heaviest, but it’s barely noticeable, and the folded size is practically the same, so it doesn’t affect your packing. However, those extra grams are worth their weight in gold when it’s time to set-up. The built-in pump is a dream!

What's the ultimate thickness?

If there’s a golden rule for how thick a sleeping pad should be to guarantee a good night’s sleep, HIKULT has cracked it.

4 inches is just right for making a lightweight camping mattress without sacrificing comfort. Our heaviest tester weighs 210 pounds and can sleep on their side without any issues. EXPED's Versa Sleeping Pad is too thin, but the fabric is solid. Mountain Equipment's comes in at 2.3 inches, which is decent.

Tested: Sleep Quality

Horizontal air panels are definitely a favorite among us because they prevent you from "sinking into" the surface. The difference is huge for those of us who are a bit heavier!

A thicker sleeping pad naturally results in better sleep, but HIKULT and Mountain Equipment are pretty comparable and are both really good camping mats. They don’t leak, keep their shape all night and protect against cold grounds. However, when it comes to comfort, the best camping air mattress and the clearly the winner is still Hikult.

Price & Quality

All the inflatable sleeping pads in our top 3 has earned a place in the category "best camping sleeping pads". We've tested a bunch and these 3 stand out.

However, there's only one camping mattress that we think is truly great value for money, and that's Hikult's Inflatable Sleeping Pad R4. The best camping mattresses are usually really expensive. The fact that you can connect them to make a double sleeping pad is a great feature.

Inflation

Nowadays, there are handy pumps, but in our opinion, they take up too much space in your back-pack. Mountain Equipment's "windsock" is an okay solution that's virtually weightless, but it's more time-consuming and fiddly than you might expect.

We all agreed that HIKULT’s "foot pump" is the best option. It's built into the mattress and doesn’t add much weight. It quickly inflates the camping pad and requires no special technique—just a bit of stomping and you're done.

Price & Quality

All the inflatable sleeping pads in our top 3 has earned a place in the category "best backpacking sleeping pads". We've tested a bunch and these 3 stand out.

However, there's only one camping mattress that we think is truly great value for money, and that's Hikult's Inflatable Sleeping Pad R4. The best sleeping pads are usually really expensive. The fact that you can connect them to make a double camping mat is a great feature.

Inflation

Nowadays, there are handy pumps, but in our opinion, they take up too much space in your back-pack. Mountain Equipment's "windsock" is an okay solution that's virtually weightless, but it's more time-consuming and fiddly than you might expect.

We all agreed that HIKULT’s "foot pump" is the best option. It's built into the mattress and doesn’t add much weight. It quickly inflates the camping pad and requires no special technique—just a bit of stomping and you're done.

Our winner

HIKULT Inflatable Sleeping Pad R4

Our winner

HIKULT Inflatable Sleeping Pad R4

LOW WEIGHT

This sleeping pad, complete with a built-in pump, weighs under 2 lb and packs down to just 10 x 4.3"

COMFORT

It’s perfect for year-round use, blocks moisture, it's 4 inch thick and ensures a great night’s sleep

INFLATION

The genius of the built-in foot pump can’t be overstated—it’s super light and easy to use

VALUE

Price vs quality is amazing. Hikult has really managed to keep the price down for this camping mat

To HIKULT

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