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The Lightest & Most Comfortable Sleeping Pads
​for Camping & Backpacking
​(plus they're made in the USA!)

By Matt Mullins   April 12, 2018
There's no doubt that Therm-a-Rest is one of the best sleeping pad manufacturers in the world; I've thoroughly tested and reviewed them and strongly believe they are the best. To this day Therm-a-Rest mattresses are proudly made in Seattle, Washington, USA. I find one's sleeping system (sleeping pad and sleeping bag) is the most critical area to not skimp on quality if you value a good night's rest and an enjoyable backcountry trip.

Thermarest Neoair Xlite sleeping pad, one of the best beds for camping and backpacking

​Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite

Do you want the lightest 3-season pad? Do you also value comfort and durability? The NeoAir Xlite is your pad (and my pad). It weighs 12 oz (reg size), packs to the size of a 1L nalgene bottle, and has thick 2.5" cushioning with a warm R-value of 3.2. I've personally used an Xlite and XTherm pad for the past three years and highly recommend them for a super comfy ultralight pad. One thing to note is the Xlite and XTherm pads produce a crinkly sound when you move around, it doesn't bother me but it might bother some sensitive sleepers.
​Last observed price range: ~ $130-200

​
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Thermarest Neoair XTherm sleeping pad, one of the best beds for camping and backpacking

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm

​Looking for the lightest and comfiest 4-season pad, the most advanced blow up mattress available? You can lay this pad down in any condition including right in the snow. I love my  XTherm pad and have comfortably used it down to -20F with a closed cell foam pad and a Feathered Friends -25F Ptarmigan Sleeping Bag while winter camping in Canada's Kootenay National Park. The XTherm pad has a high R-value of 5.7, weighs only 15 oz (reg size), while providing thick padding for rocky ground. My personal XTherm is pictured at the top of the page.
​​Last observed price range: ~ $200-240

​
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​Three purple Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Sleeping Pads, some of the best air mattresses made in the USA for camping

​Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Sleeping Pad

If you're car camping and simply want the comfiest pad possible then the LuxuryMap is your best choice. This self inflating pad has 3 inches of plush foam supported loft, a super warm R-value of 6.8, and soft skin friendly fabric to deliver a deep restful sleep like your home mattress. Check out any of the reviews and you'll find they rave about the comfort of this pad.
​​Last observed price range: ~ $110-170

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ThermaRest Trail Lite, a classic affordable inflatable sleeping pad made in the USA

Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite

The Trail Lite is the classic 3-season self inflating sleeping pad that's comfortable, durable, and affordable. With 1.5 inches of loft and an R-value of 3.4 I find that I sleep really well on Trail Lite pads. At 1 lb 10 oz (reg size) its not too heavy for backpacking and packs a lot of comfort over a thin foam pad. If you're unsure about spending twice as much on a pad and you don't need the weight savings of the NeoAir pads then I highly recommend the Trail Lite.
​Last observed price range: ~ $80-90

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Therm-a-Rest EvoLite Plus Camping Mat, one of the best air mattresses for side-sleepers

Therm-a-Rest EvoLite Plus

​This thick backpacking pad is great for side sleepers. The EvoLite Plus has the best weight to thickness ratio of any self inflating pad with 2.5 inches of loft weighing in at 1 lb 4 oz. It has an R-value of 3.2 and like all self inflating pads needs only a few breaths to blow up. 
Last observed price range: ~ $135-180

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Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Closed Cell Foam Camping Mattress Pad
ThermaRest Z Lite SOlite Closed Cell Foam Camping Mattress Pad

​Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol and SOLite Pad Sleeping Pads

These closed-cell foam pads provide the insulation necessary to keep you warm from cold ground. Many minimalist backpackers sleep well using only a Z Lite or SOLite pad, but they're not for the light sleepers. I used to sleep well using thin foam pads, the trick is finding smooth or duffy sleeping spots, I now use inflatable pads like my XLite which can comfortably bed over pointy rocks. The main difference between the Z-Lite and SOLite are the Z-Lite has an egg crate like design that folds up as a rectangle while the SOLite rolls up like a burrito. Some advantages of these foam camping mats is that you can use them as a seat, a windscreen for your stove, a sarong, padding for a backpack, a yoga mat, they're cheap, and you won't worry about getting holes (though I've found ThermaRest air mattresses to be plenty durable.)

Z Lite
Last observed price range: ~ $35-45

​
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SOLite
​Last observed price range: ~ $20-40

​
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The photos below illustrate my American-made Thermarest NeoAir Xlite and XTherm sleeping pads in action through the Winter, Summer, and Fall. Of course the XTherm is the one in the snow including at -20F in Kootenay National Park, Canada.

PLEASE! I NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP THIS WEBSITE RUNNING, AND IT'S EASY AND FREE FOR YOU TO HELP ME OUT! 
Sharing the best locally made outdoor gear is a passion project close to my heart and if I've helped you find some cool US made gear then please consider helping my site going and growing. Running this site costs me a lot of cash to use secure and speedy web servers, as well as my personal time and e ffort. Thus, ​I need your help to cover my costs and continue providing quality free information on the latest American-made gear.
It's easy to help out.
​If you ever want to purchase ANYTHING from Amazon, REI.com, or Backcountry.com... even for dog food, then you can help me without costing you a single penny. If you use my links to make a purchase then I will receive a tiny credit that will help my site pay its dues and continue running. So all I ask is that if you find the free info here useful and you need to make a purchase at Amazon, REI, etc. then please use the links on this site. This costs you nothing extra but will help provide myself and this website a dollar or two to help keep on trucking.

You can bookmark the following sites and each time you purchase something it will help this American Gear Guide in a small but significant way. Bookmarkable links: Amazon​, REI.com, and Backcountry.com.
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Another way you can help is by donating any amount you choose, even $5. If you would like to donate to this site, you can do so by following the Donor Box link HERE (includes options for PayPal and Google Pay) and enter the donation amount of your choice. I provide this website's information for free without membership fees so every donation is incredibly helpful. Thank you!     

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  • Home
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