How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

This product is not available.
Made for women adventurers wanting to travel lightly, the Sea to Summit Comfort Light self-inflating sleeping pad offers comfort with minimal weight and a packed size comparable to a paper towel roll.
Shop similar productsImported.
View the Sea to Summit Comfort Product LineView all Sea to Summit Self-inflating PadsBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Sleeping Pad Type | Self-inflating |
Sleeping Pad Shape | Semirectangular |
Insulated | Yes |
Insulation Type | Open-cell Foam |
R-Value | 3.8 |
Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Pad Thickness (in.) | 2 inches |
Gender | Women's |
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
I originally traded this in from the other self-inflating pad that was heavier, and had a higher R-value. This version worked for me perfectly. While slightly more heavy than an air mattress, this thing is surprisingly comfortable for being only 2 inches. It was the perfect middle ground for me, the other one I found too hot to sleep. I had also bought the other one in a size regular. I stand 5 foot 4, and 140 pounds, with the regular size I woke up constantly through the night because either my head or my feet had slid off from the top/bottom.
After trying and spending way too much on other pads, I finally made a good decision to go with the Sea to Summit series, Woman's Comfort Light self-inflating sleeping pad, and I can not stop talking about how much I love it even after a year. I bought this pad primarily for late fall and some winter backpacking but come summertime, even though I had lighter "summer" pads for backpacking, I always ended up choosing this one because it was so amazingly comfortable, I've never slept so well in the backcountry! I've put its durability to the test the night before duck opener when we slept without tents on an iffy swamp island. It still kept me comfy, dry, and warm, despite the damp mud and uneven woody vegetation underneath. I definitely got the best sleep that night out of my party.
I had really hard time trying to decide between this pad and Therm-a-rest Apex. Both have the same R-value and same thickness. Finally decided to go with Sea-to-Summit because of specific women cut. Now I regret it. No matter how hard I try to blow this one it never reaches 2 in, only 1.5 at most in the thickest part when it's fully inflated and hard as a stone. It's basically twice thinner than my husband's Therm-a-rest pro which is 3 in thick even when it's not fully inflated. I thought foam might need some time to get the right thickness, but it's been a week and it's still only 1.5 in thick. I was a big fan of Sea-to-Summit, I have their hammocks, sleeping bags and pillows. Unfortunately their pads don't seem to be up to quality of their other products. Next time I'll go with Therm-a-rest.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Overall really happy with this pad, just what I was looking for. I have had a terrible pad for even and just wanted some comfort so I was willing to sacrifice room in my pack, cause this is on the larger end, but was worth it. The only thing is that the material it's made of seems to stain easily with sweat or dirt, keep this in mind if you plan on reselling it later. But I was able to wash most of it off in accordance with what sea to summit says about washing sleeping pads.
I’m so glad I bought this sleeping pad! After using an ultra lightweight inflatable sleeping pad (from a different brand) that deflated and had to be patched multiple times, I decided to go for a pad which is the best of both worlds, and I have no regrets! This pad is easy to inflate, it’s super comfortable, and absolute worth the little extra weight. I’m a side sleeper and this pad keeps me comfy all night and doesn’t make noise when I roll over. 100% Recommend.
This pad is so comfortable, and not slicky and too airy like other pads. It feels like real foam... because it is! It’s pretty compact for the material, and it’s easy to roll back up and inflate. It keeps me warm and comfy. Im 5’4” and opted for the long just for some extra wiggle room. The one flaw is that it is a bit heavy and bulky so it’s not as perfect for light backpacking, but it still does the trick. I prefer it over all other pads I have!!
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this sleeping pad! After using it on multiple backpacking trips, I can confidently say that it's an increadably comfortable and quiet mat. But as I'm currently transitioning to a more lightweight backpacking set up, the size and weight of this pad just isn't cutting it anymore. I hoping to keep this pad for more car-camping style and chillier nights, but I will no longer be using this mat backpacking trips.
This sleeping mat is comfortable and relatively light. I slept well on my back and on my side on a 3-week backpacking trip. The grips helped keep the mat in place on the tent/ hut floor as well as helped keep my sleeping back in place. The sizing fit me well, and I appreciated the extra width at the hips. It has a helpful feature on the valve that is supposed to keep air in while inflating, and, with an adjustment, keep air out as you deflate it. However, I had to take this on an airplane, and then only the inflate direction worked on the valve. So I could easily inflate it, but I had to be careful when deflating it. Basically, it would try to inflate on its own no matter how I adjusted the valve feature (and the orange piece). If it weren’t for that, I would say this is the best mat I’ve ever used and is superior to my Thermarest mats.
I’m 5 foot 3 inches and this “regular” pad is tiny. It barley covered the length of my body. Additionally, if you’re a side sleeper, it’s very thin. I let the pad sit for 1 hour and it did not self inflate. The tag said it would inflate in 5-10 mins… same thing happened with a 2nd Sea to Summit pad I ordered (purchased 2 different ones to compare size and padding). Returning for a different brand.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This is the most comfortable sleeping pad I've ever used. I have 8 different sleeping pads and this is the best for sleeping on my side and staying warm. My hips do not touch the ground through this because it's very supportive in the hip area especially designed for women. It was very easy and quick to inflate. I'll be using this as my main sleeping pad every time I go camping. I love it!