How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

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For the comfiest nights camping on the thickest pad Therm-a-Rest makes, treat yourself to the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D sleeping pad. It provides luxurious warmth and comfort for the frontcountry.
Shop newer versionMade in USA.
View all Therm-a-Rest Self-inflating PadsBest Use | Camping |
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Sleeping Pad Type | Self-inflating |
Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
Insulated | Yes |
Insulation Type | Open-cell Foam |
R-Value | 7.0 |
Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Pad Thickness (in.) | 4.25 inches |
Gender | Unisex |
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I'm the wrong guy to ask about this sleeping pad. It was one of, if not, the top rated sleeping pads that I researched AND it had the exact measurements to fit in a space in my truck. How to describe perfection. Fits in an exact space AND it's like sleeping on a regular mattress. Oh my. Easy to inflate, easy to deflate even while sleeping. The MondoKing has a rippled top, it's soft, and it's about 4.5in. thick. It's a no brainer.
Purchased this for my partner who has always had a hard time getting a good nights rest when tent/car camping. We have a 10 day tent trip coming up and she was worried about being able to do it. (always wakes up with a sore back or hips.) Throughout the course of the night she sleeps on her back, her side, as well as her stomach. Took it out locally for a test overnight -in the moshe said “ OMG I can’t believe it- I never thought it was possible to sleep on a pad and wake up with no pain” she had her first great nights sleep. Needless to say we are now totally looking forward to upcoming 10 day trip. We couldn’t be happier.
The price point for this sleeping pad made it a big investment so I did lots of research before purchase. I found rave reviews on an array of forums from a diverse range of users - campers and full-time nomads. Like them, I use it for sleeping in my car and car camping (too heavy for backpacking). I love the comfort - thick and firm, but not hard. My taller and heavier friend used it for sleeping on the deck with her grandchildren and loved it. If weight isn't an issue and you're looking for a well-built product from an ethical company, this is the sleeping pad for you.
Just got done with a week of camping where it was cold and rainy nearly every day. I bought these for my kids (8, 8, and 12) and after the first night I switched with my daughter because my back was killing me after sleeping on a 22" inflatable mattress. The 2nd night it got down to the high 40s and my wife was complaining of being cold on the air mattress while those of us on the mondoking were snug as a bug. I won't go as far as some and say its more comfortable than my bed at home but compared to an air bed its no contest. They did mostly inflate all the way on their own, the kids' pads needed no additional air, I put a bit more in mine and it was very comfortable. I'm not a small guy so I would go with a 30" version for myself but the 25" was fine for the kids. Very expensive but extremely well made with no issues to be found. They packed up easy and quick, the 12 year old was able to pack up his own. Very pleased with the purchase!
I've had a lot of pads, but this is the most comfortable of them all. Setup was pretty easy, it self inflates about 80% of the way, then 6 or 8 big puffs fills it up. The down side is durable, the sleeping side is a super soft foam. Long and wide... can't think of anything I don't like. Turns my two-person tent in to a one person, hahaha!
I bought this air mattress to use for car camping in my 2021 Subaru Forester. I was thrilled to realize it fit perfectly with the front passenger seat moved all the way forward. My back seats don't fold flat, so I put a dog bed under the tail end to make things more level. I slept like a baby for 5 nights in my car with overnight temps in the high 30's to low 40's (windows cracked with a wool blanket and a lightweight sleeping bag). Most nights I had to run a rechargeable fan for 30 min or so to cool off before going to sleep. I'm not going to go so far as to say it's as comfortable as my bed at home, but it was hands-down the most comfortable air mattress I've ever slept on. Two nights I slept 9 and 10 hours **without waking up.** I'm 47, so that hasn't happened in over 25 years. It was very easy to inflate with the storage bag and I'm hoping it lasts given the steep price. It's disappointing that it needs to be stored flat since I live in a small condo. Wish me luck finding a place for it. :)
Perfect for car camping...obviously not for backpacking. I'm a side sleeper and this pad is incredibly comfortable. I inflated it by mouth and it does take a while but there are faster methods. Stayed inflated for 2 nights. Well insulated. Couldn't be happier!
Have had for over 3 years. Car tent camping from 20°F duck camp to indoors. Others thought they had the best and then they saw this baby!
If you want to take your car camping to the next level of comfort, then you should consider investing in a MondoKing 3D Sleeping Pad. The width and length are very generous. I don’t ever feel the ground through the pad. I’ve slept on it in very cold weather (30s Fahrenheit) and kept warm. Inflation is made simple with their bag. However, I have purchased an air pump to fill this pad. It does require a lot of air and takes a little bit of time to hand pump. Especially when I have to do two pads. I do not recommend Therm-a-rest’s mini pump for this pad. It’s too weak. I think I could sleep on this pad full time. It’s that comfortable.
I purchased this sleeping pad to replace my REI 3.5 Camp Bed. The Camp Bed I found it to be comfortable and it lasted about 7-8 years. I know many claim that this pad is even more comfortable than their bed at home, I am a sound sleeper who can sleep at the drop of a hat, so I'm not sure how much my review would be worth to anyone who is more a of sensitive/light sleeper. I would say MondoKing it is the most comfortable pad I have slept on, but doesn't approach the comfort of my bed at home. It's probably a little more comfortable than the REI Camp Bed, but not a whole lot more comfortable. Having had it for only a couple of weeks, and only 2 nights in the tent thus far, I have nothing negative to say about it yet other than the fact that Thermarest recommends that you store it inflated. That is a bit of a hassle as my REI Camp Bed was always stored in it's stuff sack. I do not have a lot of storage space in my house and therefore, it is in the attic inflated supported by the rafters. Of course I expect it is going to be a perfect pad for the 1st year or two. For me, the real test comes about 10 years down the road.......will it still be functional?....if so, will it still be comfortable? Time will tell. I paid $100 more for this one than I paid for my REI Camp Bed. My hope is that the durability (hopefully more than a decade ) will prove the extra $100 to be money well spent.