The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads

We tested high-tech sleeping pads from Nemo, Therm-a-Rest, Sea to Summit, and Gossamer Gear to get you the best rest ever when you’re in the great outdoors.

What are these sleeping pads you speak of? When I was young, all backpacking was uphill both ways and everyone slept on the ground in sleeping bags with only a half-inch of thin closed-cell foam between us and every pebble. We also filtered our water with our teeth and ate mainly raw meat and foraged ramps. Kids these days.

Still, I suppose there is something to be said for getting a good night’s sleep at the end of a long day on the trail. These days, there’s no shortage of packable, lightweight sleeping pads to make sure no peas (or pebbles) ever disturb your slumber on your next backpacking trip. We've spent countless nights on all manner of sleeping ...