**If you are in a hurry I recommend the Sleepingo Sleeping Pad as the best ultralight sleeping pad for its light weight, ergonomic design, and durability**
Spending all day trekking through tough terrain is only truly enjoyable when you can get a good night’s rest to recover.
You can’t exactly bring a mattress but sleeping on the ground isn’t going to get you that full night’s sleep either.
Ultralight sleeping pads were made for the backpacker who needs comfort in far-off and inspiring places but doesn’t want to sacrifice a ton of weight to get it.
Below are the best ultralight sleeping pads for backpackers and campers alike who need durability, light weight, and comfort in the outdoors.
Best Overall: Sleepingo Sleeping Pad
The Sleepingo Sleeping pad is a tried and true favorite among backpackers and campers alike.
Weighing in at 14 oz, this outdoor inflatable pad feels light and comes with a carrying case to keep it compact while on the trails.
You don’t have to sacrifice durability though, two inches of material thickness provide enough support to withstand harsh terrain.
The ergonomic design helps support your entire body evenly, which actually keeps in more air throughout the night so you don’t have to worry about resting on the ground when you wake up.
The 20D rating isn’t as high as some of the others on this list but it is made of tear-resistant ripstop nylon material.
Overall, the Sleepingo Sleeping Pad is your best bet to stay as lightweight as possible while trekking through the outdoors and still rely on it to perform well in tough conditions.
Best for Luxury: KLYMIT INSULATED STATIC V Sleeping Pad
The KLYMIT is a high-quality sleeping pad whose durability will have you sleeping with extra comfort in the outdoors for seasons to come.
It has a high R-value for sleeping pads at 4.4 which will keep it much more insulated than other ultralight options on this list.
It only takes about 10-15 breaths to fully inflate and is 2.5” thick which will keep you off the ground if laying directly on the KLYMIT.
It comes with its own carrying bag that packs down to about 5×8 inches but the 25 oz is heavier than most other lightweight sleeping pads.
The price is also a lot higher than competitors but given the durability and amount of use you will get it is worth an investment.
The KLYMIT doesn’t need a lot of extra bells and whistles to prove its worth so if you’re looking for an extremely reliable sleeping pad you can use for years this is it.
Best for Durability: YSXHW Self Inflating Camping Pad
The YSXHW Self Inflating Camping Pad is one of the best value options on the list for the price point.
The 80D material is the highest rating for any sleeping pad and will prevent air leaks and will dramatically increase durability for long-term.
It also has a 4.8” thickness so that you have plenty of extra air support when laying down to sleep. And the R-value of 5 helps the thickness act as extra insulation to keep you warm.
Not to mention the YSXHW is waterproof and floatable so you could take it on the water just as easily as you can use it for sleeping.
The air valve is very unique and includes a built-in foot pump system that takes about 2 min to fully inflate.
The real downside is that it weighs about 2.7lbs and is on the edge of being considered an ultralight sleeping pad.
But the camper who doesn’t mind hauling around a little extra weight if it means having an extra comfortable sleeping experience will enjoy bringing the YSXHW with them to the outdoors.
WELLAX Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad
The WELLAX Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad is very portable and helps any backpacker with their sleeping experience in the outdoors. But to have a lightweight sleeping pad like this means you won’t want to take it in any weather. The 20D material is great for soft grass or the inside of a tent but isn’t going to hold up well if you need to use it on rough surfaces. The 2.5” of thickness is pretty average but the 14.5oz of weight will have you forget it’s even attached to your backpack.
There’s also a pretty great 2-valve inflation method set up that includes one valve for inflating and another for deflating. This actually makes it one of the easiest ultralight sleeping pads to blow up and should only take about 7-9 breaths compared to the 10-15 of other options. The R-value of 2.1 really only makes this a three season option at best and you should avoid taking it into temps any lower than 40 degrees fahrenheit. If you need one of the lightest options on the market that will make it easy to set up then add the WELLAX to the top of your list.
HiHiker Camping Sleeping Pad
The HiHiker Camping Sleeping Pad has an ergonomic design that will keep you comfortable and it also comes with a blow up air pillow to give your head some extra support without the need of a large home pillow. It’s waterproof and washable with a 20D material so you can feel safe taking it to the outdoors without easily damaging it. It’s 14.5 oz heavy and has 2.2” of thickness to keep you from hitting the ground while you’re laying down. And it only takes about 10-15 breaths to have inflated.
You should have an easy time attaching the included carrying bag to your backpack using the drawstring. And it packs down to the size of a water bottle so you don’t have to worry about limited space when bringing the HiHiker. The material is pretty thin but if you happen to get any holes you can use the sleeping pad patch kit to seal them up. Backpackers looking for reliable comfort during their outdoor adventure will enjoy the sleeping pad and air pillow that comes with the HiHiker.
ECOTEK Outdoors Insulated Hybern8 4 Season Ultralight Inflatable Sleeping Pad
The ECOTEK is an ultralight sleeping pad that has an extremely durable design that will allow you to use it for years. The 70D rating is one of the highest on this list and combined with the 4.5 R-value you can truly use this in 4 season weather as it will hold up in temps as low as 10 degrees fahrenheit. It also has about 2.5” of height when inflated so you won’t have to worry about touching the ground at any point during your sleep.
It’s a little heavier at 24.5 oz and the price is more expensive than other lightweight sleeping pads but you get higher quality materials like the woven polyester that separate the ECOTEK from other sleeping pads. It takes about 10-15 breaths to get it fully inflated but once you have it set up it should hold air all night long. Campers looking to invest a little more into their ultralight sleeping pad to have extended use should have the ECOTEK at the top of their list.
Sable Camping Sleeping Pad
If you’re looking for one of the thickest sleeping pads you can find while still having it be lightweight the Sable has designed a perfect option. Standing at an impressive 5.5” in height when fully inflated it’s one of the tallest pads on this list. You’ll never have to worry about sinking to the ground, especially with the 40D nylon material that will keep it from leaking. It also has a R-value of 5 which makes it one of the most insulated options as well.
If you are trying to limit the amount of gear you bring then the Sable has taken care of your sleeping pillow for you and has a raised air pillow built-in to the design. Which is very helpful because of the 2.2lbs of shipping weight that is listed. The air valve is in an awkward place, right between your feet, so I feel that could have been better arranged but otherwise this is a great option for campers worrying about the durability and height of their sleeping pad.
AirExpect Camping Sleeping Pad
The AirExpect has one of the best built-in air pillows for a ultralight sleeping pad and a unique hand pump design. You don’t have to empty out your lungs to get this sleeping pad inflated but instead you just need to use the hand pump for about one minute and you’ll be ready to lay down for the night. And you’ll have about 2.5” of thickness to support you from the rugged ground.
The AirExpect can support up to 660lbs of weight and has buttons all along one side that help you connect another sleeping pad to have extra room for two. I’m a little disappointed in the available information for this sleeping pad like denier rating or R-value but all the reviews rave about the performance. This is a reliable option that has some unique features that will help campers looking to avoid blowing up their pad with their lungs but still get the comfort they deserve.
POWERLIX Sleeping Pad
The POWERLIX is a great option for the campers who can’t quite find what they are looking for in other options on this list. The 40D materials being used will help from punctures and air leaks and the two repair kits plus patch kit almost ensure that you won’t ever have problems with preventing your sleeping pad from going flat. But that’s also because only having 2” of thickness support when fully insulated is the lowest amount on this list and there isn’t a lot of room for error.
Its about 1.3lbs in weight and comes with a carrying bag so you’ll be able to take this anywhere your campsite ends up. There’s a two-color design on the top and bottom you can use depending on which you prefer. Overall there aren’t many features that come with the POWERLIX but its a durable ultralight sleeping pad that comes with repair kits if you ever need them.
TREKOLOGY UL Sleeping Pad
The TREKOLOGY UL Sleeping Pad is one of the better built options with high quality materials that will last you a while. You are going to pay a premium price but it’s not the highest price for a sleeping pad on this list. The respectable 19.8 oz of weight makes it doable for backpackers who need an ultralight sleeping pad and the 4” of thickness support also makes it one of the most comfortable. The R-value between 2-2.5 doesn’t make it ideal for colder weather but is still a great range for lightweight sleeping pads.
It comes with a carrying bag and the durable 40D material will keep it from puncturing easily or getting air leaks. The 2 way valve also makes this a nice choice because it will take less effort to blow up than other options but I still recommend getting an air pump if possible. Campers looking for a high quality built sleeping pad that they can still travel with will enjoy using the TREKOLOGY.
What Makes A Great Ultralight Sleeping Pad
The air pad and self-inflating pad are the only options you want to consider for ultra-lightweight pads. They’ll be light enough to carry around and pack small enough not to take up too much space.
Insulation
Insulation is usually categorized by the R-value if the brand has done the proper testing.
This allows companies to measure how effective a sleeping pad is at conducting heat and keeping you warm from the cold ground.
The higher the R-value, the better insulation the lightweight sleeping pad will have.
Three-season camping wont mind an R-value between 2-4 but if you are looking to bring your sleeping pad in winter you will want to look for an R-value over 5.
Keep in mind that when you have a higher R-value you will generally have thicker material which will cause your sleeping pad to become heavier.
Thickness
The only measurement used in determining thickness for sleeping pad material is to look at the Denier rating.
Denier is a measurement of the individual fibers of the material and will have a number followed by a capital D for denier. The higher the number, the thicker the material.
A sleeping pad that weighs around one pound or less will often have a denier rating around 20D.
This is great for portability and you can easily attach it to your backpack without even knowing it was there. But it can easily puncture or have air leaks if too much pressure is applied.
A heavier pad around two pounds or can range anywhere from 40D-70D and will be more durable and able to last for several years before needing to be replaced.
If you purchase a repair kit then your investment can last you a long time without having to shop around for a new one.
Durability
How long your ultralight sleeping pad is going to last is going to depend on a couple of external factors but ultimately it will be a choice you make about the type of pad that works best for you.
If you need a very lightweight pad you can bring with you on any backpacking journey then you are going to have thinner fabric materials and will be more susceptible to punctures and air leaks.
You can also use some of the other benchmarks to easily tell how durable your ultralight sleeping pad will be.
A higher denier rating means the fibers of your pad will be thicker and built for the abuse of the outdoors.
Inflation/Deflation
There are several different ways you will be able to inflate your ultralight sleeping pad.
Innovative designs have allowed very fast set up times compared to sleeping pads of old where you could huff and puff and get nowhere before wanting to pass out.
Some options on this list have a two-way valve where one piece is specifically designed for inflating and the other is designed for deflating.
Other options have even included a built-in foot pump where you press on two different areas near the valve and you inflate the sleeping pad within a couple of minutes.
If you need to blow on up manually you will only need anywhere from 7-15 breaths before you have a fully inflated sleeping pad to keep you comfortable at night.
Summary
My top choice for the best ultralight sleeping pad is the Sleepingo Sleeping Pad because of its lightweight, ergonomic design, and durability. The 20D rating and 14 oz weight is a great combo for the backpacker or camper who needs a durable sleeping pad that is still portable enough to take anywhere. The tear-resistant ripstop nylon and two-inch material thickness help keep it lasting in any environment.
