Best Sleeping Mat for Backpacking

Thermarest NeoAir XLite NXT. Expensive but brilliant.

As above. But maybe the XTherm model, having a warmer mat is never a bad thing. And combined with one of the Thermarest’s quilts you won’t go too far wrong.

Yep, can also recommend neoair xlite NXT.

I was bivvying on mine in -3c last weekend and it was fine

I'm surprised you've had endless issues with self-inflators deflating tbh. Most decent brands are pretty good these days, the only issues I've had were with early era Alpkit mats - they've since changed factory - and a Nemo one where the actual fabric became porous over time.

I'd consider whether you're going to be using the mat all year round and start there. For summer only stuff where weight is your priority, you can go for an inflating mat without any insulation, the Sea To Summit one with the dimpled construction - Alpkit does a near identical one - is very light and has been good for me.

Beyond that you've getting into insulated world and the more insulation, the more it'll weigh. As well as the Therm-a-Rests already mentioned, I'd have a look at Exped's range of Synmats. I think they've generally quieter and more comfortable than the Therm-a-Rest mats. Also the warmer Seat-to-Summit ones. The latter have a neat system where you can use a sort of low-profile Velcro-type adhesive pad to hold one of their lightweight, inflatable pillows in place. Works great. You could theoretically use it with any mat, but getting hold of the stick-on pads is - probably intentionally - tricky, though they've supplied with all Sea-to-Summit mats.

'Ideal sleep system' depends on conditions. I'd carry something quite different for a high altitude trek with possible camping on snow to a settled, UK potter, but Therm-a-Rest, Exped and Sea to Summit have all worked for me, Alpkit if you're on a tighter budget. And a Seat to Summit pillow with one of their mats. It's not dissimilar to choosing a sleeping bag, it's always better to be slightly too warm than slightly too cold, but equally no point in carrying additional weight unnecessarily.

I too am puzzled as to why you find they go down. I've had one puncture in about 20 years of use, and never had a failed valve.

Exped, used to have thermarest but last 2 delaminated, their warranty is great and got replaced but find the new models very noisy.

Never had issues with the expeds deflating.

I've got a Vango Aotrom Thermo and picked up a non-Thermo recently, which obviously packs down smaller and lighter. Really like the waffle design of both. Took the lighter one last weekend and it felt noticeably colder, almost to the extent I thought I'd made a mistake but it was actually OK.

Another recommendation for Thermarest NeoAir XLite. Not sure exactly which one I have, the yellow one.

Used it for three weeks backpacking last summer and found it excellent.

Top tip if you are short like me is to check out the Women's size, perfect full length mat for a short person without extra bulk / weight.

I've got an Exped one that I like, partly because it's a bit wider and squarer than my old Alpkit one - I tend to sleep in something like the recovery position, so it helps get closer to that. I got a quilt largely for the same reason.

but find the new models very noisy

This is definitely true - MrsSalmon hates it!

The previous model therm a rest was noisy. The new ones aren't

None of the above - or any of them, if you want to contribute to the unacceptable amount of landfill they generate due to failures resulting from problems inherent in their design criteria (light weight at the cost of durability and longevity).

I’ve got a Vango Aotrom Thermo and picked up a non-Thermo recently, which obviously packs down smaller and lighter.

I have the non thermo, it's great for summer bikepacking.

£200 for a sleeping mat is insane.

All my NeoAirs get tiny pinholes, I use a groundsheet and take care with where I bivi but holes appear after a while. About a dozen patches on my current mat though it has had years of use. So you figure out ways to patch them and live with it or accept having trips where they need a few puffs at 3am to top them up.

I'm going to try a foam mat and using softer ground or gathering bracken etc to make it work, since I'm not riding with an eye on time or short stops anymore.

£200 for a sleeping mat is insane.

Not if it's comfy and durable? Think of your bivi kit in terms of the cost of how many nights in a B+B? It is 2x what you might need to pay for a decent mat though. I have 2 PHD bags, now 10 and 8 years old, that was money very well spent.

None of the above – or any of them, if you want to contribute to the unacceptable amount of landfill they generate due to failures resulting from problems inherent in their design criteria (light weight at the cost of durability and longevity).

Based on my experience with pinholes .. I have to agree with this. Most people won't go to the extent I will in terms of fixing them, finding the holes can be difficult.

Thermarest XLite or XTherm , depending on temp, is still the best comfort, durability and warmth per gram.

Re deflating during the night, all mats go down a bit as the air inside cools, could it be that?

What is your ideal sleep system, taking account of heat insulation, weight, size, durability, and actual comfort?

Currently, a Neo-Air X-lite standard spec with an 8 degree PHD Minim Ultra bag plus a custom 1000FP quilt that's ~280g and works with the bag down to about 0 deg. It's a flexible, light and very compact packable system, not quite as light or small as an equivalent 0 deg rated bag on it's own but within 100g I guess. I don't always take the quilt, it's just good for backing up the bag when higher up. Also a Terra Nova Moonshine bag cover - a quite breathable but not waterproof bivi bag. If the weather's bad I'd have a tarp tent up or I'd bivi under some sort of shelter I find. I usually use a silk liner to keep the grime off the bags and that may add a bit of warmth.

I rarely use mine in winter these days but late or early season up at 2000m (Alps trips) can be down to below freezing and that's the limit of this kit for me. It's mostly used in UK + Europe May to September. I'm not that well insulated myself so I feel the cold but also don't sleep so well if I'm too warm. I use a primaloft gilet that I often ride in as an upper bag baffle / cosy type of thing and that helps with warmth. I'd say it's comfortable enough for a good sleep but it's also about low weight and compact pack size because that makes longer daily distances more viable.

If it's multi day backpacking you're after you'll need to keep it dry and be warm. In the olden days we used Karrimats which were reliable, uncomfortable and warm. They were usually secured under your pack lid or lashed somewhere on the outside of it. They got wet when it rained and took ages to dry then soaked your tent groundsheet and sleeping bag.

I use a collection of PHD and ME bags depending on expected temps and one of the NeoAir mats from the recent superlight ones through to the older squeaky bananas. They all pack really small, are seriously light and go inside dry bags inside my pack.

I also use a Tyvek groundsheet saver to avoid stuff poking through and holing the groundsheet and/or the sleeping mat.

The main thing to remember is, take only enough insulation as you'll need. When I started, I could only afford 1 sleeping bag and bought a 4 season synthetic one. Obviously miles too bulky and heavy for high summer but needs must. These days, like Jameso up there^, I'll take a 5 degree PHD bag for summer for lightness through to a 5 season jobbie if I was to go somewhere high and exciting again. It helps to have the right tool for the job.

Thermarest fan here... Have several of them. I find the ones you have to inflate to be so much more comfortable, and packable, then the self-inflating type.

May I recommend a Flextail mini pump too. Yes, you can blow them up with your lungs or the inflating sack, but those mini pumps are brilliant. One charge will inflate my biggest 10cm mattress several times over. They weigh next to nothing. I take mine on even the lightest trips 👍

Thermarest XTherm. Been using mine all over the place in all kinds of conditions still going strong.

£200 for a sleeping mat is insane.

As per others.... It's not if it is warm, comfortable, light and you use it a lot.

I've made the mistake of buying cheap and buying twice on ultralight gear. Sleep system is an area you definitely get what you pay for. You need to carefully research what you want though, based on what conditions you will be using it in.

Last weekend I was bivvying in -3c on my therm a rest neoair mat. Western mountaineering sleeping bag. Alpkit hunka XL was the budget item!

I slept like a baby and the above setup comes to only about 1.6kg and packs down tiny.
Yes total cost is about £800 but I use it a lot and have had some amazing, unforgettable nights out, that aside from the gear didn't cost a penny.
If I spent less, then it would be way heavier/bulkier/less comfortable/colder.

I got a sea to summit spark sp1 in the sales last year. <400g bag and packs down insanely small. Not had that out yet, really looking forward to some missions with it in the warmer months coming up 👍

Exped Synmat of the desired rating. I've been using mine for 6-7 years. I've had one puncture in that time and it took minutes to locate and fix it.

I bought a light weight therma rest in 2004.

It's never deflated.

I've not used more than 10 nights a year in that time.

It's orange if that helps?

I like the Z-Lite style closed cell foam mats. No issues with deflating, nice and warm, and pretty light if you have a convenient way to pack them. Downside is the packed size.

In the olden days we used Karrimats which were reliable, uncomfortable and warm. They were usually secured under your pack lid or lashed somewhere on the outside of it. They got wet when it rained and took ages to dry then soaked your tent groundsheet and sleeping bag.

Then one day some one said to me, “Put the Karrimat under the tent ground sheet”

That was a revelation

Most of the self-inflators I have found – no matter much money I have spent on them – have tended to deflate over the course of the night.

I've only ever had this happen twice. Once was that time in Aviemore, that was a cheap crappy mat that was also old and the glue had come apart at the valve.  The other one was a definite puncture from a sharp object.  That was on an original Thermarest from 1994, which was patched with repair tape and is still fine now.

The Berghaus one I bought in Aviemore to replace the failed one is excellent, but quite big because it's full length. The best 3/4 one I have is I think a Vango model.  However, the Outwell stuff at Go Outdoors is excellent VFM.

Exped Ultra 3R Mummy here. Good combination of lightness, thickness, insulation, plus its quiet (I'm a fidgety sleeper) and the pumpsack is brill.

Buy cheap buy twice, I've had two cheap ones and they were making holes quicker than I could fix.

I'd an exped, but it seemed to fail internally so the air overinflated one side. After that I've relied on a multimat(Summit 25/38 £90-£99) which has been fine for years. Again never had any issues with a mat deflating either the exped or the multimat

I contributed to landfill with a thermarest, never again because it was heavier and no better than a Karrimat by the end of the night. I still use a 40-year-old Karrimat cut to size and a more recent basic Decathlon. Put it under the tent and you won't need a footprint even with the most fragile tent.

I see someone above has thermarest that doesn't leak after 10 nights, My oldest Karrimat has done several hundred and still doesn't leak despite being used on rocky, stoney, thorny, spikey stuble ground.

Anyone recommend something cheap and compact for a few days bike backpacking in summer ? Even if its just a foam mat.

My folding closed cell mat goes into a stuff sac. Possibly one a tent came in. Means it can be strapped outside the pack  or on the top of the rack and stays dry.

I did a 100 day walk with a thermarest xtherm. Madame had the same. Can't fault them, very warm and comfy. Dog claw put a tear in one and it was easy to repair permanently with the supplied repair kit. Recommended but they are silly money now.

I have an old school thermarest that is 20 years old I use for sea kayaking when weight doesn't matter. Can't fault that either. It's also easy to repair if punctured. It's too heavy for super light back packing but for short trips absolutely fine. I did a 60 day trip on it, no complaints whatsoever and no punctured despite biviing half the nights

Go outdoors always have loads to try on display. Personally I would avoid non insulated ones and anything with a fancy nozzle system.

I am a recent convert to the inflation sacks that blow the mat up. They double up as a dry bag and fill your mat up super quick and without dizzy spells😂. Recommended

Anyone recommend something cheap and compact for a few days bike backpacking in summer ?

Decathlon thingy I have had a few years doesn't get more than 10 night use a year but does the job

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-trekking-mattress-mt500-air-xl-195-x-60-cm-1-person/_/R-p-189394?mc=8612277&c=grey_blue

A few of us all bought exped ultra lightweight, wide 7 mats. They were amazing but they all failed. Baffles expanded.

We all used a inflated bag to pump them up. After that and the fact they didn't respond to my email I won't buy them again. Although never acknowledged as a fault, the new design has fixed it.

@ton recommended the decathlon mat. This one but the XL version. Roughly the same weight as the exped mat it replaced.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-trekking-mattress-mt500-air-l-180-x-52-cm-1-person/_/R-p-189392

Its not as good as the exped. Tends to curl up at the sides but not a problem when your on it. Doesn't have the same r rating and it's colder to sleep on but it was £40 and it's lasted longer than the exped mat and if it fails tomorrow I'd buy another one.

Well, my Thermarest 'self inflating' (which I of course blow up myself by mouth !) Is 20 years old and so far, going strong.

If you want something else and more modern , I've got a RAB inflatable one that has been good so far (albeit not a huge amount of use) and is a whole lot quieter than the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (which sound very crinkly like a crisp packet) that my mate uses.

https://rab.equipment/uk/stratosphere-4-sleeping-mat?queryID=87d76c028d56a7a169c64c8ca0aa4500&objectID=52639&indexName=rab_live_uk_products