When it comes to hammock pads, several things come to mind: insulation and comfort. Hammocks are quick to set up, are lighter, and are a nice alternative to your ole traditional tent.
Just because you have a hammock doesn’t ensure you will have a good night’s sleep. Having the right hammock sleeping bag and pad can mean all the difference between a sleepless or cozy sleep.
Lets see if we can find a sleeping pad that will work for you.
Best Sleeping Pad for Hammock List
It might be challenging to find the right pad for your hiking adventures, but we’ve compiled a list with the best pads available to help you choose!
- Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad – Best Overall
- IFORREST Sleeping Pad – Best For Winter
- Hikenture Backpacking Sleeping Pad – Best Extra Quiet Sleeping Pad
- ECOTEK Outdoors Insulated Hybern8 – Best 4 Season Sleeping Pad
- Clostnature Self Inflating Sleeping Pad – Most Comfortable Pad
- Gear Doctors Self Inflating Sleeping Pad – Best Hypoallogenic Sleeping Pad
- POWERLIX Sleeping Pad – Best for Backpacking
1. Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad
Best Overall
Price: $$
Size: 75″ x 23″
Weight: 0.9 Pounds
Pros: Heavy-duty tear-resistant nylon, Lifetime warranty, Light and compact
Cons: Not ideal warmth for temperatures below 32º F
Description: The Sleepingo Camping Pad is our number one pick as it ticks just about every box we are looking for: light, small, and thick. The pad uses a heavy duty 20D nylon coming in at just over 2 inches thick and just under a pound, rolling into the size of a water bottle.
It has an R-value of 2.1 score making it ideal for temperatures down to 32º Fahrenheit, which is great, though not great if you want to use it in the winter. It is one of Amazon’s bestsellers, and has been for some time. And after looking into it, we think so too.
2. IFORREST Sleeping Pad
Best For Winter
Price: $$
Size: 79″ x 29″
Weight: 2.8 Pounds
Pros: Waterproof, Well designed, Lightweight, Patented pending self-inflating, Comes with built-in pillow and side armrests
Cons: Side bumpers may not be for everyone
Description: The IFORREST’s sleeping pad is self-inflating, easy to set up and comes with a little extra cush. The pad comes with side armrests that inflate separately which gives you just a bit extra width, for those of us that move around a lot at night.
The R-value score of this path is an impressive 6.8, which is the highest that we have on this list which make it especially good for cold nights. It is a 80D polyester material which is both resistant and waterproof and over 2 inches thick.
Although the price is higher than most other options, you do get a bit extra which we feel comes with the ticking material and higher R-value. If you are looking for something a little more comfy, a little bit wider and that you could use in the winter this would be it.
3. Hikenture Backpacking Sleeping Pad
Best “Extra Quiet” Sleeping Pad
Price: $$
Size: 73.62″ x 22.05″
Weight: 20oz
Pros: 3″ padding, Water-resistant, Rolls up super small, Very lightweight, tear-resistant 190T Poly Pongee and TPU layer, 100% satisfaction guarantee, 90-day money-back guarantee, inflates and deflates in seconds
Cons: The inflatable ridges are a bit much
Description: The Hikenture Pad is a polyester 3-inch pad with tear-resistant material polyester that is also waterproof and well insulated. The pad also has tubular air pockets that also prevent that annoying swish swish sound that often come with most sleeping pads, so you wont wake yourself up from that constant noise of polyester on polyester.
The pad is super easy to inflate in just a few seconds. This is due to the company’s patented air valve that makes it just a bit easier on you.
If you are a light sleeper and wake up whenever a needle drops this pad is for you.
4. ECOTEK Outdoors Insulated Hybern8
Best 4 Season Sleeping Pad
Price: $$$
Size: 74″ x 22″
Weight: 24.5 oz
Pros: Insulated for temperatures down to 10ºF, Compact and lightweight, 4 season pad
Cons: Price is higher than other options
Description: You may be in the market for a sleeping pad that can handle temperatures below 32ºF. The ECOTEK Hybern8 sleeping pad has an R-value of 4.5, making it ideal as a 3 season pad. This sleeping pad uses a woven polyester blend with nylon, which is a miracle worker when it comes to insulation.
However, the material is not the secret for insulation in the Hybern8. Its inflated pads have a middle layer that traps the air, helping you maintain your body temperature.
The pad rolls up into a nice small 10 x 4.5 in long, making it easy to carry, and when rolled out can be inflated in 10 to 12 breaths.
What’s nice about this company is that a portion of every purchase goes to planting a tree in a national forest. Thankfully some companies are catching on and being more socially responsible.
The price might seem a little steep, but that’s what you get for the thicker insulation which you are definitely going to need if you are planning on using it in winters. If you are looking for a 4 season pad, this is the one.
5. Clostnature Self Inflating Sleeping Pad
Most Comfortable Bag
Price: $
Size: 6′ 3″ x 2′
Weight: 3 Pounds
Pros: Self-inflating, Waterproof, 4 R-value insulation, Limited lifetime warranty
Cons: A bit slick on the top, and a bit heavy so not the best for backpacking
Description: Clostnature is a brand founded by mountaineers for mountaineers. Their pad uses memory foam that makes it extremely comfortable.
This sleeping pad uses 210T polyester taffeta fabric, making it waterproof and resistant with an R-value of 4, making it great for low temperatures (though not good enough for winter).
What makes this sleeping pad different is not only is it cheap, but can be used at low temperatures and the most unique feature is the memory foam which comes in 1.5, 2, and 3 inch variations.
If you have hip or back trouble whenever you go camping, this might save you a lot of aches and pains.
6. Gear Doctors Self Inflating Sleeping Pad
Best Hypoallergenic Pad
Price: $$
Size: 72″ x 22″
Weight: 2.2 Pounds
Pros: Lifetime warranty, Great customer service, Water-resistant, 4.3 R-value foam, Easy to set up, hypoallergenic outer coat
Cons: Not very thick
Description: Gear Doctor pride themselves on creating quality products based on their own outdoor adventures.
This sleeping pad is self inflatable and comes with an R-value score is 4.3. Despite being only 1.5 inches thick, this sleeping pad is capable of insulating you in relatively low temperatures.
This sleeping pad uses sturdy 75D polyester, which is both water and UV-resistant. Gear Doctor is confident enough in their product’s durability to give you a lifetime warranty along with it.
What makes this pad just a bit different is that it has a hypoallergenic coating which helps keep your skin rash free if your skin is super sensitive.
7. POWERLIX Sleeping Pad
Best for Backpacking
Price: $
Size: 74.8 x 22.8in
Weight: 1.32 lbs
Pros: Lifetime warranty, Waterproof, Comes with a repair kit, 75D Nylon, 2″ thick pad, comes with a vacuum carry bag, Brakes down into a small bag
Cons: Its R-value is 1.6, which is not very high
Description: POWERLIX’s sleeping pad uses tear-resistant 75D nylon that is also waterproof and is 2 inches thick, enough to keep your body away from the cold ground.
It has hexagon-shaped ergonomically designed padding to give you just a bit more comfort than you might be used to. The pad comes with a repair kit, carry bag, and an inflating bag.
This bag is great if you are looking to go on a backpacking trip as the pad is only 1.32lbs and rolls up into a nice 11x4in bundle, perfect for carrying around without it taking up too much space.
Sleeping Pads for Hammocks Buyers Guide
Sleeping pads are not necessarily for just one type of situation. If a sleeping pad’s design is to be used for hammock use, it should work fine for using it in a tent for camping or any other outdoor use.
Depending on the season, the location of where you’re going, and how you are going to be sleeping will determine what is “best for you.”
There are some features worth looking at:
- Material
- Comfort
- Insulation
1. Material
How durable is the material? Most of the pads are made out of Nylon Polyester in some variation. So something to look at is how thick is the nylon. It is often measured in thickness “Deiner (D)” and is displayed like 20D Nylon or 80D Nylon.
Denier determines the thickness of the fibers with “D” being used as a unit of density which is then based on the length and the weight of the piece of material. The higher the number the denser it is, which often means more durable, (though not always at it depends on the material being measured).
2. Comfort
This is about how thick the sleeping pad is. Generally speaking the thicker the sleeping pad the more comfort (very generally speaking). In this list we have pads ranging from 1.5 – 3 inches. We like thick pads, but hey thats just us.
3. Insulation
Insulation is often measured used an R-value which indicates how well a layer of insulation resists the conductive flow of heat.
Insulation is all about the R-Value with scores if measured less than 2 are less insulated and scores above 5 are very well insulated.
What Types of Sleeping Pads are there?
It’s difficult to pin down an “ideal” or “best” type of sleeping pad, as it comes down to preference. Some people might prefer specific designs or materials, which is why you may find divided opinions regarding sleeping pads.
We should clarify that, in our eyes, versatility is what makes a sleeping pad great -which means being able to use it not only in a hammock, in a tent, or for lounging.
When it comes to different sleeping pads, you’ll find air pads, self-inflating, and closed-cell foam pads.
Air Sleeping Pads
This type of sleeping pad requires you to inflate them manually, either with your breath or a pump. They’re not hard to set up, but they usually don’t have much insulation. They tend to be on the affordable side and are pretty lightweight. Their lack of insulation makes them ideal for warm locations and seasons, though they fall behind when it comes to cold weather.
Self-inflating Sleeping Pads
This kind of sleeping pad uses a combination of foam and air to create a cushion between you and the floor. This trick is also what grants them better insulation compared to other types. The foam itself helps sustain your body temperature, but it also creates air chambers that don’t touch the floor.
Closed-cell Foam Sleeping Pads
This kind of sleeping pad doesn’t rely on air like the others, but they are not very comfortable and are usually cheaper. They can be compact but not like an inflatable pad, and don’t require any set-up beyond rolling them out. While insulation isn’t their strong suit they are the more durable of the bunch.
In this article, we only included inflatable pads both self-inflating and air pads, as they are the most comfortable and generally are the best for most sleeping arrangements.
Hammock Sleeping Pad Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is R-value in sleeping pads?
The R-value is a score that represents how well a barrier can insulate the flow of heat from one side to another. In other words, whenever you hear about “R-values,” they refer to how well-insulated a sleeping pad is. The higher the score, the more insulated it is. Here’s an easy score table to understand R-value scores:
- Low scores from 1 to 3 are ideal for the summer season
- Scores from 3 to 5 are suitable for spring, summer, and autumn (3 seasons)
- High scores above 5 know winter’s coming (4 seasons)
2. How do I clean my sleeping pad?
First of all, if your sleeping pad is inflatable, make sure it’s well sealed. You don’t want any liquids getting inside. Sadly, you can’t use a washing machine, but it’s not difficult to clean it in a bathtub or just wipe it clean with a damp cloth and soap.
If you need to remove substances such as tree resin, use alcohol. Afterward, throw some talc or baby powder on it to remove any stickiness from the surface.
3. How long does it take to inflate a sleeping pad?
Generally speaking, it takes anywhere from 10 to 15 breaths to inflate. Self-inflating sleeping pads can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes before you have to finish up yourself with a couple of breaths.
4. What’s better for hammock camping – underquilt, or sleeping pad?
Under quilts seem to be the favorite for hammock sleepers, but that doesn’t mean sleeping pads are a bad choice. Under quilts tend to be more expensive than sleeping pads because they’re often custom-made.
Sleeping in Comfort
Sleeping bags just don’t cut it, if you are in a hammock and it’s cold out. Sleeping pads will give you that little bit of extra comfort and warmth so you do not have to wake up in the middle of the night with a cold butt. There are plenty of options to choose from, and hopefully, we made the task easier for you.
