Best Winter Sleeping Pads of 2024

Author: Steve Edgerton | Updated: Jan 27, 2024
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The Short Version

Best Overall: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm NXT
Best for Comfort: Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme
Best for Extreme Cold: NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions
Best Supplemental Foam Pad: NEMO Switchback
Best on a Budget: Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

The Long Version

Winter backpacking is a profound way to experience the backcountry. But it can also be a miserable way if you’re not prepared. To experience more of the profundity and less of the misery, you are going to need a proper winter sleeping pad.

A good winter pad will keep you safe, warm, and comfortable. Three-season pads will not cut it on frozen ground in subzero temperatures, and skimping on what stands between you and the cold can be potentially life-threatening.

In this article, we review the best winter sleeping pads currently available. The pads featured here have an R-value of 6 or higher and at least 2 inches of padding, plus one closed-cell option for use as a supplementary winter pad. Weight, packability, materials, and price vary considerably between these pads, but excellent durability and warmth were non-negotiable features shared by all our picks.

From ultralight, to ultra-warm, to budget-friendly, here are the best winter sleeping pads to help you extend your backpacking season into a year-round affair.

If you love reading this review of the best winter sleeping pads, then you'll likely love reading some of our other hiking and backpacking content:

Best Overall: THERM-A-REST NEOAIR XTHERM NXT

R-VALUE: 7.3

DIMENSIONS (L x W x D):
72 x 20 x 2.5 in / 183 x 51 x 7.6 cm (Regular)
77 x 25 x 2.5 in / 196 x 63 x 7.6cm (Large)
72 x 25 x 3 in / 183 x 63 x 7.6 cm (Regular Wide)

WEIGHT:
16 oz / 454 g (Regular)
20 oz / 567 g (Long and Regular Wide)

PRICE: $$$$

PROS: Ultralight, high R-value, packable

CONS: Expensive

Weighing barely one pound, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm NXT is a rare sleeping pad that is both highly insulated and truly lightweight.

The insulating properties of sleeping pads are rated using R-values: the higher the R-value, the more you will be insulated from the cold ground. An R-value of 5 or higher designates a pad as fit for winter conditions. The NeoAir Xtherm NXT has an R-value of 7.3, making it the second most insulated winter pad on this list—while being by far the lightest.

Featuring excellent insulation and a durable 70D Nylon build, the Xtherm NXT is well equipped to handle extreme winter conditions, from winter backpacking to mountaineering. It is also light and packable enough to work as a year-round pad for hikers who tend to run cold. The included pump sack and Therm-a-Rest’s WingLock valve make inflation quick and easy.

The inch-thick pad is comfortable, adding half an inch of padding over previous iterations of the NeoAir Xtherm, the NXT model also succeeds in addressing our previous criticisms: Therm-a-rest introduced a wide model for more generous leg protection, and new fabric and construction techniques have significantly reduced the crinkling noises that NeoAir pads have historically been infamous for. These changes are welcomed and improve on what was already an outstanding winter sleeping bag. Still present is THerm-a-rest’s horizontal baffle design, which provides decent comfort, but still lags behind pads like the baffle design of competing pads like the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT.

The Xtherm is at the higher end of the price range for winter sleeping pads, but deservedly so. It is lightweight, durable, versatile, packable, and warm, making it our choice as the best overall winter sleeping pad for backpacking.

Best for Comfort: SEA TO SUMMIT ETHER LIGHT XT EXTREME

R-VALUE: 6.2

DIMENSIONS (L x W x D):
72 x 21.7 x 4 in / 198 x 55 cm (Regular)
78 x 25.2 x 4 in / 198 x 64 x 10 cm (Large)
66 x 21.7 x 4 in / 168 x 55 x 10 cm (Women’s Regular)
72 x 25.2 x 4 in / 183 x 64 x 10 cm (Women’s Large)
72.1 x 25.2 x 4 in / 183 x 64 x 10 cm (Rectangular Regular Wide)
79.1 x 25.2 x 4 in / 201 x 64 x 10 cm (Rectangular Large)

WEIGHT:
25. 4 oz / 720 g (Regular)
33.5 oz / 950 g (Large)
24.2 oz / 685 g (Women’s Regular)
30.7 oz / 870 (Women’s Large)
33.5 oz / 950 g (Rectangular Regular Wide)
37 oz / 1050 g (Rectangular Large)

PROS: Warm, durable, extremely comfortable

CONS: Heavier, larger packed size

PRICE: $$$

With freezing weather and long nights, winter camping often includes spending a lot more time in your tent. Comfort becomes a more important consideration than it may be for your three-season trips, and the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme delivers comfort in spades.

The 4-inch-thick pad has an R-value of 6.2. It has enough insulation for extreme cold and enough padding to ensure that even side sleepers never bottom out. Its web of so-called “Air Sprung Cells” disperse weight effectively and the integrated stuff/pump sack works well to both store and inflate the pad. There is also a wider rectangular model and women-specific models.

At 25 oz., the Ether Light XT Extreme is not particularly lightweight, but for a proper winter pad, it doesn’t get a whole lot better. Despite less robust 30 and 40 D nylon fabric, compared to 70D for the NeoAir Xtherm, it does have a fairly large pack-size.

But this pad is well-designed, warm, and really comfortable. Being slightly heavier and slightly less insulating than the NeoAir Xtherm is all that prevents it from being both the best winter pad for comfort and the best overall.

If you want winter comfort, but without excessive weight, then the Ether Light XT Extreme is for you.

Best for Extreme Cold: NEMO TENSOR EXTREME CONDITIONS

R-VALUE: 8.57.8

DIMENSIONS (L x W x D):
72 x 20 x 3.5 in / 183 x 51 x 9 cm (Regular)
72 x 25 x 3.5 in / 183 x 64 x 9 cm (Regular Wide)
77.6 x 35.6 x 3.5 in / 197 x 65 x 9 cm (Long Wide)

WEIGHT:
18 oz / 505 g (Regular)
22 oz / 625 g (Regular Wide)
23 oz / 662 g (Long Wide)

PROS: The warmest ultralight winter pad ever

CONS: Expensive, sacrifices some durability

PRICE: $$$$

The NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions Insulated pad is the latest in the excellent Tensor line of sleeping pads, and this one really is something else.

With an R-value of 8.5 the Tensor Extreme Conditions has no equal when it comes to warmth. The pad achieves this via four layers of Thermal Mirror, an ultralight metallized insulating film material. The innovative design and materials create an almost unbelievable warmth-to-weight ratio: the regular size weighs a mere 18 ounces and boasts an impressive 10.5 x 4.5 inch packed size.

The Tensor Extreme Conditions is 3.5 inches thick. An included pump sack easily inflated the pad in minutes and NEMO’s unique valve design optimizes inflation control to work well even in extremely cold conditions; we’re talking -20 F and below. Those are the kinds of conditions the pad is engineered to take on.

To achieve its impressive warmth-to-weight ratio, NEMO pairs a 40D nylon bottom with a relatively thin 20D nylon sleep surface where not as much puncture-resistance is needed. However, thinner materials do increase risk of punctures from an errant crampon, or whatever else you can imagine. A compromised sleeping pad is the last thing you want when sleeping through arctic conditions in the backcountry, but the Tensor Extreme Conditions does come with repair patches and a protective stuff sack to further mitigate repairs.

Ultimately, the NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions is an outstanding product: It is the warmest backpacking-friendly sleeping pad we have ever tried, while simultaneously one of the lightest and most packable winter pads. The materials and build quality are second to none. It is expensive, but 100% worth it for dedicated winter backpacking and mountaineering.

Best Supplemental Foam Pad: NEMO SWITCHBACK

R-VALUE: 2

DIMENSIONS (L x W x D):
51 x 20 x 0.9 in / 130 x 51 x 2 cm (Short)
72 x 20 x 2.0 in / 183 x 51 x 5 cm (Regular)

WEIGHT:
10.5 oz / 300 g (Short)
14.5 oz / 415 g (Regular)

PROS: Affordable way to add insulation to a three-season pad

CONS: Bulky, not sufficient as a standalone winter sleeping pad

PRICE: $

An alternative to a dedicated winter sleeping pad is to supplement a three-season pad with a closed cell foam pad. This will add to the total R-value of your sleep system, while also acting as insulation insurance: even if your air pad fails, a closed cell pad will still provide protection from cold ground.

The NEMO Switchback is our favorite closed-cell pad for this kind of winter setup. It adds an R-value of 2 on top of whatever your primary pad provides. If your three-season pad has an R-value of 3 or more, this is an affordable and lightweight way to get to winter levels of insulation.

Downsides include its bulky pack size, which is compounded by the fact that it will not be the only pad you need to pack for winter conditions. Fortunately, the Switchback can be secured to the exterior of your pack, and—unlike inflatable pads—it will never leak or puncture, making it an effective and budget-friendly way to protect yourself from the inherent risks of winter backpacking.

Best on a Budget: THERM-A-REST BASECAMP

R-VALUE: 6

DIMENSIONS (L x W x D):
72 x 20 x 2 in / 183 x 51 x 5 cm (Regular)
77 x 25 x 2 in / 196 x 64 x 5 cm (Large)
77 x 30 x 2 in / 196 x 76 x 5 cm (Extra Large)

WEIGHT:
40 oz / 1140 g (Regular)
54 oz / 1530 g (Large)
64 oz / 1820 g (Extra Large)

PROS: Comfort and winter insulation at an affordable price

CONS: Heavy, bulky

PRICE: $$

No bells and whistles here: the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp is simply a solid winter sleeping pad for a solid price. The BaseCamp has an R-value of 6, warm enough for anything but the chilliest of winter nights. It is self-inflating, durable, and has signature Therm-a-Rest build quality.

The foam core is comfortable, easy to inflate, and quieter than the typical air pad. The catch is that the BaseCamp is inevitably heavier and bulkier than air pads, as more material is needed to provide an equivalent amount of cushion.

Weighing in at 2.5 lbs. for a Regular size and 4 lbs. for an Extra Large, the BaseCamp is a bit of a beast. But it is also less than half the price of our other favorite winter air pads. Its weight and bulk mostly limit its usefulness to front country camping or short and casual backpacking trips, but the BaseCamp is a warm and durable pad that will not break the bank—letting you get started with some winter outings right away. And that is what really matters.

BUYING ADVICE FOR WINTER SLEEPING PADS

Types of pads

High quality Air Pads are lightweight and packable, whilst still providing both comfort and insulation where required.

AIR PADS: Inflatable air pads are somewhat of the industry standard these days. They are the most popular option for backpacking, since they are lightweight and packable, whilst still providing both comfort and insulation where required.

They generally consist of inflatable chambers, known as baffles, and use heat-reflective materials or insulation inside the baffles to prevent heat transfer (i.e. your body heat escaping through the ground). The baffles also provide structure that supports your body weight, rather than the pad blowing up like a balloon.

The pros of inflatable air pads are:

Extra cushioning and comfort – they often provide between 2 and 4 inches of cushioning, which is much more than foam or self-inflating pads.
They can be well insulated.
They are generally lightweight and packable.

The downsides are:

If your pad gets punctured and you cannot repair it in the field, then it will provide no insulation or comfort at all – this is especially critical in colder temps.
They can be crinkly and noisy to sleep on – although this seems to be improving with better technologies and materials.
They need to be inflated – although most manufacturers provide a lightweight pump sack, which makes the task much easier than having to inflate your pad using your lungs!

If you are willing to accept the relatively small risk of punctures, then air pads are likely the best choice for most backpacking trips. We’d always suggest carrying a repair kit and patches on the trail, so that if you do suffer a puncture and can locate then hole then hopefully you can repair it.

Closed cell foam pads are a simple and inexpensive option — although they would usually only be used as a secondary / backup pad in winter conditions.

FOAM PADS: Closed cell foam pads are the simple and inexpensive option. They are basically what it says on the tin – a layer of foam. They usually fold up or roll up, but they don’t compress to any significant degree.

The pros of closed cell foam pads are:

They are super durable (unless you tear them to shreds) – and can’t be punctured.
They are relatively lightweight, inexpensive, and provide some insulation.
They aren’t noisy.
They are easy to set up and pack down – no messing around with inflating/deflating!

That may seem like a long list of positives, but there are some key downsides:

They offer very little cushioning and comfort relative to air pads.
They don’t compress and aren’t packable – meaning they are usually too large to be stored in your pack and must be carried on the outside (which might or might not be an issue for you).

If you are someone who values simplicity, then a foam pad might be an attractive option. But for those who prioritize comfort, an air pad will generally provide greater levels of comfort in a smaller package.

A self-inflating pad is a combination of foam and air and generally a less expensive option, but there is little reason to choose them over an inflatable air pad these days…

SELF-INFLATING PADS: The first self-inflating pad – from Therm-a-Rest in the 1970’s – was essentially the birth of modern backpacking sleeping pads. It was layers of closed cell foam, with an air pocket in between that provided additional cushioning. These days however, air pads provide similar or better insulation whilst being lighter, better cushioned, and more packable. So self-inflating pads are increasingly a thing of the past.

Self-inflating pads are less expensive than insulated air pads, so if you are on a budget then they might be worth a look. Plus, they do provide some insulation even if they get punctured and you can’t repair them on-trail. But for us these benefits don’t really outweigh their cons of weight, bulk, and less comfort.

Dimensions

LENGTH: Most sleeping pads are offered in a short, regular, or long length. The regular length is enough for most people, however some front sleepers (where your feet flatten out) or taller people might opt for a long length. If your feet overhang the end of the pad, then they can get uncomfortably cold at night. One solution is to put items – e.g. your backpack or a dry sack full of spare clothes under your feet to insulate them from the ground. But that isn’t particularly comfortable, and if your backpack is wet from rain it’s not going to be a great solution! I’m about 6ft tall and a front sleeper and I am much more comfortable on a long length pad.

On the other hand, if you are a true minimalist you may opt for a short, or torso length, pad. These are designed to keep your hips comfortable and your upper body warm. You can then put your backpack or gear underneath your legs and feet. It’s by no means as comfortable as a full length pad, but it might be the desirable solution for gram counting ultralight backpackers.

WIDTH: A “regular” width differs slightly between manufacturers, but is generally between 20-22 inches. The “wide” models, offered by most manufacturers, are a good choice for front or back sleepers, since they can support your entire body better – including your arms! If you have broad shoulders, or are a restless sleeper, you might also prefer a wide pad.

THICKNESS: The most common thickness for backpacking air pads is around 2-3 inches, although there are thicker air pads that are still suitable for backpacking use. A well designed 2 inch thick air pad – like the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated – should still prevent you from feeling the ground. This is especially true for front and back sleeping where your weight is evenly distributed.

If you are a side sleeper, or tend to prefer a “super cushy” pad where you will never feel the ground when tossing and turning during the night, then aim for a thicker air pad like the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme – which has a whopping 4 inches of thickness. Of course thicker pads do come with a slight weight penalty.

Shape

MUMMY: Most backpacking sleeping pads have a tapered “mummy” shape – similar to the design used for sleeping bags. They are wider at the head/shoulders/hips, and then taper into a narrower width at the feet. This maximises weight savings whilst still retaining most of the comfort.

RECTANGULAR: A rectangular pad is as you would imagine – rectangular in shape, being the same width throughout the length of the pad. Many foam pads have a rectangular shape, and some manufacturers (e.g. NEMO) offer their air pads in a rectangular shape too. If you generally sleep like a starfish, or anything but a pin, then you may want to look at a rectangular pad. Of course, don’t forget that many manufacturers also offer a mummy shaped pad in a “wide” width!

Baffle designs

HORIZONTAL BAFFLES: Horizontal baffles run across the pad and generally provide reasonable comfort. The baffles are generally quite short – since they run the width of the pad, i.e. about 20 inches – meaning they generally hold their shape well. Also because they run across your body, you don’t really get “caught in the channels”, like you can with vertical baffles that run the length of your body. One downside is that when they are pumped up too hard, they can be quite unforgiving – kind of like sleeping on a board! But letting out a small amount of air usually increases the comfort.

VERTICAL BAFFLES: Vertical baffles run the length of the pad. They don’t always hold their shape as well as horizontal baffles, and depending on the baffle thickness you might feel the “channels” more than you would with horizontal baffles running across your body. All-in-all this might make them less comfortable then other designs, although it really depends on which sleeping pad it is – including the quality of the manufacturing and other design aspects.

AIR SPRUNG CELLS: An “air sprung cell” design –used on the Sea to Summit pads is intended to mimic the design of your inner sprung mattress at home – so you can really feel at home when sleeping out on the trail! It can be more comfortable than either a horizontal or vertical baffle design, since each of the cells are somewhat independent and therefore provide more support, better cushioning, and less “wobble”. But the additional materials required to create the cells means there is a slight weight penalty over something like an equivalent sized and insulated Therm-a-Rest NeoAir.

Noise

Traditionally, inflatable air pads have been reasonably noisy to sleep on. So much so, that depending on how much silence you (or your tent mate) need for your beauty sleep – the noise of an air pad may have been a deal breaker.

The noise issue was particularly prominent on the earliest Therm-a-Rest NeoAir models, they sounded like sleeping on a collection of grocery bags or a big packet of potato crisps. The main culprit was the foil layer(s) inside that provided the insulation, but made a “crinkly” sound when you moved. Fortunately, technologies are improving! Even the NeoAir pads are less noisy these days – owing to better, softer materials. It’s worth noting that they also become less noisy over time as you wear them in.

Other manufacturers – like NEMO – are also using innovative designs that suspend the insulation layer so it can’t be heard “crinkling”. This makes air pads like the Nemo Tensor Insulated much quieter than many of its competitors – which might be a major selling point for light sleepers!

Of course if you have an ultralight backpacking tent with a crinkly floor material like Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) then your sleeping pad might not be the only noise issue!

Insulation & warmth

INSULATED PADS: The main goal of an insulated sleeping pad is to put a thermal resistance barrier between you and the ground. This barrier stops the transfer of heat, and therefore stops your body heat escaping in an attempt to equalize your body temperature with the temperature of the ground. The thermal barrier can be designed using insulation and/or heat reflective materials.

THE “R VALUE”: An R value is a measure of the thermal resistance of a material. In 2020, a number of brands including REI Co-op, Therm-a-Rest, and others, agreed on a standardised method (ASTM FF3340) for measuring the thermal resistance of a sleeping pad.

The short of it is – this is great news for consumers. It means you can easily compare the insulating performance of sleeping pads from different manufacturers. Based on the new standard, the R values roughly translate to the following real use conditions:

R value less than 3 – summer backpacking

R value from 3 to 5 – three-season backpacking

R value above 5 – four-season backpacking

Note that if you are interested in the details of the testing procedure then check out this video from the REI labs:

CAN A PAD BE “TOO WARM”: Although a sleeping pad acts as a thermal barrier, it isn’t designed to trap radiant heat in the same way a sleeping bag would. So what does this mean? Well, that if you use a sleeping pad with a high R value in warm temperatures, you are unlikely to feel “too warm’ (at least not due to sleeping pad). Some pads with reflective barriers may radiate some of your body heat back at you, but the amount is likely minimal – especially relative to the heat trapped by any sleeping bag or quilt you are using.

ONE PAD FOR ALL SEASONS: if you think you might use your sleeping pad in both summer and winter conditions (e.g. on snow) – and can only afford to purchase one pad – then you could go with a four-season pad like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm. Given that a winter pad is unlikely to make you overheat in warmer conditions, this might be a way to save costs by having one piece of gear for all seasons.

The downside? The extra insulation materials inside a four-season pad will add weight, and therefore you will be carrying the additional weight for no benefit in the summer months.

PAD LAYERING IN COLD CONDITIONS: Fortunately the insulating value of multiple pads – when layered on top of one another – is (approximately) additive. So for example, layering a pad with R value = 2 under a pad with R value = 4 will get you the equivalent of a pad with an R value of 6.

Of course, having two air pads layered one top of one another is never going to be particularly comfortable – unless you like the feel of sleeping on a wobbly unstable balloon. But layering an air pad on top of a closed cell foam pad is stable – and quite common as a solution for boosting insulation in cold conditions.

Closed cell foam pads — like the NEMO Switchback — are relatively inexpensive, so adding this insulation under your three-season air pad is often a cheaper solution than purchasing a separate four-season rated air pad for winter outings. The other benefit of layering a closed cell foam pad and an air pad is that you have some insulation even if the air pad gets punctured and deflates – mitigating what could otherwise be a potentially life-threatening issue in cold weather.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What is the importance of R-value in winter sleeping pads? The R-value represents a sleeping pad’s insulating power: higher R-values mean more insulation from cold and snowy ground. You’ll want your winter sleeping pad to have an R-value of 6 or higher.

Can I use a winter sleeping pad as my year-round pad? There is no reason you can’t use a winter pad year-round. Winter sleeping pads are bulkier and heavier than their three-season counterparts, but if you only want one pad for all of your backpacking, investing in a high-quality, relatively lightweight winter pad like the Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xtherm NXT or the NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions can be a great solution.

What type of sleeping pad is best for winter? Air pads, foam pads, and self-inflating pads all have different advantages for winter camping. Air pads are lightweight and comfortable. Foam pads are cheap, durable, and reliable. Self-inflating pads offer a mix of value, comfort and reliability. The best option depends on your budget, preferred pack weight, and willingness to tolerate discomfort.

What features should I look for in a winter sleeping pad? Beyond a high R-value of 6+, consider durability, build quality, and repairability, as a punctured sleeping pad can mean trouble in the depths of winter. You should also pay mind to overall comfort beyond just warmth. If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll want a sleeping pad with at least 3.5 inches of thickness.

MORE INFORMATION

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Best Winter Sleeping Pads [2024 UPDATE]