Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads of 2024

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - Testing sleeping pads in Colorado

iRunFar’s Ben Kilbourne tests sleeping pads on a chilly morning in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

For many fastpackers and ultralight backpackers who prioritize a light pack, choosing the best ultralight sleeping pad is a balancing act between weight, warmth, and durability. We do whatever it takes to carry the lightest, smallest item for each of our needs to minimize pack weight.

Some of us even forgo taking a proper sleeping pad when we’re trying to cover a lot of ground, but after many nights of shivering on bare ground, we don’t recommend that route — especially if you’re trying to get some sleep. Proper rest will go a long way toward making your fastpacking trip enjoyable, and a comfortable pad is potentially even more important than a warm sleeping bag to protect you from the cold ground and allow for a good night’s sleep.

After extensive testing of both inflatable and non-inflatable pads, our team has developed recommendations to help you navigate the market’s choices. We rated pads on their durability, weight, packable size, and comfort and offer suggestions that find the right balance between these criteria.

We found the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad to be an inflatable pad that was light enough for fastpacking and durable enough that we didn’t have to worry about putting a hole in it during normal use. When it came to foam pads, the NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad ended up as our favorite, and when we wanted the warmest pad that was still reasonable to carry, we turned to the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad. And, of course, we couldn’t help but include the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″ for the true minimalists who are going to be tired enough at the end of the day that they could sleep in a pile of rocks.

Below are our favorite fastpacking sleeping pads of 2024, from thin pieces of foam to thick and warm inflatable pads. For more background information, see our buying advice, testing methodology, and frequently asked questions below the picks.

Also, make sure to check out our guides on the best fastpacking packs, best ultralight tents, and best ultralight sleeping bags!

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads

Best Inflatable Ultralight Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad
Best Inflatable Ultralight Sleeping Pad — Runner-Up: Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat
Best Inflatable Ultralight Sleeping Pad — Rectangular: Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated
Best Foam Ultralight Sleeping Pad: NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad
Lightest Foam Ultralight Sleeping Pad: Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″
Warmest Ultralight Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad

iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks and Eszter Horanyi test sleeping bags on the Wind River High Route in Wyoming. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Best Inflatable Ultralight Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad ($210)

Pros:

Very light and warm
Comfortable
Moderately durable 30-denier fabric
Large and effective inflation bag

Cons:

Expensive
Mummy shape was tippy for some testers
Loud, crinkly sound bothers some

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad is a very light, warm pad with good comfort and durability. Several of us at iRunFar have been using different versions of this pad for nearly a decade. We’ve only seen it improve technically over the years with an effective one-way inflation valve and the addition of a giant inflation bag.

The specs on this pad are hard to beat. The size regular is only 13.2 ounces without the stuff sack or inflation bag and has an R-value of 4.5, the second-highest of any pad on this list. iRunFar’s Editor in Chief, Meghan Hicks, uses this as her go-to sleeping pad after years of not taking a sleeping pad along on fastpacking trips to save weight.

She also carries an inflatable pillow these days, so perhaps her gram-counting tendencies are starting to get a little more relaxed. That said, it’s hard to beat this sleeping pad for its weight and packability. It packs down exceptionally small with a 30-denier fabric, which we found to be thick enough that we didn’t worry about putting holes in it as long as we were using a tent or ground cloth of some sort.

Some of our testers were annoyed by the loud crinkling sound this pad makes when rolling from side to side, and one found the horizontal baffles less comfortable than other pads we tested, but these were this pad’s only observable flaws. While this pad is heavier than Therm-a-Rest’s lightest inflatable pad, it’s much more durable, and our testing team decided that the extra weight was worth the extra peace of mind.

Due to its combination of R-value, small size, and relatively low weight, this pad is the best all-around sleeping pad for virtually any three-season fastpacking trip.

Read our full review of the previous version of this pad, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad.

Shop the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

Best Inflatable Ultralight Sleeping Pad — Runner-Up: Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat ($149)

Pros:

Comfortable
Inexpensive for an inflatable pad
Warm

Cons:

Heavier

The Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat is an excellent option if you find sleeping on vertical or horizontal baffles less-than-pleasant but still want a fairly light and quite durable sleeping pad. We found that the quilted baffle pattern did a better job cradling us, resulting in less shifting around during the night. While not the lightest pad on the market — in size regular, it weighs 19.3 ounces with the inflation bag and 17.9 ounces without — it’s still competitive and at a lower price than other options. This pad also comes in extra small, small, and large sizes to accommodate various sizes of humans, and you can get a shorter version and use your pack under your legs to provide insulation if you want to save a few grams.

It also has a relatively warm R-value of 3.1, which makes it an excellent three-season pad. However, since it is heavier than pads with comparable R-values, it’s hard to choose this pad over its competitors when looking specifically at warmth-to-weight ratios. But, the quilted baffles justified the extra weight for at least one of our testers. When inflated, it seems impossibly thin and incapable of providing either comfort or warmth, but when utilized in the fully horizontal position, it does an admirable job at both.

We tested this pad both during overnighters in the Wasatch Mountains, where temperatures dipped to 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and on several trips in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, where temperatures hovered around freezing. We found that we stayed plenty warm, even with a lighter sleeping bag. If you’re looking to assemble an affordable fastpacking kit or want a slightly more comfortable sleeping experience, this is a great choice.

Shop the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat

Best Inflatable Ultralight Sleeping Pad — Rectangular: Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated ($229)

Pros:

Light and spacious
Baffles are comfortable

Cons:

Not the lightest

If you’re a bigger person or someone who doesn’t like the confines of a mummy-shaped sleeping pad, the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated sleeping pad is a lightweight option with a rectangular cut. The rectangular cut does add extra material, and thus extra weight, but for some people, especially those with broader shoulders, it can be worth the weight and volume penalty.

We tested this pad’s 72 x 25-inch version during a weeklong fastpacking trip in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming and were impressed by many aspects. Trying to go as light as possible, we didn’t bring along the inflation bag or the bag, bringing the weight down to only 400 grams, which is pretty competitive compared to similarly sized mummy-shaped bags.

Since we were using our breath to inflate the pad instead of the inflation bag, we appreciated the antimicrobial treatment inside the pad that helps prevent the growth of yuckies on the insulation. While we generally recommend using the inflation bag to inflate sleeping pads to preserve the integrity of the insulation and prevent microbial growth, we understand that sometimes saving weight is a higher priority. Full disclosure: We rarely bring inflation bags along on fastpacking trips.

One of our testers found the quilted baffles to be significantly more comfortable than the horizontal or vertical baffles of other pads, and because the outer baffles are thicker than the middle ones, she found that she stayed centered in the middle of the pad more easily. The pad has a 4.3 R-value with two layers of heat-reflective film, and we were impressed with how warm we stayed when temperatures dropped.

If minimizing weight is your top priority, there are other lighter options, but if you want to have a little bit of extra room to roll around at night, the rectangular shape of this pad can increase comfort and improve sleep.

Shop the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated Sleeping Pad

Best Foam Ultralight Sleeping Pad: NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad ($60)

Pros:

Very light
Will never deflate
Packs down smaller than other foam pads we tested
Inexpensive
You can trim it to save weight

Cons:

Foam pads can be uncomfortable for some
Bulky
You will have to carry it outside of a pack

For several reasons, the NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad is our favorite foam sleeping pad for fastpacking. Priced at $60, it costs significantly less than the inflatable pads on this list and is our favorite budget fastpacking pad. While we can argue that a foam pad will never be as comfortable as an inflatable one, there’s a reason that most thru-hikers opt for them for their long treks: They never go flat!

At 14.5 ounces, the Switchback is roughly the same weight as our top pick, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad, and since it is foam, you can put it down on any surface without worrying about damaging it. This feature has the potential to save weight by negating the use of a groundsheet or tent, which are imperative when using inflatables. The peace of mind that a foam pad can provide over an inflatable is also worth considering when choosing between options.

There’s no question that foam pads aren’t for everyone. One of our testers swore off foam years ago after several nights of bruised hips but gave it a try in the interest of this test. He is a finicky sleeper, though, and still can’t do it, while other testers have fewer issues with the firmness and sleep pretty well on it.

One of our testers noted that she has no problems with the firmness of this pad, in part because she is a stomach sleeper. Another tester pointed out that any sort of pad is better than no pad, a situation she was more than familiar with as a gram-counting weight-weenie.

Our testers liked that they could use this pad as a frame sheet in some packs, making the pack more rigid and preventing sharp items from poking them in the back. And for the especially weight-conscious among us, you can cut it to shorter lengths.

One downside to this pad — and all foam pads — is its bulkiness. With most fastpacking packs, you have to attach the pad to the back of the pack under a web of shock cords, where its bulkiness will make your pack look less sleek. The reality is that this only matters if aesthetics are important to you or if you spend a lot of time bushwhacking off-trail.

These issues become less important, however, for fastpackers who prioritize reliability. This pad is light, comfortable for most of our testers, and inexpensive, making it the best foam sleeping pad for fastpacking that we’ve found.

Shop the NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Lightest Foam Ultralight Sleeping Pad: Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″ ($22)

Pros:

Extremely light
Inexpensive
Won’t spring leaks

Cons:

Not very comfortable
Not very warm

Most people would shy away from trying to sleep on a piece of foam that’s not much thicker than a quarter, and for good reason. It’s not the most comfortable pad to lay on. But there is a specific type of trip where the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″ makes more sense than any other pad on this list. If you need to go as light as possible but don’t want to sleep directly on a ground sheet, this pad might be what you want. It’s more comfortable than a sheet of Reflectix, which is another option the truly weight-conscious tend toward, but it’s not a very high bar of comfort to clear.

This pad weighs only 2.7 ounces, making it the lightest on our list. It also packs down surprisingly small and functions as a back pad in many fastpacking packs. It’s inexpensive too, at only $22.

The main downside is that no one is ever going to call this sleeping pad comfortable. But it’s not meant to be. It’s intended to provide just a bit of extra padding and warmth to get you through the night. But with soft site selection, it can be a full step up from not carrying a pad at all. Two of our testers use trimmed-down versions of this for trips when they want low bulk and minimal weight, but they want some extra comfort while putting being able to move fast as the highest priority.

This is also an excellent choice for ambitious adventures when you’ll be tired enough to sleep wherever you happen to stop for the night. The pad is also a good choice for self-supported stage races where you carry your kit as you race. Regardless, it is still far from comfortable and warm. We don’t recommend this pad for colder excursions when thermal protection from the ground is needed. But if you’re the type of person who really likes to put in those long days and is content to sleep anywhere your feet will deposit you, take a look at this pad.

Shop the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8 Inch

Warmest Ultralight Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad ($270)

Pros:

Warmest pad we tested
Durable
Very comfortable

Cons:

Expensive
Heavy

Sometimes, warmth while fastpacking or backpacking is the top priority, and the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad is the lightest ultra-warm option out there. We choose this pad for early-season fastpacking trips through the mountains where we may have to sleep on snow or when nighttime lows could dip into the teens. It’s also our favorite pad for frigid winter fastpacking trips through the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. Unfortunately, with this extra warmth comes extra weight.

At 22.3 ounces, this is the heaviest pad on this list in size regular, but it isn’t all that large to pack or even all that heavy, considering how warm it is. This pad has a ridiculous R-value of 7.3, and the bottom is made of 70-denier material, increasing its durability, and the top is 30-denier to save on weight and make it more packable.

One of our female testers who sleeps cold prefers this pad over the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad because she prioritizes warmth over low weight. She and some of our other testers have also found rectangular pads such as this one to be more stable and, therefore, more comfortable than most mummy-shaped pads. If you are a cold sleeper and don’t want to feel the cold ground again, consider adding this to your fastpacking kit.

Shop the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad

Comparing the Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads

PAD	PRICE	WEIGHT	THICKNESS	PACKED SIZE
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad	$210	13.2 ounces	3 inches	9 x 4.1 inches
Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat	$149	17.9 ounces	2 inches	9 x 4 inches
Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated	$229	17.6 ounces	3.25 inches	8 x 4.25 inches
NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad	$60	14.8 ounces	0.9 inches	20 x 5 x 5.5 inches
Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″	$22	2.7 ounces	0.13 inches	19 x 3 inches
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad	$270	22.3 ounces	3 inches	11 x 5 inches

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Ultralight Sleeping Pad for Fastpacking

Weight

Because we’re looking for the best ultralight sleeping pad specifically for fastpacking, we wanted to ensure that any pad we chose would keep your pack light and runnable. While getting sleeping pads at much lower costs is possible, the additional weight gets added quickly as the price decreases.

The lightest pads are generally the least comfortable and warm, such as the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″, which really is just a very thin piece of insulating foam. Depending on the trip, that might be exactly what you want. Some of our testers also like to cut foldable foam pads into a mummy shape to shave a few grams. Others even like to cut pads down to torso length and then place their pack under their legs to save weight.

Another option is to get a pad smaller than you would typically need and use your pack under your feet to keep your calves and feet off the ground. If you’re looking to save weight but want an inflatable pad, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad is the lightest pad we have included on our list. While lighter inflatable pads exist, we didn’t find they met our durability standards.

But even if you’re going to use the heaviest pad on this list, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad, you should still be able to run comfortably if you strategically plan the rest of your kit with no redundancy and individual items that have multiple uses for efficiency. So, if you prioritize comfort, you may have to spend a little more time dialing in other parts of your kit.

R-value

R-value is a measure of a material’s resistance to thermal conductivity. In other words, it’s the measure of a sleeping pad’s ability to prevent the loss of body heat to the cold ground, otherwise known as its ability to keep you warm. The higher the R-value, the warmer the pad will be, and most three-season pads have an R-value in the three to four range.

Winter sleeping pads can have R-values of seven and up, and R-values are additive, so you can combine sleeping pads for additional insulation. Some people choose to use both a foam and an inflatable pad for maximum warmth in really cold conditions.

If your trips occur primarily in the warmer months, the best ultralight sleeping pad for you can have a low R-value since you won’t need much insulation. Lower R-value pads, especially uninsulated ones, tend to be significantly lighter than those meant for three-season conditions. The NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad, with its R-value of two, may perform fine for you if you sleep on soft ground in warm temperatures.

If you plan fastpacking trips in colder temperatures or where you may have to sleep on the snow, choose a pad with a higher R-value, such as the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad, which has an R-value of 4.5. For those who want to camp throughout the winter or generally sleep cold, carrying the warmest pad in this guide, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad with its 7.3 R-value could be worth the weight.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pad - using a bivy with a sleeping pad

Using a bivy can protect your sleeping pad from rock and stick punctures. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Inflatable Sleeping Pads

Inflatable sleeping pads are almost always more comfortable than foam pads, so we recommend them for fastpackers and ultralight backpackers who prioritize nighttime comfort. They also pack down much smaller than foam pads, keeping your pack streamlined and small. A pad like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad is an excellent option for someone looking for comfort while still keeping their pack weight low.

The biggest downside to inflatable pads is that they can spring leaks. We recommend that inflatable pad users sleep in a bivy, inside a tent with a floor, or on a ground tarp such as this window insulation plastic found at your local hardware store. A leaking pad can be uncomfortable and dangerous if you are sleeping in cold temperatures.

Heat loss to the ground can leave you shivering, even if you’ve found a soft place to camp. Inflatable pads are also more expensive than foam ones, so we don’t recommend them for fastpackers or ultralight backpackers wanting to save a little cash.

Foam Sleeping Pads

Foam sleeping pads have the inherent benefit of being 100% puncture-proof, a valuable feature when choosing the best ultralight sleeping pad for trips that happen in rocky or desert environments where much of the plant life seems weaponized and specifically designed to poke holes in thin inflatable sleeping pads. One of our testers lost her pad to a gust of wind and watched it land in a dead juniper tree and rip open to the point that it was unfixable. The reliability of foam pads is one reason fastpackers and ultralight backpackers choose them over inflatable options.

Foam pads are also relatively inexpensive. For example, the NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad is $150 less than our top inflatable pad pick, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad.

One big downside to a foam pad is its abysmal packability. Most fastpackers and ultralight backpackers must strap folding foam pads to the back of the pack, where they can get hung up on branches when bushwhacking. They are also generally significantly less comfortable but far better than nothing — and far better than a deflated inflatable pad.

Mummy Versus Rectangular Shape

Like many sleeping bags, many inflatable pads are rounded at the head and foot, creating a mummy shape. Rounding the corners saves a decent amount of weight, but it also significantly reduces the overall surface area of the pad. Even though a 72-inch long mummy-shaped pad and a 72-inch long rectangular pad are the same lengths, if you measure right down the middle, the rectangular pad will feel much longer because you can sleep diagonally, utilizing the corners.

Some of our testers also find rectangular pads like the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated or the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad to be more stable and, therefore, more comfortable than mummy-shaped pads like the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pad - inflating a sleeping pad by a tarp

Different pad shapes and baffle patterns can be more or less comfortable for different types of sleepers and body shapes. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Durability

Foam pads are inherently more durable than inflatable pads because they won’t spring leaks. However, they can get shredded when bushwhacking. And foam will eventually compress, becoming less comfortable and insulating over the years.

While inflatable pads can get holes, they can also be patched almost indefinitely, so if you take care of them, they’re common to outlast foam pads. Look at the thickness of the fabric to determine a pad’s probable puncture resistance. Higher denier fabrics, like those found on the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad, will be more puncture-resistant than lower ones.

The more significant longevity issue of inflatables is the durability of the insulation. Synthetic insulation, like that used in the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat, can compress over time like a foam pad. The aluminized film insulation found on Therm-a-Rest and NEMO pads can flake off with use.

Some manufacturers recommend that you prevent moisture from entering the inside of your sleeping pad by inflating it with an inflation bag instead of your breath and then storing it uncompressed with the valve open.

Baffles are another point of failure for inflatable pads. Over time, internal welds can begin to fall apart, and the pad will bubble.

Comfort

When choosing the best ultralight sleeping pad, comfort is subjective, and some fastpackers are moving too quickly to prioritize it anyway. But for many of us, sleeping pad comfort is critical because we need a good night’s rest to feel good cranking out miles the following day.

If that’s you, pick an inflatable pad rather than a foam pad. Our testers all agree that inflatable pads are more comfortable. Some of us also have found rectangular pads to be more stable and, therefore, more comfortable than mummy-shaped pads. Quilted pads, like the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated or the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat, tend to be cozier than pads with vertical or horizontal baffles, like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - Pad Comparison

Above are some of the sleeping pads we tested for size comparison. From left to right are the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad, NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad, Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Air Sleeping Mat, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Max Sleeping Pad, and Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat. Photo: iRunFar/Ben Kilbourne

Packed Size

Fastpacking packs are usually low volume—often between 20 and 30 liters—so we recommend choosing a pad that compresses down small, such as the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad at 9 x 4.1 inches. The best ultralight sleeping pads will take up minimal space in your pack. If you want to explore your options for a fastpacking pack, take a look at our Best Fastpacking Packs guide.

The rest of the inflatable pads included in this guide pack to about the same size, while the pad with the largest packed size on our list is the somewhat unwieldy NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad, which measures 20 x 5 x 5.5 inches. Most who use this pad must strap it to the outside of our pack, either on the top or back.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - Sleeping Pad Packed Size

Above are some of the sleeping pads we tested packed for size comparisons. From left to right are the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad, NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad, Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Air Sleeping Mat, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Max Sleeping Pad, and Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat. Photo: iRunFar/Ben Kilbourne

Why You Should Trust Us

The iRunFar team has been fastpacking for over a decade, and we have watched this adventure niche grow. What started as two separate endeavors — ultralight backpacking and adventure running — have now merged into one: fastpacking. One critical piece of fastpacking equipment is your sleeping pad, so we’ve recommended six that will keep you warm — and sometimes even comfortable — on just about any fastpacking trip.

Members of the iRunFar team have been using several of the sleeping pads on this list for years, and we’ve added others to this list of favorites through a research and testing process that started in 2022.

For the initial version of this guide, we looked far and wide to find all the sleeping pads on the market that were light and small enough to qualify as fastpacking pads so that we could compile a list of the best ultralight sleeping pads for you. Then we tested 14 of them on adventures in places like the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, the Tavaputs Plateau of eastern Utah, Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, Silverton, Colorado, and several wilderness areas around the American West.

We tested these pads in various environments so you can be well informed about the best on the market for fastpacking. The pads were used by multiple people in several different environments and evaluated on their durability, comfort, warmth, and packability.

We keep this guide updated by continually testing new sleeping pads as they come to the market. Our team also continues to use the pads included in this guide because, in the end, they are our current favorites, and ongoing testing allows us to speak about any durability issues that we encounter with products.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - Sleeping pad testing in Colorado

Testing various sleeping pads in cold conditions in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads for Fastpacking

What is fastpacking?

Fastpacking combines two sports — ultralight backpacking and adventure running — and makes them one. Want to explore that cool backcountry basin you’ve been eyeing but only have a few days free on your schedule? Fastpacking. Have back-to-back long runs on your schedule and don’t want to return to your car or house in between? Fastpacking.

Fastpacking isn’t just running; it isn’t just hiking. In the ideal world, you take the minimum equipment to safely spend the night somewhere and then go. Run a bit, hike a bit, stop to make coffee or fly fish, and then run and hike again. While calling your movement running can be a bit of a misnomer when you’ve got 10 to 15 pounds on your shoulders on rough terrain, hopefully, you pack light enough to cover miles quickly and relatively unencumbered, and you can jog flats and downhills. A lightweight inflatable pad like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad can make a big difference in your ability to run during a fastpacking trip.

Do I need to use a sleeping pad at all?

This will depend on the expected temperatures during your trip and your ability or inability to sleep well on hard, cold surfaces. If it is warm out—temperatures greater than 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night—you may be able to skip a pad altogether. A few on our testing team do just that, sleeping on their pack and rain jacket because they won’t need much insulation from the ground.

This works best if you can find dry and soft surfaces such as meadows, pine needles, or sand to sleep on. It also helps if you’re completely exhausted at the end of the day. Still, even on the warmest nights, you might appreciate a little insulation from a minimalist pad like the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″.

How important is my sleeping pad in the context of fastpacking?

If temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, we recommend carrying a sleeping pad to insulate your body from the cold ground. We understand how annoying it is to carry a pad when you’re trying to move fast, but at a minimum, we recommend something such as the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″. It’s not terribly comfortable, but it will provide enough insulation to get you through the night.

If you sleep cold or prioritize sleeping comfort over carrying a few extra ounces, you may want to step up to an inflatable pad such as our top pick, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad. This pad has the benefit of being very small when packed, but some fastpackers and ultralight backpackers still consider it, at nearly a pound, to be heavy.

Still, most of us prioritize fun and joy (and sleep) over pure speed during a trip and are willing to carry an actual sleeping pad. Most of our testers prefer inflatable pads for most trips and find the weight of carrying them worth a good night’s rest.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - Dogs don't sleep on inflatable sleeping pads

Keeping dog paws off inflatable sleeping pads can keep them from springing leaks. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

How should I choose an inflatable sleeping pad versus a foam sleeping pad?

The most compelling reasons to choose foam pads are their low cost, weight, and durability. The Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″ is the cheapest and lightest pad on this list at $22 and 2.7 ounces. Even the NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad is only $55 and nearly as light as our best all-around sleeping pad, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad.

One of the main reasons not to choose foam pads is that they are uncomfortable at worst or have an acquired taste at best. They are also far less warm than most insulated inflatable pads and are not recommended for fastpacking adventures in colder weather.

If your trips take you to high altitudes in the shoulder season when thermal protection is necessary, you’ll want to bring a warm, inflatable sleeping pad such as the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad. This pad is light, warm, comfortable, and packs down small.

The most significant downsides to inflatable pads are their high cost and susceptibility to punctures. So, if you want to be comfortable and warm, can afford the higher price of an inflatable pad, and take care to avoid holes by consistently placing a groundsheet under your pad, don’t hesitate to choose one for fastpacking.

My inflatable sleeping pad keeps leaking — what do I do?

To find a suspected leak in your sleeping pad, you will need to submerge it in water and look and listen for bubbles. Inflate the pad about halfway, fold it in thirds, submerge it in a lake or bathtub, and kneel or press down on it with both hands. Sometimes, holes are tiny, so you need to apply pressure to reveal the bubbles. When you find the hole, mark it immediately with a Sharpie or any other tool you may have. Spraying soapy water onto an inflated pad can also reveal holes.

After letting the pad dry, apply the patch that came with it. All inflatable sleeping pads included in this guide, including the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated, come with a repair kit. You can also use a stick-on patch such as Tear-Aid Type A or a glue such as Aquaseal +FD or Aquaseal +UV.

We recommend Aquaseal +FD for home repairs because it tends to be more permanent and durable than stick-on patches. However, it takes eight to 12 hours to cure. Aquaseal +UV is better for field repairs because it cures in only 30 seconds.

The good news is that you can almost always successfully fix holes, whether in the field or at home, so taking the time to do so will keep your pad working for years.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - camping on a ridge

Many iRunFar team members use the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad as their go-to pad for fastpacking trips. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Can I trim my foam sleeping pad to make it lighter and smaller?

Several of our testers have trimmed the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″ down to a piece large enough for only shoulders and hips to save weight. The result is a 1.2-ounce pad.

The NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad is also trimmable. Each of the 14 sections weighs one ounce, so if you trim it down to only eight sections, it will weigh about eight ounces—about the right size for most folks’ shoulders and hips.

Rounding the corners on foam pads will save even more weight.

Do I sleep with my sleeping pad inside or outside my sleeping bag?

Because companies design sleeping pads to insulate you from the ground and sleeping bags were made to surround your body snugly for efficient insulation, putting a bulky pad inside your sleeping bag would inhibit the intended function of both pieces of equipment. Most of the pads on our list — especially the thicker inflatables like the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated — would take up space, reduce your sleeping bag’s comfort and insulating properties, and are better used outside.

Foam pads — especially those cut down to only shoulders and hips — are the exception to the rule. Placing a small, trimmed foam pad inside your sleeping bag ensures it stays in the right place under the hips and shoulders. And when you’re cowboy camping, you may want to place your trimmed foam pad inside your bag to keep it from flying away in the wind when you roll over at night.

I am always cold when I sleep. What’s the best sleeping pad for me?

If you are always cold when you sleep, choose a pad with a high R-value, such as our top pick for warmth, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad, which has an R-value of 7.3. This pad is a little heavy at 22.3 ounces, so you may want to spend a bit extra time reducing the weight of your pack in other ways if you want to carry this pad but still want your pack to be runnable.

That said, the second-warmest pad on our list is also the second-lightest inflatable: the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad. It has an R-value of 4.5 and weighs only 13.2 ounces, making it the best option if you want warmth and low weight.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - cold weather fastpacking

An insulated sleeping pad can make cold-weather fastpacking much more enjoyable. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

My sleep pad’s inflation bag is heavy. Do I need to carry it?

No, and yes. Carrying an inflatable pad’s inflation bag is not mandatory because blowing up any of the pads on our list is possible with your mouth. It’s tempting to leave it behind because it is seemingly unnecessary weight — as many as three ounces in some cases.

That said, blowing up your pad with your mouth will introduce moisture into the pad, degrading the insulation and reducing its overall warmth over time. It can also lead to microbe growth inside your pad. We’d recommend that you take the inflation bag along and find an alternate use for it so it doesn’t feel like an unnecessary weight. Stuff extra clothes in it and use it as a pillow. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad inflation bag is large enough to be used as a pack liner in smaller fastpacking packs.

Of course, if you’re trying to save weight on a fastpacking trip, you might want to tough it out with the Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad 1/8″ and not even worry about whether you need an inflation bag or not.

How light must my pad be to run with it in my pack?

Fastpackers are notorious gram-counters who occasionally go to great lengths to reduce their pack weight, like not carrying a sleeping pad. While we don’t recommend that course of action, the lighter your pack, the better, though that’s not always possible depending on the trip. Most of our testers have found that pads in the 16-ounce range are light enough for running if you optimize everything else in your kit for low weight.

For instance, the warmer a pad is, the lighter your sleeping bag can be. In fact, a warm pad will pair well with a bottomless or quilt-style sleeping bag, which has little to no insulation under the body. You can learn more about different types of sleeping bags in our Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags guide. If you want to carry the extremely warm Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Max Sleeping Pad, you’ll want to ensure that all other parts of your fastpacking kit are as light as possible.

How durable are inflatable pads?

Some of our testers have had 70-denier pads last for 10 years, while others have gotten holes in those same pads in a matter of days. If you know you are hard on gear or will be camping on rough and jagged surfaces, choose a thicker, heavier inflatable pad because it will likely last a while.

Also, be sure to use a bivy, a groundsheet, or a tent with a floor to prevent holes. You can explore different options for shelters in our Best Ultralight Tents guide. It’s also a good idea to brush debris off your clothing and sleeping bag before lying down because, in our experience, and quite surprisingly, many pad holes happen on the top of the pad. If you’re worried about a pad springing a leak in the middle of a trip, you might just want to go with a foam pad like the NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad.

Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads - Testing sleeping pads in Colorado mountains

iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks tests pad durability while fastpacking in Colorado. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

How do I protect my inflatable sleeping pad during a fastpacking trip?

Getting a leak in a sleeping pad during a trip can make for some miserable and potentially dangerous nights out in the wilderness. To protect your inflatable pad during a trip, you’ll want to always use it either in a tent or on a ground cloth. Many shelter options in our Best Ultralight Tents guide have a solid floor that will protect your sleeping pad from the ground.

Taking the time to sweep a sleeping area clear of rocks and sticks can also keep your pad safe. The pads on this list, even the very light ones like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad, have proven to be durable and reliable as long as they are properly cared for.

Call for Comments

Do you sleep better on foam or inflatable pads?
How have you modified your foam sleeping pad to optimize for low weight?
Have you ever gone without a sleeping pad altogether?

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