Welcome to our definitive, all-inclusive sleeping pad R-value (warmth) ranking. Scroll through to see all of our pads listed, from highest R-value to lowest, within their respective categories.
The “best” sleeping pad is not at the top, and the “worst” sleeping pad is certainly not at the bottom. Rather, the pads with the highest thermal resistance come first, and those with the least come at the end of each category. We know that if you are trying to choose a sleeping pad, there are a lot of considerations. Trying to compare pads across categories like weight, thickness, material, length, width, and R-value can be mind-numbing.
We also thought it would be helpful to rank our pads according to their R-value. After all, staying warm at night, or at just the right temperature, is a nice thing to do while camping, right? With the new, industry-wide ASTM R-value standard, you can finally compare all pads equally and make more informed decisions regarding warmth when you purchase a sleeping pad.
Fast & Light
For alpinists, ultralight backpackers, and those that need to keep their packs small and light for their backcountry pursuits.
| Sleeping Pad | R-value | Sizes | Weight (oz) | Thickness (in) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NeoAir® XTherm™ NXT |
7.3 | Regular Regular Wide Large |
15.5 oz. / 0.44kg 1 lb 3 oz. / .54kg 1 lb 4 oz. / 0.57kg |
3 in / 7.6 cm | NeoAir® |
NeoAir® XTherm™ NXT MAX |
7.3 | Regular Wide Large |
1 lb 7 oz. / 0.65kg 1 lb 8 oz. / 0.68kg |
3 in / 7.6 cm | NeoAir® |
NeoAir® XLite® NXT |
4.5 | Regular Short Regular Regular Wide Large |
11.5 oz. / 0.33kg 13 oz. / 0.37kg 1 lb / 0.45kg 1 lb 1 oz. / 0.48kg |
3 in / 7.6 cm | NeoAir® |
NeoAir® XLite® NXT MAX |
4.5 | Regular Wide Large |
1 lb 3 oz. / .54kg 1 lb 4 oz. / .57kg |
3 in / 7.6 cm | NeoAir® |
*NEW* NeoLoft™ |
4.7 | Regular Regular Wide Large |
1 lb 9 oz / 0.71 kg 1 lb 14 oz / 0.85 kg 2 lb / .91 kg |
4.6 in / 11.7 cm | NeoAir® |
| Women’s ProLite™ Plus |
3.9 | Regular | 1 lb 7 oz / 0.65 kg | 1.5 in / 3.8 cm | Self-Inflating |
ProLite™ Apex™ |
3.8 | Regular Regular Wide Large |
1 lb 6 oz / 0.62 kg 1 lb 12 oz / 0.79 kg 1 lb 14 oz / 0.85 kg |
2 in / 5cm | Self-Inflating |
ProLite™ Plus |
3.2 | Small Regular Large |
1 lb / 0.45 kg 1 lb 7 oz / 0.65 kg 1 lb 15 oz / 0.88 kg |
1.5 in / 3.8 cm | Self-Inflating |
Women’s ProLite™ |
2.7 | Regular | 1lb 2 oz / 0.51 kg | 1 in / 2.5 cm | Self-Inflating |
ProLite™ |
2.4 | Small Regular Large |
12 oz / 0.35 kg 1 lb 2 oz / 0.51 kg 1 lb 8 oz / 0.69 kg |
1 in / 2.5 cm | Self-Inflating |
NeoAir® UberLite™ |
2.3 | Small Regular Regular Wide Large |
6 oz / 0.17 kg 8.8 oz / 0.25 kg 11 oz / 0.31 kg 12 oz / 0.34 kg |
2.5 in / 6.4 cm | NeoAir® |
Z Lite™ SOL |
2.0 | Small Regular |
10 oz / 0.29 kg 14 oz / 0.41 kg |
0.75 in / 2 cm | Closed Cell Foam |
Trek & Travel
For those that don’t compromise on comfort in the backcountry.
| Sleeping Pad | R-value | Sizes | Weight | Thickness | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NeoLoft™ *NEW* |
4.7 | Regular | 1 lb 9 oz / 0.71 kg | 4.6 in /11.7 cm | NeoAir® |
Women’s Trail Lite™ |
4.5 | Regular | 1lb 10 oz / 0.74 kg | 1.5 in / 3.8 cm | Self-Inflating |
Trail Pro™ |
4.4 | Regular Regular Wide Large |
1lb 13 oz / 0.82 kg 2lbs 5 oz / 1.04 kg 2lbs 7 oz / 1.11 kg |
3 in / 7.6 cm | Self-Inflating |
NeoAir® Topo™ Luxe |
3.7 | Regular Regular Wide Large XLarge |
1lb 7 oz / 0.65 kg 1lb 11 oz / 0.77 kg 1lb 13 oz / 0.82 kg 2lbs 2 oz / 0.96 kg |
4 in / 10 cm | NeoAir® |
| Trail Lite™ |
3.2 | Regular Large |
1lb 10 oz / 0.74 kg 2lbs 3 oz / 0.99 kg |
1.5 in / 3.8 cm | Self-Inflating |
Trail Scout™ |
3.1 | Small Regular Large |
15 oz / 0.43 kg 1lb 8 oz / 0.68 kg 2lb 1 oz / 0.94 kg |
1 in / 2.5 cm | Self-Inflating |
NeoAir® Topo™ |
2.3 | Regular Regular Wide Large |
1lb 5 oz / 0.59 kg 1lb 12 oz / 0.80 kg 1lb 14 oz / 0.85 kg |
3 in / 7.6 cm | NeoAir® |
NeoAir® Venture™ |
2.2 | Regular Large |
1lb 3 oz / 0.54 kg 1lb 10 oz / 0.74 kg |
2 in / 5 cm | NeoAir® |
RidgeRest® SOLite™ |
2.1 | Small Regular Large |
9 oz / 0.26 kg 14 oz / 0.40 kg 1lb 3 oz / 0.54 kg |
0.625 in / 1.5 cm | Closed-Cell Foam |
RidgeRest® Classic |
2.0 | Regular Large |
14 oz / 0.40 kg 1lb 3 oz / 0.54 kg |
0.625 in / 1.5 cm | Closed-Cell Foam |
Camp & Comfort
For those looking to bring a slice of luxury to their campsite.
| Sleeping Pad | R-value | Sizes | Weight (oz) | Thickness (in) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MondoKing™ 3D |
7.0 | Large XXLarge |
4lbs 6oz / 1.99 kg 5lb 8 oz / 2.50 kg |
4.25 in / 11 cm | Self-Inflating |
LuxuryMap™ |
6.0 | Regular Large XLarge |
3lbs 4 oz / 1.48 kg 4lbs 3 oz / 1.90 kg 5lbs 2 oz / 2.33 kg |
3 in / 7.6 cm | Self-Inflating |
BaseCamp™ |
6.0 | Regular Large XLarge |
2lbs 8 oz / 1.14 kg 3lbs 6 oz / 1.53 kg 4lbs / 1.82 kg |
2 in / 5 cm | Self-Inflating |
Measuring R-Value of Older Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Pads
Obviously, not all of the pads we’ve ever made since 1972 are listed above, so what about the R-Values of older sleeping pads? Older sleeping pads often don’t have R-values listed because the standard for measuring sleeping pad thermal resistance, or R-value, didn’t exist when they were made. However, a general rule of thumb is that the older the pad, the lower its R-value tends to be. Foam pads, which provide solid insulation, usually have an R-value of 3 per inch of foam thickness , making them great for warmth. On the other hand, older air pads (pre-2000) typically do not insulate well with most R values below 2. These pads were used for cushion from the ground. No one had figured out how to make them insulative yet.
Related Posts:
- The Ultimate Guide to Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Pads
- The Benefits of Having Multiple Sleeping Pads
- Behind the Gear: Stacie Langtry, Sleeping Pad Designer
Updated. Originally Published February 4, 2020.
