R-Value of Sleeping Pads – Guide to Insulation & Sleeping Comfort | Outdoor

Why is a good sleeping pad so important?

During the night, the cold ground is constantly working to draw heat from your body. If you are not adequately protected, you risk freezing, sleeping poorly and waking up tired – making it harder to cope with the next day’s challenges.

Many people think of a sleeping pad primarily as being soft and comfortable, but its most important function is actually to insulate against ground cold. That is why the R-value is so crucial when choosing a sleeping pad.

What is R-value?

R-value is a measure of a material’s thermal resistance – i.e. how well it insulates against cold.

The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

R-values are not only used for sleeping pads but also in everything from building materials to windows and technical structures.

On sleeping pads, the R-value is your best indicator of how well it protects you from the cold of the ground.

How do you use R-value when choosing a sleeping pad?

The R-value is a valuable guide when putting together your sleeping system for an adventure. Many people choose a sleeping bag based on temperature, but forget that the insulation of the sleeping pad is just as important. A good sleeping pad can often reduce the need for a heavy winter sleeping bag – and provide a significantly lighter pack.

Example

Imagine a hike in Sarek in September. The nights can range from cool to downright cold.

With a sleeping pad like the Thermarest NeoAir® XLite® (R-value 4.2), you get enough insulation for your sleeping bag to perform as intended.

If you upgrade to the NeoAir® XTherm™ (R-value 6.9), you can handle even the coldest nights with extra margin – at a weight increase that is significantly less than a heavy winter sleeping bag.

The right combination of sleeping bag and sleeping pad gives you more options, better comfort and safer sleep.