Best Lightweight Sleeping Mats for 2021

Choosing a sleeping mat for your overnight hiking adventures can be a confusing affair! There’s a lot to consider – comfort, weight, size (both packed and inflated), and then comparing all those details against price and your budget can positively make your head spin. Some lightweight mats carry a significantly steep price tag on account of all the new technologies and fabrics incorporated into their design. It’s not easy to decide, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.

Below, we’ve listed our top-selling lightweight hiking mats over the last 12 months, but before we get into the countdown, let’s cover some of the common questions we get about lightweight hiking mats…

Are hiking mats noisy to sleep on?

Air-filled mats, such as the Thermarest Neo Air (not in this list) and the Sea to Summit air-filled mats, create more noise than self-inflating mats. The good news is that this noise is usually due to the fabric being new, so it will decrease over time and is a small trade-off for a lot more comfort.

When brand spanking new, some mats may make a tiny bit of noise. Image: Thermarest

What is a bonded sleeping mat?

This question refers to the self-inflating mats, where the outer fabric layer is glued (bonded) to the inner foam. This creates a sturdier sleeping surface and allows the mat to be inflated tightly.

How do I care for my sleeping mat?

Wherever possible always use something between your body and the mat, such as a sleeping bag or liner. This reduces the amount of oil and sweat that soaks into the mat. Should your mat need cleaning, use a mild soap with warm water and a soft-bristled brush to gently clean the surface.

How do I store my sleeping mat?

Self-inflating mats (the ones that are full of dense foam) are best stored inflated. This ensures the foams’ memory is in an expanded state which shortens the time it takes at camp for the mat to inflate. Air-filled mats and air-filled insulated mats are much easier to care for. They are best stored loosely rolled, but if space is a premium, they can be rolled up and stored in their stuff sack once they’re clean and dry.

Store your hiking mat properly so that it stays in good condition for many more adventures. Image: Thermarest

What size sleeping mat should I get?

If you’re in the ultra-lightweight category, then you’ll probably want to consider the shorter version of any mat. This reduces weight, but you may need to use something else to insulate your feet if the ground is cold. If weight is not a big concern and you just want comfort, or you are a cold sleeper, then choose a mat that is roughly the same length as you are in height.

Width should also be considered, especially for users with larger frames. Women’s sized sleeping mats are usually shorter than the men’s equivalent and often have increased insulation around the feet and hips.

Unless weight is an issue, go for the size that matches your height. Image: Sea to Summit

What is R-value?

R-value is an indication of how well the mat resists the transfer of heat from one side to another. This applies to the heat or cold from under the mat, as well as the heat your body may lose into the mat.

The higher the value, the less likely it is you will feel cold from the ground and the more body heat you will retain. For those who want to understand R-value a little better, check out this article here.

There is now a new industry standard for R-value called ASTM F3340-18. Whilst the concept of R-value remains the same, the actual testing methods for the value have been updated.

This has been introduced in a bid to create a level playing field for R-value across brands and to help consumers make more informed choices when comparing the performance of sleeping pads.

The ASTM F3340-18 was introduced in 2020 and to date, not every manufacturer has tested their mats to this new standard. This makes things tricky as you can only really make a true comparison between mats that are both tested to the industry standard.

We’ll make sure we update information on our website as we receive the latest test data from our suppliers.

In cold conditions, a higher R-value will help prevent you from feeling the cold. Image: Thermarest

Mat Types

Closed-Cell Foam

These are made of dense foam with thousands of airtight bubbles inside. They do not compress down, don’t offer much comfort, but they insulate really well and are indestructible, lightweight and very affordable.

Air-Filled Mats

These consist of chambers or cells that require inflation before use. Air-filled mats usually offer a lot of comfort for their relative weight and packed size. They are not self-inflating and should they get a puncture, will not offer any comfort at all. Insulated versions have chambers of synthetic fill or down to help trap warm air.

Air-filled mats are usually the choice for lightweight trekkers and adventurers. Image: Sea to Summit

Self-Inflating Mats

These mats are slabs of open-cell foam, often with holes or cores cut out. Durable fabric is bonded to the foam at the surface and sealed on the edges to create an airtight mat. The expanding foam is what creates the self-inflating feature, but this also means they require a little more muscle to compress the foam when packing your mat away. The other benefit of these mats is that if a puncture does occur, they still offer some padding and insulation.

Filled with expanding foam, a self-inflating mat is a very comfy choice, though not as light. Image: Sea to Summit

Okay, so now that we’ve got those questions out of the way, let’s have a look at Snowys best-selling sleeping mats for hiking over the last 12 months. We’d like to note here that we choose the products we range based on value for money, feedback from our customers, as well as the quality and support from the manufacturer.

What to look out for next year?

Well, usually, it’s the technical brands such as Sea to Summit and Exped that have been the ones to watch when it comes to lightweight mats. But since Klymit has hit the scene, we reckon they’ll continue to gain interest and will move their way closer to pole position next year! Will they prove strong enough to push Sea to Summit out of the top 3? Who knows, stay tuned for next year’s update…

What’s the best hiking mat you’ve ever used?