Are you in the market for the most comfortable sleeping mat for your hiking and trekking escapes? It’s not an easy choice, what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.
You need to consider comfort, weight, size – both packed and inflated and then there’s the cost as some lightweight mats come in at a significantly steep price on account of all the new technologies and fabrics incorporated into their design.
Below, we’ve listed our top-selling lightweight hiking mats for the last 12 months, but before we get into the list, let’s cover off on some 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. This is usually 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 soak 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.
Your mat will need some TLC to keep it performing at its best. Image: Thermarest
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.
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.
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 a 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. These 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 filled with synthetic 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 are slabs of open cell foam, often with holes or cores cut out, with a durable-surface-fabric bonded to the foam. This fabric is also 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 to pack 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
That’s enough of all the details, 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.
Self-Inflating Mats
These are slabs of open cell foam, often with holes or cores cut out, with a durable-surface-fabric bonded to the foam. This fabric is also 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 to pack away. The other benefit of these mats is that if a puncture does occur, they still offer some padding and insulation.
Now let’s take a look at Snowys best-selling sleeping mats for hiking over the last year. Starting at number 10…
10. Explore Planet Earth Sim F35
These sleeping mats are at the entry-level end of the market. It comes complete with compression straps and a stuff sack and is an excellent offering for a mat at this price.
Weighing in at a little over one kilogram, the EPE Sim F35 isn’t the lightest mat on this list by far but it does offer 3.5cm of thickness, a durable outer, roomy rectangular shape and a brass valve – all features that make it the perfect first hiking mat.
Why buy this mat: excellent value for money entry level mat
9. 360 Degrees Adventurer 2.5
We’ve only had this mat in our range for about 6 months but in this time it has proven to be a popular choice amongst first time hikers, adventurers on a budget and for business and commercial group camping needs.
The Adventurer 2.5 self-inflating mat features a tapered cut and die cut 2.5 cm foam, bringing the total weight in at well under a kilogram and the packed size down to a minimum. It’s also equipped with a durable brass valve and comes complete with Velcro strap to secure it once rolled as well as a repair kit.
Why buy this mat: reliable and affordable
8. Oztrail Giga Mat
Despite all the new technologies that go into camp mats to keep you warmer and more comfortable than ever, the good old closed cell foam mat is still one of the popular choices.
The OZtrail Giga Earth Mat is made with a closed cell EVA foam and features an eggshell top for increased comfort. These mats are often used underneath another camp mat in alpine environments for better thermal efficiency. They are not the most comfortable mat on this list, but they are reliable.
Why buy this mat: failsafe padding and insulation for any adventure
7. Thermarest Prolite and Prolite Plus
Thermarest pioneered the self-inflating may back in the 1970’s when a former Boeing engineer had an ‘Ah-ha’ moment in his garden one day, the Thermarest brand has been synonymous with lightweight hiking sleeping mats ever since.
Of all the mats Thermarest has produced over the last 40 years the Prolite has been the most popular. These mats have been continually refined year after year and offer an excellent balance of comfort, weight and durability. They come in 2.5cm and 3.8cm thick versions as well as having both unisex and women’s specific cuts and they are backed with a lifetime warranty.
Why buy this mat: proven performance and reliability
6. Sea to Summit Comfort Light SI
The Comfort Light SI mat from Sea to Summit got an honourable mention in our list last year, and this year it has earned its spot at number 6. These are a self-inflating mat and boast some rather impressive specifications.
Usually, a self-inflating mat of 5cm thick would weigh upwards of 1kg but the STS Comfort Light SI defies this coming in at 650g for the regular and 880g for the large. At 5cm thick, it offers comfort for just about any user and offers an R-value suitable for mild to cool weather adventures.
Why buy this mat: impressive specifications for a self-inflating mat
5. Sea to Summit Camp Mat SI
This is Sea to Summit’s entry-level offering. The Camp Mat SI weighs in at over 1kg and doesn’t boast the smallest pack size but you do get a high build quality and durable materials for a very affordable price.
The Camp Mat SI offers more width than your average mat at 63cm and at 3.8cm thick provides ample sleeping space and comfort for hiking and trekking. Pressure mapped cores provide warmth where the body rests on the mat making it an excellent value camp mat for year round use. It also comes in a rectangular size.
Why buy this mat: quality build at an affordable price
4. Sea to Summit Comfort Plus SI
Hikers and trekkers that are willing to carry extra weight to ensure a comfortable night of sleep will love the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Self Inflating Mats. These mats are available in multiple sizes and come in both tapered and rectangular shapes to suit every end user.
At 8cm thick with a stretch knit upper the Comfort Plus Mats offer a luxurious pad to rest weary muscles on after a long day on the trail. And, with an R-value of 4.1 they are going to ensure you sleep warm no matter where you set up camp.
Why buy this mat: to get a luxurious sleep without adding too much to your pack weight
3. Sea to Summit Comfort Plus and Comfort Plus Insulated
The Comfort Plus mats from Sea to Summit come in both insulated and non-insulated versions and the insulated version is even available in a rectangular shape for a larger sleeping area. Weighing roughly the same as some of the other self-inflating mats on this list, the Comfort Plus Mats take things one step further by offering extra height and comfort.
Made with two independent inflatable layers, the Comfort Plus Mats provide custom comfort and a level of redundancy in the event of a puncture. While there are lighter mats available, If you’re willing to carry a few extra grams, the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus will reward you with a night of deep sleep.
Why buy this mat: for increased comfort at a slightly higher weight
2. Sea to Summit Comfort Light and Comfort Light Insulated
Probably the most versatile mat in the inflatable range from Sea to Summit. The Comfort Light mats come in insulated, non-insulated and women’s specific versions and are made to provide warmth where it is needed and save weight where it is not.
The torso area of these mats feature dual layer air cells for extra warmth, whilst the foot and head ends are a single layer to trim the grams. They offer 6.3cm of thickness and all weigh in at sub 800g depending on which size you choose.
Why buy this mat: versatile all-rounder for any adventure
1. Sea to Summit Ultralight and Ultralight Insulated
These were number one last year and have maintained their pole position again. The Ultralight Mats from Sea to Summit features a single layer of inflatable cells that conform to your body when you sleep and come in both insulated and non-insulated versions.
Lightweight hikers love these mats as they are barely noticeable in a pack. They weigh less than 600g for the large version and at 5cm thick offers comfort not expected in a lightweight hiking mat, even for side sleepers!
Why buy this mat: for lightweight and compact comfort
What to look out for next year
We’ve been on the Sea to Summit bandwagon on this list, for good reason though, their mats are awesome. It’s for this reason that we’re going to predict that the new Sea to Summit Ether Light Sleeping Mats will be the next best sleeping mat, potentially knocking the Ultralight Mats off their perch.
Whilst we’re still excited about the air sprung cells in Sea to Summits current range of inflatable mats, their Ether light mats take it to another level with 10cm of comfort, 3 season insulation, full body comfort, and almost all at less than 500g a pop! With insulated, women’s specific and non-insulated versions available, there’s a model for every lightweight hiker.
We’ve not had a good look at these at the time of writing this article, but we are quietly excited about them.
What’s the best hiking mat you’ve ever used?
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Great article! I believe there’s an error on the “Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Sleeping Mats” review as the R-value is put as “6.3”. The R-value on the mat I believe is actually “5” (as stated on your website and the packaging of the product). Love these recent articles Snowys is doing, thanks.
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Well spotted Oliver – thanks for letting us know and for the positive feedback. I’ve updated it now, so hopefully, it doesn’t cause any more confusion! Cheers.
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That escalated quickly……
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Outdoor Gear Lab rated the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm:-
“For over two years, the NeoAir XTherm continues to take home our Editors’ Choice Award. After testing the best the sleeping pad market has to offer, we have yet to find a better combo of warmth and heat retention, longevity, comfort, low weight, and small packed volume. Forced to choose just one model for the entire year, this would be our hands-down choice. No pad reviewed was warmer, yet it weighs less than a pound. “!
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Thanks, Robin, I’m sure this will be useful information for anyone considering the XTherm amongst the mats we listed here. The main limitation of the NeoAir XTherm though is the affordability of the mat at 3 to 4 times the price of anything comparable in our range. No discredit to the mat though, Thermarest produce outstanding products and the XTherm would be no exception, it’s just not something that we carry in our range. I think that even if we did, we wouldn’t see enough of them going our doors to make it into our top 10 sellers.
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Not having the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm in your Top 10 really discredits your list! The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm is BOTH lighter and warmer than your No1 mat “Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Mat”!
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We can’t argue with you there Robin, the Thermarest NeoAir XTherm certainly has an outstanding warmth to weight ratio and we’ve no doubt that it would be a fantastic mat. We don’t actually sell the XTherm though. This is not to discredit the quality or performance of the mat. Based on our history with the NeoAir range it is not a mat that is in high demand by our customers, most likely due to its budget-busting price being more than 3 times than that of the Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated mat that topped our list. Thanks for your feedback though, the NeoAir XTherm certainly has a place in the rucksacks of people who do not want to trade off warmth and weight for a lesser price.
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No problems Bin – if you can’t even spell my name correctly then I’m talking to a Moron!
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Sorry Robin, my bad. All fixed now.
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They don’t sell that mat though! This is a list of top ten mats THEY selI… Dddduuurrrhhhh. 🤦♀️
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Great to have a brief summary of each put together. I will say that the Sea to Summit Insulated Comfort Plus and Insulated Light mays that we’ve been using for three years is still very noisy (so not just noisy “when new”), especially when sharing a hiking hut with other trekkers!
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Thanks for the feedback on this Fayley, we are getting mixed reviews on the noise of these mats. I think it would be safe to assume that the air filled mats are always going to be noisier than their self-inflating counterparts. I guess it’s just something a user needs to trade off against all the other details (weight, packed size, comfort etc). Hopefully, the noise of your mat is offset by the comfort it delivers. ~ Ben
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