A top camping sleeping pad will make sure that your hiking adventure will be a success. Here are some camping tips.Sleeping pad: There are three types of sleeping pads—self-inflating, air and closed-cell foam. When car camping, weight is not an issue, so you can enjoy a thicker, wider pad or mattress for comfort. When backpacking, weight is crucial, so a super-lightweight air pad or closed-cell pad may be your optimal choice. Pillows: Bring one from home or use a small foam or inflatable camp pillow. Some sleeping bags have a pocket to hold a pillow or folded up clothing, such as a down jacket or fleece sweater.

Opt out of s’mores for your late night snack and go for some chamomile or lavender tea instead. It’s still just as warm and cozy, but it’s proven to help you sleep better instead of waking you up from an overload of sugar and caffeine. Beyond the soporific effects of the tea ingredients themselves, drinking a warm beverage preps your body for sleep. After the heat, your body cools down, and in response to the temperature change, your brain recognizes its time for sleep.

You can understand the importance of a sleeping pad if you think about insulation and thermal conductivity. This is now my field, I am a physicist by profession. When you are in contact with cold objects, conduction takes place and you lose heat. You lose far more to the ground than to the air. So you realize why it is so essential that you are well insulated from the ground, and why it is important to choose wisely the place where you sleep. What I want to say is basically the following: buying outdoor equipment is an investment, so if you have to save some money, better save on sleeping bags than on sleeping pads.

Self-inflating pads are typically the most convenient. You simply open the pad’s valve, which allows the foam cells to begin self-filling with air. Top it off with a few puffs of air to get to your desired firmness. They too can be punctured, but again this is a pretty easy fix. They are slightly heavier, so if packing weight is your biggest concern, you won’t find the lightest pads in this category. They are typically warmer than a lot of other pads. For an average hike or camping trip, the convenience and extra warmth may be worth the weight. Overall, self-inflatable sleeping pads are generally the most comfortable and warmest options, but are the heaviest.

Highest quality camping sleeping pads: We recommend this one, TFO Air Camping Sleeping Pad 1lb Ultralight, Upgraded 40D Tear-Resistant Nylon, Textured Inflatable Camping Mat with Compact Carrying Bag for Backpacking/Hiking/Car. See more details on Soft Air Camping Sleeping Pad on Amazon. 1lb ULTRALIGHT CAMPING PAD & COMPACT CARRYING BAG The camping pad is 75″ X 23″ X 2″, which can satisfy your desire to enjoy a good night’s sleep in the wild. The super tiny packed size (10″ * 4″) is almost half the size of standard camp sleeping pads and perfect for fitting into a backpack in your funny hiking trip.