How to choose the right sleeping pad

Sleep can help people eliminate fatigue and restore physical strength. This is especially true in outdoor camping activities. Choosing the right bedding (sleeping pad, sleeping bag, pillow, etc.) will help you spend a wonderful wilderness night. Our topic today is: how to choose the right sleeping pad.

　　 Sleeping pads perform two important functions: 1. They allow you to lie comfortably on hard, uneven ground. 2. Play an important isolation (insulation) layer between you and the ground (to reduce heat loss).

　　So, how do they work?

As far as the principle of insulation and heat preservation is concerned, sleeping mats are the same as sleeping bags and warm clothing: they are firmly grasped between our body and the cold external environment (for sleeping mats, of course, the cold ground) Some air does not flow, and our body will slowly heat the remaining air. In this way, they become our isolation barrier (to prevent heat loss). The isolation effect of a sleeping mat depends largely on how much air it can hold and how free (flowing, circulating) the air is.

　　Step #1: Consider your travel plan

　　 The following main factors need to be selected when choosing a sleeping mat:

　　"The effect of isolation (heat preservation)

　　"The degree of comfort

　　"The size of weight and volume

　　"The degree of durability

　　Combine your travel plan to determine the more important factors

"Think about the weather conditions you expect-if you only go out or camp on those days when the weather is good, then comfort may be more important than isolation. But if you travel throughout the year or like early spring And outdoor travel in late autumn, to ensure that your sleeping pad can give you enough protection in the cold and humid environment. It is recommended that you use two sleeping pads (stacked) at the same time in the snow or tundra.

"Think about the level of comfort you expect during sleep-some people can tolerate sleeping mats that just meet their basic needs in order to save money, space and weight. Others are willing to spend more money and have a heavier back The sleeping mat is to create the most comfortable sleeping conditions for yourself in the wilderness.

"How much extra weight can you carry-thicker, more comfortable sleeping pads will be heavier and will cause you a lot of trouble during long-distance backpacking trips; but if the trip is shorter, or you just like self-driving cars Camping, the extra weight hardly needs to be considered.

"Think about how much space you have to put down your sleeping mat-if you need a full-weight backpack for hiking, a light, compact sleeping mat will make it easier to carry. But if you can transport your equipment by car or boat, Then the storage space is not a problem.

　　Step #2: Consider which sleeping mat to choose

　　 "Inflatable bed-relatively basic, inflatable air bag method"

　　 Advantages: comfortable, adjustable, and inexpensive.

　　 Disadvantages: They are often large and heavy, and they are easily punctured or cracked. Air can circulate freely inside, so their insulation effect is not good.

　　 "Open-cell foam cushion-a foam cushion like a sponge, composed of countless tiny open pores"

　　 Advantages: Comfortable, light weight, and inexpensive. The tiny open pores restrict the circulation of air, so it can isolate and heat more effectively than the airbag inflatable bed

　　 Disadvantages: The open-cell foam material will absorb moisture and water, and it is easy to cause trouble for you in a humid environment. Moreover, there is no good insulation effect of closed-cell foam material (to achieve the same insulation effect, open-cell foam material needs 4 times the thickness), open-cell foam material is bulky, not easy to compress (carry), and it is not Very durable.

　　 Tips: Due to the late start of domestic outdoor sports, and keeping up with international trends, it is basically difficult to see this early sleeping mat in outdoor stores.

　　 "Closed-cell foam mat-composed of countless tiny closed pores"

　　 Advantages: cheap, durable (it won’t be broken even if you stomped on it hard) and excellent insulation and warmth (the air in the mat almost never flows, so even if it is cut thin, it still has a good insulation and warmth). Moreover, this kind of mat does not absorb moisture or water.

　　 Disadvantages: They are relatively hard, and they are far less effective than the cushioning effect of open-cell foam materials (to be comfortable, you need a thicker and heavier guy)

　　 Tips: Buy a closed-cell foam cushion, and don’t forget to equip your cushion with a coat (nylon cloth is good, not only scratch-resistant, but also rain-proof)

　　 "Self-inflating cushion-open-cell foam material installed in a fully enclosed, waterproof nylon jacket."

　　Advantages: It is as comfortable as the open-cell foam material, but the insulation effect is much better (the nylon jacket restricts the air circulation and also prevents the absorption of water). They can be adjusted (the built-in air valve allows you to control the amount of air intake and the softness of the cushion), and can be very compact when stowed.

　　 Disadvantages: It is much more expensive than other types of sleeping mats, will be punctured or cut (fortunately, it is not difficult to repair in the field), and it is heavier than open-cell and closed-cell foam cushions.

　　Step #3: Try it before buying

　　 There are many types, shapes and lengths of sleeping mats. If possible, try them if possible before deciding which one to buy. The following questions will help you determine your needs:

　　"How thick is the cushion to make you feel comfortable?

　　"How long/wide do you want your cushion to be? (Many types of cushions are made shorter in order to save weight and storage space)

　　" Is it easy to inflate and deflate the mat and to carry it?

　　Step #4: Some other small details

          Finally, some other small details may affect your final decision-such as multiple air chambers (the adjustable range will be greater); built-in air pillows (for comfort); the texture of the surface of the sleeping pad will have a better isolation effect , Non-slip and more comfortable; tapered cushion (mummy style) can reduce some weight and volume.

　　 If you are traveling with your friends, you can consider bringing a large sleeping mat that can sleep two people. There is also: the same as the working principle of the sleeping pad, the seat cushion will make you sit extremely comfortable without worrying about whether its weight and volume are "exceeded".

As a professional China ultralight mattress manufacturers and camping mats suppliers, Zhejiang Hongfeng Outdoor Products Co.,Ltd (ZJHF) was founded in 1998.We hope that the high-quality outdoor products we make will enable you to enjoy the outdoors.VISIT: /