Best sleeping mats for 2025 | Tested and reviewed for a warm and comfortable night’s sleep

The Sea to Summit Ether Light XR strikes an excellent balance between weight, durability, comfort and warmth.

An R-value of 4.1 is a solid rating for three-season use, with the internal ThermalCore insulation providing a toasty warmth boost.

Yet the mat is still lightweight and compact, clocking in at 547g (regular version, including storage bag), and packing down to a compact cylinder sized 20x11cm, which is slightly smaller than many competing products.

The 30-denier and 40-denier nylon materials feel simultaneously lightweight yet reasonably robust, while the slightly-tapered mummy shape is refined for lightness.

There’s a quilted surface with a textured, criss-crossing, grid-like pattern called Air Sprung Cells. We found it very comfortable and cosy (although possibly a bit bobbly).

The 55cm width and 10cm thickness are particularly impressive, offering extra room and insulation than other brands’ offerings, but the 183cm length is pretty standard.

Inflation and deflation of the Ether Light XR are seamless too, courtesy of Sea to Summit’s high-tech XPRESS valve and Airstream Pump sack. It took us three full sacks of air and barely a minute to fully inflate – efficient stuff.

Overall, this is a top-tier mat for three-season, multi-day adventures.

Read our Sea to Summit Ether Light XR review for more info.

The biggest selling point of the Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated mat is its price. It has the credentials and features to be closer to £200, so at £150 it represents excellent value for money.

The R-value of 4.8 is particularly impressive, out-performing more expensive alternatives. The Rapide is more than suited to 3-season adventuring and only just falls short of suitability for winter.

The Rapid SL’s rectangular profile (183x51cm) adds roominess compared to mummy-tapered pads, and the 10.8cm-thick vertical baffles deliver good levels of comfort, support and stability.

Inflation and deflation are very straight-forward too, via the included pump sack and high-tech dual valve. On our first attempt, it only took a few minutes and four loads of the pump sack to fully inflate.

The only real drawback of the Rapide SL is its weight. It clocks in at 607g (including mat, pump sack, storage bag and repair kit), which is slightly heftier than its competitors.

The Big Agnes Rapide SL isn't the best option for fast and light adventures, but for general camping it's an excellent, budget-friendly all-rounder.

Read our Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated review for more info.

The Nemo Tensor Elite is a sleeping mat that's all about saving grams – it's a mighty small unit, not much bigger than a Coke can, weighing a featherlight 326g.

The R-value is 2.4, which isn't 3-season suitable, but it’s ideal for spring and summer adventures.

It delivers surprisingly impressive comfort, stable cushioning and well-executed features. The shape is a tapered mummy, which feels a tad narrow, thin and lacking in spaciousness, but ultimately does the job, and comfort levels are good courtesy of Nemo’s grid-like Apex baffles.

We particularly loved the inflation-deflation system. The pump sack is quick and efficient (only 2.5 sets to fully inflate) while the Laylow valve has a really clever micro-adjustment system for air pressure.

This isn't the most rugged option on the market, but it does come with Nemo’s Lifetime Warranty.

Overall, the Nemo Tensor Elite is an amazingly light sleeping mat with surprisingly impressive comfort levels, ideal for gram-saving ultralight enthusiasts.

Read our Nemo Tensor Elite review for more info.

The Mountain Equipment Mirrostat 7.0 delivers a superb warmth-to-weight ratio.

You get an official R-value rating of 4.5, which for some campers will be suitable for winter camping in zero or sub-zero temperatures, yet the weight is only 530g (regular size, including storage bag and repair kit).

The mat has a rectangular profile, not a tapered mummy shape. It's particularly long (190cm), which is about 7cm more than most other mats, thus making it suitable for taller campers.

I measured the packed down Mirrostat at 28x12cm, making it longer and thinner than most alternatives. Unlike some brands, Mountain Equipment have provided a spacious bag, which makes it much easier to pack away the mat in the morning – a nice touch.

The 51cm width is pretty standard, if not slightly narrow, but the raised bathtub-style sides effectively prevent you sliding off.

There's one aspect which might divide opinion. The sleeping surface’s vertical baffles will feel a bit ridgy to some campers, but others will love the comfort levels.

The pad benefits from spot welded construction for extra durability. However, it’s perhaps less robust than some of the competition, so it’s worth handling with care.

Overall, the Mountain Equipment Mirrostat 7.0 is ideal for lightweight end-of-season adventures, providing a superb amount of warmth for its weight.

Read our Mountain Equipment Mirrostat 7.0 review for more info.

The Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 is one of the best sleeping mats if you're looking for 3-season levels of warmth at the lowest weight and most compact size.

It delivers a competitive R-value of 4.3 (not 4.5, confusingly), but weighs just 463g (including pump sack, storage bag and repair kit) and packs down incredibly small (16x9cm).

The toasty warmth is achieved through two layers of heat-reflective TILT (Thermo Ionic Lining Technology), which works like an emergency foil blanket to reflect heat back towards your body.

With a 4.3 R-value, I'd put a lot of faith in its insulating ability for 3-season use, though I'd opt for something with a higher value for the cold depths of winter.It's made from ultralight 20-denier polyester fabric, with a minimalist, mummy-style cut. Some people might prefer a wider mat – but this is the downside of it being ultralight.

Comfort levels are high, thanks to the horizontal baffles, while inflating and deflating via the pump sack and modern valve system is straight-forward enough.

Again, due to how lightweight this mat is, durability may be an issue in the long term – though we’re yet to have any qualms ourselves.

Overall, the Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 is an ultralight, super-compact sleeping mat with a superb warmth-to-weight ratio – perfect for fast and light adventures.

Read our Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 review for more info.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft has an unrivalled level of comfort. This mat is so thick (12cm), plush, warm (R-value of 4.7) and cosy it’s almost like a portable, camping version of the traditional airbed you might sleep on when visiting a friend’s house.

The downside of this is that it's very expensive and heavier than ideal (928g, including storage bag, pump sack and repair kit).

The super-wide profile (66cm) is certainly luxurious, but it might be too big for your tent. The packed-away size (27x14cm) is chunkier than most, so this is a good option if space isn't a concern.

It achieves an R-value of 4.7, which is almost suitable for winter. It's more than enough for 3-season use, providing effective insulation from the ground.

One standout feature is the huge, 54-litre, seam-sealed pump sack, which fills up naturally, with very minimal effort required. There's absolutely no risk of moisture from breath getting into the pad, which can lead to issues with mould in the long run.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft is a super-thick, ultra-plush sleeping mat with unrivalled levels of comfort – perfect for car camping, where space and weight isn't a concern.

Read our Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft review for more info.

We've been using this sleeping mat for nearly a year and it's been tremendous. Near Zero is a reasonably small American outdoor brand that produces excellent value, high-performance kit that is designed to make wild camping and backpacking more accessible to more people.

Its insulated sleeping mat strikes a great balance between comfort and weight. It insulates well and is a good size (186cm is slightly longer than other regular-sized mats).

We liked how compact it is too, despite not being the lightest mat we've tested. So far for us it's held up well and is showing no signs of wear or tear.

Read our full Near Zero backpacking bundle review

As a first inflatable sleeping mat this is our pick. It's a sleeping mat we've used several times and have been perfectly comfortable using.

At 650g and packing down to 27 x 14cm it's reasonably compact for a self-inflating sleeping mat, and despite being low cost, is pretty durable too.

That said, it's not the warmest mat for its size (the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus below is noticeably warmer) and is best used for late spring through to early autumn.

The lightweight and packable Exped Ultra 3-season inflatable mat has impressed us for its performance and eco-credentials. It's become our go-to mat for most hiking trips. It uses Bluesign-certified synthetic insulation and recycled 20D ripstop polyester fabric; the mat is even certified carbon neutral by myclimate.org. 

The Ultra 3R is comprised of head-to-toe air chambers that provide a pliable, cushioned sleeping surface and – more importantly – excellent insulation from the ground. This is thanks to Exped's proprietary Symnat Texpedloft technology. Is that a silly name? Perhaps. But this sleeping mat is seriously good at keeping you at a safe and comfortable temperature throughout chilly nights.

The Vango Thermocore XPD is a belter of a winter sleeping mat, coming in at a very reasonable RRP of £140 but found in retail outlets around £120.

At 10cm deep, it offers impressive comfort, especially for side sleepers - and it prevented my hips from sinking too close to the ground which happened a lot with my old roll mat. The addition of a crinkly, silver thermal layer helps to reflect heat, making it an excellent option for colder conditions - it has an impressive R value of 5.6, make it a true 4 season trekking mat.

The generous 195 cm length and 58 cm width (for the regular size) offer plenty of space to stretch out, so this would suit the vast majority of users.

However, it’s worth noting that the small size of the inflation bag means blowing the thing up takes a while, so those who suffer from patience deficit might find it a bit tedious. Additionally, the valve can be a little sticky when trying to detach the inflate bag, which led to a few frustrating attempts before I was successful. Once you've got the knack, however, it becomes easy enough.

In terms of comfort, the dimple texture, along with the aforementioned thickness, is great. It helps prevent you from sliding off the mat in your sleeping bag, ensuring you don't end up on the cold, hard ground. While generally quiet, the mat's internal layers can make a slight crinkling sound, which may be noticeable for more restless sleepers. A pair of earplugs should be in your camping kit anyway! Overall, though, I had a great couple of night's sleep.

Deflation and packing down are quick and easy, with the mat compressing down to a compact 22 x 13 cm (packed size), making it a great choice for backpackers looking to save space. The mat is also relatively lightweight, weighing 740 grams for the regular size, which for 10 cm depth makes it lighter than many competitors in the same category.

A great combination of weight, pack size and warmth, and at a good price. The Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus self-inflating might require some manual assistance, but the comfort provided is good for this kind of mat. 

The highlight of this mat is the WingLock valve, a high-performance valve with an increased airflow for rapid inflation or deflation. Although, with the ProLite Plus' expanding foam core, you'll only need to access the valve if you want to top off the self-inflation for your ideal level of firmness.

This little bit of wiggle room for personal taste is what makes Therm-a-Rest a go-to choice for experienced campers.

We put this pricey but technical sleeping mat to the test in the Cairngorms during winter. The Tensor Extreme Conditions boasts an impressive R-value of 8.5, making it one of the warmest backpacking mats available.

This warmth is achieved with four layers of Thermal Mirror metallised film within Nemo’s Apex baffle design, adhering to the ASTM F3340 standard for accuracy.

Comfort is impressive too with its 9cm deep cushioning, which offers a relatively luxurious sleeping experience uncommon in lightweight mats. Despite its high R-value and thick cushioning, the Tensor EC weighs under half a kilogram, thanks to the lightweight Thermal Mirror film.

The mat is easy to inflate with the Vortex pump sack, taking fewer than four inflations, and deflates quickly with the updated Laylow valve. Its 40D nylon underside is puncture-resistant, while the 20D nylon top provides a soft, quiet sleep surface.

Read our full NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions Mummy Sleeping Mat review

Astoundingly lightweight and packable, albeit not the warmest, the Inertia Ozone relies on your sleeping bag to provide most of the insulation, leaving gaps in the frame of the mat in which the bag can loft. 

The combination of air and foam makes this a superb regulator for summer camp trips and a fine all-rounder for those who like to keep it ultralight. You won't find a mat that's easier to carry with you, though this does come with a small compromise on comfort.

You may not get the lush padding of the Polarshield, but we think the trade-off is worthwhile on a hot day or a light trek.

Light, tough and exceptionally budget-friendly, this Multimat Camper 8 mat is suited to warmer conditions and predictably comfortable pitching locations where its lack of cushioning and insulation won't be missed. 

Not everyone is pitching up on the north face of Snowdon. In our experience, the majority of pitched tents reside in flat, grassy valleys and meadows. Festivals too. If this sounds like your camping context, then the Multimat Camper 8 is an ideal choice.