Mattress & hammocks
How to choose a camping and backpacking sleeping mat?
When it comes to hiking and backpacking equipment, just like choosing a camping tent or sleeping bag, multiple criteria come into play when selecting a sleeping pad. Size, intended use, insulation or even the type of mattress: inflatable or self-inflating, come into play. Discover models from renowned brands such as Sea to Summit.
Read more Show lessRecommended price
£40.86
-20%
£32.67
Recommended price
£191.01
-30%
£133.68
For comfortable nights in the mountains from spring to autumn, bring with you the lightweight, warm and quiet Tensor Regular Mummy Goldfinch sleeping pad from Nemo.
Recommended price
£291.11
-30%
£203.75
The Nemo Tensor Alpine Insulated Long Wide Orange Mountaineering inflatable sleeping pad is designed for rugged conditions and mountaineering.
Recommended price
£263.81
-30%
£184.64
The Nemo Tensor Alpine Insulated Regular Mummy Mountaineering Orange inflatable sleeping pad has an R-Value of 4.8, this model is ideal for all season use and mountaineering.
Recommended price
£209.21
-30%
£146.42
You can count on the Nemo Tensor Insulated Regular Mummy Torch sleeping mat to keep you warm for winter or altitude treks.
Recommended price
£218.31
-30%
£152.79
With a rectangular shape, the Tensor Long Wide Goldfinch sleeping pad from Nemo offers room to sleep comfortably when camping, while staying lightweight.
- £127.31
- £81.81
The Sea to Summit Camp Mat Self Inflating Olive is a year-round mattress with a great comfort-to-weight ratio.
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Recommended price
£209.21
-30%
£146.42
The Nemo Tensor Insulated Regular mattress is light, resistant, comfortable and insulating thanks to a double-layer Thermal Mirror metallized film, ideal for all seasons.
Recommended price
£200.11
-30%
£140.05
The Nemo Tensor Regular Wide Goldfinch is an inflatable mattress made from Bluesign-certified recycled polyester. It features SpaceFrame compartments for greater stability.
Recommended price
£181.91
-10%
From £163.71
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- Regular
- Long
- From £163.71
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- Regular
- Long
Recommended price
£154.61
-20%
From £122.76
The Quasar 3D Plasma sleeping pad from Nemo is a versatile inflatable model designed for the warm season and made of Bluesign certified 30D ripstop polyester.
- Regular
- Regular Wide
- £136.41
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- £145.51
Recommended price
£191.01
-30%
£133.68
Nemo's Tensor Regular Torch inflatable mattress features SpaceFrame compartments for greater stability, and is made from Bluesign-certified recycled polyester.
- From £145.51
The Astro Insulated Birch Bud inflatable sleeping pad from Nemo allows you to spend comfortable backpacking nights. Its outer shell fabric is Bluesign certified.
- Regular
- Long Wide
- From £195.56
The Sea to Summit Ether Light Xt Insulated Gris Orange sleeping mat offers particularly generous air cells allowing to sleep comfortably in any position.
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- £209.21
The Bach Equipment Relay 3R Split Stormy Blue Cinnamon Red is a lightweight, durable inflatable sleeping pad with excellent heat distribution and optimal stability.
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- From £118.21
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- Regular
- Long
Recommended price
£122.76
-10%
From £110.02
The Sea to Summit Ultralight Air Yellow is a mattress designed for quick and light summer adventures.
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Multiple criteria to consider
Beyond your body shape (picking a mat suited to your size seems evident), it is important to choose one suited to your environment, the type of your expeditions and your needs. The balance between weight/footprint/comfort is different for everyone. Are you a minimalist willing to spare every possible gram to the detriment of comfort? Or to the contrary, are you someone used to good night comfort, and not inclined to make any sacrifices. The decision rests upon you to choose the mat that meets your needs.
Manufacturers specify on their models the user’s maximum height to insure your comfort. When it comes to warmth, or rather insulation, each model has an R-Value. It ranges from 1, mostly for summer use, to over 6 for all season sleeping.
Inflatable or self-inflating mat?
A common question is whether to choose an inflatable mat or a self-inflating model. It all depends on your needs and the type of your adventures. Weight, size, and practicality are elements to consider. For example, if you plan on backpacking for a night or two under a tent, comfort should be your main concern. The right option could be an inflatable mat that will provide maximum comfort, almost like home. A pump sack is needed for inflation. This type of sleeping mat is also recommended for long treks because of their lightness and small size, to take up less space in your backpack.
A self-inflating mat is also compact when folded but remains a bit heavier. However, it offers better insulation thanks to the interior foam and is much easier to inflate as you don’t have to blow air inside.
To sum it up, whether it is for a long adventure or shorter trip, it all depends on what you’re looking for in terms of weight, comfort, insulation and practicality. Inflatable mats and self-inflating mats both have their pros and cons.
As you understand, there are different types of mattresses and finding the right sleeping mat is a very personal matter. Take the time to identify your needs before making your choice among our selection of sleeping mats from the best brands such as Sea to Summit, Thermarest, Nemo, Ferrino, etc.
To complete this selection, feel free to browse through our range of foam sleeping mats.
Hammocks, a practical choice for relaxing at home or in the wild
If you’re looking to enjoy a moment of relaxation during your hike or simply in your backyard, you can choose a hammock. Very practical, it can be installed between two trees or other anchors to take a nature pause and rest during your adventures or peacefully read a book at home. In addition, in some cases and areas of the globe, it is preferable to avoid being in direct contact with the ground.