26 pads · 5 brands · published figures
Sleeping pad R-value chart
Every backpacking sleeping pad in the RidgeNote register with a published R-value, warmest first, with its weight and how much warmth each pound buys. The best warmth for the weight here is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT at R 7.3 for 15.5 oz (7.5 per lb).
What R-value do you need?
| Use | R-value | Nights | Pads here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm nights | under 2 | about 50°F and above | 4 |
| Three-season | 2–4 | down to about 32°F | 9 |
| Cold | 4–5.5 | down to about 20°F | 9 |
| Winter / extreme | 5.5+ | below 20°F, snow camping | 4 |
Common retail guidance, not a guarantee: your bag, clothing and how warm you sleep matter as much. R-values add when pads are stacked.
Every pad by R-value
Questions
- What is a good R-value for a sleeping pad?
- For three-season backpacking, an R-value of about 2 to 4 covers nights down to around freezing. Summer-only trips can use less than 2; cold shoulder seasons call for 4 to 5.5, and snow camping for 5.5 or more.
- What temperature is an R4 sleeping pad good for?
- An R-value of 4 is the usual threshold for cold nights, down to about 20°F, as common guidance. How warm you sleep also depends on your sleeping bag or quilt and on how warm a sleeper you are.
- What R-value do I need for winter camping?
- Most winter and snow campers use a combined R-value of 5.5 or more. R-values add up, so a closed-cell foam pad under an inflatable pad raises the total.
- Which sleeping pad has the highest R-value?
- Of the 26 pads in the RidgeNote register with a published R-value, the Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe Self Inflating Sleeping Pad is warmest at R 7.7.
- Are R-values comparable between brands?
- Yes, for pads tested to the ASTM F3340 standard, which the major brands adopted in 2020. Older or untested figures are not directly comparable.