Best Camping Mats For Bad Backs

How Do You Choose A Sleeping Pad For Camping

Finding the right sleeping pad can make or break your camp trip. First consider, where, when, and how often you plan to camp.

Are you camping in the hot, humid South? Or do you camp a lot in the winter? And are you spending a lot of time outside or just getting started with a night or two camped out?

If youre camping when its cold, youll want to prioritize a higher insulation level. And if youre just testing it out or on a tighter budget, go with something like the sub-$50 Kelty Mistral.

Best Overall Sleeping Pad

• Weight and Packed Size7.0
• Warmth9.0

Weight:R-Value:REASONS TO BUY

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm is an absolute beast it balances remarkable warmth with a packable and lightweight design. We can’t find a single comparable pad on the market that balances warmth and comfort with versatile features. We’re fans of the pad’s newly improved valve system and had no hesitation crowning the XTherm our favorite pad.

Yes, the XTherm wins our highest honors, but that doesn’t mean some of the more wallet-friendly options won’t get the job done in a similar fashion. If the narrow profile of the XTherm puts you off, check out the wider Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Max for a bit more wiggle room.

• Weight and Packed Size8.0
• Warmth7.0

Weight:R-Value:REASONS TO BUYREASONS TO AVOID

Once again, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite takes home our highest honors in the ultralight category. While there is always a temptation to utilize the lightest equipment on the market, this isn’t always the most pragmatic. The XLite is extremely light, but just as important is the performance packed into that tiny mass. We feel it is critical to retain decent insulative properties to be versatile enough for the mountains. The 4.2 R-value settles the XLite firmly in the three-season category, making it comfortable even for fall days in the desert when you wake up with a bit of frost on your bivy.

Campmax Camping Cots For Adults

The CAMPMAX Camping Cot for adults is a foldable camping cot that is designed to offer maximum comfort. It is made of double-layer fabric consisting of heavy-duty steel and 600D Polyester Oxford and PVC Coating.

As such, it is a solidly-constructed camping bed that should last for a long time, even if it gets a lot of use.

It has a weight capacity of up to 500 pounds so it is strong enough for an adult to sleep comfortably without the fear of breaking the cot.

The CAMPMAX Camping Cot for adults has an unfolded size of 75x28x15, giving you enough sleeping area. It has folded dimensions of 41x9x7 and fits well in its carry bag for easy story and transportation.

This camp bed is also easy to set up. No assembly is required, you just unfold it and your camping bed is ready for use. When not in use, you can easily fold it and store it in its carrying bag.

Buying CAMPMAX Camping Cot for adults gives a multi-use camp bed that you can use for camping, hiking, picnics, or at home when you have extra guests.

However, this cot has a drawback. It weighs 16.76 pounds and it may not be easy to carry on long distances when backpacking. Thus, you may want to use it when car camping so you dont end up having back pains.

All the same, CAMPMAX Camping Cot for adults is one of the best camping cots for a bad pack. With this camp cot, youll definitely have a great camping experience.

• Very sturdy

• Not padded

CAMPMAX Camping Cots for Adults Most Comfortable

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Why Should I Buy A Camping Mats For Bad Backs

You can tell if you need or want a camping mats for bad backs by looking at your existing inventory. You probably dont need it and should reconsider buying it. If you cant get go of the old one, you could sell it and use the proceeds to buy the new one.This is a fun and easy approach to finish your task.

Final Thoughts

Lets face it, we all want to feel good about our purchases. But there are so many! How can you know which is best? You need not be concerned because Aids Quilt has your back. Our trained staff is here to help you find what works for you. Before making a final decision, you can take advantage of our free consultations.

What Are Sleeping Pad R Values

Sleeping pad R Values are the outdoor industrys best attempt to standardize the warmth a sleeping pad provides. An R Value is technically the measure of thermal resistance, or ability of heat to transfer from hot to cold, through materials. As you might imagine, R Value is used to determine many other products insulative properties, like walls in homes.

For sleeping pads, R Values are not determined by a standardized, independent body . Therefore, there is no correct R Value that can be assigned to any pad. Each manufacturer has their own testing method. Yet sleeping pads are given R Values by companies anyway, and for the most part they are accurate.

The R Value is sometimes printed right on the stuff sack for the pad, in this case a self-inflating pad that REI no longer makes.

For sleeping pad R Values, the numbers range from 1 to 10 the higher the number the more warmth the pad provides, and the colder temperature you can expect to sleep comfortably in. There are also decimals used in these numbers, so an R Value of 3.3 is actually warmer than an R Value of 3.

While there is no specific temperature studied in relation to these R Values, the industry generally breaks down the numbers like this:

1-1.5 R Value: No real insulation properties. Best for warm summer nights. Can be dangerous if used on colder nights, as they will suck warmth out of you.

Add R Values Together

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Klymit Static V Lightweight Sleeping Pad The Most Innovative Design

The Klymit sleeping pad was love at first sight for us because of its utter cool V chamber design. Interestingly, its unique design does more than just attracting eyeballs it is a smart mechanism to limit air movement and heat loss. In addition to that, its body mapping technology ensured that the pad molds to your unique body structure to give you customized support and comfort.

Pros

Insulating properties have room for improvement.

Things To Look Out For When Choosing A Camping Mat

When buying a new camping mat, the first thing you need to do is work out what type of camper you are. Will you be camping in the summer or all-year-round? Will you be packing your mat in the car, or will you need to squeeze it into a backpack? Once youve worked that out, read our top 3 things to think about when choosing the best camping mat:

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Most Comfortable Self Inflating Sleeping Pad

• Dimensions when unfurled: Regular: 72 x 20 x 3 inches
• Dimensions when packed: Regular: 7 x 11.25 inches
• Weight: Regular: 2 lbs. 2 oz.
• R Value: 4.1

Sea to Summit has yet again graced our list. This time with the Comfort Plus SI sleeping pad. This is the pad to go with if the priority is 3-season comfort above all else. Delivering a cushy 3 inches of padding, this self-inflating sleeping pad is also built from 30-denier stretch-knit top fabric, which is going to deliver a slightly more durable performance over lightweight pads.

Since the R Value of the Comfort Plus SI is around 4.1, mild winter adventures are now a possibility. That said, keep your expectations realistic. This is not an extreme cold weather sleeping pad.

Every backpacker prioritizes comfort needs differently. For me personally, I would choose something a bit lighter for a long-distance hike beyond more than just a couple of days. But if you are an older person, or a person who suffers from a stiff back if you sleep on a hard surface, Id say it is well worth the investment to go with a well-cushioned pad like this one.

All and all, Sea to Summit delivers the quality with the Comfort Plus SI that one has come to expect with a brand which is now considered a major player in the backpacker scene.

• Dimensions when unfurled: 72 x 41 x 3.9
• Dimensions when packed: 27.6 x 11.8
• Weight: 4 lbs. 7 oz.
• R Value: 2.5

If you are looking for the camping version of a love nest, look no further.

How Much Are Camping Beds

Ranging from $40 to $450, the majority of Anaconda’s camping beds are $50 to $200.

When you go to the sleeping section on the Anaconda website, you’ll see tick box filters down the left hand side of the page. Using these filters makes working out which bed to buy easier and faster because you can choose to filter what you see by:

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Not Sleeping Well When Camping Invest In The Best Camping Mattress

Camping is a lot of fun, when you are comfortable. Guaranteed the best way to put you off heading away is to have a shoddy nights sleep, or wake up feeling like you need to head straight to the chiropractor!

With the technology and gear out today there is no reason to have a bad nights sleep when you are away. If you arent sleeping well, you need to look for the best camping mattress thats in your budget, and the good news is there are plenty of options today.

Ive always enjoyed camping, but up until a few years ago never managed to get a great nights sleep. I remember 2 weeks where we camped at a Caravan Park in Coral Bay, and every single morning I got up I had to stretch and crack my back.

I literally ended up visiting a chiropractor when I got back to Perth. Whats to blame? A poor quality camping mattress!

Theres no reason why you shouldnt have a good nights sleep when camping

Coleman Self Inflating Camping Pad With Pillow For When You Are On A Tight Budget

A plush, tufted cushioning with a thickness of about 2.5 inches gives you a luxurious snooze even in the middle of the wilderness. While the durable polyester sheath that envelopes the beauty inside ensures longevity even with rough use prevalent among frequent campers. To add to the comfort, it comes with its own pillow, so you dont have to depend on scrunched up clothes or your backpack to rest your head at night.

An integrated free-flow valve plumps up the pad without calling for a bulky air pump within minutes. Whereas the built-in compression straps make deflation effortless making this a boon for those with backaches.

Pros

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Lightest Self Inflating Sleeping Pad

• Dimensions when unfurled: 72 x 20 x 1 Inches
• Dimensions when packed: 4.1 x 11 inches
• Weight: 1 pound
• R Value: 3.2

This ultralight Thermarest inflatable mattress is, as far as self-inflating sleeping pads go, the smallest sleeping pad on the market. Unrivaled in terms of convenience, the Pro Lite comes in a range of three sizes and each size is a different price meaning you can save some money if you need a small sleeping pad.

If youre looking for a lightweight air bed, the die cut foam of the Pro Lite makes it easy to pack and carry from camp to camp. It is the best self-inflating air mattress around but it doesnt offer the same kind of R value as the XTherm or Static V2. For a casual backpacker, the Prolite Plus is a good choice but if you plan on spending a lot of time in cold weather then I would recommend choosing a sleeping pad with a higher R value.

Is this the lightest inflatable sleeping pad in the world? No but it still a good one.

Comparison Table Of The Best Camping Mattress For Bad Back

After knowing the reason why your back hurts after camping and the core benefits of having a camping mattress, as well as the factors before purchasing the best camping mattress lets jump into the products. Check out the comparison table, it will help you to make differences between each product. Through we have picked all-time best camping mattress for bad back after doing a lot of research. Any of them will be perfect for you, yet you might have your own choice so we have sorted out the best 6 camping mattress in this article.

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Try Changing Up Your Sleeping Position

Changing your sleeping position is one way to try to get back pain relief.

If you are a back or stomach sleeper with a soft mattress and you dont have the budget for a new bed, you can try switching to a side sleeping position that will receive more support from your existing mattress. In general, experts recommend that stomach sleepers try to adjust to side or back sleeping because its easier to get appropriate support in those positions.

For people with acute pain, temporary changes to your sleeping position may help to reduce stress on already sore or achy parts of your back. For example, people with lumbar pain might try a period of side sleeping to avoid the excess bending of that area that can happen on your stomach or back.

While changing sleeping positions is worth a shot, its often not a long-term solution because the change can be hard to stick with. Some people just cant get comfortable in a different position or they may quickly revert back to their old sleeping position during the night. In these cases, other approaches are more likely to be beneficial over the medium- to long-term.

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Why Does My Back Hurt After Camping

If you feel sore after waking up instead of feeling refreshed, your bed can be at fault for not giving you the right support and comfort that your back needs. Campers often dont choose a comfortable sleeping mattress for their trips, thinking its just for a few days, and a sleeping bag would be fine. Although some sleeping surfaces for camping do have padding to prevent back pain, the cheaper versions might just worsen your back condition.

A good camping bed will conform to the shape of your body and support your natural curves. This way, your backbone stays in the right alignment and remains in a neutral position. The strain on your back minimizes due to this feature, and your back gets the maximum support.

If you are sleeping on a hard surface, it is likely to give you a painful back. Firmness is subjective when it comes to selecting the best camping mattress for a bad back. You just have to look for comfort and support, some people prefer hard surfaces, and others are more comfortable on fluffy surfaces. Go for what has been working out best for you previously.

Tips And Tricks To Pick The Best Camping Pad

Foam pads like the one in Exped MegaMat Duo 10 Self Inflating Sleeping Pad is a better option for those with a bad back than air-filled mattress. However, the R& D department of the above-mentioned air-filled mattresses has done an undeniably impeccable job to create the best backpacking sleeping pad for a bad back.

Self-inflating and deflating pads like Coleman Self Inflating Camping Pad with Pillow cuts down camping efforts by a significant volume a boon for bad backs!

A thickness of at least 2.5 inches is absolutely vital to keep you shielded from the rocky surface of the ground and preserve your body heat from escaping while keeping the cold of the ground from infiltrating while you snooze.

The weight of the mattress becomes even more significant when a bad back is involved. It is vital to pick a lightweight option like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite Ultralight Backpacking Air Mattress. This ensures that your back is stressed from the weight of the mattress sitting in your backpack.

Consider your height and the size of the pad before spending your money. It should be large enough to accommodate you comfortably with some empty space around.

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The Best Camping Mats For 2022 Are:

• Best overall Vango dreamer 5 double: £96, Vango.co.uk
• Best double camping mat Outwell sleepin 10cm double self inflating mattress: £94.99, Outdoorworlddirect.co.uk
• Best for support Berghaus single self-inflating mat: £110, Gooutdoors.co.uk
• Best for comfort Vango shangri-la II 7.5 grande: £145, Vango.co.uk
• Best for innovation Vango trek pro 5 standard: £56, Vango.co.uk
• Best premium camping mat Snowpeak inflatable mattress 2.5: £295, Snowpeak.co.uk
• Best for cold nights Nemo tensor insulated regular sleeping mat: £179.99, Ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk
• Best for ease of use OEX traverse self-inflating mat: £25, Gooutdoors.co.uk
• Best for single sleepers Hi-Gear dream 5 sleeping mat: £50, Gooutdoors.co.uk
• Best for stability Kelty galactic si sleeping pad: £58.95,
• Best mummy-style sleeping bag Kelty cosmic air mummy sleeping pad: £36.95, Wildbounds.com
• Best foam camping mat Charles Bentley single camping mat: £10, Argos.co.uk