Most campers invest heavily in sleeping bags and use whatever pad came with a previous kit. This is backwards. Here is why the pad matters more than most people think.
The Physics
A sleeping bag insulates by trapping still air in its fill (down or synthetic). When you compress that fill by lying on it, it loses almost all its insulation value. The ground beneath you conducts heat away from your body far more efficiently than still air above you — the thermal gradient through the ground is steeper than through the air.
The practical result: a sleeping bag rated to -5°C with a thin sleeping pad can leave you cold at 5°C. The same bag on a pad with adequate R-value will be comfortable at -5°C. The pad's insulation contribution is not supplementary — it is foundational.
R-Value
R-value measures resistance to heat flow. Higher is warmer. As a guide for Australian camping:
- R 1.5–2: Summer camping, warm conditions above 10°C.
- R 3–4: Three-season camping, shoulder seasons, Victorian highland summers.
- R 4–6: Winter camping, alpine conditions, snow camping.
Types
Foam closed-cell pads: Cheap, indestructible, no inflation required. Low R-value per centimetre of thickness. Cannot puncture. The right base layer under an inflatable pad in serious cold.
Self-inflating pads: Open-cell foam that expands when the valve is opened. Comfortable, moderate R-value, heavier than inflatable. Good for car camping and short trips.
Inflatable air pads: Lightweight with high R-value per kilogram. Must be inflated. Puncture risk — carry a patch kit. The right choice for weight-conscious hikers and hunters. Browse our camping sleep systems range.
