Sleep gear by type

Six categories, and the honest tradeoff of each one written at the top of its page rather than buried under the products.

Backpacking pad

The half people underbuy. Since 2020 every R-value on the box means the same thing.

$50–$260 · 7 makers

Hood, draft collar, nothing to arrange in the dark. The most thermally efficient shape, and the least adjustable fit.

$200–$795 · 10 makers

The hood and the crushed underside deleted. Real weight saved, and edge sealing handed to you.

$289–$559 · 9 makers

Three to four inches of foam and no weight limit — but check the R-value, not just the plush.

$99–$265 · 4 makers

Room to move and a shell that survives a campground. Weight stops mattering; warmth when wet starts to.

$170–$400 · 4 makers

Cannot puncture, cannot leak, adds about two points of R-value under anything else.

$60–$60 · 2 makers