What is an R-Value and what Sleeping Pad do I need?
If you’ve found yourself deep on google wondering “What is an R-value and what kind of sleeping pad or mat do I need?” then you’ve come to the right place.
The world of sleeping pads and camping mats alike is vast and can be pretty confusing for no good reason. I mean the main, obvious goal of a sleeping mat is that it provides a comfortable, sound sleep. It does this by supporting and cushioning your body whilst insulating you from external temperatures. Choosing a mat with the correct R-value for the climate you’re camping and hiking in ensures that at the least the temperature control portion of the sleeping pads job is covered.
First things first, what is an R-value?
The R-value is a measure used to determine a materials ability to resist the transfer of heat. It is used to compare the insulating properties of different materials or products. Basically, the higher the R-value the better the thermal resistance of the product.
What is an R-value in relation to a sleeping pad?
The bottom line is that the R-Value of a sleeping pad rates the materials ability to insulate your body from the ground temperature beneath. Simply, the higher the R-value in a sleeping pad the better it will be in colder climates.
What R-value sleeping pad do I need in different climates?
The R-value sleeping pad will depend on the ambient temperature, ground temperature and whether the person using the sleeping mat is considered a cold sleeper. As a rough guide in Summer a sleeping pad with a value between 0 and 2 will be fine. During the shoulder seasons an R-value of 2-4 should be sufficient and in Winter an R-value of 4+ is best, with the higher the value being better. If sleeping in Alpine or snowy conditions preferably an r-value of 6 and above. Remember this is a rough guide as temperatures can vary wildly seasonally.
It is important to know that having a sleeping pad with a high R-value won’t make you too hot, it will just insulate you from the ground temperature beneath. However if the mat has a reflective layer internally (something some have as a feature to add warmth) it could make the mat warmer.
My opinion when buying your first sleeping pad is to go for one with a higher R-value. This will be suitable in more conditions and will mean that you don’t need to purchase multiple for different camping and hiking scenarios.
Head to Wild Earth to see a huge range of the best sleeping pads on the market.
Happy Camping! Bec x
You could use your new sleeping pad on one of these Epic Multi-day Hikes in Australia.
P.s. This blog post may contains several affiliate links to products that I use and love. By clicking on these links, I might get a teeny tiny contribution towards my travel fund, at no extra cost to you!
