-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
When you’re on a multi-day outdoor adventure, the thought of sleeping on the ground may make you cringe. Sleeping on the ground can be uncomfortable and cold, but camping hammocks allow you to sleep elevated from the rocks or dirt and are a great choice when you don’t have the option to pack a full air mattress.
While a hammock keeps you off the ground for a good night’s rest, you can make them more comfortable by investing in a top-rated hammock sleeping pad. A hammock mattress can provide you with extra support, stability, and comfort while you’re lying in your hammock. The best hammock sleeping pad will be lightweight, but thick enough to provide you with extra warmth as the temperature drops at night.
The concept of a hammock sleeping pad is straightforward, but you may still find it challenging to determine the quality, comfort, and durability of a design. To help you in your search, we have made a list of the ten best sleeping pads for hammocks and included a comprehensive guide that will ensure you stay comfortable every night of your trip.
OUR TOP PICK
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Foam Hammock Sleeping Pad
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- Keeps you 20% warmer in your hammock
- Features the ThermaCapture coating for heat retention
- Dimple design traps heat
- Made with closed-cell foam
- Accordion-style folding for easy transportation
- Ready-to-go
- Versatile for campers and backpackers
Product Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 0.8 inches
Weight: 14.4 ounces
Material: Closed-cell foam
Features: Heat-trapping dimples, ThermaCapture coating, accordion-style folding
Sizes: Small or regular
Colors: Yellow/grey
EDITORS CHOICE
IFORREST Foam Inflatable Hammock Sleeping Pad
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- Includes armrests and a pillow
- Full foam pad
- Self-inflating valve
- Deflates in seconds
- Made with high quality 190T polyester
- Resistant to tears and holes
- Durable and long-lasting
Product Dimensions: 77 x 26 x 1.5 inches
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Material: Polyester
Features: Armrests, pillow, foam pad, self-inflating valve
Colors: 3 options
BEST VALUE
WELLAX Ultralight Air Inflatable Hammock Sleeping Pad
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- Durable, lightweight, and compact
- Flexible air cells increase your overall comfort
- Wider width provides more stability and eliminates wobbles
- Easy to inflate and deflate
- Fully inflated in 4-6 breaths
- No crinkly or squeaky noises
- Waterproof
Product Dimensions: 78 x 24 x 2.5 inches
Weight: 10.4 ounces
Material: Nylon
Features: Air cells, single layer, lightweight, waterproof, virtually silent, 2 flat valves
Colors: Blue or green
ECOTEK Outdoors Hybern8 Ultralight Hammock Sleeping Pad
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- Hexagon pattern has better support and balance
- Flex cell design increases warmth
- No slipping or irritating noises
- Made with premium 70D woven polyester
- Resistant to air leaks and tears
- Rapid inflation valve
- No pump design
Product Dimensions: 74 x 22 x 2.2 inches
Weight: 18 ounces
Material: 75D woven polyester
Features: Hexagon flex cells, rapid inflation valve, no pump needed, no noise, no slipping
Colors: 3 options
Klymit Static V2 Ultralight Hammock Sleeping Pad
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- 12% lighter and more backpacker-friendly
- V chamber design limits air movement and reduces heat loss
- V chambers have better support and comfort
- Integrated side rails keep you centered
- The polyester material is durable
- Patch kit included
- Stuff sack for easy transportation
Product Dimensions: 72 x 23 x 2.5 inches
Weight: 16.33 ounces
Material: 30D and 75D polyester
Features: V chamber design, integrated side rails, patch kit included, stuff sack included
Size: Regular
Color: Bright green
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- Solid polyurethane foam core and urethane exterior have better insulation
- Suitable for use during 3 seasons
- Self-inflating but firmness is also customizable
- Easily compresses for packing and transportation
- Available in three sizes to suit different campers
Product Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 1.2 inches (regular)
Weight: 1.5 pounds
Material: Polyurethane and urethane
Features: 3 seasons, foam core, self-inflating
Sizes: Small, regular, or large
Color: Grey
Klymit V Hammock Sleeping Pad
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- 180 degrees of insulation
- Body mapping technology uses side flaps to keep you in place
- Drastically reduces the amount of lost body heat
- Rugged 20D polyester construction
- Lightweight feel
- Faster inflation
Product Dimensions: 78 x 47 x 2.5 inches
Weight: 27 ounces
Material: 20D polyester
Features: Body mapping technology, 180 degrees of insulation, separate top and bottom design, faster inflation
Sizes: Insulated or non-insulated
Color: Orange
Lightspeed Outdoors PVC-Free Self-Inflating Hammock Sleeping Pad
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- PVC-free materials are ideal for sensitive skin
- Free from harmful phthalates, plastic odors, and plastic noises
- Dual oversized air valves
- Fast self-inflation
- Integrated pillow made of high-quality non-slip material
- Three different thickness options to customize your warmth
Product Dimensions: 77 x 25 x 2 inches
Weight: 4.2 pounds
Material: PVC-free materials
Features: Dual oversized air valves, PVC-free materials, integrated pillow
Sizes: 1.5, 2.0, 3.0
Color: Ultramarine
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- Detachable cushioned wings
- Wings keep you in place and provide better insulation
- 1-inch solid foam core
- Durable nylon TPU coated exterior
- Self-inflating design
Product Dimensions: 72 x 36 x 3 inches
Weight: 2.9 pounds
Material: Nylon
Features: Detachable wings, 1-inch thick foam core, TPUT coating, self-inflating
Color: Blue
- What Makes This Sleeping Pad For Hammock Stand Out
- Flexible foam wings
- Keeps you in place
- Keeps you warm
- Made of durable ripstop nylon
- Compact for easy transportation
Product Dimensions: 72 x 36 x 2 inches
Weight:Â 2.5 pounds
Material: Nylon
Features: Foam wings, durable ripstop material, compact
Color: Grey
How To Choose A Sleeping Pad For Hammock – Buying Guide
Size
The size of your hammock air mattress will be dependent on your height and personal preference. Most brands will have a top-rated hammock sleeping pad design that is offered in multiple lengths, which correlates to your height. The cast majority of sleeping pads for hammocks will have one general length that could be up to 77 inches long. However, you can find shorter pads too.
While it is best to find a hammock mattress that is the proper length for you and your hammock, you may not necessarily need the pad to run the full length of the hammock. For warmth, it is better to have a full-sized pad, but some campers may only want padding for their torso and waist, so their backpack can be easily stored at their feet. On warmer nights, this would be fine, but if you plan to hammock camp in cooler weather, it is better to have the full-length insulation a full-sized hammock air mattress can provide.
Shape
While the classic shape of a sleeping pad is a simple rectangle, newer designs have tapered shapes or unique winged designs that better suit hammocks. A rectangular shape is the most versatile for campers because it can be used both with a hammock or on the ground. However, the most comfortable shape will be customized to fit a hammock.
Some of the best sleeping pads for hammocks have wings on the side, which fold up and help keep you inside your hammock. The wings are also great for staying warmer and cozier in your hammock. Other shapes that are more comfortable for hammocks taper at the bottom. A narrower bottom means that the hammock can fold around your legs to help keep you warm at night.
Material
Even if you aren’t planning on using your insulated sleeping pad for hammocks on the ground, you still want to choose the best hammock sleeping pad that is made with durable and lightweight materials. Synthetic materials make the best sleeping pads for hammocks because they are lightweight, durable, and easily cleaned. The most popular materials are nylon and polyester. Both the materials are tear, puncture, water, and abrasion resistant so that they are long-lasting. They’re also lightweight and easily packable.
The best sleeping pad for hammocks will use high-quality synthetic material in its construction to ensure that it is durable and reliable. The material used should always be provided in the product specifications. However, sleeping pads for hammock reviews are a great way to determine the quality and reliability of the material. You can use the reviews to determine whether the hammock air mattress you’ve been looking at is worth the investment or if you should keep searching.
Thickness
The thickness of an insulated sleeping pad for hammocks will determine how warm you’ll stay during the night. Generally, the thicker the hammock mattress, the warmer it will be. For summer camping, a thinner mattress would be better so that you stay cool. You might find that a closed-cell mattress is the best choice for warmer weather because it is extremely lightweight and breathable.
However, in colder temperatures, you’ll want to bring a thicker pad. The best sleeping pads for hammocks will come in a variety of thicknesses so that you can choose which one is best for your planned trip. If a variety of thicknesses are not available, the thickness should always be provided in the product specifications.
Weight
When you’re camping or backpacking, the weight of the gear you carry can be an important consideration. Gear that is too heavy will likely be left at home. But you need to sleep somewhere and the best hammock sleeping pad will be lightweight so that it never gets left behind.
Related Review: Backpacking Sleeping Pad
While most sleeping pads for hammocks weigh just a handful of ounces, some of the thicker designs can weigh up to 2 pounds. You must check the product specifications for the weight of your pad to ensure that you have room to pack it.
Warmth
While the ground is cold, the air can be cold too and that is why it’s better to use a hammock mattress. A hammock air mattress provides your body with a cushion between the cold air. The best sleeping pad for hammocks will retain your body heat to keep you warmer. It is also important to consider that the thicker an insulated sleeping pad for hammocks is, the warmer it will be because more air pockets can trap warm air.
Another feature that keeps you warmer is wings. You can look for a top-rated hammock sleeping pad that incorporates wings if you know you’ll be sleeping in cooler temperatures. The wings are a useful addition to a hammock that provides more insulation and keeps you stable as you sleep.
Temperature Rating
A sleeping pad for hammock camping may come with a temperature rating, which indicates the temperatures or seasons that the pad is suited to function in. The temperature rating should be indicated in the product specifications and may be given in degrees Fahrenheit or seasons.
If you are unsure about the temperature rating of your sleeping pad for hammock camping, you can look at the sleeping pad for hammock reviews. The reviewers may indicate in what weather conditions they use their pad for hammocks so that you know how to properly plan your camping trip.
Air Pads vs. Foam Pads
Some insulated sleeping pads for hammocks use air to keep you warm, others use foam, and some even have a combination. Air pads are the most compact designs because they can be completely collapsed for carrying in a stuff sack or bag. However, foam pads can be warmer because they are thicker. But foam pads will be slightly larger when collapsed because the foam cannot completely compact like air. While both air and foam pads are comfortable, it will be up to your personal preference as to which design you choose. If you can’t decide, a few sleeping pads for hammocks do use both air and foam in their design to keep you comfortable.
FAQs
Q:Â Why do I need a sleeping pad for my hammock?
Most people would say hammocks are more comfortable than sleeping on the ground, that doesn’t mean that cold can't penetrate the fabric. On cooler nights, nothing is more irritating than waking up cold and not being able to warm up because the hammock material is too thin. This is why a pad for hammocks can be a smart addition to your camping gear. A hammock mattress can provide you with another layer that stops the cold air from penetrating the hammock so that you stay warmer and can sleep through the night.
Q:Â Is it safe to put a sleeping pad in a hammock?
Yes. Staying warm is part of the camping hammock's responsibility and the best hammock sleeping pad will keep you warm anytime you are using your hammock. Sleeping pads for hammocks have been specially designed to be used with your little cocoon, so you are entirely safe while sleeping inside your hammock while using a hammock mattress.
Q:Â What is the desired thickness for a hammock sleeping pad?
There isn’t one desired thickness for a hammock sleeping pad because it will depend on the weather and temperatures on your trip. However, for your comfort, it is best to get a pad that provides at least 1 inch of thickness to keep you warm and supported inside your hammock. Just remember that the thicker the pad for hammocks is, the warmer and heavier it will be.
Globo Surf Overview
Camping is a fun activity that many people enjoy, but even for seasoned campers, the thought of sleeping on the ground can be a huge drawback. However, hammocks are now a popular choice in camping beds because they are portable and comfortable. For better comfort in your hammock, you should look at insulated sleeping pads for hammocks. A top-rated hammock sleeping pad will keep you warm and make your hammock so cozy that you can easily get a full night of rest. With our picks of the best sleeping pads for hammocks and our guide, we hope that you find a comfortable hammock mattress that you’ll be eager to use trip after trip.
More Camping Reviews:
- Knife Sharpener
- Mobile Hotspot
- Camping Chair
- Camping Grill
- Bikepacking Tent
- Rectangular Sleeping Bag
- Waterproof Tent
- Emergency Radio
- Camping Mattress
- Pop Up Canopy
Do you own one of the hammock sleeping pads that made it onto our list? Has it made your hammock more comfortable? Let us know how much you love to use your hammock air mattress in the comments section below.
