Exped AirMat 7.5 Sleeping Pad

This pad accompanied me on a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon. Staying warm was not a problem as I use this in the desert. I only complaint according to my fellow trekkers it was a bit loud when I moved around at night. I slept wonderfully! No sore hips or back and it is lightweight. Blows up easily and will work with chair kits.

This is a must have. I use this pad all the time- it's light, the valves don't leak a bit, super cheap (compared to others), and WAY comfortable (no more shoulder or hip hot spots to wake you up at 3:00 in the morning). I sleep better on this pad than any other pad I've used before. I've slept in sub zero conditions as well and it was fine- if you're worried about convection (heat transfer) or sketchy ground, pick up some cheap blue high density foam camping pad for about $5 anywhere and strap that sucker on. The Exped Airmat is the best thing going.

I used the 7.5 deluxe. The pros are it inflates easily, good padding for the weight, and the deluxe 25" width adds more comfort. The major flaw for me is it is very cold---not only does it have no insulation it seemed to suck the heat from my body. If you are doing warm/hot weather camping and want a thicker/wider pad this is for you. I cannot recommend it for anything other than summer camping though--unless you really bundle up or are a very hot sleeper.

More padding than anybody could ever need, and it's fairly light too considering the dimensions. The only problem with a pad that relies entirely on air is it doesn't insulate as well, and if you get a hole there's no foam padding to help compensate for loss of air. Be careful where you lay this pad to avoid punctures! I'd recommend it for warm/cool weather car camping or base camp use.