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Experience is certainly the best teacher, or at least the most effective, but when it comes to backpacking, it is far better to learn from others’ mistakes than to make them ourselves. Suffering the consequences of poor judgment or inadequate preparation can be uncomfortable at best. In the twenty years I’ve been backpacking and across a wide range of scenarios throughout the country on every type of trail, I’ve made plenty of my own mistakes and learned a great deal about preparation and training for ambitious multi-day hikes.

In recent years I’ve taken up hiking in the Grand Canyon, where bail-outs are not as easy as hitchhiking on the nearest county road. As the signs at the canyon say, “Going down is optional, coming up is mandatory.” Don’t overtax the staff at the Park Service with avoidable issues of dehydration or blisters, but rather, be prepared! My excursions into the canyon have helped me fine-tune my approach to training and preparation for backpacking, and I continue to learn from others more expert than myself. Whether deep in the abyss of the Grand Canyon or high atop a peak in the Rockies, there are some fundamentals that should be considered for any backpacking trip.
Prepare Your Body: Training & Physical Conditioning for Backpacking
Human beings are very adept at self-deception, and one area in which we are most talented is overestimating our physical conditioning, then failing to test ourselves adequately before we attempt some epic undertaking. I’m a strong believer in maintaining a constant level of conditioning that will allow me to “train up” for a backpacking trip within a couple of months. Some may go backpacking so often that they don’t need to “train up” at all but I only do one or two major backpacking trips a year, necessitating a ramp-up each time.

There are two aspects to preparing your body: one is conditioning yourself physically to carry a certain load over a certain type of terrain for a certain number of miles. The other is testing your physical and mental toughness and readiness for those certainties before you put yourself out there in a remote wilderness situation.
To maintain a high level of fitness, I run two to three times a week, do strength training three times a week, and walk on the days I don’t run. When I am preparing for a backpacking trip, I add the stairclimber to my gym routine and start carrying my backpack with heavier and heavier weights on longer and longer hikes as the date of my trip approaches. Training for steep ascents and descents is the biggest challenge, since I live in the flatlands, but there are multiple ways to address this.

In the gym, you can use the stairclimber and do step-ups to help prepare your legs for ascending. Walking backwards on a treadmill at maximum incline and pulling/pushing sleds also help. Of course, if you live in a mountainous area, this may not be a problem for you, but the main thing is to hone your body to become accustomed to the conditions you will experience on your hike, and finishing your training with the assurance that your physical conditioning (and mental toughness!) is up to the task. Neglecting this will make your experience far less enjoyable.
It should be noted however, that overdoing it is a possibility. The last thing we want is to have to cancel a planned trip because we injured ourselves by over training for it.
Prepare Your Backpacking Gear
I’m often asked, “What is the most important piece of gear for backpacking?” The answer is footwear. It’s no surprise that you need to wear a well broken-in pair of shoes or boots and, like your body, footwear is something you need to test in training. Wear the shoes or boots you plan to hike in while you are getting in shape for the hike. That way you will find out whether your shoes give you blisters or rub hot spots, or have any other issues.
Footwear
Should you wear hiking boots or trail runners? It’s a personal choice, with trail runners becoming more and more popular, but if you are carrying a heavy pack the ankle support of a hiking boot may be beneficial. I did my first Grand Canyon backpacking trips in Keen hiking boots but used Hoka Speedgoat trail shoes for a rim-to-rim day hike and a rim-to-river-to-rim day hike. Both worked well for the task at hand. For more on footwear, refer to this guide on the TrailGroove Blog.

And, good socks are essential. Look for Merino wool and synthetic materials, and stay away from cotton – other materials offer much better performance. Some hikers wear hiking gaiters to keep out rocks and sand, and this isn’t a bad idea. I wore gaiters on my rim-to-rim hike because of what I read about deep sand on one section of the trail but this proved to be a non-issue. Still, gaiters are not a bad idea if you are wearing trail shoes and want to prevent debris from invading your footwear. In some places, snow and ice are a consideration. Microspikes are handy in this case and I used YakTrax on one of my late spring backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon.
Packs
Second only to footwear, a properly fitted backpack is your most important piece of gear. It may be tempting to borrow a pack from a friend but if that friend’s body is not exactly the same as yours it could be a mistake. Go to an outdoor store and get fitted for the right pack. Look for a lightweight pack but think twice before sacrificing comfort.
It may seem counterintuitive that a lighter pack would not be more comfortable, but I prefer my 3.5 lb. Osprey to my 1.5lb. Osprey because the hip belt on the heavier pack is more substantial and distributes the weight better. With any pack, test, test, test. These are items that I’ve found are particularly important to have dialed in and may require a few tries to get right prior to a trip (find more backpacking gear articles here).

A successful backpacking trip starts with planning and packing at home.
General Backpacking Gear List Overview
Backpack
Tent / Shelter & Accessories
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Backpacking Pillow (or stuff sack with spare clothes)
Trekking poles (optional, suggested)
Water Treatment & Water Storage
Backpacking Stove, Fuel, and Cooking Gear / Eating Utensils
Lightweight Headlamp and Extra Batteries
Lighter
Small Pocketknife
Food, Proper Storage
Bear Spray (depending on destination)
Toiletries & Hygiene Kit
Clothing for the Weather and Extra Clothing including Rain Gear
Map & Compass
First Aid Kit
Whistle
Satellite Communicator
Permits
Additional Resources
Some specific links are included above (when not otherwise linked to in this guide) for additional reading, and you can find all of these items here at REI Co-op. You can again find more information and specific articles on just about all of the above categories here on the TrailGroove Blog.
Keep Your Pack Weight Down
No one doing a three or four-day backpacking trip should have to carry more than 30-35 pounds. I’ve heard the rule of thumb as one-quarter of your body weight, and 30 pounds is more than that for me. But if you weighed 200 pounds, there’s still no sense in carrying a 50-pound pack just because you can…unless of course you prefer many heavier creature comforts. In general though, lighter pack weights lead to more successful longer hikes. In training, I gradually increase pack weight on training hikes, using the contents I will actually carry on the hiking trip. I once put a dumbbell and bags of beans and rice in my pack but that did not work out so well. Replicate your planned hiking experience in as many ways as possible.

Make a formal gear list and weigh everything using a backpacking scale. Don’t take anything you really don’t need, although it does take experience to determine what “need” truly means. For instance, I do now carry a one-pound chair when I backpack because it’s worth it! When it comes to gearing up, checking out the gear selection at REI Co-op is a great place to start.
A Note on Trekking Poles
I am frequently astonished that anyone would question the need for trekking poles, especially when carrying a heavy pack. I’ve found that poles are extremely helpful on uneven terrain and they are of critical importance in taking the load off my knees when I am hiking downhill, as well as giving me an advantage when ascending. With poles, I have the added advantage of my upper body strength to help with the movement, almost becoming a four-legged animal. I prefer the collapsible (bungee-cord) kind to the telescoping poles.

To me they seem more stable and reduce to suitcase size if you are flying. I have an old pair of Black Diamond poles I have used so much I recently had to replace the wrist straps. Otherwise, they are in good condition. I prefer cork handles as they provide better ventilation for your hands. I usually wear cycling gloves when using poles, however, as this protects my palms from rubbing. See the TrailGroove trekking pole guide for more info.
Know the Route
Phone apps have become increasingly popular in recent years, but they cannot replace a paper map. Things can happen to your phone and trails can sometimes become obscure. It’s fairly easy to follow trails in a place like the Grand Canyon but not always so in the deep woods. Thankfully, most “official” trails are well blazed, although distractions can lead to following what seems like “the trail” but actually is not. If you get to a point where you can’t see any more blazes, go back to the last blaze you saw and start again. You will often see the next trail marker when you take another look.

Before you set out on your adventure, catch up on the latest trail reports for your destination. Closures, detours, etc. can all happen at the last minute. Online resources include, but are not limited to park websites / groups, trip reports, and even an old-fashioned call to the ranger station can be a great way to keep up. Plan in advance if permits are required and make sure you obtain those beforehand or ensure that you can obtain them in person once you arrive. Additionally, familiarize yourself with regulations prior to a trip.
Once the plan and itinerary is set (and despite modern satellite communication devices, I still like to make someone else aware of this prior to setting out), one of the last things that is typically done is getting that food packed – the right food, the right amount, and the right way to pack it are all important considerations. You can find more on packing backpacking food here.

As a last step, check the weather forecast before you head out so you’ll know what to expect and can plan accordingly. It is obviously ideal to have the gear you’ll need for any weather occurrence no matter the forecast, but if it will be particularly cold for example, swapping in the warmer of two insulating jackets or a pair of warmer socks to sleep in can be considered…and so on for other types of anticipated weather conditions.
Practice, Practice, Practice
There’s so much more to backpacking, but you get the idea. Learn all you can, test yourself and your gear, and prepare carefully. New backpackers will benefit from a trial run with an overnight backpacking trip close to home to test body, gear, tent, sleeping system, cooking setup, et cetera. One can gradually ramp up from there. When you get it all dialed in, it’s a beautiful thing. Have fun out there!
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 58 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here with additional photos.

Released in spring of 2025, the Mountain House Cheesy Beef Enchilada Bowl is a backpacking meal that offers another form of Mexican food for dinner while backpacking, in addition to the excellent Adobo Rice & Chicken meal that Mountain House released a few years prior (our review).

The new Mountain House Cheesy Beef Enchilada meal boasts 660 calories (on the high side for Mountain House pouches) and is suitable for a gluten free diet. The meal is based around beef, corn tortillas (an interesting ingredient in a freeze-dried meal), cheese, an enchilada sauce, rice, black beans, and corn. This meal requires 1.5 cups of boiling water and a longer (for Mountain House meals) 15 minutes of rehydration time. Once the meal has rehydrated, you’re looking at a rather soupy, rather monotone consistency. However, this is a meal that despite first impressions really brings the flavor.
Meal Impressions
Upon diving into the meal, at least taste wise, you do really get the fully enchilada experience here. Spicy at first but tolerable by most palates, and with a smoky note dominating throughout the course of the meal, Mountain House has really brought the enchilada flavor to this meal – in fact flavor wise it’s a perfect match. And in case you haven’t inferred by now, as long as you like enchiladas the flavor is very good, great in fact.

That said, a few things do seem to keep this meal from achieving perfection. Consistency wise it seems as though some improvement could be made – while the meal does firm up a bit the end consistency is more like a hearty dip, and to be honest if you had a bag of corn chips and a pouch or two of this meal you might even be able to throw a party.
Additionally, it surprised me that while beef is the first ingredient, it’s not all that detectable. I feel that larger chunks of beef may have been a good addition here. The corn tortilla flavor is there as the second ingredient, but again any texture isn’t assertive. Aside from providing a separate bag of tortillas strips or chips inside the pouch to finish the meal with however, it is hard to imagine what else Mountain House could have done here.

Rice is present in the meal and it was appreciated that it’s not the number one ingredient, as many backpacking dinner meals can turn into a nightly monotonous routine of rice, with…you name it. Perhaps extra black beans and / or corn (present in this meal but in smaller quantities) may have also helped with texture. Lastly, for a cheesy enchilada the cheese is noticeable, but it’s hard to have too much cheese for a cheesy enchilada meal. Overall it’s hard to complain with this meal however.
Conclusion
In the future, I think I’ll probably add some additional cheese and finish with some corn chips to add some crunch when it comes to this meal and call it good. The base is certainly there and overall, this meal has one of the best flavor profiles in the Mountain House lineup that will likely be a welcome addition to my food bag on upcoming trips as long as the meal is offered.
You can find the new Mountain House Cheesy Beef Enchilada meal here at Amazon.com as well as here at Mountain House.
Editor's Note: This meal review originally appeared in Issue 58 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.

Applied as a coating to many backpacking and hiking fabrics, PU (polyurethane) is a coating that adds a waterproofing layer to fabric, but also reduces tear strength. As the coating is applied to the face of the fabric it’s prone to wear over time, and most PU coatings will offer only moderate waterproofing when new, moving towards water resistance over years of use.

This grid-stop fabric has a very light PU coating on the inside (used for a backpack in this case) to add some level of waterproofing.
Polyurethane Pros & Cons
Coatings are often applied so thin that you can barely tell they’re even there. While newer PEU (polyether urethane) coatings offer additional durability, PU coatings are best treated with care in regards to abrasion, along with proper storage techniques at home, along with allowing gear to fully dry before it’s packed up and stored.
However, unlike silicone treated fabrics PU coatings allow for seam taping. Thus, many tents and waterproof stuff sacks for example, may have a PU coating on the inside to allow for seam taping while providing additional waterproofing, requiring no seam sealing by the end user at home.
Editor's Note: This Jargon installment originally appeared in Issue 58 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.

Trekking poles may be the most appreciated not required backpacking gear item you can come up with. Don’t take them and your legs do all the work, but you save weight and gear complexity. Take them and your upper body gets involved in the hike, and stability is added on rougher terrain with additional points of contact. Unlike your shelter or sleeping bag, trekking poles are without a doubt, not required for the trail. However, if you do take them, your knees will likely only thank you later.

Trekking poles can be useful in many backpacking situations and across the seasons.
Trekking Pole Use Pros and Cons
Another great thing about trekking poles is their dual-use capability. Many ultralight tents on the market are designed specifically to utilize your trekking poles for setup in lieu of dedicated tent poles. This saves weight if you’re already a trekking pole user. That said, even traditional tents or tents that don’t utilize trekking poles for setup can benefit from the extra support that trekking poles can offer.

By incorporating trekking poles on additional guy-out points you can create a more wind and weather-worthy tent. Instead of running a long guyline straight to the ground, run it to your trekking pole, then to the ground. This gets the guyline at a 90 degree angle to the fabric facet and results in a more effective guyout point. For this use, I do like to utilize a trekking pole cup to make things easier and cleaner.
Trekking Pole Materials
Most trekking poles will be made from either aluminum or carbon fiber and the pros and cons of those two materials for any other application typically apply. Carbon fiber poles like the Gossamer Gear LT5s will typically be lighter, but require more care and will break instead of bend as with aluminum. Carbon absorbs more shock than aluminum. As someone who appreciates lighter weights and shock absorption carbon is my preference here.

If your trekking poles will face rougher usage, such as in a mountaineering type scenario or for winter use in snow, aluminum and going with a heavier / stronger trekking pole would be a good choice. With some care and large snow baskets however, I have had success using carbon poles in deep snow.
Grips
Foam or cork are the traditional materials here and you will want to go with your own personal preference in this regard. For me, I’ll take a foam grip over “agglomerated cork”, which is a material made from bits and pieces of natural cork glued together. I do prefer a natural-colored foam grip if I can get it (which typically looks like cork) to reduce the chances of sweaty hands causing dark dyes to stain my hands by the end of the day in the backcountry where handwashing isn’t quite as easy as at home.

An open cell foam works well to absorb sweat during the day and has just enough give for comfort – but you’ll want to look for a rather dense foam. Cork however, is a traditional choice. Cork or foam no matter, note that backcountry critters seem to be especially attracted to chewing on trekking pole grips, as I’ve unfortunately experienced. Keep your poles in a safe spot when not in use!
Collapsible vs. Non-Collapsible Trekking Poles & Locking Mechanisms
To be completely honest, I have no preference in regards to closing mechanisms on trekking poles, so long as they work. I primarily look at material, grip, weight, price, and then make sure the pole extends enough for my height while collapsing short enough for easy transport. In general you will find me using twist-lock trekking poles – 2 section poles collapse plenty for me to get them in the vehicle and as any lock is a potential point of failure, I’ll take a 2 section pole over a 3 section if I can get it – it’s also one less thing to adjust. Poles may collapse via either a telescoping construction or by way of a shock corded sections that fit together, the latter of which may be preferred if you prefer more of a rapid deployment from stowed.

Flick lock / flip lock / quick lock / clasp lock poles utilizing some type of lever lock closure are the other option and are generally less problematic than twist-lock poles and are usually found on trekking poles that are in the slightly heavier lightweight category, rather than the most ultralight. I have had some issues / annoyances using twist-lock poles in the past: if you don’t tighten them enough they can slip when you apply heavier force, and from time to time I have them fail to engage (the lock just won’t tighten and just spins and spins). The first problem is easily fixed – tighten the poles more, and with the second I’ve been able to remedy in the field, albeit with some fiddling at times. This all depends on the way the locks are manufactured of course. Test at home first.
No matter what material or closing mechanism you decide to go with, make sure your trekking poles extend far enough for your height. Ideally, you’ll want your elbows at about a 90 degree angle on flat ground when holding the pole, but you may prefer more or less from this starting point. At home if you don’t have trekking poles currently, you can hold anything from a longer garden stake to a section of PVC pipe – whatever you have on hand – and if you don’t have a helper, use a mirror and a tape to obtain the measurement that works best and is most comfortable to you.

Perpetually puzzling to me, at 6’ 2”, many and most ultralight trekking poles on the market are not long enough when fully extended for me – the Mountainsmith Andesite is an exception. You want to avoid pushing adjustable trekking poles beyond their maximum extension point as this will likely lead to breakage the first time you put substantial weight on the trekking pole, such as during a stream crossing.
Of course, if transport is not a concern and you do not need to an adjustable trekking pole for your shelter / you don’t like to adjust your poles for uphills and downhills (many people like to shorten up for the uphills and extend for the long descents), a non-adjustable trekking pole can be an option and will save some weight along with potential failure points. As I do like to use poles with my shelter, I prefer to adjust length on occasion, and sometimes I just like to stash my trekking pole on my pack and like easy car transport, a 2-piece trekking pole has been the best choice and compromise for me. Note that some non-adjustable trekking poles do have multiple hand positions to help with the hills.
Straps vs. No Straps & Accessories
It’s a bit hard to believe, but after all this time I really have no preference for straps, and I buy based on other factors than this. Sometimes I use them – sometimes I don’t. The straps are nice to distribute weight and for more of a connection to the trekking pole when used properly, and are great for retaining the pole when you need to use your hands. They do however add a bit of weight and add a little complexity. Many times you’ll find me not using the straps and if I need to use my hands, I take a break and lean the poles against a tree, etc. – the straps being there and not being used doesn’t bother me. Other times, I use the straps with the weight distributed under the wrist (not just as a “keeper”). Long story short – sometimes I use them and sometimes I don’t, but they stay on my trekking poles.

One item I am more opinionated about are trekking pole tips – and a rubber boot / rubber trekking pole tip stays on my trekking poles at all times, during all seasons, as long as I’m not encountering ice, which is the only thing I find the stock metal tips good for. These rubber tips leave less of a trace on the trail and on rock and are dramatically less noisy while absorbing a little more shock. All pros and few cons. The only con would be in mud – they can come off and the last thing we want to be doing is leaving any gear behind.
Thus, I try to avoid mud when possible (example, aim for the rock or log rather than the deep mud) and keep an eye on the tips through any unavoidable muddy sections to make sure they don’t come off. Or more likely, I will simply briefly carry them through these sections. You may need to experiment with different offerings for the best fit. During winter, these do get removed for me since I use my same trekking poles across the seasons. However, this wouldn’t be an issue if you have ultralight 3-season poles combined with a heavy duty aluminum winter pole, or if you’re not a 4-season hiker – and in these cases you could consider a more permanent attachment of the rubber tips / boots.

In regards to baskets, as previously mentioned for snow, the larger the basket the better and these can usually be screwed right on. While debatable, for 3 season use I do like one of the small faux snow baskets typically included with trekking poles – they help in unexpected mud and keep your poles from going too far down between talus blocks, help prevent or limit some rock strikes on carbon poles, and perhaps most critically make stowing poles on the back of my pack easier.
Weight and Price
The lightest carbon trekking poles on the market will likely weigh in around 4-5 ounces each, but as previously stated many of these are not suitable for taller users. A more average range among lightweight poles will see you looking at poles that are around 7-8 ounces or so, like the REI Co-op Flash Carbon Poles. I would without a doubt suggest looking for a set that weighs in under a pound for both at the most, lightweight is not only nice to reduce your total weight carried on the trail but keep in mind this is an item you’ll be swinging forward thousands of times a day. Going as light as possible while still staying in the budget and meeting your durability requirements is the key here. In regards to price it’s safe to cap spend for a pair at just under $200, and many great choices can be had for less.
Conclusion
Trekking poles, or at least one pole, are something that every backpacker should probably have on hand to at least consider taking along on their next trip. For me, I prefer to almost always hike with just one which is a good compromise and a choice that both helps my knees and stability but also reduces the fiddle-factor by half when it’s time to grab a snack or a photo opportunity arises (quite frequently for me) on the trail. However, if the trip is particularly long with a lot of food to carry, or it’s a desert trip with a heavy water carry, you’ll find me using two.

Personal preference varies and you may prefer two poles on anything from a quick day hike to longer backpacking trips. All said, trekking poles – a fancy version of the traditional hiking staff that’s been used for just about forever, adds some complexity and is another thing to keep track of on the trail, but as any trip concludes with the trailhead back in sight again your knees will likely only thank you.

You can find a full selection of trekking poles here at REI.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 58 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here with additional photos.

Finding a great backpacking sleeping pad is the next logical step in getting your backpacking gear all set once you’ve decided on the big 3 (tent, sleeping bag, backpack). The sleeping pad rounds out what’s known as the big 4 in backpacking – and this list makes up some of the most important gear you’ll carry, both in regards to its importance on the trail, and includes the most expensive and usually heaviest items where the most weight can be saved.

In this guide, we’ll look at the best backpacking sleeping pads that you can find on the market today. Note that in this guide, we’ll list the specs for the regular size if possible (generally 72x20 inches) and list the r-value as well – the higher the value the warmer the pad.
Best Summer & Ultralight Backpacking Sleeping Pads
For those that are looking to focus on a summer season specific sleeping pad and / or are looking for an ultralight solution for warmer seasons, there are a few standout choices on the market that weigh less than a pound.
First, if you’re a backpacker just looking for set and forget type reliability and if you’re the type of sleeper that can find comfort in just about any flat place, the venerable closed cell foam sleeping pad could work, and will save some cash as well. The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL (14 ounces, $60, 2.0 r-value), is a folding foam pad that makes packing easier (but as a foam pad, still bulky). This pad is a little light on the r-value, but would be sufficient for summer trips with moderate lows well above freezing.

The NEMO Switchback folding pad (15 ounces, $60, 2.0 r-value) is a competing option in this regard and worth equal consideration. For more, see our review of the NEMO Switchback. These foam pads are also great as a sit pad outside the tent and on breaks during the hiking day.
Most backpackers will want more sleeping comfort than a foam pad can offer however. For the lightest of the ultralight insulated inflatable sleeping pads, look no further than to the NEMO Tensor Elite (9 ounces, $230, 2.4 r-value). This new for 2025 pad will offer warmth for summer trips above freezing for most people and offers inflatable comfort, albeit in a mummy shape – this pad is all about saving weight. It should be noted that this pad utilizes 10 denier shell fabrics; extra care will need to be exercised.
NEMO also offers their Tensor Trail Ultralight (14 ounces, $180, 2.8 r-value) that doesn’t quite have the warmth to weight of some of their other pads that we’ll discuss later, but this pad is a bit lighter and makes this category.

The NEMO valve system allows for easy inflation, deflation, and fine-tuning of comfort level.
Exped has offered some of our favorite sleeping pads over the years, and in this category they offer their 1R and 3R pads, with both coming in either mummy or rectangular designs. The Exped Ultra 1R mummy sleeping pad (11 ounces, $120, 1.3 r-value) isn’t insulated, and with this low of an r-value this will only be suitable for the warmest of summer trips. The rectangular version hits the scales a couple ounces heavier.

Ever since the Synmat series, Exped has offered value and all-around sleeping pad performance.
To me, the Exped Ultra 3R insulated pad (13 ounces, 2.9 r-value, $140) is a much more interesting pad. I’ve taken predecessors of this pad down to freezing or just a bit below, and lower than that combined with a thin ultralight foam pad (1/8" CCF foam). Again, Exped makes a rectangular 3R as well, but at a pound we are perhaps delving into the category to follow.

However for me the leader in this category would be the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT (13 ounces, $210, 4.5 r-value) and this is an interesting pad because it’s also a leader in our next category as well. This pad has the ultralight weight that puts it in this category, and with the 4.5 r-value you likely won’t need to worry about warmth on summer trips. Looking for an ultralight pad for fast and light summer trips but that also packs warmth for the shoulder seasons? It’s a tall task to beat this pad for that type of use case.
Summary: Best Summer & Ultralight Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL
NEMO Switchback
NEMO Tensor Elite
NEMO Tensor Trail Ultralight
Exped Ultra 1R
Exped Ultra 3R
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
Best 3-Season and All-Around Sleeping Pads
This is your all-around, bread and butter sleeping pad category. While weights may not be the most ultralight due to the needed increase of r-value for 3-season and shoulder season temperatures, recent advances in sleeping pad technology (it all started with the original Therm-a-Rest NeoAir) have allowed for some very intriguing options to hit the market. Weights here are generally around a pound or just a little more, with insulation that should be good to freezing or a bit below.

Choices in this category can be quickly narrowed down to just a few options. The best options include the NEMO Tensor All Season sleeping pad (around $200, 1lb) which is an excellent choice for 3-season use where warmth is appreciated, but it still might get chilly to below freezing at night with a possible cold snap taking things down to the 20s or below, or for cold sleepers any time of the year. With a 5.4 r-value and a rectangular sleeping shape, this pad has a warmth to weight to sleeping and packing space ratio that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. The NEMO Tensor All Season is my pick as the top overall sleeping pad currently on the market.

For those looking to save more weight, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT ($210, 13 ounces in the regular mummy, 4.5 r-value) again gets the weight down to an even more ultralight level with sufficient warmth for 3-season trips, and will save some space in the tent and pack if needed. This pad is also available in a rectangular shape – the NeoAir NXT MAX, which would be my choice if going with the NeoAir in this category, for the additional comfort. While the NeoAir line comes with an inflation bag that works well, it’s unfortunately not adequate to utilize as a dry sack for gear, as can be found in the Exped Schnozzel. That said it is included, and any inflatable pad these days should come with some type of inflation bag / solution.

Inflation bag included with NEMO sleeping pads
The great thing about these two pads is that they are light enough to be very justifiable for summer trips, have the warmth needed for shoulder season use, and can even be used for winter backpacking if you add in a foam pad to your system to boost the total r-value.
It must be noted that new for 2026, Exped will be releasing their Ultra 6.5R sleeping pad line (16 ounces, $200) which takes their venerable synthetically-insulated sleeping pads and also adds in reflective foil to boost warmth. These pads are not released yet, however this line looks to be very interesting for those that want to sleep warm and are looking for a lightweight, but perhaps not ultralight, sleeping pad. While at a 6.9 r-value this line will work in the next section as well, the weight specs do put this line in the all-around category.
Summary: Best 3-Season and All-Around Sleeping Pads
NEMO Tensor All Season
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir NXT MAX
Exped Ultra 6.5R Line (Pending)
Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads
If you’re looking for a dedicated winter backpacking sleeping pad however, pads from NEMO and Therm-a-Rest again rise to the top. The NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated sleeping pad (18 ounces, $250, 8.5 r-value) isn’t the most lightweight in length of name but offers a very impressive weight to r-value specification and comes in multiple shapes and sizes.
The NeoAir XTherm NXT sleeping pad (16 ounces, $240, 7.3 r-value in the regular mummy) from Therm-a-Rest is available in either a weight saving mummy shape (previous link) or in their XTherm MAX version in a larger, more comfortable rectangular version.

These pads are very impressive on the spec sheet and in regards to warmth to weight ratio, achieving a warmth to weight to bulk combo that would have seemed impossible to achieve a couple decades ago. However, I prefer to use my all-around 3-season type sleeping pads combined with foam pads (Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest, etc.) for winter backpacking. The r-values add up, and the foam pad offers some redundancy in extremely cold conditions.
As mentioned in the previous section, another pad to look at will be the Exped Ultra 6.5R line. At a 6.9 r-value this line could be used in winter conditions but at 16 ounces for the standard size would work for your 3-season trips, as well.
Summary: Best Winter Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Tensor Extreme Conditions UL Insulated
NeoAir XTherm NXT
XTherm MAX
Add-on Closed Cell Foam Pads
Exped Ultra 6.5R (Pending)
Most Comfortable Backpacking Sleeping Pads & Best Wide / Long Options
When comfort is the most important consideration (although keep in mind no matter how cushy, you won’t be comfortable if you’re cold), the Therma-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad ($240) will be hard to beat. This larger air mattress has nearly 5” of height, but is still reasonably backpackable at 25 ounces. With a 4.7 r-value this pad should still keep you warm in 3-season type conditions. If you’re backpacking in, but will then be setting up a basecamp for a few days, this pad might be up your alley.
For me however, I don’t quite need to go up to NeoLoft level to find comfort on the trail and thus can save a bit of weight. I like to look for a pad long enough so my feet don’t hang off the end, and wide enough that as a toss and turn side-sleeper I don’t have to worry about falling off the side. The previously mentioned NEMO Tensor All Season sleeping pad – but in the long wide version, or the NeoAir XLite NXT MAX (in the large) are leading backpacking sleeping pad comfort contenders here. 25” wide pads are appreciated in this regard, along with a pad that is slightly longer than your height combined with a good backpacking pillow.

A good backpacking pillow setup, combined with the right size sleeping pad (NEMO Tensor series shown) will go a long way towards a comfortable night on the trail.
Note that any inflatable sleeping pad will be made warmer and more comfortable if you add a closed cell foam pad underneath. If you’re only using an air pad, you’ll usually want to inflate fairly firmly for more warmth, but if using a foam pad under it you can deflate the pad to a softer firmness while still having sufficient warmth in typical conditions. And, if you toss and turn at night – instead of bottoming out the pad on hard ground, even a thin foam pad will add a surprising amount of cushion for your hips.
It should also be noted that while a very niche item, if you’re looking for a 2 person backpacking sleeping pad the Exped Ultra 3R Duo (29-41 ounces, $250, 2.9 r-value) is an intriguing choice with separate inflation chambers for each person and in Exped fashion, is a compelling choice across the board.
Summary: Most Comfortable Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Therma-a-Rest NeoLoft
NEMO Tensor All Season (in larger sizes)
NeoAir XLite NXT MAX (size large)
Add-on Closed Cell Foam Pads
Exped Ultra 3R Duo (for two)
Best Budget Backpacking Sleeping Pads
If the latest greatest technology and spreadsheet leaders aren’t your thing, more budget-oriented sleeping pads in the $150 or less range are without a doubt quite workable. A venerable choice has been the Exped line – this line has a great valve system, vertical baffles that I find help keep you on the pad, and larger outer baffles to keep you centered. The Exped Ultra 3R insulated sleeping pad (16 ounces, $140, 2.9 r-value) is my choice in this category. This pad is warm enough for 3-season backpacking, can be used as part of a system with additional foam pads in winter, and won’t break the bank. The Ultra line from Exped and their predecessor from Exped (Synmat series) have been part of my backpacking gear repertoire for years, as they offer a nice blend of warmth, weight, comfort, ease of use, and price.

If price however is of paramount importance, look to the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest, the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL, or the NEMO Switchback. These foam pads will not be the most comfortable, and depending on the sleeper may only be barely better than nothing in the comfort department, but they do add 3-season warmth and will get the job done for around $60 or less. That said, for deals on usually more expensive inflatable pads from time to time, it’s worth checking at the REI Co-op Outlet.
Summary: Best Budget Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Exped Ultra 3R
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL
NEMO Switchback
REI Co-op Outlet Sleeping Pads
In Conclusion
Finding the right sleeping pad is important on the trail, both for warmth and for comfort. To some extent this all goes hand in hand – while comfort is more than just warmth, you can’t be comfortable no matter how cushy the sleeping pad if you’re cold. When I look for a sleeping pad I look for the lightest weight sleeping pad that will keep me comfortable and warm on backpacking trips, and one that is also sufficiently durable while meeting the budget while also being easy to use.
You can find a complete selection of backpacking sleeping pads mentioned in this article along with additional choices here at REI Co-op. For more on sleeping pads take a look at our article: Choosing the Best Backpacking Sleeping Pad. For more on the “Big 3” of backpacking gear, see our articles: Best Backpacking Tents by Application and Budget and Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags, as well as our Best Backpacking Backpacks Guide.