Sleeping Pad vs Air Mattress: Pros, Cons, & Differences

Sleeping pads and air mattresses are excellent alternatives to a regular bed. They are both comfortable, portable, and easy to store. However, if you’ve never used a sleeping pad or an air mattress before, it might be challenging to decide which one of the two is better for your needs.

If you’re looking for a sleeping arrangement for camping or looking to add extra sleeping space in your home without purchasing a bed, you should definitely consider one of these options.

But how to choose between the two?

This article will cover everything you need to know about sleeping pads and air mattresses, how they function, their pros and cons, and when one is a better option over the other.

Sleeping Pad Overview

Sleeping pads are simply mats with insulation that you can use for sleeping. They come in a variety of sizes, materials, and thicknesses, so everyone can find a sleeping pad according to their needs. Most of the time, people use sleeping pads when backpacking or camping due to their light weight and portability.

Sleeping pads can provide you with the needed warmth and comfort when sleeping outdoors, and they’re typically inexpensive, making them convenient.

How Does It Work?

Sleeping pads are quite easy to use—most of the time, there’s nothing you need to do except roll the pad out and lay it down. However, there are three main types of sleeping pads, and some of them are slightly harder to use.

When To Choose a Sleeping Pad?

Sleeping pads are an excellent choice when camping or backpacking because you can easily carry them around and set them up when it’s time to sleep.  Typically, if you’ll be camping out for multiple days, a sleeping pad is not the best option because they are comfortable, but not too comfortable.

If you plan on camping or backpacking for a shorter period, sleeping pads will come in handy and allow you to sleep in a warm “bed” instead of the cold ground.

Air Mattress Overview

Air mattresses are inflatable mattresses you can use when you need a quick and comfortable sleeping solution. They are typically PVC, although they come in other materials as well, and they also feature various sizes. Most of the time, people use air mattresses for camping, although many people use them in their homes as occasional sleeping arrangements.

Air mattresses are comfortable, warm, and typically easy to inflate. They are somewhat lightweight but compared to sleeping pads, air mattresses are much heavier and bulkier. Because of that, they’re frequently hard to carry around, which makes them less portable than sleeping pads.

How Does It Work?

Air mattresses are easy to use, but you have to inflate them first, which can be hard if you don’t have a pump. However, some air mattresses have built-in pumps which inflate the mattress for you.

When To Choose an Air Mattress?

You can use air mattresses when camping or as an additional sleeping space inside your home. Also, air mattresses are frequently used for patients who need hospital or home care.

While air mattresses are more comfortable than sleeping pads, they’re not the best solution for backpacking as they can’t fit into a backpack due to their size. However, an air mattress would be a better choice when traveling by car as it provides more comfort.

Sleeping Pad vs Air Mattress — The Biggest Differences

While sleeping pads and air mattresses are sleeping solutions that provide comfort and warmth in many situations, they are entirely different products.

Read more about their most significant differences below.

Comfort

One of the most important things for a good night’s sleep is comfort. When it comes to comfort, both sleeping pads and air mattresses are comfortable, especially compared to sleeping on the ground. However, air mattresses are much more comfortable than sleeping pads.

One of the main reasons why they’re comfier is because the air inside of them allows them to feel softer while sleeping. Sleeping pads are somewhat comfy but are typically foam and have less cushioning. That makes them less cozy and less warm than air mattresses.

Also, while sleeping pads come in smaller sizes, air mattresses can be the size of the bed you have at home, allowing you to turn around and enjoy your sleep.

Durability

The product’s durability is essential when choosing between an air mattress and a sleeping pad. While both sleeping arrangements are durable, sleeping pads are more durable than air mattresses.

The reason why sleeping pads are more durable is that they’re foam, meaning that they can’t puncture or leak.  Air mattresses are less durable because they’re filled with air instead of solid material.  Because of that, you can easily tear or puncture it.

This is not a general rule, as it all depends on the quality of the product you buy, but most of the time, sleeping pads have better durability.

Portability

Both sleeping pads and air mattresses are portable. However, as sleeping pads weigh less and are smaller in size, they have better portability. Due to their compact size, you can pack sleeping pads in your backpack, while you would need another way to carry an air mattress.

Because of that, sleeping pads are a much better option when backpacking, while air mattresses are more suitable for indoor use and camping.

Ease of Use

If you’re planning on camping or backpacking, the last thing you’d want to do after a long day on your legs is to spend a bunch of time inflating your bed.

While air mattresses mostly require inflating them, which can take some time and effort, sleeping pads don’t. When using a sleeping pad, all you need to do is get it out of your backpack, roll it on the ground, and lie down.

Because of that, sleeping pads are typically much easier to use unless you have a self-inflatable air mattress that can inflate on its own.

Price

The price for these products varies, and, in some ways, they can both be expensive and affordable.

Typically, air mattresses come in a range of prices, from super cheap to super expensive.  The price also dictates the quality, so buying a $15 air mattress is probably a bad idea, as it probably will only last for a while.  However, choosing an expensive air mattress should mean that it is high quality and will last for a long time.

Sleeping pads also range in price, although they’re typically more expensive than air mattresses, primarily because they can last longer.  Of course, you will probably stumble across a cheap sleeping pad, but again, when purchasing such products, the quality should matter much more than the price. Otherwise, you risk spending your money on something with a short lifespan, meaning you’ll need to purchase the same thing again.

Versatility

As for the versatility of these two products, sleeping pads get the crown. While you can only use an air mattress for sleeping, sleeping pads have multiple purposes. Also, you can place a sleeping pad inside a sleeping bag, which you cannot do with an air mattress.

Conclusion

Both sleeping pads and air mattresses are excellent products, so it can be hard to decide which one is better than the other.  Typically, it all comes down to your situation; sleeping pads are better for people looking for a sleeping solution with a long lifespan, primarily for backpacking and hiking, while air mattresses are better for camping and indoor usage.

• See also: Cot vs Air Mattress: Which Is Better for Me?

Featured Image Credit: (L) Ashley-Belle Burns, Shutterstock | (R) Maria Studio, Shutterstock