A backpacking or tenting sleeping pad’s R-value measures its resistance to warmth loss to the bottom once you lie on it at evening. Pads with greater R-values do that extra successfully than pads with decrease R-values. R-value isn’t a measure of heat per se, however of a pad’s capability to stop the lack of the heat that your physique generates. It’s similar to the R-value used to charge dwelling insulation.
Sleeping Pad R-Values and Air Temperature in Levels
What’s the correlation between air temperature and sleeping pad R-values? When do you want a pad with the next R-value? This desk is predicated on Exped’s suggestions in Fahrenheit and Celsius levels.
| Air Temperature (F): | 50 | 30 | 25 | 10 | 0 | -15 | -25 | -40 |
| Minimal R-Worth | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Air Temperature (C): | 10 | -1 | -4 | -12 | -18 | -26 | -32 | -40 |
| Minimal R-Worth | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
As well as:
- R-values are additive, so you may mix two pads to extend your heat stage. For instance, it’s widespread to hold a foam sleeping pad (normally R=2) in winter to make use of as a sit pad when consuming and melting snow which you can place underneath an inflatable pad to extend their mixed R-value for sleeping.
- Ladies want greater R-values pads as a result of they’ve decrease physique mass than males. An extra R-value of 1 is normally hedge for ladies and different chilly sleepers.
- If a pad mannequin has a number of sizes, all of them have the identical R-value except specified in any other case
- EN sleeping bag temperature scores are predicated on utilizing a sleeping pad with an R-value of 5 or greater. If you end up sleeping chilly in temperatures the place you’d anticipate your sleeping bag ought to maintain you heat, it could be as a result of your sleeping pad has an R-value lower than 5.
Sleeping Pad R-Worth Comparability
The next desk gives a side-by-side comparability of the ASTM F3340-18 rated sleeping pads out there within the US market. The pad weights listed are sized for 72″ lengthy x 20″ broad pads, although there are a number of exceptions beneath. The R-Worth of a pad stays the identical if you choose an extended, shorter, or wider variation of the pad.
Key: Air – Air Mattress, SI – Self Inflating, Foam – Closed Cell Foam
Sleeping Pad R-Worth Commonplace
In 2020, the out of doors {industry} rolled out a world and industry-standard R-value check process referred to as ASTM F3340-18. This implies you may evaluate the R-values of various sleeping pads made by totally different producers and know that they’re all utilizing the identical check process to measure the R-values of their pads. That’s an enormous profit for customers and can finally have the identical affect that the adoption of standardized sleeping pad temperature scores had for evaluating sleeping luggage from totally different firms.
The businesses which have adopted the brand new R-value sleeping pad normal (ASTM F3340-18) and retested all of their present sleeping pads embody:
- Therm-a-Relaxation
- NEMO
- REI
- Exped
- Sea-to-Summit
- Huge Agnes
- Klymit
What’s New in Sleeping Pads in 2023?
- Thermarest has come out with a brand new NeoAir NXT technology of pads which are quieter, thicker, and have a barely greater R-value than the final technology NeoAir pads. I don’t suppose the adjustments actually warrant changing your present NeoAir pad although, however the adjustments must be enticing to new purchasers.
- Huge Agnes has a handful of recent light-weight pads which are 3+ season succesful. They’re not extensively out there in retail but, however they make good gear and is likely to be an fascinating various.
- Klymit continues to have an impenetrable product naming scheme. I don’t get it.
Standing of Business Adoption
The adoption of the brand new R-Worth normal was pushed by REI, which requires that the sleeping pads listed on the market on its essential web site have an ASTM F3340-18 R-Worth score.
Many sleeping pad firms have nonetheless not adopted the brand new ASTM F3340-18 sleeping pad R-Worth normal and it’s not clear that they ever will. In actual fact, many producers don’t check their pads in any respect, however “estimate” the R-values of their sleeping mats and pads. Within the absence of a normal definition and check process, it’s arduous to inform if their estimates are correct or whether or not they’re similar to these produced by the usual ASTM F3340-18 R-value testing protocol.
Up to date January 17, 2023.
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