The Great Debate: Sleeping Pad Inside or Outside Sleeping Bag?

Cartoon graphic of a sleeping pad inside a sleeping bag

When it comes to camping comfort, the placement of your sleeping pad can make all the difference. Should you tuck your sleeping pad inside your sleeping bag or lay it outside? Each method has its own set of advantages, and choosing the right one can significantly impact your overall comfort.

Understanding the nuances of sleeping pad placement is essential for both novice and seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. The right setup not only enhances sleeping bag insulation but also contributes to a good night’s rest.

As we explore the pros and cons of each approach, you’ll discover how small adjustments can lead to big improvements in comfort. So, whether you’re gearing up for a weekend getaway or planning an extended trek, read on to find out which sleeping pad strategy might be your ticket to restful nights in nature.

The Benefits of Sleeping Pad Inside the Sleeping Bag

Most people keep their sleeping pad outside their bag, but that isn’t always the best option. I’m an inside the bag kind of guy because I roll around a lot at night. I last 5 minutes on my sleeping pad if it’s outside my bag. I’ll wake up 50 times per night because I’ve scooched halfway across the tent.

Tucking my sleeping pad works for me, but would it work for you? Here are a few of the benefits to using your pad inside the sleeping bag.

Increased Insulation

This setup offers a variety of benefits, starting with enhanced insulation and heat retention. By placing your sleeping pad within your bag, you create a barrier that helps trap body heat more effectively.

This is especially crucial during colder nights, where temperatures can drop unexpectedly. You don’t want any chance of rolling off your sleeping bag onto the cold hard ground. The only time this might be an issue is if you’re a bigger guy and have a hard time fitting in the bag with a sleeping pad. It isn’t an issue with me at 6ft 200lbs, but it could be a problem for larger guys.

Feels More Secure

Campers often report that this combination leads to a more restful night’s sleep. It’s almost like swaddling a baby in a burrito. You just feel more secure in your sleeping bag.

Furthermore, keeping your sleeping pad inside the sleeping bag acts as an effective shield against moisture and dirt. Outdoor environments can be unpredictable, with dew or light rain potentially dampening your gear.

When your sleeping pad is tucked away within your bag, it is less likely to become saturated or dirty from the ground beneath. You still have a dry place to lay even if your bag gets soaked from condensation. It also helps prevent tears and punctures in your sleeping pad.

In summary, placing your sleeping pad inside your sleeping bag enhances insulation, increases comfort, and protects against moisture—making it a compelling choice for both novice and experienced campers alike. Here are a few other key benefits!

You Won’t Roll Off Your Sleeping Pad

If you put your sleeping pad inside your bag you can’t roll off in the middle of the night. Sleeping pads are surprisingly narrow with standard pads measuring 20″ wide and 72″ long. My arms dangle off of the side of a standard sized pad and I’m constantly sliding and rolling off.

Placing your sleeping pad inside the bag will help keep you on the pad. There isn’t enough room in the bag to roll off and it will keep you centered on the bag. Not having as much room limits the amount of gear you can bring in the bag and can pose a serious problem for side sleepers.

There are a few other ways to help fix roll off issues without bringing your pad inside. You can go with a wider sleeping pad where your arms don’t hang off and reduce the amount of air inside your bag. Most people overinflate their sleeping pad which doesn’t allow your body to sink into the bag.

I recommend completely filling up your pad with air and slowly reducing the air pressure until the pad hugs your body. Your back should sink into the pad until it’s barely above the ground. It depends on your body size/weight, but that’s usually in the 50-70 percent full range. Side sleepers and smaller people will need more air to keep your body up off the ground

Protects Air Filled Sleeping Pads

Inflatable sleeping pads are fairly durable, but you will eventually get a puncture. Putting your pad inside the bag will help prevent thorns, sticks, and rocks from poking through your bag. You never know when a puncture will happen so I carry a small gear repair kit in my pack to deal with these situations.

Repairing punctures is easy with a piece of Tenacious Tape, but nobody wants to damage their expensive pad. It’s a piece of peel and stick vinyl patch that you place over the puncture. Tenacious tape works instantly and it can be used on most of your technical gear (not cotton, denim, or natural fabrics).

I also use a durable foam sleeping pad underneath my air filled pad to help prevent damage. It also helps increase your sleeping pads R-Value rating. My cheap Thermarest Ridgerest Foam sleeping pad only weighs 14oz and has 2 R-Value to increase my main pads insulation rating. This allows you to use the same 3-4 R-Value sleeping pad in colder weather.

Tent footprints are another cheap and easy way to prevent sleeping pad punctures. You can get a tent footprint for less than $20 and it doubles as a tarp shelter in rainy weather. Redcamp ultralight tent footprints seem to offer the most value for your dollar.

They’re lightweight and fold up into the palm of your hand for easy packability. Just make sure you go with a tent footprint that’s a few inches smaller than the walls of your tent. Tent footprints are waterproof, so if they stick out past your tent walls you’ll end up with pooling water in the rain.


Easier To Double Up Foam Pads

Sleeping pads are fairly comfortable, but they don’t come close to the comfort of a traditional air mattress. Unfortunately, air mattresses don’t have insulation so you’ll shed body heat on cold nights. That’s where doubling up your inflatable sleeping pad comes in.

It’s easy to stack foam and inflatable pads, but doubling up inflatables poses more of a challenge. With a little bit of movement they end up sliding off each other. Keeping your sleeping pad inside your bag will help this issue since fabric is less likely to slide off. You can also use adjustable sleeping pad coupling straps to secure multiple inflatable pads together.

Doubling Up Pads Increases Insulation

Sleeping Pad R Value chart

Doubling up your sleeping pads will increase the combined R-Value. Here’s an example: you have a Thermarest Ridgerest Foam Pad (2 R-Value) and Neoair Xlite Ultralight inflatable pad (4.2 R-Value).

Looking at the chart above tells you that neither of the pads would be sufficient for winter camping. The inflatable pad would be close, but you would lose a lot of heat once temperatures drop below 32°. Using both pads together would increase your R-Value to 6.2, which gets you into the extreme cold range below 0°F range.

This will allow you to use the same lightweight 3-Season gear all year round. You won’t have to carry a heavy high R-Value winter sleeping pad in the summer or spend extra money on a 2nd dedicated winter inflatable/self-inflating pad.

All you need is a cheap foam pad (Thermarest Ridgerest) paired with your inflatable pad. Almost every foam camping pad is in the 1.7-2 R-Value range. I use the Ridgerest pad which is a roll up pad, but some people prefer compact folding pads like the ZLite Original (1.7 R-Value) or Zlite Sol (2 R-Value).

The Advantages of Sleeping Pad Outside the Sleeping Bag

Most people prefer separating their sleeping pad and sleeping bag. I can definitely see how this could be an advantage if you’re a hot sleeper. Here are a few of the key benefits to keeping your pad outside the sleeping bag.

Increased Ventilation

One notable advantage of positioning your sleeping pad outside the sleeping bag is the improved ventilation and breathability it offers. There’s more room for airflow around your body since you aren’t squeezed tight into the sleeping bag.

This is a much better setup on warm humid nights. Having the pad outside your bag helps reduce sweating since there’s more airflow inside the bag. It should hopefully help with that clammy feeling you get when sweaty fabrics stuck to you.

Easier To Adjust Bag Temperature

Another significant benefit of placing your sleeping pad outside the sleeping bag is the ease with which you can adjust for temperature fluctuations. Conditions can change rapidly throughout the night. It can be freezing when you head to bed and start warming up at 6am when the sun comes up in the summer.

You could either wake up drenched in sweat or start ditching layers. That can be difficult when you’re wrapped up tight like a burrito with a sleeping pad inside your bag. Just ditch your shirt and quickly unzip your sleeping bag without feeling constrained, allowing for a more personalized temperature control. This flexibility makes it an attractive choice for backpackers who want to adapt to varying weather conditions without compromising comfort.

More Space For Movement

Having your sleeping pad outside the sleeping bag grants you more space for movement within your sleeping area. This added room can be especially valuable during trips where space is at a premium, such as in a cramped tent or while using a minimalist camping setup.

With the pad outside, you can stretch out, shift positions, or even toss and turn without feeling restricted by the confines of your sleeping bag. Experienced campers often report that this extra wiggle room contributes to an overall better night’s sleep.

In summary, while both setups have their merits, placing your sleeping pad outside the sleeping bag can enhance ventilation, provide easier temperature adjustments, and offer greater freedom of movement—all crucial elements for ensuring comfort in your backpacking essentials.

Do You Sleep On Your Back, Stomach, or Side?

Side sleepers don't have room for a sleeping pad

How do you sleep at night? You can only use a sleeping pad inside your bag if you sleep on your back or stomach. Pads take up a lot of space, but you should have enough room to comfortably get a good night sleep.

If you sleep on your side you are going to be out of luck. As a side sleeper, you won’t have enough room between the pad and the top of your bag. Smaller people might be able to squeeze in, but you’ll end up compressing the insulation affecting warmth.

Insulation Considerations

The placement of your sleeping pad can significantly influence thermal efficiency. When placed inside your sleeping bag, the sleeping pad acts as a barrier against the cold ground, maximizing insulation and helping to retain body heat.

This is especially important in colder weather conditions where every bit of warmth counts. For instance, if you’re camping in the Rockies during early spring, having that added layer between you and the chilly ground can make a noticeable difference in how warm and cozy you feel throughout the night.

You can get the same benefits with your pad outside, but you need to stay on the pad. It’s easy to roll a leg off and end up freezing half your body.

In terms of R-values, which measure a sleeping pad’s thermal resistance, there are key differences depending on placement. When a pad is placed inside the sleeping bag, the R-value is effectively enhanced because both the sleeping bag and the pad work together to trap warmth. It’s hard to say how much of a difference this is, but you can definitely feel it.

Conversely, placing the sleeping pad outside may result in a lower effective R-value since it’s more exposed to cold air and less insulated by the sleeping bag material. For example, using a pad with an R-value of 3 might feel significantly warmer when nestled inside a sleeping bag rated for colder temperatures than when it lies unprotected outside.

Refer To My Handy R-Value Graphic Above For More Info

If temperatures drop unexpectedly at night, having your pad inside will help keep you warmer; however, if you start feeling too hot, moving it outside could allow for better airflow and ventilation. This flexibility can be a game-changer for those who want to ensure they get a good night’s sleep despite unpredictable weather patterns.

Ultimately, understanding how sleeping pad placement affects insulation can help you make informed decisions about your camping setup. Whether you’re an experienced camper or just getting started, considering factors like R-values and temperature regulation will contribute to a more comfortable experience. By testing out different setups, you can find what works best for your unique needs and preferences.

Comfort Levels and Personal Preference

Comfort is highly subjective and can vary significantly from person to person. Factors such as body type, sleeping position, and even personal experiences can greatly influence what feels comfortable for each camper.

A back sleeper might prefer the cushioning provided by inner placement, while a side sleeper will have more room with the pad outside. Warm sleepers will prefer the pad outside since you’ll have better airflow. Understanding your own preferences is key to making the right decision.

Experimentation plays a crucial role in discovering your optimal setup. I recommend trying both configurations during different trips to see which one suits you best. If you’re camping in colder weather, you might start with the pad inside the bag to maximize insulation. On warmer nights, moving the pad outside can enhance ventilation and reduce heat retention.

By testing various setups in diverse conditions, you can gather valuable insights into how your body reacts. Feedback from experienced campers often highlights the importance of personal preference in achieving a good night’s sleep.

Some seasoned hikers swear by the flexibility of having their pads outside, claiming it allows them to move freely within the sleeping bag without feeling constricted. Others emphasize that the added warmth of an inside setup is worth the trade-off in space.

Whichever method they choose, these campers agree that prioritizing comfort can make all the difference.

Do You Have Enough Room in Your Bag?

Whether or not you should put your pad in your sleeping bag mainly comes down to space. Do you have enough room to fit your pad inside the bag? Stuffing a thick inflatable pad can be a challenge for bigger guys and side sleepers.

When I was pushing 260lbs it wouldn’t have been possible to sleep with a pad inside my bag. I had too big of a belly to fit comfortably inside the bag. I felt like a burrito all rolled up and unable to move. Throwing on a extra layers in cold weather made it even worse!

My sleeping bag was bursting out at the seams. That wasn’t a huge problem in the summer, but it seriously cut down my bags temperature rating in cold weather. A sleeping bag needs loft in the filling to keep you warm. Jamming your body against the bag compresses the filling. You won’t roll off the pad, but there will definitely be cold spots throughout the bag.

Finding Your Perfect Sleeping Pad Setup

In conclusion, the choice between sleeping pad placement inside or outside your sleeping bag can greatly impact your camping experience. Each method has its own set of benefits. Placing the pad inside enhances insulation and comfort, while positioning it outside allows for better ventilation and more room to move. Consider factors like temperature, ground conditions, and personal comfort preferences when making your decision.

We encourage you to experiment with both setups during your camping trips. Trying out different arrangements will help you discover what works best for your unique needs. Ultimately, finding the right sleeping pad placement is about enhancing your comfort and ensuring a restful night in the great outdoors. Happy camping!

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