In camping, a sleeping pad or sleeping mat is a simple device often used in conjunction with a sleeping bag. Its purpose is to provide padding and thermal insulation. The ground may become quite cold at night, and is often covered with sticks, small rocks, and other objects that may make sleep difficult. A sleeping bag does not provide adequate protection against either hazard, but a sleeping pad does.

The simplest sleeping pads are sheets of foam rubber or a reflective metallized plastic material, rolled up for storage. The latter provides little extra comfort, but gives good insulation. It is popular because of its low mass and volume. More expensive, and heavier, models are designed with interconnected air cells that may be compressed for maximum compactness, or inflated through a valve for maximum padding.

Self-inflating air mattresses are available for backpackers, e.g., Therm-a-Rest®.

Trivia

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In the UK, pads are sometimes known by the slang term splat mat.

Camping equipment | Isomatte