The KingCamp Deluxe Double SIM comes in two great covers a delicious electric blue or a gorgeous grey/anthracite mix. It uses a novel ‘wave-like’ top surface layer to provide a tactile 150D surface to lie on and hold your sleeping bag in position. It is a true 4-season sleeping pad with an R-Value of 6.8. This provides excellent insulation between you and the floor for effective winter-use.

In terms of dimensions and operation, the Dreamcatcher is pretty standard in most areas. However, the inflated size is a little restricted compared to the more expensive Vango and Berghaus options – the length is 195cm (just under 6ft5) and so we would recommend either of those two over the Outwell if you’re lanky like me. Fully-inflated dimensions are 201 x 132 x 10cm and so it can cater for somebody up to 6ft 7 in height. I found I had plenty of room at 6ft3 tall. While this pad is insulated – it does not deliver the same cold weather protection from the freezing terrain beneath the pad as well as some of the other pads on this list. When it comes to saving weight, there are always going to be compromises – and the compromise here is the relatively low R value. I sleep on my side and often find that I wake up with sore shoulders when camping out, the Static V2 is a perfect sleeping pad for side sleepers and I found it very comfortable to sleep on, unlike the X Frame.

On one side of this mat, you will notice it is covered with tiny Berghaus logos. This isn’t the manufacturer being vain and trying to plaster themselves everywhere. If you feel the logos, you will notice that they are silicone and very grippy. This is the top of the mat and it stops your sleeping bag from slipping off the mat, which is perfect for when you are pitched up on a slope and would normally wake up finding yourself having slid down or off the mat in the night.

We recommend an R-Value of 3 or higher for 3-season use, and 5 or higher if you will be lying on the ground in winter too. Measuring 201 x 74 x 5cm when inflated, the IForrest includes both an integrated pillow and armrests for significant added comfort. What is great about the armrests is that they stop you rolling off the mattress in the night very effectively. If you are planning to use it on top of a camp bed then this is an important consideration – you might be a foot off the floor!The Xtherm does a terrific job of retaining heat. Pretty much all of the mainstream gear testers have showered the Xtherm with rewards for the duration of it’s life. Our team rated this as one of their best budget sleeping pads because it still provided excellent warmth and protection from the hard ground at a fraction of the price. Ok, so it’s not the most comfortable on the list but for a foam pad, it’s up there with the best. On the plus side, this thing is never going to get puncture or deflate! They also found that they could fold the pad over double in some sections to add a bit of extra padding. Now that the results are in, I hope you find it easier to choose a sleeping pad for your travel style 🙂 Vango offer a 2 year warranty on all their gear and that gives peace of mind when buying a self inflating mattress. If there are any issues with the valve or unexpected deflations in the night then they will unhesitatingly repair or replace your treasured SIM.