Cabela’s Instinct Sleeping Pad

The Cabela’s Instinct Sleeping Pad is inflatable, very compact and light, and with a body mapping design for optimal comfort and support.

Key features & benefits

What this is about

This Cabela’s Instinct Sleeping Pad is an inflatable pad which they build in two sizes, you will see more about numbers below.

But they also build it in two variants as uninsulated, and as insulated which is under the name Cabela’s Instinct Insulated Sleeping Pad with an R-value of around 4.4 – 4.6. The focus of this text is on the uninsulated version.

So this is a modern design with very interesting baffles. With such distribution of circular baffles that have various diameters, you have more support and stability where it is more needed. So this can be understood as a body-mapping design.

Yet another advantage of such baffles is that bouncing is reduced as compared to classic pads with long longitudinal baffles. The air in the baffles is better trapped when they are small, so this should provide a better thermal efficiency.

If you look closely, you will see that they are slightly larger under the head and also on the sides where you upper body is. The latter detail is to cradle you on the pad and to keep you in the center. The picture below shows some details including its single valve.  

As for the materials, you have a durable shell which is a 70D nylon with deep welding visible in the picture above, the same material is on both sides.

You can compare this denier value with the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Ultralight Backpacking Air Mattress where only the bottom has the same value while the top is only 30D. 

Who is it for

Regarding the best use & climate, the pad that is in the focus here is with the R-value of 1.2, so there is no doubt this is only for warm weather camping. So if you need something for a cold environment, go for the insulated version which they have.

Regarding the size, the pad is available in two sizes R and XL. So the R size is not for really tall users, and if you are one of them go for the XL version. The numbers are below in specifications.

Note that the thickness is different in the R and XL versions. This is still good enough even for side sleepers, the mentioned body mapping plays a role there.

Regarding the weight, the R size weighs 20 oz (567 g) and this is almost ultralight, in particular when you see that the fabric is quite durable. If they made it thinner, it would be among the lightest on the market. But if you need something lighter, please check my list of ultralight sleeping pads for backpacking.

The packed size for the R version is (L x D) 8 x 6 inches (20 x 15 cm), and this is simply great. So the packed volume of this sleeping pad is around 3.5 liters only. 

Specifications

• Type: rectangular inflatable sleeping pad.
• Two sizes: R, XL.
• Weight R: 20 oz (567 g).
• Dimensions (L x W):
  – R: 72 x 23 in (183 x 58 cm).
  – XL: 76 x 30 in (193 x 76 cm).
• Thickness:
  – R: 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
  – XL: 3 in (7.6 cm).
• R-value: 1.2.
• Packed size (L x D): 8 x 6 in (20 x 15 cm). 

Final thoughts & rating

Below you can see how I rate the R size pad against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:

Cabelas Instinct Sleeping Pad

8.6

Weight

9.4/10

Comfort & features

8.6/10

R-value

7.0/10

Packed size

9.5/10

Pros

• Ultra compact.
• Very light.
• Fair price.

Cons

• No insulation.

BEST PLACEs TO BUY

Cabelas

Bass Pro

For more options, please check under the category Sleeping Pads. Check in particular this Sea to Summit Comfort Plus XT Insulated Sleeping Pad which is a unique 2-layer structure.

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