I tested the Elegear Self Inflating Sleeping Pad in the tent with the night temperature of 5-6 degrees Celsius and a very high humidity, and I had a full protection from the cold ground. Read more in the text here.
Key features & benefits
- Self-inflating.
- Very thick.
- Integrated headrest.
- High R-value.
- Suitable for all seasons.
- Very large carry bag.
- Great price.
What this is about
So here you have a great example of a self-inflating sleeping pad. If you are not familiar with this terminology, the meaning is that it will inflate by itself as soon as you open the valves.
This is because of the foam that it inside; when you open the valves, the compressed foam will suck the air in, and you will have the pad ready in minutes.
When I inflated it for the first time, this was in my tent, and it took probably 10-15 minutes or so because it was completely deflated in the factory. This is normal for pads of this type.
So it may take more time when this is the first time to self-inflate, but you will see below in real time how quickly it inflates later.
Valves
There are three valves in my pad, but they also have a version with two valves. Two of the valves are on the upper feet area, and one is on the underside.
The top valves can be open in two ways, see the picture below. On the left, the valve is open for inflation, and in this position air can go in both directions.
On the right, the valve is open for deflation. When you compress the pad, air can only go out. So this is an efficient system, and from my experience, it works great.
Below you can see the inflation and deflation details presented in the pictures:
The valve on the underside is a spare valve. They write it is there to use it if, due to long-term non-use, the foam rebounds slowly. If this happens, the valve is designed so that you can use an air bag or pump.
One detail that I dislike is the following. If you want to have a harder inflated pad, you can blow air with mouth, and this is when the valve is open in inflation mode.
But when you stop blowing, and now want to close the pad, some, if not all, added air will always escape before you are able to close it.
The mentioned third valve on the bottom is a simpler two-way design and it is also smaller, so it may be better to use it if you want to blow some extra air in.
From my own experience, the pad remained completely firm during one night sleep in the tent. It is fair to say that my body weight is not substantial, but they claim it was tested to hold up to 800 lb (363 kg) for 24 hours with no air leakage or damage.
Materials
The shell fabric is a pleasant skin-friendly and stretch material. You will want to know that it makes almost no noise. This is very important to me because I move a lot when I sleep, and this is annoying for me and for anybody who sleeps next to me.
From their specifications, this is a 50D stretch knit fabric. They write that it is sweat-absorbing, heat-insulating, and tear-proof.
This is a moderate D-value, and you get can some idea when you compare it with the pads like the REI Co-op AirRail Plus Sleeping Pad where the fabric is 75D, and the Coleman Cloudland Self-Inflating Camping Pad where it is 30D.
The inner is a high-density open-cell memory foam, see the details in the picture below.
R-value
They claim that the R-value is 9.5, and they write this is after the ASTM rating. With this official rating, you can be sure it will protect you from the cold. This is why I have added it to my list of cold weather sleeping pads.
Such a great value is due to the thick foam that keeps lots of air trapped and this insulates you from the ground.
When you sleep on a cold surface, you lose up to 50 times more body heat to the surface than to the surrounding air. This is why it is far more essential to have a reliable and high R-value pad than a warm sleeping bag.
How I tested this Elegear pad
I took the pad on my bicycle tour in a forest. It is indeed bulky for such a use, but I did it on purpose, for testing.
As you see in the picture below, I was sleeping on the floor of my Crua Duo Dome tent, this is the picture taken next morning, with all the usual mess in the tent.
The pad was very comfortable and I did not feel any cold from the ground. It was also thick enough that I never felt the ground underneath me. Note that I used it together with my Forclaz MT500 Inflatable Backpacking Travel Pillow.
This was in February, and the temperature in the tent during the night was around 5-6 degrees Celsius, while humidity was in the range 80-90% most of the time. The picture shows one moment during the night:
In this video you can see the pad used in my tent and a few more details, please have a look:
My plan with this pad is to use it for car camping, and this means for sleeping in the car or in a tent close to the car. The temperature in the mountains where I normally go in summer time is similar to the temperature I had in this testing, so I am sure this pad will work perfect for me.
Who is the Elegear Self Inflating Sleeping Pad for
Regarding the best use & climate, you have already seen about the R-value and about my own testing. There is no doubt, you would be fine even if you use this pad directly on the snow. This is a true four-season camping pad.
You can use this pad for car camping, but it is so thick and comfortable that you can have it at home as a spare bed for sleeping on the floor or on the cot, for sudden guests, and for emergencies.
It has an integrated elevated headrest, so for back sleepers this may work even without an extra pillow, see the picture below. But I used an inflatable camping pillow in the tent.
Regarding the size, from my own measurements, the dimensions are (L x W) 77.2 x 26.4 inches (196 x 67 cm). So the length is very good and the width can be described as moderate.
Below you can see how it looks on an Ikea bed, just to get some idea of the size. As you may have realized, the length is what you normally have as a standard length in most of mattresses at home.
Regarding the weight, with its 8.1 lb (3.67 kg), the pad is on the heavy side, but this is not a big deal, it is designed for car camping.
The packed size is not its best feature, but I was able to transport it easily on a bicycle to an official camp zone in a forest that was around 10 km from home.
You have seen the top picture above, this is the pad in its carry bag, and in my camp. But it is bulky, see the numbers below.
Note that the carry bag is far wider than the pad, so even if you do not deflate it properly, you will never have problems to put it back. But it is best to see the picture:
Regarding the price, it is imply incredible for such a good product, a great value for the money. Please check the link for updates.
Specifications
- Type: self-inflating.
- Official weight: 8.1 lb (3.67 kg).
- Dimensions, my own measurement (L x W): 77.2 x 26.4 in (196 x 67 cm).
- Thickness, my own measurement: 2.87 in (7.3 cm).
- Headrest, my own measurement: 4 in (10.3 cm).
- Official R-value: 9.5.
- Packed size, my own measurement after deflation (L x D): 26.4 x 9.8 in (67 x 25 cm).
- Warranty: The pad comes with a one-year warranty.
Final thoughts & rating
In conclusion, the Elegear Self Inflating Sleeping Pad proved to be a reliable and comfortable outdoor bed during my winter camping.
Tested in chilly conditions with temperatures hovering around 5-6 degrees Celsius and high humidity, the pad offered me a pleasant experience with full protection from the cold ground.
The self-inflating feature, efficient valve system, and impressive R-value of 9.5 contributed to a quick setup and ensured excellent insulation against the cold.
The pad’s materials, including a skin-friendly and stretchy fabric, added to the overall comfort, making it a versatile option for various scenarios, from car camping to emergency use at home.
Despite its slightly heavy and bulky nature, the Elegear Sleeping Pad stands out as a cost-effective choice, offering a balance of comfort, features, and value for money.
It is not surprising that, as of the moment of writing this review, the pad is the number 6 best-selling pad on Amazon in the group of Self-Inflating Sleeping Mats for Camping.
Fully recommended. I have included it in my lists of best self-inflating camping pads and best sleeping pads for car camping.
Below you can see how I rate this pad against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:
Elegear Self Inflating Sleeping Pad
Pros
- Very comfortable.
- Huge R-value.
- Good size.
- Easy to deflate and to pack.
- Great price.
Cons
- Heavy.
- Bulky.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
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