Be it armchairs and office chairs to the kind of snow-ploughs you can use without nearly bending yourself in half, taller folks are aware that not all consumer goods are created equally. And this applies to sleeping pads as well. Anyone with broader shoulders and a longer frame will find it difficult to comfortably fit themselves on a sleeping pad on their backs or sides, especially risky if your shoulders and hips don’t get the proper support and you risk hurting yourself or waking up to sore limbs and joints.
Moreover, if your hands or feet fall off the side of the sleeping pad, you might even risk hypothermia, waking up to numb, sensationless fingers and toes. Thankfully, though, there are options out there for bigger individuals, as long as you know where to look. We’ve shortlisted our picks for the best sleeping pads for big guys – read on to take a look.
KEN’S PICK
Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Sleeping Pad
This XL Luxury air mattress is built to give you the coziest night’s sleep wherever you are, even in the coldest and harshest of environments. Available in extra-large, the mattress’ width of 30 inches can comfortably cushion broad-shouldered and wider set individuals. At 77 inches long, it can also comfortably hold taller individuals without the risk of any part of your body falling out of the pad, with plenty of space to sleep on your back and sides, and wiggle-room if you tend to move around as you do. This inflatable mattress comes with a convenient TwinLock valve providing lightning-fast inflation and deflation with two dedicated valves to make setting it up a (literal) breeze.
An R-value of 6.0 makes this a brilliant option to keep you warm through cold winter environments, especially if you’re camping out in your car and have to snuggle down in the back of your van, with the chill of the metal all around you.
KEN’S BUDGET PICK
Klymit Static V Luxe Sleeping Pad
The Luxe in the name is no joke – at 30 inches wide and 76 inches long, it’s a blessing for taller individuals who might otherwise struggle to sleep comfortably on a standard sized sleeping pad. The brand uses a unique body-mapping technology to render an ergonomic mattress that provides you the optimum support as you rest and relax, regardless of your favored sleeping posture. The side-rails ensure you have plenty of room to maneuver while minimizing the risk that you roll or fall off the edge of the mattress, the design also working to effectively trap and restrict air movement to retain heat and keep you warm. At an R-value of 1.3, this is a great mattress to opt for when camping or hiking in warmer climates and environments, the 75D polyester making it both durable and wear- and tear-resistant but also soft and breathable. A repair kit and storage bag are included with the pad.
RUNNER-UP
Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Mat
In size large, the tapered structure of this mat is perfect for side-sleepers (though it’s also available in a rectangular shape if you tend to sleep on your back or move about in your sleep). With a width of 25 inches to accommodate your shoulders and a length of 79 inches to comfortably hold individuals taller than 6 feet, this cushy sleeping pad offers insulation of R-value 4.1, making it a perfect option for camping in the winter. Exkin Platinum, a quiet and reflective non-woven fabric, works together with Thermolite insulation to retain and trap heat, keeping you toasty warm through the night and keeping down the noise one tends to expect from sleeping pads.
The sleeping pads feature a dual layer construction – the upper layer works to keep you warm and insulated while the lower buffers and protects you from rough terrain, and the pad itself from punctures and tears. The two layers are independent of each other, the matrix of Air Sprung Cells emulating the function of pocket-sprung mattresses, supporting your weight and distributing it adequately so you can lay back comfortably without undue pressure on your shoulders and hips, molding to the natural curves of your body.
The mattress is self-inflating and deflating can be done swiftly through the valve when you need to pack up. Weighing just 36 ounces, and packing up into a 5 by 10 inch bundle, the sleeping mat comes complete with a storage bag, a repair kit with 6 adhesive patches for repairing punctures and tears, and a one-way valve insert.
RUNNER-UP
Big Agnes – Q Core SLX Sleeping Pad
20 inches wide, and 78 inches long, this is a pretty great option for taller side sleepers, the mattress featuring a quilted, pillow-top surface to cushion you as you sleep, with large outer chambers to naturally position you in the center of the mattress and minimize the chances of you rolling or slipping off in your sleep. Structured out of aircraft-grade TPU lamination technology and double rip-stop, the sleeping pad is designed to resist damage, promising longevity and endurance in rough terrain. Superlight nylon rip-stop fabric also ensures not just rugged durability, but also a comfortable pad to snuggle down in. Insulated and rated to 15°, the pad features an in-built heat reflective technology, weighing just 17 ounces thanks to the Minimalist I-Beam construction making up the rugged and supportive structure of the pad, while still cutting back on unnecessary weight.