In camping, a ground pad, sleeping pad, sleeping mat or roll mat is a simple device often used in conjunction with a sleeping bag. Its purpose is to provide padding and thermal insulation. All types currently available use air as their primary form of insulation

Inflating Types

Manually Inflated

Closely related to the air mattress a pad of this type requires an external pressure source to inflate, typically in the form of a pump or by blowing orally. Convection of the air inside the mattress reduces the amount of insulation it provides and more complicated mattresses include methods to reduce this by either partitioning the internal cavities, or by filling the cavities with material to trap the air such as down feathers or synthetic insulation.

Self Inflating

An extension on the conventional manually inflated mattress, this type is capable of self-inflation due to the open-cell foam that fills the internal cavity. For many years this design was protected by various patents held by Cascade Designs and they were an unusual and premium item. But since these patents expired many other manufacturers are now producing this type of mattress and they are now commonplace. These mattresses are lightweight and packs to a small size, and makes it therefore popular amongst hikers and campers. A standard size is 183x51X3.8cm and weighs around 700g, and packs to 28x16cm.