ALPS Mountaineering Sleeping Pad: The Definitive Review (2024)
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So here we are with the Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad review 2024.
We’ve put it through its paces, and done back to back testing against the top products in the market, so you can rest assured you’re in the right place.
If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep – you’re going to love this review.
In this article, we’ll take a look into the various features of the ALPS Mountaineering Sleeping Pad Mattress – including comfort, warmth, versatility, and others.
The good news is we’ve marked this as the Best Buy in this category. So let’s delve deeper and find out why.
- Manufacturer: ALPS
- Dimensions: 80 inches x 32 inches x 4 inches
- Weight Range: 7 lbs 7 oz
- Fabric: 30D elastic top fabric / 150D black bottom fabric
Bottom Line : This mattress offers supreme comfort and warmth making the cold outdoor nights cozy
Pros
- High level of comfort
- High level of comfort
- Comfortably spacious
- Offers good value
- Self-inflating
Cons
- Not suited for small spaces
- Storage requires large space
- It doesn’t come with a pump
Our Verdict: ALPS Mountaineering Sleeping Pad
If you’re looking for a luxury comfortable sleeping pad to fit two people, that won’t break the bank, then you’ll love this mattress…
…like us.
We found the large area of the mattress absolutely perfect for spreading out and relaxing, you’ll think you’re at home in your own bed.
Beyond the comfort factor, we found the warmth of the mattress to be TopNotch for tackling low temperatures.
The Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad uses 30D elastic fabric on the top side of the mattress – this creates a super-soft comfortable feel, while at the bottom, 150D fabric makes the mat extremely durable and easy to clean.
Vertically-cored foam is used to keep the Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad lightweight and easier to roll up.
The mat is self-inflating, with a clever rotating ‘Qwikflate’ valve making inflation and deflation hassle-free.
The extra addition of the stuff sack and repair kit is a nice touch.
However, the unit does have a few snags…
…but only if you are worried about pack size.
The large size of the mattress affected its versatility and ease of handling. Storing or transporting this unit needs space.
On the whole, we feel buyers looking for premium comfort at an affordable price will find this unit a great choice. It’s the TopNotch Best Buy product in this range.
RELATED: 8 Best Camping Mattress
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
This mattress was one of many we tested in a wide range of environments from the Spare Room (!) to a TeePee Tent in Massachusetts.
We all agreed that the comfort level it offers is as good as it gets, if not better.
We used a set of metrics (explained later) to rate the Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad and judged the overall performance.
In our experience, this is a great product for anyone wanting an extra bed for the surprise visitor at home or some extra luxury when camping. But it’s not the right choice if you’re backpacking – in fact, in that case, the Nemo Roamer Sleeping Pad is the choice for you .
So let’s peek into the details to find out if it’s our choice as the Best Value.
Comfort
We were all praises for the thick bed of foam in this amazing Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad and found the comfort levels first-rate.
The large dimensions also make it easy for plus-size users to relax.
Thanks to the 30D elastic fabric, the top surface feels soft against the skin.
Bottom Line?
We loved the fact that the plush bed offers the right support in areas where more weight is concentrated.
Comfort Rating
The Qwikflate one-way valve also allows easy adjustments to the firmness of the bed. No matter the level of softness you prefer, this unit will deliver just that.
The 4-inch thickness is sufficient for delivering amazing comfort all night long.
The XL Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad will feel as good your double bed at home.
In fact – it turned out the foam is comfortable enough to rest on even when the unit is deflated.
On the whole, this Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad offers a luxury sleeping experience, regardless of the weight of the user.
In our field tests, it scored a perfect ten on the comfort scale.
Ease of Use
Once you flip open the Qwikflate valve in the Alps Mountaineering Comfort Series Air Pad the inflation process begins.
As it’s quite large and has a high volume of foam, the process of self-inflation does take a little time.
Once the process is complete, you can increase the firmness by blowing a few times through the one way valve.
Ease of Use Rating
If you don’t mind waiting a few more minutes for it to inflate, I’m sure you’ll agree the extra comfort outweighs this.
That said, we do have to mark it down for taking a little longer to inflate.
The valve mechanism allows two-way deflation and moderate pressure pushes out the air easily. We found the valve arrangement really effective for the micro-adjustment of the firmness.
But the fact is…
The thick layer of foam made the rolling process slightly unwieldy, but then that’s a small price to pay for a super comfy night.
We would also have preferred a pump for fine-tuning the firmness along with the unit, rather than having to do this manually.
To help you secure the rolled unit effectively, there are elastic straps.
As these are not attached to the mattress or the carry bag, we found we kept misplacing them which was a bit irksome.
However, the storage bag that came with this unit is sufficiently durable. We were able to fit the rolled unit easily inside with enough space to spare.
Warmth
We loved the cozy feel the Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad offered during our frosty nights!
Now, we couldn’t confirm the R-value of the mattress but – trust me – this mattress offered amazing warmth.
We found the level of warmth to be as good as a different unit which advertises an R-value of 8.
After using it in below-freezing temperatures over the moist ground, our team was singing the praises of its insulation.
Warmth Rating
And there’s more to add…
…another TopNotch feature is that this unit offers two layers of insulation that work in two different directions.
The upper layer preserves the body heat inside the mat…
…while the lower layer prevents the cold from seeping in from below.
The overall quality was good enough to convince our reviewers that the insulation will remain dependable for a long time.
Unlike the Alps Lightweight Series Air Pads, Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad mattress is the right choice for users heading for cold to very cold weather.
The Best Bit?
We wholeheartedly recommended this unit for full marks in the warmth category.
Versatility
As one of our users said – with great warmth and comfort usually comes a great size.
This was one of the bulkiest mattresses we’ve handled as a part of our Camping Mattress Buyers Guide Review.
Note:
This is not a unit suitable for backpackers or for use in a small tent. But for car camping, you’ll no doubt have space in your car to store this mattress.
Versatility Rating
Considering the overall size and the thick layers of foam used, the unit isn’t very heavy.
But at just over 7 lbs, it’s not the right choice for light packers.
On the plus side, the high-quality 150D black bottom fabric makes this unit durable and easy to clean.
Packed Size
It has a larger packed size than the other units of the same category we used as a part of our Camping Mattress Buyers Guide Review.
The beefy structure means you have to be thoughtful about how you carry and store it.
Packed Size Rating
What if you’re camping with your family?
Know that two or more units of this mattress are going to take up a bit of space in your car. For one or two-person camping teams, the single unit can be carried along in the car.
If you’re going ultralight traveling this probably isn’t the unit for you, but it’s definitely one to have the cupboard of your guest room or for a long car camping trip.
The Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad is a large unit and best suited for campers who give comfort the top priority.
Conclusion: ALPS Mountaineering Sleeping Pad
Time to sum up the facts…
If you’re looking for the best value luxury comfortable sleeping mattress that will fit two people…
…then this is a MUST BUY.
We really admired the superior levels of comfort and insulation of this pad…a lot.
If you’re one of those campers who tend to suffer from joint aches after spending a night on a mattress, you’ll love it.
On top of that, there’s the price.
While the mattress isn’t lightweight, the overall durability is top-class.
Adding up all these points, we chose the Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad as the TopNotch Best Value sleeping pad.
Other Versions
While our crew used the XL, the Alps Mountaineering Sleeping Pad is also available in a Large size. The main differences between the two sizes are as follows:
Large
- Dimensions: 27 inches x 78 inches x 4 inches
- Weight: 6 lbs 9 oz.
- Packed size: : 10 inches x 30 inches
XL
- Dimensions: 32 inches x 80 inches x 4 inches
- Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz
- Packed size: 12 inches x 32 inches
As you can see from the dimensions, the XL is a better choice when looking for double bed comfort levels.
On the other hand, the Large unit is slightly lighter and offers a smaller packed size.
This makes it a better option for solo campers looking for the best level of comfort.
The rest of the features like comfort, warmth, and versatility, are exactly the same for both the sizes.
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