Insulation from below: sleeping pad, natural material, everyday items and hammock compared

What do I put under me so that the ground does not draw away my warmth?

The ground constantly draws heat from a lying body by conduction – which is why insulation from below is as important as a roof. Compared are a sleeping pad, a layer of dry natural material, insulation from everyday items, and the hammock, which lifts you off the ground but itself needs insulation under the body. Temperature limits or insulation values of individual materials are deliberately not given.

Starting situation

Legend
Method	Without bought equipment	Ready immediately	On snow or frozen ground	Stays effective when damp	Predictable insulation	Independent of wet or uneven ground
Understanding sleeping pads and R-values	No	Yes	Depends	Partly	Yes	Partly
Insulating from the ground	Yes	No	Partly	No	No	Partly
Improvising insulation from everyday items	Yes	Yes	Partly	No	No	Partly
Hammock with tarp	No	Partly	Depends	Depends	Depends	Yes

Legend:● Yes◐ Partly◇ Depends○ No* = note available

Understanding sleeping pads and R-values

Effort:: Low
Needs:: Foam, air or self-inflating pad; repair kit for air pads

Without bought equipmentNo
Ready immediatelyYes
On snow or frozen groundDepends
A winter-rated pad or two pads combined; a thin pad is often not enough.
Stays effective when dampPartly
Closed-cell foam hardly absorbs water; an air pad can lose air during the night.
Predictable insulationYes
R-values are only comparable if measured to the same standard (e.g. ASTM F3340).
Independent of wet or uneven groundPartly
Cushions unevenness; wet from below needs a groundsheet as well.

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Insulating from the ground

Effort:: High
Needs:: Plenty of dry, loose material such as leaves or needle litter; time

Without bought equipmentYes
Ready immediatelyNo
Gathering takes time; the layer must be thick.
On snow or frozen groundPartly
Only in several thick layers; never sit or lie directly on snow.
Stays effective when dampNo
Wet natural material barely insulates.
Predictable insulationNo
Independent of wet or uneven groundPartly

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Improvising insulation from everyday items

Effort:: Low
Needs:: Cardboard, newspaper, cushions, blankets, backpack – all dry

Without bought equipmentYes
Ready immediatelyYes
On snow or frozen groundPartly
Several layers; most effective as a supplement to a pad.
Stays effective when dampNo
Barely works when wet.
Predictable insulationNo
Independent of wet or uneven groundPartly

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Hammock with tarp

Effort:: Moderate
Needs:: Hammock, wide tree straps, tarp, two healthy trees, sleeping pad or underquilt

Without bought equipmentNo
Ready immediatelyPartly
Needs suitable trees and a test of the suspension.
On snow or frozen groundDepends
Cold air passes under the body; without insulation underneath you get cold even in mild temperatures.
Stays effective when dampDepends
Depends on the insulation under the body.
Predictable insulationDepends
Independent of wet or uneven groundYes
Its main advantage – provided there are trees and hammocks are permitted.

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