Sleeping Pad confusion – inflated “to the max” or not?

[Sven Klingemann]

OK – I am getting confused here.
For "maximum insulation/warmth", should an sleeping pad be inflated as much as possible for maximum distance to the (cold) ground or quite the opposite because "air is a conductor of warm/cold", meaning more air in the pad = colder???
Thanks,
Sven

[Travis Leanna]

I think the more important factor is insulation, especially with DAM's. If your pad is under inflated and you're compressing the insulation, then you'll probably be colder.

But, I haven't really noticed a difference with my DAM. As long as I'm not actually touching the ground, I can adjust the inflation to suit my comfort and still stay warm.

[Jason Elsworth]

My understanding is that in an air only mattress (Neoair???) the more air the higher the R value.

[Chris Lucas]

Air isn't the best insulator but none the less the larger the distance between the top and bottom of the sleeping pad, the slower the rate of heat conduction through the pad. Don't think of cold air as actually existing, there is no such thing as cold only heat.

[Philip Maynard]

From personal experience and the science, I know that more air is warmer in my NeoAir.

[Author]

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