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Sleeping Pad: Nemo Switchback ($55)

It’s hard to beat an inflatable sleeping pad in terms of comfort, but if saving money is your priority, a foam pad is the way to go. Not only are closed-cell foam pads like the Nemo Switchback half the price of the most affordable air pads, but they’re also built to last. You can strap the Switchback to the outside of your pack, drag it through the dirt, use it to sit atop the prickliest of pine needles—even employ it as a snow sled—and it still won’t pop. And take it from us: You’ll be much more comfortable on a $55 foam pad than a $150 inflatable pad with a hole in it


Comfort aside, the biggest downside to a foam pad like the Switchback is its lack of compressibility, but most casual backpackers won’t mind tacking it onto the outside of their pack. If you’re unwilling to compromise on an air pad, the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra is one of our favorite budget models, retailing for a reasonable $100 (it’s also warmer with an R-value of 4.5 vs. the Switchback’s 2.0).

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