Using a Sleeping Pad in a Hammock

By topquilt.com · Updated Oct 21, 2026 · 6 min read

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Before underquilts became widely available, using a sleeping pad in a hammock was the standard way to stay warm, and it's still a smart choice for many people. If you already own a pad, it costs nothing. If you split time between ground and hammock, one pad covers both. And pads don't care about wind under the hammock. Here's how to make one work well, and when an underquilt is worth the upgrade.

Why a hammock needs a pad (or an underquilt)

Air moving under the hammock pulls heat from your back, and whatever you're lying on inside the hammock gets compressed by your weight. A pad solves both: its foam or air chambers aren't crushed the way a sleeping bag's down is, and it blocks contact with the cool hammock fabric. Most people need some bottom insulation below about 65-70°F. The hammock insulation guide explains the physics.

Pad vs underquilt: honest pros and cons

For a full look at underquilts, see the underquilt guide, and for a head-to-head comparison read underquilt vs sleeping pad.

Choosing a pad for hammock use

Closed-cell foam

Foam pads are light, cheap, indestructible and can't puncture. They're less warm per inch than insulated inflatables and bulkier to pack, but they're excellent as a backup or as an add-on layer in winter. A folding foam pad also doubles as a sit pad at breaks (check price on Amazon).

Inflatable pads

Insulated inflatables offer higher R-values for their weight and pack small. In a hammock, partly deflating them lets them curve with the fabric and reduces the "lying on a board" feeling. Very slippery fabrics slide more; textured surfaces grip better.

Self-inflating pads

A middle ground: foam inside an air chamber. Heavier, but comfortable and more puncture-tolerant than air-only pads.

Width matters more than on the ground

A standard 20-inch pad leaves your shoulders hanging over the edge in a hammock, where they meet cold fabric. Choose a 25-inch wide pad, or a pad with "wings" (hammock-specific pads with extensions that wrap your shoulders), or add a short piece of foam crosswise under your shoulders. See best sleeping pads for quilts for options that also suit ground use.

R-value guide for hammocks

R-value measures a pad's resistance to heat flow. Since 2020, most major brands test to the ASTM F3340 standard, so R-values are comparable between brands. In a hammock, pads perform slightly worse than on the ground because of the shoulder issue and air movement around the edges.

R-values add when you stack pads: a foam pad of R 2 under an inflatable of R 3 gives roughly R 5. More in sleeping pad R-value for quilts and the hammock temperature guide.

Stopping the pad from sliding

The number one complaint about pads in hammocks is that they slide out from under you in the night. Fixes:

• Double-layer hammock: put the pad between the two layers of fabric. This is the best solution; the pad can't escape and you don't feel its slippery surface. Many backpacking hammocks offer a double-layer version (check price on Amazon). See best hammocks for backpacking.
• Partly deflate: an inflatable pad at 60-80% pressure molds into the hammock and grips better.
• Lie more diagonally: a flatter lay reduces the slope you're sliding down.
• Add grip: a few lines of seam sealer or silicone on the pad surface add friction. Test on a small area first.
• Pad sleeve or extender: some makers sell wings or sleeves that hold a pad and widen it.
• Bridge hammock: bridge hammocks lie flatter and hold pads much better. See gathered-end vs bridge.

Setting up a pad in your hammock, step by step

1. Hang the hammock with a comfortable sag, a bit looser than you might with an underquilt.
2. If using a double-layer hammock, slide the pad between the layers and center it under your torso and hips.
3. If single-layer, lay the pad in the hammock at the angle of your intended diagonal lay.
4. Partly deflate an inflatable pad until it curves with the hammock.
5. Get in, lie diagonally, and shift the pad until it supports your shoulders and hips.
6. Add a sit pad or folded jacket under your shoulders if they hang off.
7. Pull your top quilt over you.

Comfort tips for pads in hammocks

Pads change how a hammock feels. A few adjustments make the combination more comfortable:

• Add more sag. A looser hammock gives the pad room to settle and reduces the stiff, board-like feeling. A pad also exaggerates the effect of a too-tight hang.
• Lower the pressure. Inflatable pads that are rock-hard on the ground feel best at much lower pressure in a hammock. Experiment until it curves under your shoulders.
• Use a tapered or rectangular pad thoughtfully. Mummy-shaped pads save weight but leave less coverage at the shoulders, where you need it most in a hammock. Rectangular or wide pads cover more.
• Mind the noise. Some insulated inflatables crinkle. Less noticeable on the ground, more noticeable when the hammock moves with every shift.
• Cover your shoulders separately. If the pad is narrow, a sit pad or a folded puffy jacket placed under each shoulder blocks the coldest spots.

A pad for ground and hammock

One argument for a pad is versatility. If you sometimes camp above treeline, on beaches, or anywhere without trees, a pad lets one sleep system cover both styles: the same top quilt and pad work in a hammock or on the ground. If that's your situation, prioritize a pad that's warm enough for your coldest ground nights, since the ground needs more R-value than a hammock in summer, and choose a quilt sized for ground use. See using a quilt in a tent and pad attachment systems for the ground side.

Using a quilt with a pad in a hammock

A top quilt works with a pad exactly as it does with an underquilt. You don't need pad straps; the hammock fabric holds the quilt around you. Tuck the quilt edges between you and the hammock, not under the pad, so you don't create a gap. Our hammock top quilt guide covers sizing and features, and best hammock top quilts has picks that work with both pads and underquilts.

Pad plus underquilt: the winter combo

In cold weather, a pad inside the hammock on top of an underquilt adds warmth and acts as insurance if the underquilt fit is off. A thin foam pad is enough in most cases. Some hammockers use a 3/4 underquilt plus a short foam pad under the legs as a lightweight three-season setup. See winter hammock camping and ultralight hammock setup.

When to upgrade to an underquilt

Consider an underquilt if you:

• Regularly fight a sliding pad or wake with cold shoulders.
• Find the pad makes the hammock feel stiff and less comfortable.
• Camp often below about 50°F.
• Want the full comfort of a hammock, the "floating" feeling pads tend to cancel out.

Underquilts start at modest prices from budget brands, with cottage models costing more. See best underquilts and best budget underquilts. Until then, a well-managed pad keeps cold butt syndrome away; if it's not, see cold butt syndrome.