A backpacking air mattress here is defined as an inflatable sleeping pad that is light enough and packs small enough for backpacking. While there is no definition for the maximum weight of a backpacking air mattress, it shouldn't be as heavy as the lightest air bed you can find. Usually it's in the range of 9- 47 ounces.

It's also easier to inflate a backpacking air mattress compared to an air bed. You don't need an electric pump to inflate an air bed.

In general, backpacking air mattresses are lighter and thicker than self-inflating pads but less warm and less stable. Some people may find air mats too bouncy and wobbly.

Three of the best makers of air pads are Therm-a-rest, Big Agnes and Exped

The lightest backpacking air mattress is Therm-a-rest's NeoAir. The 20" x 47" x 2.5" mummy version weighs in at just 9 ounces. It's extremely compact when packed and thanks to shorter horizontal tubes, 2 layers of V-shaped tubes and reflective layers which makes it such a warm pad with a claimed R-value of 2.5.

The Neo Air is an award winning pad receiving great reviews from the likes of Backpacker Magazine, Germany's outdoor Magazine, Popular Science Magazine, Gold Outdoor and American Alpine Institute. Comfort, warmth, low weight and pack size are their main strength.

However, comfort may depend on how you sleep because something as bouncy as an air mattress (including the Neo Air) may not be comfortable for people who sleep on their stomach.

Big Agnes' lightest air mat is the 20" x 60" x 2.5" mummy version of Clearview Air Pad at only 11 ounces. If it was the same size as the smallest Neo Air, it would probably weigh the same or maybe even less.

It may not look the part but field puncture tests have shown that the Clearview Air Pad is reasonably durable in backpacking conditions. Field repair is easy if you have duct tape.

Exped's lightest is about 19 ounces, not as light as the ones above but thicker and longer. The AirMat 7.5 is 3 inches thick, 19 inches wide and 72 inches long.

It's cheap and quite compact when packed but not suitable for freezing temperatures. Some find this pad very comfortable, even those who claim to be like a princess on a pea, yet some complain about the lack of cushioning at the shoulders.

Lighter than the lightest from Exped and thinner and shorter is Pacific Outdoor Equipment's Ether Compact 6 which weighs as little as 13 ounces. It's a 1 season pad with 2.5 inches of cushioning. The dimensions for the lightest version is 20 inches wide and 48 inches long.

This air mat is not designed for winter but you can still use it if you use a closed-cell foam pad underneath. Many users find this air mattress to be very comfortable. The biggest complaint so far is that they might be difficult to inflate at high altitudes.