Sleeping mats are used to provide an insulating layer between your body and the cold floor to help prevent heat loss, as well as to make it more comfortable to sleep. Inflatable Sleeping MatsIf you want a comfy nights sleep whilst away from home, then inflatable sleeping mats are the closest thing to a mattress you can carry. Advancements in fabric technology has seen traditional heavy and cumbersome airbeds transformed in to compact and lightweight beds. No longer do you need an industrial pump to inflate them, as new valve designs allow for quick inflation and deflation, and the robust lightweight fabrics employed in their manufacture means they easily roll-up in to a compact carrying size. These camping airbeds are ideal for weight conscious campers and backpackers who want a little luxury at night.Foam Sleeping MatsFoam sleeping mats have a lot advantages for campers and backpackers who are not pack-down size restricted. For a start they are extremely lightweight due to the closed cell technology employed in their manufacture. These tiny air pockets in the foam also provide excellent insulating properties, ensuring your sleeping bag is separated from the cold floor by a cushion of air. Not having to inflate them means they are much quicker to deploy on the ground if you need to get to sleep fast, as well as being puncture proof.The major disadvantage of them though is they can be cumbersome to carry as they do not pack down very small. This can be mitigated  by using them in conjunction with tightening straps. Self Inflating Sleeping MatsThese hybrid sleeping mats incorporate the best features of both the inflatable and foam mats. Their construction consists of a foam core surrounded by an inflatable protective outer layer. This provides the user with the cushioning effect of a mattress with the insulating properties of foam.These mats are able to self inflate due to the compression and expansion properties of the foam. When unrolled and the valve is released, the foam with expand, sucking in air in the process. Rolling up the mat after it is no longer in use compresses the foam and expels the air. Closing the valve keeps the air expelled until you need to inflate it again.Different weights of fabrics and foams are used to produce the different ranges on offer, from a heavily insulated polar mat to a lightweight trekking mat. The main disadvantages of these self inflating mats is they will be heavier than their inflatable and foam counterparts, as well as being susceptible to punctures.