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When the great outdoors calls and camping (or glamping) is on the horizon, make sure your sleep isn’t impacted by snoozing on the hard ground. Investing in a comfortable camping mattress can help you get the restorative rest you need to enjoy your time in nature. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best camping mattress for your budget—and body.
This highly-ranked camping mattress ticks all the boxes for comfort and ease of use and is good for bad backs. It comes in two sizes and has an R-value of 7—meaning you can camp in seasons beyond summer.
This affordable camp bed weighs only six pounds, making it better for car camping than long stays in the wilderness. It is easy to inflate, affordable, and provides excellent insulation against the cold. If you’re on a budget and enjoy weekend car camping, this is a great choice for your wallet and your back.
Affordable
Great R-value
This self-inflating option makes it easy to set up and provides a barrier of four-inch thickness between you and the ground. One user said it’s their favorite camping sleep pad, but not conveniently small, so if you’re hiking to a campsite, it might not be the best pick. However, this is an affordable and highly recommended choice if you’re taking a trip to your campsite via canoe or car.
This sleep system is popular if you can afford its hefty price. Easy to inflate and deflate, it comes in two sizes for optional rest. Made from temperature-resilient foam with a seven-inch thickness, users enthusiastically endorse its comfort level. In addition, at 11.8, this is one of the highest R-value portable camping mattresses on the market.
You may want to share your mattress when you camp with your significant other. The self-inflating mattress had mixed reviews for set-up but high recommendations for dual comfortability. It comes in three sizes if you need a camping mattress to spread out.
This sleeping pad is lightweight but comfortable, and according to reviews, one of the more easily portable ones on the market. Because it’s self-inflating with a multi-function valve, you don’t have to spend time blowing it up yourself. Extremely compact and weighing approximately 2 lbs, it’s a useful way to get a good night’s rest after a long hike.
Light and compact for trips, this one won’t hurt your back. Easy to carry due to its size, it’s also easy to rest on because of its interconnected air cells that support your back while you slumber. There are other sleeping pads and mattresses good for people with back pain, but they’ll cost you much more than this affordable option.
Sea to Summit offers a great choice if you want to travel light. Throw it into your pack, grab your bike, or jump in your kayak; at 13.8 oz, it won’t weigh you down. Users say it is comfortable, although its R-value (1.5) shows it’s meant for warm-weather excursions.
There are many types of mattresses and sleeping pads for camping. The kind you buy should be informed by the trip you’re taking into the wild. We found only a few differences between some of the higher-end models, but a range in size and weight will impact your choice. We combed through hundreds of consumer reviews and talked to campers, backpacking writers, and hikers for their opinions on the most comfortable ways to sleep on the ground.
Backpacking and camping specialists report there are several aspects to a great camp mattress, including packability, durability, amount of insulation provided, and how easy it is to inflate (if you’re using an air mattress). You have to think ahead before you buy one by considering where you’ll be sleeping. If you’re camping high in the Rockies, the climate will be different than a coastal campground.
A camp mattress with heavy insulation is necessary for warmth in the mountains, but you may want a mattress that holds its shape in heat and humidity near the shore. Comfort is key when buying a mattress too, and the weight of the mattress should also be considered.
If you're hiking miles a day with your backpack, you need an extra compact roll-up. If you;re car camping with your kids, a larger air mattress may do the trick. An affordable and comfortable camping pad or mattress is an ideal accessory, just like a packed cooler, for a fun time outdoors.
Most camping mats are either self-inflating (with a pump), closed-cell foam mats that also may be self-inflating, or air mats. There are also air beds that can be used for car camping, but they’re probably too big and unwieldy for a tent.
A camping sleeping pad is used under your sleeping bag. This pad type usually goes directly on the ground or inside a tent. For car campers, a camping pad or bed could be used in a back seat or hatch of a vehicle.
Camping mattresses, depending on the type of material, are designed to provide comfort for outdoor rest. For example, self-inflating pads are comfortable due to their open-cell foam insulation plus air. A pad you must inflate is usually a combination of foam and air. Some pads can be rolled out instead of inflated, and many camping mattresses are small enough when packed in a stuff sack to carry on long backpacking treks.
Camping mattresses made of memory foam are among the most comfortable.
If you're backpacking, you’ll need a lightweight, lightweight mattress that is easy to carry. Car campers can use a larger air mattress or bed. Note: A mattress's R-value defines its capacity to resist heat from going through it, so if you’re winter camping or camping in high elevations where temperatures drop at night, look for a mattress with strong insulation.
A camping mattress with a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch thickness should provide ample comfort.
Foam, especially memory foam, is an excellent material for camping mattresses. Foam mattresses usually provide support for your back and neck and distribute your weight more evenly across the mattress than one made of air.
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