Looking for the best camping mattresses ever!

September 11, 2022 8:57 PM

I'm looking for TWO new camping mattresses - a lightweight, compact one for when I go kayak camping, and a larger, heavier one for when I go car camping.

I love to camp but my mattress absolutely stinks! This the one I've been using - worst camping mat ever. It does indeed pack up nice and light but it's basically the same as sleeping on the ground. Zero comfort or warmth or anything.

I would love a more comfortable one, but it has to be as light and compact as possible, since I primarily go kayak camping. All my gear needs to fit in my kayak. Anything would be an improvement over what I have now!

ALSO, I occasionally go car camping (drive all my gear out to a location, and then set up my tent nearby.) So for that, I would like the biggest most comfortable mattress in the world! Weight and size don't matter! Well... I have a two person tent, so I guess we're talking a single/twin size mattress. But it can be bulky and awkward, I dont care!

Both mattresses should be able to inflate WITHOUT electricity. The light one will probably just inflate with my lung power, but the heavy one could use some kind of motor - battery powered I guess?

Help me achieve the unthinkable and actually get some sleep while camping!

posted by silverstatue to Shopping (18 answers total)

We had the now discontinued "fat airic" from alpkit. But definitely a good car camping mat, maybe there's an option there.
posted by freethefeet at 9:06 PM on September 11, 2022

Outdoor Gear Lab is my preferred spot for this stuff: car camping mattresses and backpacking sleeping pads. Get an air pump that attaches to your car’s 12V outlet for the air mattress.
posted by supercres at 9:42 PM on September 11, 2022 [3 favorites]

(I have two Therm A Rest Mondo King 3D for car camping that are quite out of the question for anything where they’d need to be carried more than fifty yards or so. In the market for a backpacking pad but haven’t picked one up; conventional wisdom is to have one inflatable and one closed-cell foam as a backup and for extra warmth.)
posted by supercres at 9:47 PM on September 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Camping pads are a bit like running shoes -- what works for one person will be miserable for someone else. In my experiences all major pads also have hit-or-miss durability, with lemons being somewhat common.

For backcountry trips, the Thermarest NeoAir series (XLite or Xtherm) are the typical recommendations. They have an R-value of 4.2 and 6.9, compared to the Klymit's paltry 1.3, so they both will sleep warmer. The Nemo Tensor (4.2) and the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus (6.5) are also popular. I've had the best experience with the Sea to Summit support team, and if you're kayaking you might not mind the extra ounces.

For car camping, consider a cot. Coleman makes some good ones for under $100 and you won't have to blow up anything and they'll last far longer than a pad.

Personally, I sleep better in a camping hammock (with an underquilt!) than any on-the-ground option, but that's outside the scope of this question.
posted by matrixclown at 9:59 PM on September 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've used a Ridgerest and slept comfortably (multiple trip durations three to six months) on some of the roughest/hardest surfaces imaginable. 0.40 kg and rolls up nice and compact. I prefer airless for hiking; sooner or later you'll find a rough surface that won't play well with that air-bladder. R is 2.0 but I've been comfy down to ~ -10°C or so.

And it's really quick e.g. for short breaks, no waiting for a *&%ing bladder to fill and then packing again!
posted by unearthed at 10:41 PM on September 11, 2022

This is relevant to my interests, and I spent a chunk of time at REI just yesterday testing out various pads. I also own a Thermarest Neoair Xlite, Xtherm, Uberlite, Zlite Sol, and a self-inflating ProLite, as well as an Exped Megamat Duo for car camping.

You didn’t specify what seasons you’re looking at—a pad with a 3-4 R-value will give you good 3-season use, depending on how cold you sleep. Also, what position do you sleep in? That matters. I’m a rotisserie, moving between back and sides all night long.

I like but don’t love the Xlite, but it’s also the lightest R 4-ish pad out there by several ounces and I’m a gram weenie with a sub-10lb base weight. Accordingly, the Xlite is what I use the vast majority of the time. The Uberlite is ungodly loud (the only pad my backpacking companions have ever complained about) and no more comfortable than the Xlite, and the Xtherm only comes out on snow/in the winter. The Zlite isn’t super comfortable and is bulky, and the Prolite is like two pounds.

I was researching new pads because I’m at the point of wanting something that’s more comfortable than the Xlite and I’m willing to add a few ounces for it. My winners were the Sea to Summit Etherlite XT and Nemo Tensor—both about 22oz, vs 17oz for my Xlite (all large sizes). Both of those have pocketed surfaces; I also liked the Exped Ultra but not as much; that one has long-wise air chambers. If you’re willing to accept a few more ounces, the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus is the top comfort pick on Outdoor Gear Lab and is indeed super comfortable. It’s still under 2 lbs—I wouldn’t backpack with it but maybe it’s ok in a kayak?

And if you’re worried about an air mat being punctured and deflating, that’s silly. It’s 2022. We have patches now.

For car camping, I cannot recommend the Exped Megamat enough. I sleep better on that than I do on my bed at home. It’s not cheap, but worth every cent. It’s thick and plush and has some firmness to it—it doesn’t feel like lying on top of jello like some air mattresses do. I love it.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 11:11 PM on September 11, 2022 [2 favorites]

For car camping I swear by my Kamp Rite mattresses. I like them enough to have two sets of them, they're self inflating, feel almost as comfortable as memory foam mattress, and have held up well for nearly a decade. I just slept on one for 9 nights with 0 back pain despite being in my 40s. And unlike inflated air mattresses, I don't end up on the ground by halfway through the night.

The biggest downside to them is that they have to be stored unrolled, which may be a deal breaker for people without storage space.
posted by Candleman at 4:38 AM on September 12, 2022

I once bought a foldable guest mattress to sleep next to our kids bed when they were young. It folds into a square and has handholds for carrying around. I used it to sleep in my car and in my tent, it was really comfortable.
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 4:54 AM on September 12, 2022

For car camping I have a fancy ~4inch thermarest and honesty, I think I’m happier with an inflatable mattress. For $15 it’s worth checking out. As a side sleeper/someone who moves around all night, even the best of the camping pads don’t do it for me. The mattress I linked needs to be blown up with a hand pump (we got one free with a large water float a few years ago) but they also have a version for $30 that has an integrated pump that runs off of batteries.

Obviously air mattresses don’t insulate well and aren’t good for colder weather camping, but they are so much more comfortable to me.

For backpacking I just go with whatever is a reasonable mix of weight and cost (my current one was free which is why I keep using it even though it’s heavier and not that comfortable) because I know it’s not going to be that comfortable no matter what I do.
posted by raccoon409 at 7:10 AM on September 12, 2022

For car camping, I love the REI Sleep System. It has a great air mattress that comes with a hand pump, and then it has a fitted sheet and fitted comforter system that keeps you warm from below and sleeps like a bed at home. I've used it 4 times and it's amazing.
posted by happy_cat at 7:15 AM on September 12, 2022

I bought a Camp Dreamer XL from REI because I got so frustrated with never getting good sleep on car camping trips. There's no way you'd get far on a hike in with this, but it's fantastic. On the same REI jaunt my wife bought the NEMO Switchback, which she likes and seems to be marginally hikeable.
posted by littlerobothead at 7:39 AM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

About a decade ago I started sleeping in a hammock (with underquilt) when backpacking. I find it's lighter and more comfortable than any tent/mattress combo I've tried.

Of course, when car camping with the kids, they want me in the tent with them, which means I'm back on the ground and not super happy about it.

Then I tried an Exped MegaMat (10 LXW I believe). It's wonderful. Expensive, but comfortable. I sleep as well on it as I do in my bed at home. It's also thoughtfully designed, from the specialized inflate/deflate valves, the manual inflator pump. Even the bag it comes in is nice: it's hugely oversized so the mattress fits inside even if you aren't very diligent about deflating and rolling it up, but it also compresses nicely if you do.

Comfort-wise, it's important not to over-inflate. If it's too firm, it can feel like a cheap air mattress. I always bleed some air out once I lay down until it feels like a memory foam mattress.

So I don't know about your lightweight option, but for car camping, the Exped is great.
posted by sportbucket at 8:06 AM on September 12, 2022

I have two self-inflating Thermarests, a large thick one and a smaller body-shaped one with ridges. They inflate faster if you blow them up tho. I usually bring both if I'm sleeping on the ground, since I'm a side sleeper, but a back sleeper would probably be comfortable on either one.

My preference, tho, is my Hennesy Hammock (the jungle one with the draping underneath to keep mosquitos from biting through.) I also put the smaller Thermarest in there for insulation and to help keep the sides of the hammock a bit more spread out. Hennesy hammocks are designed to have you sleep more or less flat, and I find the very comfortable, far more than an air mattress or even most pull-out couches. They set up and take down in a couple of minutes and only weigh 2.2 lbs.
posted by ananci at 9:04 AM on September 12, 2022

I car camp a lot, and use a couple of yoga mats and 4 layers of fleece padding (2 fleece sleeping bags, nested), plus my camping pad. I get yoga mats cheap at thrift shops, they clean up easily, and the closed cell foam is comfortable, and great for insulation, important for car camping in cool temps - the metal of the car can wick heat away. I also use a quilt instead of a sleeping bag, as the constriction of the sleeping bag annoys me in the car.
posted by theora55 at 10:13 AM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

So the Klymit Static V you have linked is considered one of the the most comfortable lightweight mattresses out there. 2 inches thick is quite thick for backpacking, and the design keeps you much more stable. Sure, it's not as comfortable as a full size mattress, but the sleeping pad is one of the "Big Three" in terms of weight and most people are willing to give up some comfort for the massive reduction in weight and space. If you find the Klymit Static V uncomfortable, stay far away from any of the ultralight options like Neolite, as they will be much thinner.

One thing about insulation, like everything it is a tradeoff. For convenience many people use an uninsulated pad for three-season camping. You can add extra insulation in your bag, a liner, extra knit cap, or even an ultra-warm down hood for additional warmth. Then you don't have to buy two pads. That said, many people also pair a quilt (basically a sleeping bag with no back) with an insulated pad. So it depends on your conditions.

As far as inflatable mattresses, I think the Coleman ones are pretty comfortable. You can get a battery powered inflator and use rechargeable AAs.
posted by wnissen at 11:30 AM on September 12, 2022

For car camping we use tri-fold Twin XL mattresses. I find them oddly useful to have around at home as well, you can even use them as floor chairs in a pinch.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:57 AM on September 12, 2022

So the Klymit Static V you have linked is considered one of the the most comfortable lightweight mattresses out there. 2 inches thick is quite thick for backpacking, and the design keeps you much more stable. Sure, it's not as comfortable as a full size mattress, but the sleeping pad is one of the "Big Three" in terms of weight and most people are willing to give up some comfort for the massive reduction in weight and space. If you find the Klymit Static V uncomfortable, stay far away from any of the ultralight options like Neolite, as they will be much thinner.

Some misinformation here.

First, 2.5 inches isn't that thick for an ultralight pad - the Thermarest NeoAir pads are also 2.5", Exped's Ultra pads are 2.75", Nemo Tensors are 3", Big Agnes pads are 3-4", and Sea to Summit Ether Light XTs are 4".

Second, neither weight nor comfort are functions of thickness. For weight, construction, materials, and to some degree insulation are much more relevant. For comfort, once you pass a certain thickness threshold, how the air chambers are arranged and constructed makes a much bigger difference, and that combines with how you as an individual sleep (back, side, stomach, 4, etc).
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 2:58 PM on September 12, 2022

Last year I spent a stupid amount of money on the Nemo Roamer, and I do not regret a penny of it. This is for your car camping category. It's lovely and think and comfy. Easy enough to inflate with the included "pump" beyond what it self-inflates. And it squishes down remarkably small.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:00 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]