From ultralight sleeping pads to ultracomfortable air beds, we tested and found the best camping sleeping pads to fit every adventure and budget.
An enjoyable night sleeping under the stars starts with a comfy base. Whether you’re looking to save ounces hiking into the backcountry, save a few bucks, or find the most comfortable camping mattress out there, there’s a sleeping pad for you.
As avid campers ourselves, we’ve spent hundreds of nights sleeping outside. From backpacking in the Desolation Wilderness to overlanding in Apalachicola to camping out across the Rocky Mountains, we’ve logged a lot of hours testing camping pads. And to top it off, we recently spent several days focused specifically on testing the newest camping gear of 2019.
We inflated sleeping pads, rolled around on them, packed them up, and slept through several chilly Colorado spring nights. We tested 15 different pads during this time, in addition to around 20 we had collectively tested during other camping trips.
Our primary considerations were weight, packed size, comfort, warmth, and ease of use. Secondarily, we looked at durability, value, and noise. And while there isn’t a single camping pad that will suit everyone out there, we’ve broken them up into categories to help you find the right camp pad for you.
You can jump straight to the sections for car camping, backpacking, or our buyer’s guide for tips on how to choose a sleep pad. Or scroll down to continue reading the full 2019 camp sleeping pad review.
Best Car Camping Mattresses & Pads
Car camping offers a lot of benefits. Not only do you get to enjoy being outside, but you don’t have to be as concerned with limiting weight or gear. In terms of a sleeping pad, this means you can get something more comfortable. From an ultracushioned double sleeping pad to our top pick for budget savings, these are the best car camping mattresses and pads.
Best Overall Camping Pad
REI Co-op Camp Bed Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad: $100-120
This self-inflating sleep mat gets high marks for durability and reliability. Year after year, night after night, it keeps inflating and providing plenty of warmth and cushion. With an R-value of 6.8, it will keep even cold sleepers warm all summer long. And for most, it’s even enough insulation for winter camping. In addition to warmth, the open-cell foam provides a boost of comfort.
To inflate, simply unroll, open the valves, sit back, and relax. The foam will expand, and the pad will partially inflate. From here, you can top it off with a few breaths to reach your desired firmness. For easiest inflation, we recommend fully inflating your pad before your first camping trip. This will give it the opportunity to expand and prepare it for self-inflation.
Deflating the pad goes quickly thanks to the high-flow valves, but it can take a couple tries to get it rolled up tightly enough for packing. The polyester upper has a soft and comfortable fabric feel. We happily laid directly on the sleeping pad and appreciated its furniture quality. And with a 150-denier bottom, we didn’t worry about sticks or rocks when lying down. This pad is plenty strong.
At more than 3 pounds, it’s best used for car camping or short hikes into camp. But if you want something that could offer similar comfort in a smaller package for the occasional backpacking trip, take a look at the REI Trekker ($70-80). If weight isn’t a concern, though, the Camp Bed is more comfortable due to its width and larger size.
And while there are thicker pads on this list, we found the Camp luxury air mattress Bed to be a top pick thanks to its affordable price, ability last through years of heavy use, comfort, and soft hand.
Weight: 3 pounds 10 ounces
R-Value: 6.8
Thickness: 2.5 inches
Pros: Nearly indestructible, good value, warm, easy to use
Cons: Not as thick as other car camping mattresses
See the REI Camp Bed Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad
Runner-Up Best Overall Camping Mattress
NEMO Roamer: $210-230
Anyone who’s ever called their car home will appreciate the NEMO Roamer. This is the ultimate adventuremobile mattress. It’s thick, it’s warm, and it’s seriously comfortable. With 4 inches of open-cell foam, you can sleep soundly wherever home happens to be.
As with most self-inflating pads, you’ll need to top it off for maximum comfort. But the micro-adjust valve makes it easy to add a bit of air without worry about losing any. And we liked how the one-way valves make quick work of deflating the pad fully when it’s time to pack up camp.
Traditional air mattresses are thin and likely to pop. But with the foam construction and a 75-denier polyester bottom, this pad is truly built to withstand camping outside. And the toggles on the side allow you to connect two Roamers together to create a queen-size mattress. And while it’s not ultralight by any means, for the plus comfort it offers, this packs down fairly small (about the size of a winter sleeping bag, or 9 x 13 inches).
This one is great for truck camping, van living, and luxurious tent sleeping all year round.
Weight: 3 pounds 15 ounces
Temp rating: -30 degrees F
Thickness: 4 inches
Pros: Comfortable, durable, connects to another Roamer pad to create a queen-size mattress
Cons: Expensive
See the NEMO Roamer
Best Budget Pad
Coleman Self-Inflating Camping Pad with Pillow: $34
For the casual camper, it’s hard to beat $35 for a camping sleeping pad and pillow. This number from Coleman isn’t the fanciest on the list, but if you only plan to sleep outside a few nights each year or want to test the camping waters without breaking the bank, this is a solid option.
Expect to have to add a few breaths to the pad to top it off. And you’ll need to blow up the attached pillow to your desired firmness. At a little over 3 pounds, it’s not outrageously heavy or bulky for car camping. And at 76 inches long, it’s a good option for tall people.
But although the quality of the pad itself is acceptable, the attached straps are strangely fragile and prone to breaking off at the rivet. If you don’t particularly care about using the straps, this is a good budget pick.
Weight: 3 pounds 4 ounces
R-value: Unavailable
Thickness: 2.5 inches
Pros: Affordable, good for tall campers
Cons: Long-term durability concerns, less comfortable than other mattresses
See the Coleman Self-Inflating Camping Pad
Best Double Sleeping Pad
Exped MegaMat Duo 10: $370-390
When comfort is your main concern, the MegaMat is your answer. What it lacks in packed size and price it more than makes up for in size and comfort. The open-cell polyurethane foam insulates and cushions. And while some double sleeping pads perpetually send one partner popping when the other moves, the MegaMat Duo is stable and quiet.
As with all self-inflating pads, expect to top it off. But instead of having to blow into it, you can use the included minipump. It also includes a repair kit should you ever get a tear (though we’ve found it impressively durable).
One of our favorite things about this pad is how level it is. Some camping mattresses pop up in the middle when filled, but thanks to 3D construction, this bad boy stays flat even when fully inflated and being slept on.
At 77.6 inches tall and 52 inches wide, it’s large enough to snugly fit two adults or spaciously sleep one. For reference, a double-size fitted sheet fits it great.
The durable sidewalls provide not only support, but as our tester noted, “The vertical sidewalls increase the usable sleeping surface. This small addition compared to other sleeping pads is instantly noticeable. The walls help keep you dry in really bad weather.
“During one stretch, Mother Nature pounded us with rain for 3 days straight. The bottoms of the tents were soaked. The height and larger surface kept me dry and warm even over wet ground.”
Durable, comfortable, and stable: This is the ultimate double sleeping pad.
Weight: 9 pounds 14 ounces
R-value: 9.5
Thickness: 3.9 inches
Pros: Supremely comfortable, durable
Cons: Expensive, large packed size
See the Exped MegaMat Duo 10
Mega Size, Warmth, & Comfort: Exped 'MegaMat'
Designed for car campers, Exped made a sleeping pad you will dream about while fast asleep on it. Read more…
Best Air Mattress for Camping
Lightspeed Outdoors Queen-Size Air Mattress: $84
This is a great choice if you’re looking for a traditional, inflatable air mattress. The included battery-operated pump makes quick work of inflation, and the wide opening makes deflation just as easy. At 80 inches tall and 55 inches wide, it’s nearly the same size as a queen-size bed, making it a great choice for couples or family camping.
Instead of the standard PVC, this inflatable mattress is made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). This makes it light, durable, and less prone to stretching. Plus, it’s free from the health concerns related to PVC and phthalates.
At 7 inches thick, it provides a good amount of cushion and is also conveniently higher off the ground, which is great for people with knee issues or mobility concerns. It’s not as stable with two people as the Exped MegaMat nor as warm as the NEMO Roamer. But for a good value and comfortable air mattress, this is a strong option.
Weight: 5 pounds 6 ounces
R-value: Unavailable
Thickness: 7 inches
Pros: Thick, PVC-Free,
Cons: Not insulated, long-term durability
See the Lightspeed Outdoors Air Mattress
Warmest Camping Sleeping Pad
Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D: $180-210
If you can never get warm enough while camping, it’s time you tried the MondoKing 3D. With an R-value of 11.4, it’s at the top of the heap for warmth. It will keep you toasty all summer long and happy in the winter, too.
When you first lay down on this pad, you realize what you’ve been missing. There’s room to spread out, all the warmth you could need, and tons of foam padding. The vertical sidewalls enhance the sleeping space by 20 percent, which means you can roll around without falling off.
The dual valves make inflation a bit speedier than a single valve but not as easy as the Camp Dreamer or NEMO Roamer. At $180, it falls in between the two in price, matches them in comfort, and beats them in warmth. So you’ll have to decide which factor is most important to you. If you go with the MondoKing 3D, rest easy knowing you’ll be ultracozy all night long.
Weight: 5 pounds 8 ounces
R-value: 11.4
Thickness: 4 inches
Pros: Extremely warm, thick, comfortable
Cons: Not as easy to inflate initially as other comparable pads
See the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D
Best of the Rest
Kelty Tru Comfort: $120
This is a comfortable sleeping pad, but we wanted more from it for the price. Let’s start with the good. At 4.75 inches thick, it provides Visit this page plenty of cushioning and even keeps side sleepers off the ground all night long. The stuff sack doubles as an inflation bag, and it really worked. It’s a sturdy and basic air mattress.
But for the price, we wish there was more foam insulation. This would not only make it warmer, but also more comfortable. Kelty makes some great gear (like one of our favorite camping chairs), but for the price, we’d rather sleep on the REI Camp Bed or spend $50 more for the Camp Dreamer XL.
Weight: 4 pounds 10 ounces
R-value: Unavailable
Thickness: 4.75 inches
Pros: Stuff sack works great as inflation bag, thick
Cons: Not as warm or comfortable as other camping mattresses
See the REI Camp Bed Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad
REI Camp Dreamer XL: $169
Do you like a good memory foam mattress? Then let me introduce you to the Camp Dreamer. Four inches of air and engineered foam provide plenty of cushioning for a good night’s sleep. And with an R-value of 5.5, it will keep you warm on chilly summer nights.
The horizontal core foam is designed to pack up easily and (as you can see in the above image) gives a bit of baffling to the mattress. We learned the hard way one night that these foam baffles make for a lumpy, uncomfortable bed if not fully inflated. But when topped off, it will rival any hotel bed.
We aren’t sold on the utility of the pillow that doubles as a pad pump, but we love the reversible high-flow valves. If you wan’t something that rivals the comfort of the NEMO Roamer but clocks in a few dollars less, this is the pad for you.
Weight: 6 pounds 6 ounces
R-value: 5.5
Thickness: 4 inches
Pros: Comfortable, included pillow doubles as inflation bag; reversible valves make inflating and deflating simple
Cons: Large packed size, not as warm as the MondoKing 3D
See the REI Camp Dreamer XL
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads
The biggest concern with backpacking sleeping pads is finding the right balance between comfort and weight. And this balance depends largely on the individual. Ounce-counters may prefer the lightest pad possible, even if it means forgoing some comfort. Whereas other backpackers would prefer to give up weight in other areas so they can happily carry a larger, more comfortable sleep pad.
There’s no right or wrong, but it’s worth knowing what matters most to you before continuing on. We’ve broken the best backpacking sleeping pads into categories to help you find the right sleeping pad for you.
Best Overall Backpacking Sleeping Pad
Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated: $200-230
Our editor has been testing this sleeping pad for years, and it’s still going strong. One of our favorite things about this is the double air chambers. We normally worry about popping lightweight sleeping pads and being left on the cold ground. But this has a built-in redundancy that saves us from stressing. If one side pops (which it hasn’t in many, many camping trips), the other is still good.
These double chambers also allow you to create a custom firmness. You can inflate it by blowing, which is very easy to do and doesn’t take many breaths to fill. Or you can you use the pump bag that comes integrated in the stuff sack. Either way, it’s fast and easy to fill this pad.
The pad is on the heavy side for backpacking, but we are willing to carry a little extra weight when temps drop low at night. The redundancy alone is worth a few extra ounces, and the pad works great for car camping too.
It comes with a repair kit, and even though the 40-denier fabric isn’t the toughest possible, we’ve found it plenty strong on top of being warm, packable, and comfortable. All in all, it’s a great backpacking and car camping sleeping pad.
Weight: 1 pound 11 ounces
R-value: 5
Thickness: 2.5 inches
Pros: Dual air chambers provide redundancy and allow for custom firmness, packs down small
Cons: Expensive, not as light as other pads
See the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus
Best Budget Pick
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol: $35-45
There’s a reason closed-cell foam pads are a cult classic. It’s light, it’s warm, and it’s virtually indestructible. No wonder you regularly see it listed among thru-hikers’ favorite piece of gear.
The aluminized surface (the silver side) reflects heat back at your body and provides extra warmth at night. And the egg-carton pattern increases comfort and insulation.
Even if you don’t plan to use this as your sole sleeping pad, it’s a great addition to whatever else you choose. It provides unmatched durability and that extra insulation needed for a good night’s rest.
Weight: 14 ounces
R-value: 2.6
Thickness: 0.75 inches
Pros: Indestructible, multifunctional, light
Cons: Not as comfortable as other sleeping pads
The nice blog 0855 