The 7 Best Camping Mattresses of 2025 | GearJunkie Tested

Mar 13, 2025

For more than half a decade we’ve unfurled, inflated, and caught well-needed shut-eye on the best camping mattresses. After considering more than 100 mattresses and running them through our field and bench-testing regimens, we’ve keyed in on the 15 models to cover any camping situation with — from casual front country weekends to dirtbag bivies in the back of your rig.

We all have different needs in camping mattresses, so while there isn’t a single option that will suit everyone, we’ve broken them up into categories to help you find the right one for you. Our picks aren’t skin-deep, either — in total, our team has put in more than 350 hours of slumber over the seasons testing the best camping mattresses and sleeping pads on the market.

Whether you’re after the end-all camping mattress (we’d highly recommend our top pick, the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D), or need a more budget-friendly option to get the family kitted out with, like the $179 REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL, we think there’s something here for everyone. Read on for our top choices, as well as some additional options to consider.

Editor’s Note: This article focuses on larger sleeping pads used in car camping or at home. For lightweight choices, visit our guide to the best backpacking sleeping pads. We updated our Camping Mattress guide on March 10, 2025, to add the EXPED MegaMat Auto Sleeping Pad, a car campers’ dream pad that’ll fit in most SUVs and hatchbacks.

When you first lie down on the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D ($250), 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%, so you can roll around without falling off. This mattress has held the top spot in our list for five years running, and we’re still unconvinced there’s a better option out there for most folks.

For one: Therm-a-Rest has got the valve game dialed. Compared to the flap valves on most other pads, the dual valves make inflation easier. And we like the way it completely opens up for a faster deflation. It will take a couple of times to roll it up tightly to fit in the carrying bag, which was one of our only issues with it.

The vertical sidewalls were also frequently mentioned in our testing notes, as they maximize the sleeping area on this 25″ (or 30″) wide mattress. The 4.25″ thickness almost feels a bit cheeky, as most other pads in this arena max out at 4″, but hey — we won’t turn down an extra quarter inch when it’s offered up. It makes for a comfortable sleep, and the R-value of 7 keeps us toasty well into the shoulder seasons.

In addition to comfort and warmth, what made this pad stand out was its long-term durability. We’ve used it for more than 250 nights now, passing through multiple tester’s hands, and it’s still going strong. It’s withstood a rowdy, jumping toddler, lying directly on gravel and other variable surfaces, and constant adult weight-bearing through the night. Through it all, it’s maintained perfect inflation and comfort.

At $240 for the large, this pad falls between the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap and NEMO Roamer in price, matches them in comfort, and beats them in warmth and longevity. So, you’ll have to decide which factor is most important to you.

If you choose the MondoKing 3D, rest easy knowing you’ll be ultra cozy all night long, and can bank on comfort for future trips you’ve yet to imagine. Overall, it’s still the best camping mattress out there. Available in large and XXL sizes.

Newly revamped back in 2023, the REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL ($179) is back, still sporting all of the large and in-charge camping pad energy we loved in its previous iterations. At a plush 4 inches, this comfort-to-cost ratio on this budget pad is off the charts, and it lands itself high on our lists for not only ultra-comfortable but also affordable, camping mattresses. With an R-value of 6.6, it’s got the warmth to keep you going far into the shoulder seasons.

Gone is the previous foam-filled pad pump that doubled as a pillow, and in its place is a new pump sack, which in testing we found to be an improvement in terms of speed and packability. The reversible high-flow valve is simple, and deflating the pad at the end of a trip is quite easy. If you want something that rivals the comfort of the MondoKing 3D or NEMO Roamer XL but clocks in for a few dollars less, this is the pad for you.

All of that plush comfort has to come at some cost, and here it’s packed size, which is pretty dang bulky. Though certainly not as much of a concern with car campers, you should remember to leave space for the mattress when you’re playing packing games to get everything to fit. For a budget pad that’ll take up less space (but not be as comfy), check out the REI Co-op Campwell Mattress.

Unfortunately, our time with the Camp Dreamer was cut short when one of our cats (who promises he is otherwise a very good boy) decided he also wanted to check out the cushion and put holes in the mattress. This is when we discovered that no repair kit ships with the pad, and we had to make do with Tenacious Tape. Not a long-term fix and tough to get to adhere perfectly to the stretch polyester upper, but it got us through the rest of the camping trip.

Best for those who want a comfortable pad but don’t want to part with an arm and a leg for it, the Camp Dreamer XL has all the luxury with little of the cost typically involved. Just make sure to accommodate your clawed camp pals elsewhere for the evening.

Read Review: Your Home Mattress Away From Home: NEMO Roamer Double Review

Anyone who’s ever called their car home will appreciate the NEMO Roamer XL ($250). This is the ultimate adventure mobile mattress. It’s thick, warm, and it’s seriously comfortable. With 4 inches of open-cell foam, you can sleep soundly wherever home happens to be. If you’re settling in for the long haul at a remote base camp, the Roamer XL is the mattress to do it with.

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 air without worrying 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 more susceptible to tears, but with the foam construction and a 75-denier polyester bottom, the Roamer XL is truly built to withstand camping outside. As an additional perk, the loops and toggles on the side allow you to connect two Roamers to create a two-person mattress.

While it’s not ultralight by any means, it packs down fairly small for the added comfort it offers (about the size of a winter sleeping bag, or 10 x 16 inches).

We put this camping mattress through extensive use, and after more than 150 nights, it finally stopped holding air. The valves developed a slow leak that left us needing to top it off every night. For a permanent van or car dweller, it may not be ideal. But, for someone who car camps when exploring, we’d highly recommend it.

Read Review: Mega Size, Warmth, & Comfort: EXPED ‘MegaMat’

When comfort is your main concern, the EXPED MegaMat Duo 10 ($350-500) is your answer. What it lacks in packed size and affordability, it makes up for in size and comfort with 4″ of foam and air cradling you and yours off to sleep. And while some double camping mattresses or sleeping pads perpetually send one partner for a ride when the other moves, the MegaMat Duo is stable and quiet.

As with all self-inflating pads, expect to top it off after heavy use. But instead of having to blow into it, you can use the included mini pump, which simplifies inflation and minimizes effort. It also includes a repair kit should you ever get a tear (although 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 the 3D construction, this bad boy stays flat even when fully inflated and being slept on. At 77.6 inches long and 52 inches wide, the MegaMat is large enough to snugly fit two adults or spaciously sleep one. For reference, a double-size fitted sheet fits almost perfectly.

The durable sidewalls provide support, and as we noted, “The vertical sidewalls increase the usable sleeping surface. This small addition compared to other mattresses and pads is instantly noticeable.” Apart from adding comfort and space, these impressive sidewalls also help keep you dry in really bad weather. “During one stretch, Mother Nature pounded us with rain for 3 days straight. The height and larger surface kept me dry and warm even over wet ground.”

Not lightweight, you’ll certainly notice the heft of the MegaMat among your camping supplies — it’s easily one of the heaviest we reviewed that isn’t a full foam mattress design. Along with that will be a bulky packed size, which makes this a camping mattress best suited for close-to-the-car endeavors.

Durable, comfortable, and stable — this is the ultimate camping mattress for two people. It’s also available as a single. If you don’t mind the weight, it’s one of the best camping mattresses you can buy.

Therm-a-Rest followed the winning formula of its NeoAir XLite and XTherm pads to produce its most luxurious NeoAir pad yet: the NeoAir Topo Luxe ($180-230). At 4 inches thick, it’s also easily the most comfortable and fills an interesting niche between camping and backpacking better than any pad we’ve slept on thus far.

When we initially tested the Topo Luxe, we had reservations. Typically, when a pure air mattress reaches a certain thickness it suffers from waterbed syndrome — an ailment where any movement translates into a bouncy ride.

Our fears, thankfully, were unfounded, largely thanks to Therm-a-Rest’s use of its Triangular Core Matrix: a double-stacked layer of baffles that stabilize the pad across its length. Now 3 years into our testing, we can confidently say that the Topo Luxe is tough enough to hang. Thankfully, our fears were unfounded, largely due to Therm-a-Rest’s use of its Triangular Core Matrix, a double-stacked layer of baffles that stabilizes the pad across its length.

Because it’s the same recipe as other NeoAir pads, it doesn’t sport vertical sidewalls, which can make for less usable space for sleeping on. The pad also uses 50-denier polyester across the top and bottom, which is a thinner material than some of the pads on our list and will need to be treated as such.

The Topo Luxe isn’t the only pad that rides the fence between the front and backcountry. You might also consider the NEMO Quasar 3D. This pad is a bit shy of the Topo Luxe in terms of pure specs (it’s half an inch thinner and a bit less warm), but it does sport a different construction that builds a gentle cradle into the sleeping surface. For some, this will be worth the switch, though we’ll caution that the valve is a bit finickier.

No one-trick pony, this pad even slips into our packs on shorter backpacking overnights, where we can indulge in a few luxury items. As a real master of two domains, the NeoAir Topo Luxe would make an excellent pad for those who split their time between the front country and the back or who want to simplify their gear closet.

Car camping is more popular than ever, and the EXPED MegaMat Auto ($400) is just about the best solution we’ve used for setting up camp inside our SUVs and hatchbacks. Say goodbye to awkward gaps between the seats, as the Auto version of our beloved MegaMat spans a full 77″ before tapering down to fit into most trailhead-worthy rigs.

A true one-size-fits-all solution for every vehicle isn’t possible, but the Auto gets pretty close to covering most vehicles today. We did find that it wasn’t quite the perfect fit in the 5-foot bed of our Tacoma, and for that, we’d recommend a true dirtbag foam crash pad like the HEST Dually. But for your Toyota RAV4s and Subaru Outbacks, the fit should be good (you should break out the tape measure before buying).

Essentially a MegaMat in all but shape, the Auto version hits all the high marks that we love about that pad, including a toasty 8.1 R-value (not as important when camping inside your rig, but appreciated), and a supremely soft 4-way stretch tricot sleeping surface — one of the coziest in our review.

A new update to the MegaMat Auto now adds a second set of inflate/deflate valves to the foot end of the sleeping pad, meaning you can get it dialed in from either side of your car.

While we are big fans of those EXPED valves, we do wish that the stuff sack would double as an inflation bag, as self-inflating takes quite a while and the included ‘Top-Up’ pump is a bit anemic in getting a fully inflated mattress. Since you’re car camping with the Auto anyway, we recommend chucking a battery-powered pump in your gear boxes as well. The EXPED Mega Pump interfaces with the pad perfectly.

If a night at the trailhead is on tap, we think that the MegaMat Auto is a great option for most car campers.

Read Review: Sleep in the Bed of Your Truck? Try the HEST Dually Mattress

The HEST Dually ($549-599) is an incredibly comfortable mattress that sleeps two and folds in half for travel. But its remarkable comfort and durability are matched only by its hefty price tag. Despite the price, the Dually Mattress is an excellent purpose-built truck bed sleep system.

To achieve great comfort at just 3.9 inches thick (open), the mattress uses two layers of high-performance polyfoam. It cradles your body for sleeping while providing effective insulation against the cold truck bed below you. Editorial Director Sean McCoy has enjoyed wonderful nights of sleep on this mattress, and would recommend it for anyone looking for a permanent, portable truck bed mattress.

The bottom and sides of the Dually mattress use heathered nylon woven with a polyurethane backing for durability. It’s a tougher fabric that can handle jostling around in the back of a pickup truck with other gear. We packed lots of gear on top of the mattress when folded, and it showed no signs of wear.

Due to the seamless center-fold design, there’s also no noticeable seam where the mattress folds. Other cool features include phone pockets on each side and handles for easy carrying. This pad didn’t work as well when tossed into the back of passenger vehicles (where the EXPED MegaMat Auto excelled), but for truck beds, it’s our top choice.

The mattresses above are the cream of the crop, as far as we’re concerned, and would make excellent choices for anyone looking for a solid night’s sleep outdoors. That said, there are a number of other excellent sleeping pads out there, and while they weren’t quite as impressive as our award-winners, we still think they’re worthy of consideration.

After testing this uber-comfortable mattress for a full fall-winter-spring cycle, the consensus was clear: You can pry the EXPED Luxe Mat ($350-400) from our warm, cozy fingers. For those building out a van, this is the pad we’ll recommend going forward as an ideal bed substitute.

Looking very much like EXPED’s MegaMat 10, the real difference is all in that knit cover, which is insulated with baffled wool and covered in an organic cotton stretch fabric that is luxuriously soft to the touch. Seriously, this is one cozy mattress to snuggle up on, and the cover is fully removable and launderable to keep it feeling fresh.

That cover also opens up a new degree of functionality that we haven’t seen in camping mattresses before, and that’s organization. At the head of the pad, two stretch pockets — one zippered, one not — are positioned to keep your essentials close at hand during the night. We found these perfect parking spots for our phones, keys, and headlamps.

The Luxe Mat also pairs up with other Luxe Mats, using zippers on the sidewalls to affix them together. This attachment system is easily our favorite among our tested pads to date, and it creates a strong connection with no cracks to slip into. With two pads zipped together, you can even set them up in couch mode — a function that garnered a number of fans during our testing.

So why doesn’t the Luxe Mat rank higher in our lineup here? That added comfort does ding the overall weight — 6 pounds, 12 ounces compared to the 4 pounds, 9 ounces of the MegaMat 10 — but not much in bulk, which is just about the same. It’s also a luxury beyond what most campers are likely to want to expend on, and more aimed at van lifers investing for the long haul.

For high-comfort base camping, however, we’ll gladly tote the extra ounces of the Luxe Mat every time.

Comfort, ahoy! The new Big Agnes Capitan Comfort Deluxe ($250-350) is the warmest and coziest from the brand to date, pumping out an 8+ R-value and 5 inches of foam-core comfort.

We absolutely loved kicking back on this pad during a recent testing trip to Joshua Tree National Park, where cold desert nights sent us running to our bags once the sun went down. Luckily the impressive warmth of the Captain Comfort bounced our body heat right back at us, ensuring a toasty night.

Constructed with a foam-core construction, this self-inflator will keep you a full 5 inches off the ground, and thanks to the vertical side walls you can use every inch of the sleeping surface. We also truly appreciated the dual pull-tab valves during inflation and deflation, as well as the oversized side-opening stuff sack — no more fighting to stuff it back in!

Compared to other similar mattresses like the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D or the NEMO Roamer XL, the Captain Comfort does edge both when it comes to warmth, but at a tradeoff when it comes to weight. At similar dimensions, the Captain Comfort is roughly 1 pound heavier than both. This makes it tough to recommend the Capitan over either, as you can get either for the same or less than the Big Agnes option.

Perfect for cooler nights when you need an edge against the chill, however, the Captain Comfort is high on our list of camping pads to bring with you into the shoulder season. And for those who are looking to outfit the back of their truck for a slice of the #vanlife, the 41″ x 72″ size is a few inches shorter than both the single and double versions to accommodate typical 6-foot-long truck beds.

Like a number of other mattresses on our list, the NEMO Quasar 3D Pad ($160-200) is comfortable playing double-duty as a camping mattress turned backpacking pad. Compact, lightweight, and simple to set up, this pad covers the range for whatever you’re looking to get into.

Stacked up next to the Therm-a-Rest Neoair Topo Luxe, the Quasar takes the edge on a few facets, most notably the 3D baffling that creates a gentle curve to keep your body centered while sleeping, and slightly lifts your head. During testing our campers certainly noticed this feature, which helps make up for any inconsistencies in the ground you’re sleeping on.

At 3.5 inches thick, the Quasar is a bit thinner than the Topo Luxe, although we found that pretty much anything over 3 inches thick feels about the same. The regular/wide version we tested provided ample sleeping space at 72 inches long and 25 inches wide, and other versions exist as well, including a long wide, and a double.

Compared to Therm-a-Rest pump sacks, we did take a liking to the Vortex sack slightly more, as its narrow fill neck makes rolling down the bag easier. If you overinflate the mattress with the pump sack, however, the valve will eject on its own! This is the single reason that keeps this mattress from taking the crossover camping and backpacking title, and we hope that later iterations will come up with a new way to inflate/deflate.

The Quasar comes in both insulated and non-insulated versions (we tested the insulated), although both are a bit under-gunned when it comes to warmth. The Quasar will likely be relegated to summertime use at an R-value of 3.3 (and 1.8 non-insulated).

Comparatively, the Topo Luxe specs out at 3.7. Value warmth and weight over all else? The Topo Luxe is probably your pad. But if you’re looking for packable comfort that cradles you as you sleep, it’s hard to beat the Quasar 3D.

Do you like a good memory foam mattress? Let us introduce you to the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Sleeping Pad ($180-240), with 3 inches of air and engineered foam that provide plenty of cushioning for a good night’s sleep — all at a palatable price. And, with an R-value of 6, it will keep you warm on chilly summer nights (and into the shoulder seasons with the proper sleeping bag).

The horizontal core foam is designed to pack up easily and (as you can see in the above image) is mapped out in such a way as to provide more support in the areas that will see the most weight. We learned the hard way one night that these foam baffles make for a lumpy, uncomfortable surface if not fully inflated. When topped off, however, this pad rivals any hotel bed for comfort.

At 3 inches thick, this mattress has become one of our favorites to pair with a camping cot, as it isn’t too tall to make us feel off-balance when stacked atop a cot. Compared to the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad, which is 2 inches thick, it’s fairly impressive just how much more comfortable an extra inch can be, and we’ll say confidently that this is just about the sweet spot for thickness when it comes to camping pads.

A soft, stretch-knit surface is comfortable next to the skin, which means this pad won’t need any sort of sheet to be cozy. The two TwinLock high-flow valves are simple, and deflating the pad at the end of a trip is quite easy. If you want something that rivals the comfort of the EXPED MegaMat but clocks in for a few dollars less, the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap is the pad for you.

There’s a lot to love about the hybrid Klymaloft pad: with its soft foam topper and half air-chamber design, it straddles the line between comfort and packability. Our single issue with the previous design was a low R-value of 2.1. But from our mouth to Klymit’s ears, they retooled and came back strong with the Klymit Insulated Klymaloft Sleeping Pad ($190-300).

With a new R-value of 7, this sleeping mattress is ready for 4-season use. The design is pretty much the same, with a supremely soft upper section coupled with a lower strictly air-chamber section, which cuts down on bulk without giving up much comfort. The new insulation and R-value bests even the NEMO Roamer and REI Camp Dreamer. We’ve slept directly on snow with this pad.

Since it’s an air mattress first, the pad won’t self-inflate, and you’ll need to do some of the heavy lifting. Thankfully, the pad is compatible with Klymit’s Tempest Air Pump ($50), a little device that we’ve come to love for quick inflation while setting up camp. The pad is available in three different size options (Regular, Extra-Large, and Double), and we found the middle size to be just right for maximum single-camper comfort.

Why doesn’t the Insulated Klymaloft place higher in our guide? The valve. We’re not entirely sold on flip valves here after many seasons of use. While it’s not bunk by any means, there is a bit of a learning curve to ensure you’ve got it entirely sealed off. We also had an issue with losing the small rubber valve that acts as a one-way for inflation.

Even still, we’re stoked on the updates to this hybrid pad and think it’s only gotten better since the initial iteration. If you need an all-season sleeping pad, but don’t want to wrestle a full-foam mattress into the backcountry, the Insulated Klymaloft might be your best pick.

The Sea to Summit Camp Deluxe Sleeping Pad ($249) is another great option for those looking for maximum comfort in a camping pad. With even the smallest offering starting out at 25” wide, there’s plenty of space to stretch out on, and it only goes up from there.

We tested the regular wide version, but all Camp Deluxes come specced out from the Oz brand at a plush 4” thick, which has proved to be the Goldilocks measurement in all our years of camping mat testing. Perfect for under-inflating just a bit to get that right squish and support where you need it.

Set up on the Camp Deluxe is easy-as, although we were sorry to note that the stuff sack doesn’t double as a pump sack, so you’re on your own to get the mattress fully inflated once the foam has expanded. The valve is a two-in-one job that can function as a one-way inflation valve, fine-tuning pressure release, or dump valve, depending on how to flip the valve around. After allowing the mat to do its thing, it was easy to get it topped off.

The Camp Deluxe also scored top marks for next-to-skin comfort. The 30-denier knitted upper fabric is soft to the touch — but is a bit thin when compared to other mattresses we’ve tested. We have used this pad directly on the ground and in tents without a ground cloth, and so far, it’s been holding up.

What keeps the Camp Deluxe from the top of our list? For one, the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D has the annoying habit of being just a bit better in the metrics that count. The Camp Deluxe is 4” thick, while the MondoKing is 4.25”. Sea to Summit keeps you warm with a 6.5 R-value, while Therm-a-Rest squeezes out 7. That and $10 separate these two pads, so your choice may come down to which you can get hands-on.

If the 4 inches of comfort of the MegaMat Duo 10 doesn’t quite do it for you, don’t stray far: The EXPED MegaMat Max ($350) bolsters the brand’s thickest camping mattress to a luxuriant 6 inches, and we’re here to say that bigger often is better.

With a thickness often only seen in purely air mattresses, the MegaMat 15 can be soft-inflated for the maximum of body cradling — and it avoids the typical bounce with the inclusion of channeled foam throughout the pad.

During testing, our reviewer had to often arm-wrestle their tent mate over who would get the ‘big mattress’ that evening. Such a large pad does take a while to fully expand, and once the foam has done its thing we needed to top it off with the included mini pump. Alternatively, EXPED does offer its Widget Pump ($50), an ingenious little electric pump that speeds up the process significantly.

When it came time to roll we greatly appreciated EXPED’s inclusion of a roll-top style stuff sack that opens on the long bias. This made storing the pad a breeze, which is saying something — this pad is a beast in its stored form. Easily one of the largest in our testing, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got space set aside to bring this one along.

Other large and in charge mattresses to consider include the Big Agnes Capitan Comfort, which at 5″ comes the closest to the MegaMat Max, and while it packs down smaller and lighter, its R-value of 8.3 can’t take a proper swipe at the 10.6 the Swiss mattress offers up. When comfort is king (and money is no object), the MegaMat 15 Max reigns supreme.

Another excellent budget option, the REI Co-op Campwell Mattress ($119) does a lot for a little, boasting an R-value of 7, a durable polyester build, and a simple inflation system that means you can hit the sack quickly.

While it is the thinnest mattress in our lineup, the cored foam provides more cushion than you would expect. We find that 2.5” is about the thinnest mattress that can be par-inflated for extra cushion, and the Campwell is cozy enough for multiple nights outdoors. The tapered sidewall design does eat into your total sleeping space, but at 72×25”, it is just as long and wider than the highly comparable Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap.

Compared to the older-style Camp Bed (the closest extinct relative of the Campwell), the newer mattress sports a more modern two-valve inflation system. They aren’t quite as nice as the valves on many Therm-a-Rest pads, but are functionally similar to the valves of EXPED pads, with a dedicated inflation and deflation valve. Unfortunately, you won’t get an inflation sack here, but thankfully, there isn’t much space to inflate.

Along the pad’s perimeter are four grommets with corded toggles, meant to buddy up other Campwell pads and create a wider sleeping surface. This simple solution — albeit lower-tech than the integrated zippers of the EXPED Luxe — just plain works. The NEMO Roamer XL also uses a toggle system, and while we find those pads combine better (due to the vertical sidewalls), we’re glad to see the tech extend to a more affordable pad.

For the added $60, it’s hard for us not to recommend the Camp Dreamer XL, which nets you a full 4” thick mattress, as well as a broader sleeping surface at 78″ x 30” to the Campwell’s 72″ x 25”. However, if you’re kitting out the whole family or just simply dipping your toe into camping, the REI Co-op Campwell Mattress is a low barrier of entry.

Finding the perfect camping mattress isn’t always a cut-and-dry affair, and we aren’t the type to take bad advice lying down. That’s why we’ve spent hours researching and field-testing camping mattresses and sleeping pads for this guide over multiple summer seasons.

Our selection comes service of input from backpackers and campers across the country, and during testing, we consider all facets of a proper camping mattress, including packed size, comfort, warmth, and ease of use. We also looked at long-term durability, as well as the value you’re getting for your money.

Our camping mattress field testing takes us to some beautiful places, but the goal is always the same: formulate a real opinion on the comfort and ease of use of these pads. We take every pad we test out into the hills on multiple camping trips, cycling them between in-house experts and getting hours of slumber atop them to form our opinions.

Because a good night’s sleep is subjective, we also shove off camping mattresses and pads into the packs of talented gear testers and friends — ensuring that we have input from all types, including the tall to petit, side or back sleeper, and thru-hiker to the weekend warrior. These camp mattresses have traveled in the backs of overlanding rigs to lofty pullouts above Colorado, been unfurled in the high-alpine fire lookout towers of the Pacific Northwest, and toted to campgrounds across the country.

We also aren’t afraid of getting a little techy here, and that boiled down to a few key bench tests when it came to camping mattresses. Ground-truthing brand measurements was an easy lift, and we stacked up claimed packed size and thicknesses against our trusty tape measurer to ensure accuracy.

Inflation and deflation times were also timed using the same inflation pump and in the customary fashion while deflating: with a sleepy, full-sized adult atop the pad. Finally, we measure cushion by inflating the mattresses to their maximum and placing a 15-pound kettlebell atop them, simulating a leaning elbow or hip. The deflection of the mattresses is measured and compared, and all of our data is compiled in order to stack these pads side-by-side. Often, our recommendations come down to a few degrees of difference.

Leading our current testing efforts is Senior Editor Nick Belcaster, an intermittent wilderness guide based smack-dab between the mountains of the Cascades and the waters of the Salish Sea in Washington State. Belcaster has spent entire seasons sleeping outdoors while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and has years under his belt equipping outdoors-goers to bed down in some of the most challenging terrain.

To date, we have saddled up for sleep atop more than 25 different camping mattresses and have nearly 300 hours of shuteye logged in our search for the best of the best for any circumstances. We know that every camping trip may look a little different, which is why we’ve scanned the spectrum of options and tested everything from lightweight pads that’ll do double-duty in backpacking and camping, to mondo-sized 6-inch-thick mattresses that’ll rival your own at home.

At the end of the day, we’re confident these are the best camping mattresses available today. And, as new pads hit the market, we’ll fold them into our testing to ensure our line-up is hip to the latest trends in backcountry bedding.

Before reading our buyer’s guide, take a few moments to think about how you plan to camp and sleep.

Will you be driving up to a camp spot, sleeping in your vehicle, hiking a mile or so in, or heading out on a weeklong backpacking trip? Do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? Is extra cushioning important, or do you care more about saving weight?

Understanding your sleep preferences will help determine the best camping mattress for you. Read on for the most important factors in choosing a camping pad. For this particular roundup, we focused specifically on pads made for car camping and similar applications. We did not test pads or mattresses designed to fit into a backpacking pack. If you’re looking for a backpacking pad, check out our favorite products here.

Self-Inflating: Laid up with a hybrid air/foam construction, a self-inflating camp mattress is filled with open-cell foam that can be compressed and expanded with the turn of the valve. Once open, air fills the chamber and expands the mat to its full volume, with all of the benefits of the added cushion of foam.

This foam does make these mats a good bit less packable and heavier, but for most campers who don’t have very far to travel, a self-inflating mattress makes the most sense. Consider the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D as the standard bearer for self-inflating mattresses.

Foam Pads: Large and in charge, all foam mattresses are made with different densities of polyfoam to support and cradle you as you sleep — just flop it down and you’re good to go. While most foam mattresses today, like the Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite or NEMO Switchback, are oriented more for backpacking, there are others still that bulk up on the foam and forgo the portability in favor of comfort.

The greatest benefit of a foam mattress lies in its simplicity and ease of use, along with the guarantee that it won’t pop when in contact with any errant pokies. The HEST Dually was the only all-foam design to gain high marks from our testing, but it did so with ease.

Air Mattresses: The most simple of all camping mattress designs, air mattresses are completely suspended by the volume of air they trap. This means that you’ll need to inflate them, either courtesy of your lungs, or with a pump sack or electric air pump. The payoff for your effort comes in the form of packed volume, which is often much more compact compared to their self-inflating and foam counterparts.

On the car-camping side of the spectrum, the ALPS Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed goes up easy, and if you need a sleeping pad that can do it all, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe or NEMO Quasar 3D are both equally at home in a backpacking pack or the back of your truck.

The difference between a camping mattress and a sleeping pad is a gray area. Consider the terms to exist on a continuum, with sleeping pads being more of your standard backpacking fare and prioritizing compressibility, and mattresses being thicker, cushier, and less portable.

These mattresses also very often incorporate more foam in their builds, and this can be a sure sign that a mattress prioritizes comfort over all else. At 32 pounds, the HEST Dually is definitely in the “mattress” category.

Sleeping pads are relatively thin, light, and portable. Though this list mostly focuses on car camping products, certain camping mattresses are portable enough to bring along on river trips and short backpacking missions. The Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe is a prime example of a versatile sleeping pad.

Then, there are some options that buck convention and exist comfortably in between titles. A pad like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe is relatively thick at 4 inches, but due to its full air-pad design, compresses down to a size that rivals many through-and-through backpacking pads. The Klymit Insulated Klymaloft, with its hybrid half-foam, half-air design also lands in this category.

If you’re mainly car camping, you can maximize comfort by going with a more padded, inflatable option like the NEMO Roamer or a deluxe foam mattress like the HEST Dually. The tradeoff is that these don’t pack down as small and are too heavy for backpacking.

If you plan on hiking into the backcountry, a pad that packs down small and weighs less is ideal. Just how small and light you want to go is up to you. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe packs down to the size of a Nalgene bottle and weighs just 1 pound, 7 ounces.

Consider also how you’re going to be transporting your camping mattresses around. Many manufacturers today are getting wise to the issues caused by tube-style stuff sacks, which while they may work the first time, good luck returning a mat to its nylon sleeve after you’ve used it. Many camping mattresses today now come with side-opening stuff sacks, which feature a wide mouth for easy storage, as well as compression straps to cinch down the whole affair for easy transport.

In general, the thicker the pad, the more comfortable it is. Additionally, having a bit of foam or extra insulation increases the comfort factor and decreases the noise (see below).

Since camping mattresses don’t need to often be carried far, they can afford to bump up the thickness in many cases. The average thickness across the pads we tested was 4 inches, with the thinnest of the bunch being the REI Co-op Campwell Sleeping Pad at 2.5 inches and the thickest being the luxurious EXPED MegaMat 15 Max at 6 inches.

Pads that rely on air alone for their structure can sometimes feel a bit bouncy if underinflated, which is why many will incorporate closed-cell foam in their construction. This gives the pad a self-inflating quality as the foam bounces back.

We have found through our testing that around 3 inches is about the minimum we’re comfortable sleeping on a mattress that features no foam at all — while a mattress with foam has the ability to keep us comfortable down to below this thickness.

If you’re a side sleeper, you understand the need for plenty of cushioning under your hips and shoulders. For a better night’s sleep, you’ll want to consider a thicker option.

Denier is a unit of measurement used to describe textile strength. The higher the denier, the thicker and stronger the fabric. When it comes to mattresses and sleeping pads, this is mainly important for puncture resistance.

On one end, the lightweight and packable Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe is made with 50-denier nylon. On the other end, consider that the NEMO Roamer is made with 75-denier polyester. As you can imagine, there’s often a tradeoff between durability, weight, and packability.

Consider also the durability of the components used elsewhere in the pad, such as the interior closed-cell foam, or the inflation valves. As in most things, the maxim of getting what you pay for applies here as well. We have used certain sleeping pads for entire thru-hikes and have been impressed by their tenacity and ability to shoulder abuse. As always, take care of your equipment and it will pay dividends in longevity.

Repairing your camp mattress can be a stressful endeavor, but being prepared for the situation can greatly alleviate that. Many pads today will ship with a small patch kit, which can be utilized in the field to repair small leaks. For more serious issues, consider a more total solution like the Therm-a-Rest Permanent Home Repair Kit, which has a long-cure epoxy and fabric patches. Even certain valves today are user-replaceable.

In addition to comfortable cushioning, a good camping pad should provide some insulation from the ground. Enter the R-value: a measure of thermal resistance that can shed some light on just how warm a camping mattress might keep you.

R-value testing goes a little like this: inside a cold chamber, a mattress or pad is placed between two metal plates. An array of sensors measure the temperature flow between these plates, and provide a numerical value relative to the mattress or pad’s ability to retain and reflect warmth.

Since testing can occur in different ways, many sleeping pad manufacturers have adopted the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) R-value Standard. The higher the R-value, the warmer and more insulating the sleeping pad will be. Notably, the MegaMat and Big Agnes Captain Comfort clock in with whopping 9.5 and 8.3 R-values, respectively, making them both cozy for year-round car camping.

The R-value you need depends a bit on whether you tend to be a warm or cool sleeper, as well as the specific sleeping bag that you’ll be using. In general, you’ll want a mattress or pad with a value greater than 5 for comfortable winter camping. For summer, something in the 2 to 4 range should work for warmer nights.

If waking up with a cold back is a common complaint, consider choosing a warmer mattress or pad or adding a foam pad like the Z-Lite under your normal pad for additional insulation.

Most camping mattresses come in regular and long versions. Some also come in short, wide, and extra-long varieties. The length and width you need depend not only on your dimensions but also on your camping goals. The pad you go with will also ultimately depend on the space that’s available to you to sleep in. Consider that typical backpacking tents more often have more space-efficient floor plans, while camping tents will provide more space for larger camping mattresses.

We’ve found that while many backpacking sleeping pads begin at around 20 inches wide, many camping pads start at around 25 inches and expand from there. And while mummy-style profiles are popular in backpacking pads, most all camping mattresses will afford the extra comfort and space that comes with a true rectangle design.

We know tall thru-hikers who happily cut their Z-Lite pad in half to shave a few ounces off their pack weight. And we know some tiny testers who prefer a wide sleeping pad because they like the ability to roll around in their sleep.

The main thing to remember is an increase in length and width almost always corresponds to an increase in price and packed size.

Up until recent years, almost all camping mattresses and sleeping pads utilized a twisting plastic valve. Turn one direction to open it for inflation, and (quickly!) turn the other to close and trap air inside.

While this system works, it’s not the easiest to inflate. Because air can freely move back and forth, you need to either create constant pressure while blowing it up or skillfully use your tongue to stop air from exiting the pad while inhaling. It can be done, but we prefer the new inflation technology when tired on the trail.

Luckily, many mattresses and pads now use flat valves with dedicated inflation and deflation settings. Best of all, a one-way flap keeps air from escaping during inflation.

While many pads feature separate valves for inflation and deflation, the Klymit Insulated Klymaloft has a valve that flips from one mode to the next. This makes achieving the perfect firmness possible, but these valves aren’t our favorite for the finnicky-factor.

In addition to valves, many pads now come with inflation bags. The Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D comes with an inflation bag integrated into the stuff sack. The Big Agnes Pumphouse Ultra ($35) is sold separately and works as both a dry bag and an inflation bag. Utilizing these pump sacks has multiple benefits, and they are easy to use once you get the hang of them.

Begin by attaching the sack to the valve of your mattress or sleeping pad, and then expand the bag so that it fills with air. We often find that a light breath will expand the bag quickly. Then, close off the opening and compress the bag so that it forces the trapped air into the pad.

The upside to this system is not only speedy inflation but also that no moisture from your warm breath enters the sleeping pad. At its most benign, warm air will contract overnight and lead to a saggy mattress, but there are also concerns of mildew to be mindful of.

Finally, many manufacturers are now coming out with diminutive electric air pumps to assist in getting your sleeping pad up and running. These include the EXPED Widget, the Klymit USB Rechargeable Pump, and the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Micro Pump ($43). Bringing these along may seem trivial at the trailhead, but after a long romp in, we’ve happily borrowed many to get our camp set up quickly.

Self-inflating, also abbreviated as ‘SI,’ pads have been around the block for a number of years, and rely on a foam interior to rebound to their original dimensions to inflate the mattress. We have found that given enough time, these generally will get about 75% of the way to fully inflated, and will require a quick few breaths or pumps from a pump sack to fully inflate the pad.

Consider tossing your self-inflating mattresses into your tent early on in your camp setup, to better ensure that it has enough time to fully reconstitute itself. It’s also worth noting that these mattresses are less susceptible to cold contraction overnight, as the air they are filled with is ambient temperature, versus the warm air from your lungs.

The most common complaint about camping sleeping pads is the loud, crinkly noise. While packing less is great, sleeping on a pad as noisy as a potato chip bag is less than ideal. And having your tentmate toss and turn all night is even worse.

Fortunately, brands are taking note and making quieter sleeping pads. On this list, the EXPED MegaMat is noticeably crinkle-free. This is largely due to the inclusion of foam in the build, and any pad that utilizes it will see a definite reduction in noise overall.

We love a good value. But even more than that, we appreciate gear that performs well and lasts through several seasons of use. They say you should never compromise when it comes to things that connect you to the ground, and besides tires and shoes, mattresses are up there. That said, there’s a spectrum of worth to consider when making your purchase, and even budget pads these days are comfy enough to enjoy all weekend long.

If you only plan to sleep outside a weekend or two a year, a cheaper pad may get the job done just fine. Less material means less price, which means that budget sleeping pads will be thinner than pricier options, more often 2.5 to 3 inches thick. These pads will also often not use a vertical sidewall design, meaning your sleeping area will be a bit smaller. Expect to pay between $100 and $180 for these mattresses.

At just above $119, the REI Co-op Campwell Sleeping Pad is an impressive value, but it certainly won’t be winning any awards for absolute luxury. That’s why we suggest bumping up the extra $60 in order to get into the REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL, an outlier at 4″ thick and vertical sidewalls that punches well above its weight.

We find that pads and mattresses in the $250-300 range are about the sweet spot when it comes to balancing price and features. These are most often around 4″ thick and feature self-inflating foam and air constructions. You tend to also get dual valve designs that will both hold air as you’re inflating, as well as when you’re deflating, making set up and packing a breeze. Different sizing options also exist in this price range, with wide and double versions available.

Our favorite all-arounder is still the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D ($240), a 4.25″ thick pad with plenty of cushion to air down a bit and really sink in for a night of sleep. The NEMO Roamer ($250) is similarly a standby (with slightly less nice valves), along with the Sea to Summit Camp Deluxe ($249) — a great option for anyone looking to fill out their camp mattress stable.

Toward the upper end of the spectrum are the luxuriously thick and warm pads, such as the EXPED MegaMat Duo 10 and MegaMat 15 Max. These pads both will put a bigger hurting on your wallet at $300+, but offer up incredible comfort in return. The price increase on the Duo comes from the added space, while the MegaMat Max owes it to the 6 whole inches of insulation beneath you.

This is the foundation of your sleep, and getting enough rest at night will make spending all day outside that much more enjoyable. In general, forking over a few extra bucks will get you some combination of increased comfort, durability, and warmth.

We find that camping mattress comfort is very often directly tied to overall thickness, as well as the inclusion of foam in the build. Because of this, hybrid-style designs such as the NEMO Roamer or EXPED MegaMat Duo 10 will always be high on our lists of the most comfortable.

If price and weight are no concern, the HEST Dually is a unique foam mattress that provides top-tier comfort. For a more packable camp mattress, the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing is a winner.

This depends entirely on your individual comfort level. Generally, we’d recommend 1.5 inches as the bare minimum.

And if price and space are not a concern, go with something in the range of 4+ inches. This not only offers increased padding, but also greater warmth and protection from the ground. If a camping mattress is purely suspended by air alone, it will need to be thicker than designs that use air and foam together to support your body.

Finding the right camping mattress can make or break your camp trip. First consider, where, when, and how often you plan to camp.

Are you camping in the hot, humid South? Or do you camp a lot in the winter? And are you spending a lot of time outside or just getting started with a night or two camped out?

If you’re camping when it’s cold, you’ll want to prioritize a higher insulation (R-value) level. And if you’re just testing it out or on a tighter budget, go with something like the sub-$120 REI Co-op Campwell Sleeping Pad.

The best thing about car camping is that you don’t need to obsess over the weight or packed size. As long as it reasonably fits in your car, you can focus more on comfort.

After more than a year of testing, we found the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing topped the charts for durability, comfort, and ease of use. If you’re looking for a foam mattress, the HEST Dually delivers traditional comfort that will never let you down overnight.

The R-value, generally speaking, is a measure of the ability of a camping mattress to resist heat transfer. Because a mattress or sleeping pad is such a vital part of your camping sleep system, it’s important to match your pad and sleeping bag for the overnight temperatures you’ll be anticipating.

The higher the R-value of your mattress or sleeping pad, the greater it will resist giving away your hard-earned body heat to the ground beneath it. R-values in backpacking pads typically range from 1 to 6, while camping mattresses are often warmer, and can sometimes reach double digits. For 3-season camping, consider a mattress or pad with an R-value of between 1 and 4, and for shoulder season or winter camping, you’ll want a pad with a value greater than 5.

It’s important to note that this rating system has only recently become standardized, and is now set in place by the international regulating agency ASTM International. This levels the playing field when it comes to comparing different products.

When it comes to side sleeping, having a thicker camp mattress can make or break your overnight experience. Throughout our testing, we have found 3 and 4 inches of cushion to be about perfect for ensuring that our hip bones don’t come in contact with the ground.

It’s important to note that mattresses that utilize a foam and air construction often support side sleepers better than pads that are only supported by air. This is because the foam helps to spread out the pressure points caused by side sleeping. Side sleepers should consider a mattress like the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap, which has body-mapped foam to better support the hips during sleep.

We tested and reviewed the best sleeping pads for backpacking in 2025. Whether you need an ultralight mat or more insulation, we’ve got it.

From versatile camping bags to wallet-friendly picks, we’ve found the best sleeping bags for every use and budget.