The 9 Best Camping Mattresses and Backpacking Pads
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A mysteriously deflating mattress that leaves you awake on the cold ground at 2 a.m. can ruin a camping trip. So we set out to find durable pads that are as thick and comfortable as possible yet portable enough to take anywhere you go.
To find the best car-camping and backpacking mattresses, I asked outdoor experts for their top picks, then tested them out for myself, assessing them for durability, compactness, ease of storage, and — most of all — real-world comfort on the trail. “Try not to obsess about reproducing your bed from home,” says chiropractor Dr. Jordan Burns, a certified sleep coach forAmerisleep. “What really matters is to be comfortable, warm, and supported on a terrain which is rarely flat. I like thick self-inflatable or foam mattresses when camping in a car, while for backpacking I would opt for an insulated inflatable pad.”
While you’re here, check out my guides to the bestcamping tentsandstoves.
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Size
Most camping mattresses come in multiple lengths and widths, accommodating people of different sizes and couples who wish to sleep side by side without falling down the dreaded gap. (Lovebirds who’ve already got two backpacking mattresses can alsostrap them togetherrather than investing in a new larger mattress.)
While most camping mattresses are rectangular, some ultralight backpacking pads are tapered at both ends to save weight and take up less space. I usually opt for one of these mummy-shaped mattresses myself, but the sacrifice may not be worth it, warns Burns: “Pay special attention to width of the pad — even if it’s very comfy one you may end up having restless nights because your arms, hips, or knees slip out of the edges all the time.”
Size matters when you’re home, too. Camping gear can be bulky to store, especially in an apartment, so I looked for relatively compact mattresses that are easy to roll up and put away in the off season. Bulkier foam mattresses will always be more plush than inflatable ones, but these days there are some excellent in-between options that balance weight and comfort.
Weight
Mattress weight is critical even when car-camping, as you’ll still have to unload and set your bed up each evening at the campsite — a task that can be daunting after a long day’s drive. For backpackers and bikepackers, it’s the main factor to consider. Below, you’ll find foam mattresses that won’t fit in a backpack at all, ultralight inflatable mats that are designed for hiking long distances fast, and slightly plusher inflatable mats for side-sleeping backpackers who don’t mind carrying a few extra ounces.
Thickness and baffle design
If you’re serious about your sleep, opt for as thick a mattress as you can transport. A plusher mattress will be more supportive than a flat one and will keep you warmer because you’re further away from the ground. I’ve taken note of the fully inflated height for each of our recommendations, but they’re all thick enough to keep even side sleepers with downward-digging elbows from touching the ground.
Inflatable mattresses use baffles, which are the welded air chambers that give them plushness and shape; these can be oriented in a few different ways. Long vertical baffles can feel ridgelike and take some getting used to, but they’ll help prevent you from rolling off in the middle of the night. Horizontal ones are less obtrusive but won’t do much to stop you from sliding around. Quilted baffles have a honeycomb texture that’s cushy and supportive, but they have far more potential points of weakness where the welding might fail. In my experience, it’s also harder to locate and repair a puncture on a quilted air mattress.
R-value
Camping mattresses all receive anR-value, a standardized assessment of how well they insulate (you’ve probably seen this measurement if you’ve ever shopped for home insulation), whether that’s through heat reflective materials or padding. Any mattress with an R-value below 2 should only be used in summertime, whereas values between 2 and 4 are suitable for three-season camping. Backpacking mattresses with higher R-values tend to be more expensive, but they’re essential if you’re camping during the fall and winter months. Cold sleepers might consider layering two mattresses (e.g. a closed foam mattress and an inflatable pad) or using a camp cot in order to stay further off the ground.
Warranty
I’ve taken note of which mattresses offer a repair or replacement guarantee. But to ensure the longevity of your mattress, choose as flat and grassy a campsite as possible and clear away any rocks or twigs before pitching your tent. As above, layering a foam mattress underneath an inflatable one will protect it from punctures while also adding warmth. Bring a patch kit with you on your trip, and check the manufacturer’s instructions about the best storage practices for your mattress when not in use.
Best overall camping mattress
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Exped Megamat
Size:72 x 25.6 x 4 inches (medium wide), 77.6 x 30.3 x 4 inches (long extra wide) |Weight:4 lbs. 9 oz. (medium wide), 5 lbs. 11.7 oz. (long extra wide) |Thickness:Very plush, horizontal baffles |Warmth:8.1 |Warranty:Five years
Once you’ve experienced the Exped Megamat, you’ll wonder how you ever survived sleeping on a basic, pool-float-style pad. Crucially, the MegaMat is padded with foam for extra structure and support, which makes the sleep experience surprisingly comparable to your home mattress.
Myself and Strategist associate editor Jeremy Rellosa both find the MegaMat to be durable, comfortable, and easy to use. Mine is highly praised by overnight guests in my apartment, whereas Rellosa has taken his on numerous car-camping trips. Our sleep writer Amelia Jerden is also impressed by Exped’s upgrade version, theLuxeMat, which is padded with cotton and wool rather than synthetic materials.
While the Hest Foamy mattress below is also wonderfully comfortable, Exped takes the No. 1 spot on this list because its camping mattresses are more lightweight and compressible, deflating and stuffing fairly easily into a slim bag with a practical sling handle. Although you can use an optional portable pump (that’s remarkably small and efficient) to hasten the process, these mats are self-inflating once you open their valves, meaning you don’t have to spend 40 frustrated minutes trying to pump them up. The brand does recommend that at home you store the MegaMat flat rather than rolled. I slide it it under the bed; it’s a good solution.
A bigger version of our best overall camping mattress
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Size:72 x 41.3 x 4 inches (medium), 77.6 x 52 x 4 inches (long wide plus), 80 x 59.8 x 4 inches (queen) |Weight:7 lbs. 5.8 oz. (medium), 9 lbs. 11.2 oz. (long wide plus), 11 lbs. 14.1 oz.(queen) |Thickness:Extra-thick, horizontal baffles |Warmth:8.1 |Warranty:Five years
While it’s possible to strap two single MegaMats together, purchasing the larger MegaMat Duo is more cost-effective for couples. The Duo comes in three sizes, all of which compress down small enough to fit into a small car trunk, and has the same self-inflating padded design with an optional pump.
Best less-expensive camping mattress
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Size:76 x 25 x 4 inches (long wide), 76 x 30 x 4 inches (long extra wide) |Weight:4 lbs. 9 oz. (long wide), 5 lbs. 11 oz. (long extra wide) |Thickness:Medium thick, horizontal baffles |Warmth:6.1 |Warranty:One-year return period
Also self-inflating with a layer of foam for comfort, REI’s Co-op Dreamer Deluxe Bed is a fairly convincing (though less insulating) MegaMat dupe that comes recommended bySami Syed, CEO ofProject Van Life. There’s no electric pump option; to inflate it, you untwist the valve and flip the inner cap so that air can flow inward, then close the valve once it’s inflated. If you want an extra-firm sleeping surface, you can use the included manual airbag pump to top off the mattress; the airbag pump can also double as a pillow. A high R-value makes it appropriate for sleeping on the ground in very cold temperatures. As with the Megamat, you shouldn’t compress this mattress when storing it at home.
Best foam camping mattress
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Size:64 x 25 x 3.9 inches (short), 78 x 25 x 3.9 inches (regular), 78 x 30 x 3.9 inches (wide) |Weight:9 lbs. 8 oz. (short), 11 pounds (regular), 78 x 30 x 13 pounds (wide)|Thickness:Extra thick, no baffles |Warmth:8.8 |Warranty:Five years
Hest’s Foamy is a memory-foam mattress with an outdoor-resistant cover and roll-up design for transport. Because it’s non-inflatable, setup is easy — just unclip and unroll — and the comfort level is high. In fact, Jerden says this camping mattress is more comfortable than many actual mattresses that are designed for beds. The foam is thick and substantial enough to feel supportive, she says, while cushioning enough to be comfortable. After she took one on a camping trip, her partner was so jealous that he decided to buy his own (you can link two together with the clips on the side). The only downside is that it doesn’t compress down like inflatable or hybrid-construction pads. “It’s a little bulky even when rolled up, but if you have the room, it’s worth it,” she says. The Foamy also makes for an excellent guest mattress to stash away in the cupboard and can be stored rolled up, though the brand recommends unrolling it every few months so the foam can breathe.
Best overall backpacking mattress
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Size:66 x 20 x 3 inches (short), 72 x 20 x 3 inches (regular), 72 x 25 x 3 inches (regular wide), 77 x 25 x 3 inches (large) |Weight:11.5 oz.(short), 13 oz. (regular), 1 lb. (regular wide), 1 lb. 1 oz. (large) |Thickness:Medium thick, horizontal baffles |Warmth:4.5 |Warranty:Limited lifetime
Made in the USA from innovative materials, with a limited lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects, Therm-a-Rest’s brightly colored backpacking mattresses come highly recommended by outdoor storytelling platformWeGotNextfounder Scott Briscoe, adventure blogBearfoot Theoryfounder Kristen Bor, and Emily and Berty Mandagie, the husband-and-wife duo behind the outdoors-focused websiteThe Mandagies. I’ve also slept soundly through the night on them many times myself.
Rolling up into a cylinder the size of a large iced-coffee cup, the NeoAir XLite is the least-bulky insulated backpacking mattress I’ve ever used. It is also significantly easier to inflate, deflate, and roll up than competing options from Sea to Summit and Nemo. That’s thanks to a simple dual “express valve” system that expels air in a few seconds yet somehow never leaks when sealed. The pad comes with an excellent pump sack but is also quick and easy to blow up the old-fashioned way — even when you’re exhausted after a long day of hiking. The horizontal baffles are unobtrusive and lightly cushy. For a harder or softer mattress, just adjust to your preferred inflation pressure using the valve system. One disclaimer: Therm-a-rest’s NeoAirs are made from a lightweight and durable but frankly rather crinkly material. If you’re worried about annoying yourself or your tentmate, scroll further down for a quieter (though slightly heavier) backpacking-mattress recommendation.
Best less-expensive backpacking mattress
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Size:72 x 23 x 2.5 inches |Weight:1 lb. 2.1 oz. |Thickness:Slim, V-shaped baffles |Warmth:1.3 |Warranty:Limited lifetime
CEO of campground-finder appthe DyrtKevin Long describes Klymit’s entry-level backpacking pad, the Static V, as “a pretty amazing mattress” that magically “rolls down to the size of an Arizona Iced Tea and blows up to the size of a pool float.” While heavier and less insulating than the Neoair XLite above, it is still lightweight enough to take on a beginner backpacking trip. It’s ideal for spring and summer hikers who aren’t ready to invest in a more versatile three-or-four-season backpacking mattress. The unusually puffy V-shaped baffles are designed to be nestled into and should work well for side, stomach, and back sleepers. There are also straight “guard rail” baffles around the edges that’ll help prevent you sliding off the pad during the night.
Best more-comfortable backpacking mattress
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Size:73 x 22 x 4.6 inches (regular), 73 x 26 x 4.6 inches (regular wide), 78 x 26 x 4.6 inches (large) |Weight:1 lb. 8.9 oz. (regular), 1 lb. 14 oz. (regular wide), 2 lbs. (large) |Thickness:Plush, horizontal baffles |Warmth:4.7 |Warranty:Limited lifetime
Three friends and I went camping upstate over the Juneteenth long weekend this year, piling into an overpriced yet tiny rental car with Maryland license plates that we picked up in downtown Manhattan. Trunk space was limited, and getting to Avis from Brooklyn is annoying with coolers and sleeping bags in tow, so everybody packed light. I took the opportunity to test out this inflatable Therm-a-Rest mattress that’s intended for backpacking and was by far the most comfortable person in the tent. Plush and generously sized, it’s a dream for camping and would also make a nice single guest mattress while taking up barely any precious apartment storage space. It isn’t nearly as noisy as the NeoAir, either, and has a soft fuzzy surface rather than a plasticky one. Stuffing into a sack that’s just slightly larger than a Nalgene, it isn’t as lightweight and compact as some other backpacking pads on this list, but the extra comfort and warmth make it absolutely worth the extra grams and bulk.
Best lightweight backpacking mattress
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Size:51 x 20 x 0.75 inches (small), 72 x 20 x 0.75 inches (regular) |Weight:10 ounces (small), 14 ounces (regular) |Thickness:Thin, dimpled foam cells |Warmth:2.0 |Warranty:Limited lifetime
Many fast-and-light hikers, as well as bikepackers who are trying to reduce weight, opt for Therm-a-Rest’s foam sleeping pads over its inflatable ones. (Bikepack Racing Podcastco-hostEzra Ward-Packardattaches his to his bike usingVoile straps.) While not the cushiest or warmest of beds, they provide a simple barrier between you and your sleeping bag and the ground. It’s a camping-mattress solution that’s “comfortable and light, and you don’t have to worry about holes,” says Briscoe. The best use case for these pads, though, is layering them underneath your inflatable backpacking mattress for extra insulation. Scott Wilkinson, communications director at thePacific Crest Trail Association, likes doing this when winter camping. “You’ll add a ton of warmth,” he says. “It’ll be especially good if you’re camping on snow.”
Best quiet backpacking mattress
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Size:1 lb. (medium), 1 lb. 3 oz. (medium wide), 1 lb. 5 oz. (long wide)|Weight:10 ounces (small), 14 ounces (regular) |Thickness:Thin, dimpled foam cells |Warmth:6.9 |Warranty:Five-year limited warranty
Lesa McDermott, vice-president of operations atGirl Camper, is a fan of Therm-a-Rest mattresses but has come to prefer this Exped for all her backpacking expeditions because it’s quieter: “I’ve slept on too many pads that crinkle and squeak every time you roll over, which is annoying for you and everyone else in the tent.” Exped’s particular combination of polyester outer fabric and microfiber insulation muffles any crinkling sounds, while also providing plenty of warmth. “It’s thick enough to be comfortable for a side sleeper like myself, and the larger outside chambers help keep me from feeling like I’m going to roll off during the night,” she adds. She promises that it’s also quick and easy to inflate and deflate.
Ourexperts
• Scott Briscoe, founder,WeGotNext
• Kristen Bor, founder,Bearfoot Theory
• Dr. Jordan Burns, sleep coach,Amerisleep
• Amelia Jerden, Strategist sleep writer
• Kevin Long, CEO,the Dyrt
• Emily and Berty Mandagie, editors,The Mandagies
• Lesa McDermott, vice-president of operations,Girl Camper
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist associate editor
•Sami Syed, CEO,Project Van Life
•Ezra Ward-Packard, co-host,Bikepack Racing Podcast
• Scott Wilkinson, communications director,Pacific Crest Trail Association
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