The best camping mattresses: for thru-hiking and car camping, whatever the season

Stony ground, mountain slopes, soggy leaf litter – on most outdoor odysseys it's hard to plan for the exact surface you'll be pitching and sleeping on. However, the technology in outdoor gear has developed so much over the past years that the best camping mattresses are now better than ever at providing comfort and warmth – no matter what the ground beneath you is like.

A dream trip can quickly become your worst nightmare when a valve fails or a flimsy seam splits, leaving you floundering on the cold and lumpy ground. When it comes to reliability, the mattresses in these guides are from top brands that won't let you down. We've factored durability into our reviews.

Here you'll find tough, water-resistant fabrics that are woven in intelligent ways to create pockets and layers that give stability and insulation as you sleep. Ultralight finishes shave off ounces so you can carry a thick pad on your overnighters that will elevate you up off uncomfy trail debris.

We've been car camping and thru-hiking using the best camping mattresses around to bring you this guide. From thick and supportive systems for those who crave extra comfort at night to self-inflating and backpacking options, we've left no stone unturned, no valve left closed.

If you're after something ultralight for wild camping, check out our guide to the best sleeping pads, too.

The quick list

This is the quick list, a snapshot of the best camping mattresses available right now. To delve deeper into the features and qualities of each featured mattress, see our more detailed reviews further down the page in this guide.

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The best camping mattresses comparison table

The best camping mattresses

You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.

The best camping mattress overall

With an R-value of 7.3, this mat is a no-brainer for those who are looking for a high-tech mat for sleeping out at high altitudes, or for those who are simply cold sleepers. Weighing in at less than 1lb (440g), it is also one of the most innovative mats Therm-a-Rest has ever made.

The base is made from an incredibly tough-yet-lightweight 70D nylon, and the top is 30D rip HT nylon, meaning this mat is durable and made with multi-day adventures in mind.

To keep things warm, Therm-a-Rest has used its Triangular Core Matrix construction – two layers of triangle baffles to slow convective heat loss. The cells also help keep things stable. Meanwhile, the ThermaCapture technology – a lightweight reflective material – helps redistribute heat back to the body and minimize cold spots.

A chunky thickness of 3in (7.6cm) gives cloud-like comfort, and the horizontal baffles structure help distribute weight evenly while you sleep.

Our expert tester Jessie Leong was impressed with the WingLock Valve that kept the mat airtight overnight and made it quick and simple to deflate. It was easy to use, even when wearing gloves. It also means you can make simple adjustments during the night if you want to let out a little air for better comfort.

Read our full Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT review

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The best ultralight camping mattress

On first impressions the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated sleeping pad is bold and bright with an impressively chunky 3.25in (8.2cm) thickness. However, it is also incredibly lightweight. The smaller-sized pad, which measures 20in x 72in (51cm x 182cm), is roomy enough for most people and it weighs only 14oz (397g). This makes it a serious competitor for most of the big-brand ultralight sleeping pads, such as Therm-a-Rest.

Whereas other brands shave off weight by rounding out the corners of sleeping pads, Big Agnes has kept the Zoom UL in a rectangular shape – great for side, back and front sleepers. The thick edge baffles keep you in place at night.

On test on chilly UK overnighters, the Zoom UL delivered as expected. It comes with an inflation sack (to prevent moisture from getting inside), a small repair pack with a handful of patches and a handy little carry sack. Although it does rustle in the carry sack, when inflated it is a quiet pad that lets you snooze sound-free.

Our fast-packing aficionado Craig Taylor found that when teaming it with a 20D nylon sleeping bag, he slipped around more than when he teamed it with a polyester one. And he recommends, as with any ultralight pad, if you’re sleeping in an ultralight tent, use additional ground protection.

The bag has a 4.3 R-value, which will keep you warm and comfortable down to temperatures around freezing. Overall, it's a great-quality, competitively priced sleeping pad.

Read our full Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated sleeping pad review

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The warmest camping mattress

Taking into account the R-value and suitability for winter this sleeping pad touts, we were so impressed with the mini pack size. Astonishingly, it contains a pump sack too for inflating the pad without getting moisture into it. It takes a puff to blow it up, but when when it's fully inflated it's a smart-looking pad with a wonderful thickness of 3.5in.

Most notable is the R-value of 8.5 (Nemo says that it’s the first air pad to achieve a value above 8), which is achieved with horizontal, trapezoidal baffles that support four layers of Thermal Mirror film insulation. The layers stop body heat from escaping through the pad, while reflecting cold from the earth below. This results in a brilliant warmth-to-weight ratio that’s difficult to top.

Nemo says that the pad is “impressively quiet”, but our camping expert Alex Foxfield reckoned there was a little crinkle – though not enough to be a deal breaker. It's made out of a durable, puncture-resistant 40D nylon on the bottom and a softer 20D nylon for the top – both are bluesign approved.

All in all, it's a comfortable and nicely supportive sleeping pad more so than many other backpacking pads on the market, and it is available in four sizes so you can choose one to fit your own dimensions.

On summit camps in England's highest mountains, the sleeping pad performed well. Alex felt "wonderfully removed from the cold of the mountain". The only gripe was that even when teaming the pad with Nemo's own Fillo Backpacking and Camping Pillow, there wasn't much friction to keep the pillow in place.

Read the full Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad review

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The best camping mattress for comfort

With an impressive weight-to-warmth ratio, our expert explorer Jessie Leong reckons the Rab Ionosphere 5.5 Sleep Mat is the "gold star" of sleeping pads. It excelled on her trip to the alpine slopes of Tajikistan, delivering great sleeps at an altitude of 13,000ft (4,000m).

Firstly, despite the surprisingly snug packed size, the Ionosphere inflates to a thick and plush 8cm / 3in. It’s an insulated sleeping mat that traps air and uses reflective film to reduce radiant heat loss.

The larger edge chambers help keep you central on the mat, and the hexagonal grip pattern stops shiny material, such as your sleeping bag, from slipping down in the night. This is especially important if you’re camping on mountain slopes.

The mat wasn't affected by temperature fluctuations overnight and was easy to inflate in under two minutes using the included drybag pump sack. If you're camping in mixed conditions you can rest assured that the mat is water resistant, crafted from a recycled polyester outer fabric with internal TPU coating and fluorocarbon-free DWR.

The only thing that stops this mat getting five-star glory is the pouch, which which uses a fiddle elasticated side opening.

Read the full Rab Ionosphere 5.5 Sleep Mat review

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The best camping mattress for bikepacking

Here's a great sleeping mat that will brighten up your camping kit for spring, summer and fall. The Exped Ultra 3R is especially great for trekking and hiking adventures as it delivers a good night's sleep without taking up crucial weight or space in your pack.

With a lower R-value than other inflatable mats on test here, it still kept our camping expert Jessie Leong warm on overnight adventures on Ireland’s Donegal peninsula and on the coast of Mallorca in the Mediterranean.

It's made with thick air cushioning and lofting insulation on the top and bottom of the air chambers. The 20D ripstock fabric proved durable, but a gripper surface on top would have stopped the sleeping bag from sliding around at night. There are two clearly marked valves, one for inflating and one for deflating.

Jessies tested the Exped Ultra 3R sleeping mat in size M, which at 5ft 5in / 166cm was big enough. Having the option to purchase a wide or long version is handy, especially if you tend to move around in the night as you sleep. And on that note, it's a quiet mat, so you won't disturb your camp mates.

Read the full Exped Ultra 3R sleeping mat review

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The best self-inflating camping mattress

With Robens' innovative and super easy-to-use Peak Valve, the Polarshield 120 self-inflates with impressive speed for such a luxuriously thick mattress. Our reviewer Pat Kinsella found that the valve worked perfectly during the test, despite the fact it appears to be suspiciously simple.

Throughout the test, the mat performed superbly, staying inflated all night, every night. It's got a clever design, which features vertical cut outs, reducing the carry weight and creating a row of rounded air pockets on the side. "Thus far, the mat seems durable enough, while it's also PFC free." Pat noted. "It’s certainly much more compact and easy to transport and use than any other car camping mattress we've tested". However, it's still to heavy and bulky for backpacking use, despite the fact it comes with a carry bag.

Read our full Robens Polarshield 120 review

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The most versatile camping mattress

Big, chunky and versatile, the Comfort Grande from Vango is well suited to all kinds of scenarios, from car camping vacations, music festivals, garden nights and sleepovers. While it's too big for backpacking use, our expert tester Pat Kinsella went as far as to say that "it is one of the best camping mattresses out there".

It's gloriously comfortable and warm to sleep on, thanks to the Polyester Peach Top Fabric. The base is crafted from a durable 75D non-slip polyester, which makes it hardwearing and means it won't slip about on the floor during the night. It's a self inflating mat and the ample 7.5cm thick pad will keep most campers happy and comfortable. When it comes to packing away, its cyclone valve enables fast deflation, although Pat found that he had to wrestle it quite a bit to get it to fold away neatly. There's a repair kit bundled in and you also get a carry bag that doubles up as a handy pillow.

Read our full Vango Comfort 7.5 Grande review

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The best lightweight camping mattress

The curved design of the UL80 is designed to cradle the body, stopping you from rolling off the mat and into your camping buddy during the early hours. It's quite a large mat, which is a relief considering it only comes in one size. Considering its price point, it's impressively lightweight and packs down small too.

Our expert reviewer Matt Jones found it easy to set up and pack down during the test period. He liked the handy dual one- or two-way valve, which makes inflation and deflation a doddle, though it does take a little while. It's got a transverse baffle design, which often can lead to instability and collapsible edges, though this isn't the case here. As it's not a insulated mat, it's best suited to the warmer months. Matt goes on to say: "For summer use, or on warmer spring and fall nights, it offers comparative luxury and cracking value."

Read our full Trekology UL80 Inflatable Sleeping Pad review

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The best camping mattress for backpackers

The Vaude Hike 9 strikes a fine balance between warmth, weight, pack size and price, while being a thick, luxurious mat that's wonderfully comfortable too. The synthetic fill gives it an R-Value of 2.5, which means you can sleep on it in temperatures approaching freezing if you need to, though we wouldn't recommend it for winter use.

With pronounced sidewalls and it's rectangular 3D constccution, it has a noticeably larger sleeping surface than most, making it feel roomier the other mats in this roundup. Our expert tester Matt Jones goes as far as to say: "It’s almost like sleeping on a conventional mattress." By pairing with another, you can create a double bed, without any annoying gaps. Ideal.

At 3.5in (9cm) thick, it offers loads of comfort, though it's less stable than some. It also takes quite a bit of puff to get the thing inflated, but you can always buy the compatible pump sack to speed up the process.

Read our full Vaude Hike 9 review

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How we test the best camping mattresses

Our reviewers are camping experts who love to put gear through their paces in the field. When testing a camping mattress they head to the wilderness, working out its suitability for different conditions. For this buying guide they have climbed England's highest mountains for summit sleeps and pitched up on Tajikistan's lofty slopes to see how expedition pads cope at high altitude.

They assess whether specifications claimed by the brand – pack weight, dimensions, comfort, warmth, size and packability – match up to the product. Then they consider other factors that make a sleeping mattress excel – ease of inflation and deflation, durability and any other undersold qualities. Of course, value for money plays a huge part.

For more information, see how Advnture tests products

How to choose the best camping mattress

Comfort tends is the obvious factor to think about when choosing a camping mattress, but there are other important considerations to take into account too, before you make a decision. Here are a few...

Quality and durability

Many people will have experienced that familiar sinking feeling of a camping mattress deflating during the night, sending occupants rolling into one another or spilling them out onto the ground. Buying cheap camping mattresses is often a false economy, if they puncture easily or the valve lets them down. It's better to invest in a more robust product that you can get many more nights out of than to skimp and send multiple cheap plastic mattresses into landfill when they fail.

Comfort

Getting a comfy night’s rest isn’t just down to finding a mattress that offers plenty of depth and stays inflated. It’s worth looking at the pressure the bed can be inflated to (which will govern the firmness) and the materials used on the sleeping surface – a brushed fabric will be a whole lot more comfortable (and less sticky and squeaky) than shiny plastic.

Weight

If you only ever intend using your camping mattress for garden sleepouts, putting friends up for the night or car camping adventures where the vehicle is close enough to plug a pump into its 12v outlet, then you can afford to choose one with extra weight.

The heftier, weightier mattresses offer extra thickness, meaning there's more scope for insulation and cushioning. You may also be able to get a comfortable mattress at a more affordable price as weightier materials are often cheaper.

As sleeping mattresses get lighter the textiles and insulating technologies that they use become more expensive and the price you pay goes up. For a premium price you can find a durable mattress that uses rip-resistant fabrics as well as barely-there insulation, such as thin foil sheets that deflect cold air from the ground away from you as you sleep.

Thickness

The thickness of a camping mattress is essentially the depth when it is inflated. This dimension can vary greatly from mattress to mattress, but is usually between 1in (2.5cm) and 4in (10cm). The thickness affects how much warmth and comfort the mat can offer.

A thicker mat allows more air and layers of insulation between your body and the ground. It is a good choice for side sleepers who don't want their hip hitting the ground as they turn in the night.

Thin mats are usually lighter in weight and often a great choice for thru-hiking and fastpacking trips.

Inflation

The best camping mattresses in this guide can be divided into two categories: self-inflating, and those you have to manually inflate.

Self-inflating camping mattresses use a combination of compressible foam and a one-way valve to draw air into the mat, allowing it to inflate without the need for a pump. They are quick and easy to use and often thick and warm, but the trade-off is the weight.

Air camping mattresses are constructed of inflatable cells that you need to push air into manually using a pump or your lungs. Those at the top end of the market often come with a pump sack – a compact bag used to inflate a mat without using your breath. This prevents moisture entering the mat, which can become moldy and affect the performance of the mat.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions you may wonder about when in the process of buying a camping mattress.

What is a self-inflating mat?

A self-inflating mat (or SIM) is a mattress that inflates itself once the air valve is open. The open cell foam expands and draws air in, so you don't need an air pump to inflate it. However, you always have the option of blowing in more air to adjust the firmness to your requirements.

What's the difference between a camping mattress and a sleeping pad?

When it comes to sleeping pad vs air mattress, the main difference is portability. Camping mattresses are typically much larger and fill with air to provide the kind of comfort you'd expect from your mattress at home. Sleeping pads come in various shapes and sizes and some are also filled with air. However, they're designed to be lightweight and portable, making them the go-to for backpackers and ultralight campers.

Meet the testers

Pat Kinsella

Our consulting editor is an expert on all things outdoor kit. He's enjoyed many camping vacations with his family and has tested a wealth of sleeping pads and mattresses in his time.

Berne Broudy

Vermont-based Berne has travelled the world on her adventures. From Greenland to Jordan and Bolivia to Alaska, she's camped in countless places and knows the value of a good night's sleep – and therefore a good camping mattress.

Matthew Jones

Matt's is a hardcore camper and enjoys lengthy backpacking trips just as much as the occasional car camping weekend. One of the UK's leading outdoor gear experts, he knows a good mattress when he slumbers on one.

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