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When you lie down on a great camping mattress, it should feel like an invitation to a great night's sleep. It should keep you comfortable, insulate you from the cold ground, and help you wake up warm and fully rested.
Our favorite camping mattress is the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D. This extra-comfy 4-inch-thick mattress kept us toasty warm and has a great valve system that makes inflating and deflating easy.
For two people, we got the best sleep on the Exped MegaMat Duo. It's spacious enough to use as a guest bed at home.
If you need something on a budget, look no further than the Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single. It is a bit bulky, but it's very comfy if camping close to the car.
Over the last 15 years, our experts have purchased and tested nearly 50 of the market's best camping pads. For this update, we slept on 18 promising models for at least 10 nights each to find the ones that actually stay inflated and keep you warm.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on September 24, 2026, to retest old favorites and include some new camping mattresses.
The Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D, like other self-inflating camping mats in this review, features four inches of luxurious foam comfort. This model matches the warmth and comfort of the plushest mattresses in the test. One tester said, “Sleeping on this mattress gave me the best sleep I've ever experienced outdoors.” Its dual-valve system is what nudged it into the top spot. It is incredibly easy to inflate: attach the stuff sack to the inflation valve and use the sack as a pump. The deflation valve is huge, so air dumps out fast, and we could quickly roll up the mattress and pack it away.
SPECIFICATIONS
Thickness
4.3 in
Length
80 in
Width
30 in
Weight
5.3 lb
R-Value
7
If there is a downside to the MondoKing, it is simply the large packed size. It is not the biggest on our test, but it is close. Still, if you camp with a significant other, you will need two. “I tried to fit another person on the mattress with me, and it was not comfortable,” said our tester. That takes up a lot of real estate in the back of the car and the gear closet. If you want a comfortable pad that packs down smaller, check out the NEMO Roamer. We tested the MondoKing's XXLarge version (30x80 inches) for extra-deluxe sprawling pleasure, though it's available in a smaller size (25x77 inches), meaning you might be able to fit two in your tent. This mattress is lighter than other mattresses of this type, but you won't take it into the backcountry unless you have a packhorse. However, for camping adventures, this is our favorite.
The Exped MegaMat Duo provides plenty of space for two campers and has enough structure to keep one person's shifting or roll-overs from affecting the other. We measured this massive camping mattress at 4.5 inches thick, which kept side-sleepers' shoulders and hips cushioned without touching the ground, and it was comfy enough to use as a guest bed for visitors at home. The MegaMat Duo has an effective self-inflation system, plus an easy-to-use inflation cushion, whether you're inflating the entire mattress or fine-tuning the firmness. Many camping mattresses come with a tight-fitting storage sack, but the Duo has extra room in its storage bag if you don't completely deflate it.
SPECIFICATIONS
Thickness
4.0 in
Length
78 in
Width
53 in
Weight
9.7 lb
R-Value
8.1
As much as we loved the luxurious size and cushioning of the Exped MegaMat Duo, it is one of the heavier camping mattresses in the review and can be hard to fit in a cramped vehicle. While Exped includes compression straps, it's still about 28 inches long and 12 inches wide when packed. If you need a more portable two-person model, take a close look at the Nemo Roamer Double, which is a tighter squeeze for a couple of campers but substantially lighter and easier to bring along on your next roadside adventure. “The Exped MegaMat Duo is undeniably bulky, and it's very hard on the wallet, but I loved how comfy it was for my partner and me,” one of our camp mattress experts concluded.
The Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single is one of the most comfy camping mattresses in our review. The best part? It's also among the most affordable. Whether you toss it in a tent by your car or set it up in the back of your Subaru, the Lost Horizon will help you catch up on rest after a long day of hiking and recreating, thanks to 4.5 inches of foam and air cushioning. It's also almost 30 inches wide, so if you like to sprawl out on your bed at home, this mattress won't feel too restrictive.
SPECIFICATIONS
Thickness
4.5 in
Length
80 in
Width
29.5 in
Weight
9 lb
R-Value
13
As much as we appreciated the blend of cushioning and support of the Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single, it isn't the most transportable camping mattress, and it's harder to pack up. At 9 pounds, it's fairly heavy to carry more than a few steps from home to the car or from the car to the tent, and it is also about 27 inches long and 9 inches wide when packed. Packed dimensions aren't always as crucial in this category of camping gear, but the Lost Horizon will be more challenging to fit in a small sedan. Check out the lightweight and low-priced Coleman Cozy if you need a more portable camping mattress. Besides a couple of setbacks, our lead tester put it best: “I loved the Lost Horizon for any of my car-camping needs, and I was even happy with it when sleeping on the floor of a friend's house.”
If space is no object and you like a soft, squishy pad, the HomeMate CertiPUR-US offers dreamy comfort at a fantastic price. It takes up about as much space as an oil drum, but it is quick to roll out and has a plush, cozy surface, unlike many pads, which can feel like sleeping on a pool float. No pumping or worrying about a leak in the middle of the night. It is our go-to for sleeping in the back of the truck or extending our full-size Exped so we can sleep two adults and two small kids.
SPECIFICATIONS
Thickness
3.0 in
Length
75 in
Width
30 in
Weight
9 lb
R-Value
None
While no official R-value is listed, we estimate it falls in the 1–3 range, making this pad best suited for nights in the 40s and 50s rather than colder conditions. The pad is quite soft with no way to adjust firmness, so it may not be ideal if you prefer a firmer feel or are camping on uneven ground. The included stuff sack is spacious enough to fit a pillow and even a compressible down sleeping bag, though the sack itself is low quality, with straps and seams that quickly failed. The soft top surface also attracts debris, but you can remove and wash the cover. GearLab co-founder Chris McNamara noted, “Despite access to much fancier pads, I usually reach for this one because it's so quick and easy to roll out and I love the squishy memory foam—though it does take up a lot of space.”
If you want an affordable camping mattress that's light enough for some small backpacking trips, check out the Coleman Cozy. This fairly comfy model weighs about 2.6 pounds and has one of the smallest packed sizes in its mattress category, saving you valuable trunk space for other camping essentials. The Cozy also has a great next-to-skin feel on its top, and the raised edges kept us from slipping off the mattress when rolling over.
SPECIFICATIONS
Thickness
3.5 in
Length
74 in
Width
24 in
Weight
2.6 lb
R-Value
3+
As much as we appreciated the U-shape of the Cozy, it's only about 24 inches wide, making it a fairly narrow camping mattress. If you like to sprawl out when you sleep, the Cozy might be too small, but something like the HomeMate CertiPUR-US is another affordable option that's substantially wider. “While many car-campers prefer warmer temperatures anyway, the Cozy is also not very insulated and requires some extra bedding or a foam pad underneath it if you're camping in temperatures below roughly 40 degrees Fahrenheit,” our camping mattress lead shared. Despite the Coleman Cozy's width and lack of warmth, this camping companion offers great value, and we loved its packability.
Rigid enough to cover gaps if the car has captain chairs
Easy inflation, deflation, and storage
CONS
Expensive
Bulky
If you want the best night's sleep possible in your car, get the Exped MegaMat Auto. Like its MegaMat siblings mentioned above, it offers uncompromising comfort. We tested it in a Kia Telluride with captain chairs, which created ten-inch gaps that this pad had to span. “I anticipated having to fill those gaps with bags and clothes to support the MegaMat Auto, but was pleasantly surprised to find it thick and rigid enough that I didn't notice the gaps,” said our lead tester. When we put two single pads in our car, these gaps became a nagging issue. In addition to the most comfortable night's sleep we have had in a car, we were impressed with how easy and fast the mat is to inflate and deflate. Two valves let you deflate it in less than a minute. As long as you use the included Velcro strap before putting it in the stuff sack, it is very easy to store.
SPECIFICATIONS
Thickness
4.0 in
Length
76 in
Width
52/36 in
Weight
8.5 lb
R-Value
8.1
Other than being super expensive, the MegaMat Auto is bulky. “While I love how fast it is to store, it's still very big when in its stuff sack,” our tester wrote. In our opinion, it's worth it, but you have to budget storage space accordingly. While the included pump works fine, we were still happy to have the Dr.meter Air Pump. It can be hard to get the included pump into a good flat spot in the back of your car. The Dr.meter pump solves that issue. Those minor gripes aside, we can't imagine a better mat for your car. The downside of the car shape is that it's less useful outside the car than the Exped MegaMat Duo.
The NEMO Roamer Double is the most comfortable double camping mattress we have slept on. It features an exceptionally soft and refined top surface that feels plush and high-quality, avoiding the cheap plastic feel of many inflatables. The 4-inch padding provides excellent cushioning against rocks and uneven ground while remaining relatively lightweight and less bulky than competitors like the Exped MegaMat Duo. Deflation and packing are quick and easy thanks to the three-valve system. It's also highly versatile, working well as a guest bed, play mat, or cozy surface for movie nights. Overall, it delivers a premium camping experience with strong real-world usability.
SPECIFICATIONS
Thickness
4.0 in
Length
78 in
Width
42 in
Weight
6.6 lb
R-Value
7
While comfortable, the Roamer Double has some drawbacks. Its softer construction makes it more likely to disturb a sleeping partner when shifting positions. Firmness adjustments are less precise than some competitors, requiring larger air-release increments. The pad can also bow slightly when fully inflated, though it flattens under body weight. Self-inflation is average and often requires a pump or inflation bag. Valve operation takes some practice, and the duffel-style storage sack packs less neatly than open-ended designs. It's also not the warmest option in cold weather and can feel louder than traditional mattresses when moving around.
We tested the Roamer in the Eastern Sierra over six different camping trips and counting. Credit: Chris McNamara
The Roamer includes simple instructions and illustrations for using the three-valve system imprinted on the side. Credit: Chris McNamara
Although this pad is easy to deflate, we found it helpful to complete the process with a handheld electric pump. Credit: Chris McNamara
The Roamer takes up a good chunk of a six person camping tent. But it's totally worth it! Credit: Chris McNamara
At 52 inches wide, the Roamer is a standard width for a double sleeping pad. It is wide enough for two people, but not so wide that it occupies all the space in your tent. Credit: Austin Palmer
Product Comparison Table
We measure every mattress to make sure the manufacturer claims are correct. They often vary a little bit. Credit: Austin Palmer
How We Tested
We have taken each model on numerous camping trips and spent thousands of nights sleeping on pads over the last 15 years. We used them at home for side-by-side guests, packed them into our luggage for flights across the country, and lent them to friends and family for their use and feedback. Finally, we lined them up side by side and measured inflation and deflation times, lying on them one after another to turn our camping impressions into a consensus. Throughout the testing process, we focused on insulation value, pack size, ease of use, and, most crucially, comfort.
Why Trust GearLab
GearLab co-founder Chris McNamara leads this review and has spent nearly 15 years testing and writing about camping pads. He spends many weeks a year camping in the back of his truck and puts camping mattresses to the ultimate test: camping with his wife and his 3- and 6-year-old children. This review is also brought to you by Zach Lovell, Laurel Hunter, and Matt Bento.
Zach is a professional Mountain Guide, climber, and skier who has spent 4-6 months a year camping for the past 15 years. From expeditions and truck camping that allows heavy mattresses to weight-sensitive backpacking trips, Zach is an expert in multiple categories of camp sleeping equipment.
Laurel lives in Central Oregon and loves camping. She, her husband, and two pups have crisscrossed the American West (and Canadian West) multiple times in their pickup, finding mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, and camping adventures. As a member of Yosemite Search and Rescue and a traveling rock climber, Matt Bento has spent many nights on air mattresses and understands their finer points, as well as the value of a good night's sleep. Together, they make the dream team behind this comprehensive assessment.
Part of our extensive mattress testing is leaving 100s of pounds of books on the mattress overnight to test for leaks. Credit: Chris McNamara
Testing a camping pad by a 2-year-old. Credit: Chris McNamara
Taking pads out into the desert to test durability. Credit: Chris McNamara
Analysis and Test Results
Camping mattresses are generally several steps higher on the comfort scale than the typical sleeping pad. The preferred sleeping pads for backpacking are lightweight and pack down into very small bundles, providing just enough padding to help you sleep. The mattresses in this review are designed for maximum comfort. If you are only carrying it from the car to the tent, why settle for a thin mattress? Nothing beats a good night's sleep except a good night's sleep outdoors. Many of these options are the pinnacle of inflatable luxury that will have you looking forward to bedtime as much as you do to your daytime adventuring.
If you value great sleep, then this level of comfort is worth its weight in gold. These are essential pieces of equipment for committed campers, reluctant campers, or anyone who appreciates that better recovery comes from a comfortable night's sleep. Unexpected guests? Many of these mattresses let them sleep as well on your floor as they do in their bed.
We tested the XL versions of leading manufacturers' high-end mattresses because if we're looking for luxury, why choose anything less than maximum real estate? Most of them were enormous. The typical dimensions are around 77 inches long by 30 inches wide for a single mattress (6.5 feet by 2.5 feet). With so much surface area, however, consider your tent's size before you buy. Many one-person tents are too small to fit a mat like this, and smaller two-person tents may not fit both a mat and a person.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
Most pads in this review are expensive. Luckily, we have some great-value options, starting with the Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single. This pad combines comfort with a price less than half of the top-shelf competition, and it's comfy enough to use as a guest bed if only one person is visiting.
The Lost Horizon Single is much less expensive than camping mattresses that are similarly as comfortable. Credit: Zach Lovell
If you need the lowest price possible, check out the HomeMate CertiPUR-US. It is particularly bulky and too soft and squishy for some of our testers, but many others found it among the most comfortable pads in the review. And the price is nearly unbeatable. Pads like the Coleman Silver Springs cost $50, but they are narrow, thin, and just not nearly as comfortable as a pad with 3-5 inches of padding.
The Coleman Silver Springs is wallet-friendly, but its thinner inflated dimensions won't be as kind to your back. Credit: Chris McNamara
If you need a two-person sleeping pad, prepare to spend a pretty penny, since they need more material than a single-person model. Both the Nemo Roamer Double and the Exped MegaMat Duo have a similarly high price point, and we'd suggest buying two Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single pads if you're on a budget and need camping mattresses for two people. The only potential drawback to sliding two single pads together is that gaps form easily between them.
The Exped MegaMat Duo is quite expensive, though it's an effective solution for two campers. Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
We logged weeks sleeping on every camping mattress in a variety of settings, from roomy tents to truck beds to spare bedroom floors. This is one of the most crucial metrics for any mattress in this category, since it can truly make or break a camping trip, and we triple-checked our findings before determining final scores. In addition to sleeping many nights on these pads, we looked at each model's fabric, assessing skin feel and noise. We also took a hard look at support, where a top-scoring model can be cushioned and cradle the shoulders and hips well.
Comfort is subjective; some people like a very firm sleeping surface, while others want a fluffy down pillow top to rest on. With this in mind, we evaluated whether each mattress could be adjusted from very firm to a more cushioned feel. We also looked at how easy it is to adjust and whether those changes affected other aspects of mattress performance. Some self-inflating foam mattresses remain comfortable even when minimally inflated. We also considered whether each mattress was comfortable for sleeping in different positions, such as on your back, stomach, or side.
From the feel of the mattress top to the amount of cushion, we took extra care in evaluating the comfort of every mattress in our lineup.
One person who was ready to give up on camping altogether changed his mind after a deep night's sleep on the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing. Relative to its weight, the MondoKing is very comfy, and we loved its soft top against the skin. The Exped MegaMat Duo, Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D, Lost Horizon Air & Foam Single, NEMO Roamer, and Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe SI all have about four inches of self-inflating foam and a similar soft polyester topper.
Plush mattresses like the Exped MegaMat Duo offer around 4 inches of cushion, keeping backs, necks, shoulders, and hips happy the next morning. Credit: Zach Lovell
The HEST Foamy is just shy of four inches and uses memory foam, so it needs no extra inflation and is ready to use right away. All of these earned high marks for comfort. If you like the most foam possible to protect from the ground below, the Exped MegaMat Max features an eye-popping six inches of air-channeled foam. None of these models felt sticky, even on warmer nights.
Spacious and designed for comfort, the MondoKing is a winner for us. Credit: Laurel Hunter
If you are ok with soft memory foam, it is hard to beat the plush comfort of the HomeMate CertiPUR-US. The outer material is also about as cozy as it gets: most other pads in this review have a more plastic-like texture. Finally, the pad won't deflate unexpectedly in the middle of the night.
The HomeMate set up in the back of a truck and surrounded by all our camp supplies. Credit: Chris McNamara
Another comfort factor we considered was whether these models held air or deflated overnight. Did we feel the ground below if they lost air? Some of the thicker mats, like the Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe SI, seemed to lose some air overnight, but we chalk that up to temperature differences between the evening and the morning.
Plush foam mattresses, like the Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe, turn your truck into a comfortable night out. Credit: Laurel Hunter
Rolling off a sleeping pad can be a downright nuisance, and being jarred awake is bound to make you feel groggy. We typically recommend a wider sleeping pad if you roll over often in your sleep, but the Coleman Cozy has a different solution: a U-shaped top. It isn't a very wide sleeping pad, unfortunately, but it does cradle the entire body very well. Given its packability and budget price point, some might find the comfort per dollar worth it.
The U-shaped top of the Cozy reduces the chances of you rolling off in the middle of the night. Credit: Zach Lovell
Ease of Use
For the ease-of-use metric, we looked closely at each mattress's ability to set up, adjust firmness, move around/carry when inflated, and pack back into its storage bag. While these tasks are relatively simple, many nuances separated the models, including inflation bag size and the storage sack dimensions. Top performers were intuitive to inflate, easy to adjust firmness, and didn't require a wrestling match to pack up. Other ease-of-use factors we noticed included how securely the pump sack attached to the valve and whether the mattress top was textured enough to keep sleeping bags or pillows from sliding.
Why Doesn't a Self-inflating Mattress Self-Inflate?
The term “self-inflating” is misleading. Most self-inflating pads have open-cell foam that slowly expands after unrolling, drawing air inside, but they don't fully inflate on their own. Usually, the foam gets the pad to about 50–80% inflation, and you'll still need a pump, sack, or breath to finish. The process can take up to ten minutes, so unroll your pad early at camp to let the foam expand. Propping the valve open can help speed this up.
Several inflation styles exist, but the most common systems we see in camping mattresses include self-inflation and inflation bags. Models like the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D were straightforward to inflate with a mix of self-inflation and using the storage bag, which doubles as a pump sack. The MondoKing's pack-up process was equally simple, and it compresses well to fit inside the storage bag. The Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single was similarly easy to inflate, with a generously sized storage/pump sack that stayed fairly well attached to the valve. Both pads were easy to adjust, but the Lost Horizon was noticeably trickier to pack up, which reduced its score.
The Lost Horizon Single requires some wrestling to get it back to this packed size, though it includes compression straps, which were a lifesaver. Credit: Zach Lovell
The Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D does have a slightly slicker surface than the Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single, making the Lost Horizon a bit more slide-resistant with pillows and sleeping bags. This might seem nitpicky, but we've woken up many times to pillows sliding off a pad and craning our necks.
The Lost Horizon Full surface is comfy and keeps pillows or sleeping bags from sliding. Credit: Zach Lovell
The Roamer Double pump sack requires you to blow into one side and then push the air into the pad, which is far less efficient, in our experience, than simply filling the pump sack with outside air (by quickly flapping the bag downward).
The NEMO Roamer Double has a pump sack that still requires your own breath, which isn't as efficient. Credit: Zach Lovell
You can also inflate any of these pads with a battery-operated pump. In general, mattresses with dual valves are easier to use, as a dedicated deflation valve makes packing up in the morning much quicker. Thicker foam mattresses are often harder to roll up, so they may not fit in their stuff sacks. The Exped MegaMat Duo features a Sidewinder stuff sack that opens on the side rather than the top, making storage easy while accommodating a slightly inflated mattress.
The stuff sack for the MegaMat is easy to use. Credit: Laurel Hunter
The HEST Foamy Sleeping Pad is one model in our test that doesn't require any inflation device. Two flat buckles and a fabric harness keep it rolled for storage. Open the buckles, and the mattress is ready to go, making it the easiest to set up. We love this feature, especially when we rolled into camp in the dark, but the flip side is that the mattress was one of the hardest to roll up and store.
Rolling the HEST Foamy takes all your body weight and good concentration. Credit: Laurel Hunter
Similar to the HEST, the HomeMate unrolls and sets up in seconds. While the storage bag is not durable, it is spacious and makes packing this behemoth fast.
The included bag with the HomeMate is big enough to fit a standard pillow and even a lightweight down sleeping bag. Credit: Chris McNamara
While camping mattresses are rarely considered a “feature-rich” gear category, the REI Co-op Campwell does have the unique capability of attaching to other Campwell mattresses. This is a thoughtful feature if you're camping with a loved one, since gaps can easily form between two single sleeping pads.
The REI Campwell Mattress isn't the most comfy, but we loved these loop and toggle attachments on the side for drying or attaching pads together. Credit: Zach Lovell
Warmth
The warmth of a camping mattress matters a lot depending on where and when you go camping. All of these mattresses are warm enough for summertime camping, even at higher elevations, but some are better than others for chilly spring, fall, or winter adventures. We looked at each mattress's R-value, a manufacturer-reported value from 1-13 (13 is highest), and we also tested them ourselves in cooler temperatures.
R-values are a helpful starting place when sizing up a mattress or sleeping pad for cooler weather. A higher value indicates better heat retention, but the accuracy of that R-value depends on whether or not your prospective pad is marked with “ASTM F3340”, which indicates a given sleeping pad or mattress has undergone standardized testing. Additionally, R-value testing may not translate exactly to the real world, where your sleeping bag, tent, vehicle, pillow, sleeping physiology, and type of ground cover (tarp, foam pad, tent floor, etc.) can impact how cool or warm your chilly night of sleep feels to you. All mattresses in this review have a reported R-value, but we also tested these models firsthand in cool temperatures.
While the Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single has a reported R-value of 13, which would make it the highest warmth rating possible, we found it to perform similarly to other warm mattresses, including the Exped MegaMat 10, Exped MegaMat Duo, and HEST Foamy Sleeping Pad. All of these work well in below-freezing temperatures, but we strongly recommend paying close attention to your sleeping bag's warmth ratings and considering putting foam between your mattress and the ground.
Any of these higher R-value mattresses will keep you warm with the right sleeping bag. We've stayed warm using these pads in snowy camping like this for months-long adventures. Credit: Zach Lovell
Lower R-value mattresses like the Coleman Cozy and the Klymit Insulated Double V still worked well for most car-camping scenarios. Just remember, your bedding needs to also match the forecasted temperatures– if you go winter camping and bring a summer sleeping bag, the highest R-value mattress still won't keep you from getting cold.
In the summer months, we stayed plenty warm on the Cozy, even if sleeping right on the ground, though we were happiest in a tent in chillier seasons. Credit: Zach Lovell
Versatility
We took a close look at the different camping trips each mattress could work for, from van life to roadside tent camping to sleeping out under the Milky Way. We also looked at whether each mattress could be used as a guest bed at home. While rare in the camping mattress category, our team also looked at each option's potential for light-duty backpacking.
If you need a mattress that works well across many near-vehicle camping setups and can double as a guest bed, consider the Nemo Roamer, Exped MegaMat Duo, or, if you need to save money, the Lost Horizon Air & Foam 4.5 inch Single. If space isn't an issue when driving to or from the campground, the Exped MegaMat Duo's width is luxurious, to say the least, and it was voted a favorite among guests who used it while visiting our testing team members at home. Its only setback in versatility was its bulk– it might not fit in a smaller car already crammed with camping gear.
From the guest room to the tent to the ground, the MegaMat Duo is bound to meet your needs.
On the other side of the versatility spectrum are the Coleman Cozy and the REI Co-op Campwell, which work for roadside camping and can even be used for backpacking, as long as you aren't planning to go more than a mile or two from the trailhead.
The Coleman Cozy (green stuff sack) and the REI Campwell (dark stuff sack) are both portable enough for casual backpacking outings.
Packed Size
Even if you camp near or in your vehicle, your gear's packed size matters…if you can't fit your essentials in your vehicle, how else will you bring them along? Shoppers with larger vehicles might not prioritize packed size as much, but weight can still matter, since every trip requires you to carry camping equipment at least some distance.
We compared all the models in their stuff sacks side by side and rated them by size: largest (lowest score) and smallest (highest score). The emerging pattern is clear — thicker, more comfortable foam core mats pack larger, while less comfortable air mats stow in smaller spaces. However, the NEMO Roamer has a neat trick: it packs to half its height without doubling its width, making it much more maneuverable.
The Roamer packs up to a fairly small bundle, especially for the amount of warmth and comfort that you get. Credit: Laurel Hunter
The NeoAir is so tiny! This is also one of the best air mattresses we have slept on. Credit: Laurel Hunter
The packed size of the Quasar is impressively small. Credit: Laurel Hunter
If you need the most packable camping mattress possible, the Coleman Cozy weighs under three pounds and isvery compact for its gear category. As previously mentioned, it's even small enough for some relaxed backpacking adventures.
The Coleman Cozy is only about 11 inches long and fits in an already-packed car. Credit: Zach Lovell
If you want something more comfy, the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D offers a nice balance of comfort and size. For two people, the Nemo Roamer Double might not be the most spacious, but it's much more portable than the hefty Exped MegaMat Duo.
While the Roamer Double might not be that packable, it has a great packed size, especially since it's technically a two-person option. Credit: Zach Lovell
With plenty of room for two, the Klymit Double V features v-shaped chambers that increase thermal efficiency as well as making sure you don't feel it when your partner rolls around. Credit: Matt Bento
Other Camping Pads to Consider
Hest Dually - If you are ok with high prices and big volume, this pad provides a whole lot of comfort. There is no easy way to store it compactly, but maybe that doesn't matter. And setup couldn't be faster. Keep it in your closet for when guests arrive; setup takes less than a minute. You don't have to worry about losing any air, and most testers felt the dual layers of foam hit the sweet spot of firmness and dreamy squish.
ALPS Mountaineering Outback - This is one of our higher-scoring pads from past reviews that delivers solid value: it is not cheap but also still half the cost of the pads that score higher. It is not light or compact, but if you have the room, it delivers a whole lot of comfortable snoozing surface. You might even fit two people, willing to be cozy, on this.
Alps Mountaineering Outback is about as close to bringing your bed with you as it gets. Credit: Matt Bento
Jack's Plastic Welding Paco Grande - This has been a favorite pad of rafters for generations for good reason: it is durable, waterproof, and comfy. That said, it is massive. No other pad we tested is even close to its 13-pound weight and massive volume. You need a lot of room in your car or truck to take this camping. And it is incredibly expensive. That said, once purchased, it will likely last a lifetime and can double as a tumbling mat at your campsite for small kids.
The Paco Grande with the Marmot Plasma. Hilleberg Nallo 2 and Nammatj 3 GT in rear. Credit: Max Neale
Conclusion
Once you know whether you prefer a single or double mattress, ask yourself how many nights you will be camping each year. Similar to a mattress for your bed at home, some of the camping mats we reviewed can be pricey. But remember, if you are playing hard outdoors, you will want to recover well with a great night's sleep. A comfortable mattress will help you sleep as well on the road as you do at home. We hope this review has helped you narrow down your selection and choose what is best for you.
