10 Best Camping Mattresses of 2024

The Exped MegaMat 10 LXW is at the top of our list as a super cushy camping mattress that’s durable, spacious, warm, and impressively easy to use.

The MegaMat is as comfy as camping mattresses come. With four inches of foam and air, this mattress can stand up to rocky and uneven campsites – you won’t feel pressure points, lumps, or uneven ground and you won’t bottom out while sitting up. It also offers a striking R-value of 8.1, making it one of the warmest pads on this list. 

The two valves are easy to inflate and deflate: simply unroll the mattress, open the inflation valve, and wait about 10 minutes. When it’s nearly full, you can top it off with a couple of deep breaths to find your perfect firmness. In the morning, the one-way deflation valve makes for a fast and easy tear-down by dumping air quickly.

We’re especially big fans of the smart storage bag included with the MegaMat. Not all mattresses come with such a sturdy, durable, protective stuff sack, but this wide, spacious bag is easy to load and easy to carry thanks to a large handle. And, at 5 pounds, 11 ounces when packed, it’s as portable as large camping mattresses get.

The only downsides of the MegaMat are its packed size and price. This Exped model is large, so you’ll want to account for space in your vehicle or long-term storage – especially if you have more than one. It’s also on the pricier side, but we think you’ll find it pays itself off on the very first night of deep, restful, warm sleep at camp.

We recommend and use the Long X-Wide version for ultimate comfort since it allows you to fully sprawl out. That said, the regular wide version is an outstanding choice for those with limited space in the car or tent. On the flip side, the Duo is a stellar two-person option for families or couples that like to share.

If you’re ready to get some of the best outdoor sleep of your life and want to wake up feeling refreshed, you’ll love the Exped MegaMat.

You’ll notice many mattresses on this list come in a double version – but few are as comfortable, durable or easy-to-use as the NEMO Roamer Double. If you’re looking for a bed-away-from-bed to share with your partner or dog bff, look no further.

When it comes to comfort, the Roamer is top-tier. NEMO integrates a cushy foam layer on top of the air chamber for a luxurious night of rest, and the soft polyester surface is as cozy as they come. This combination of foam and air creates very little bounce, so if your partner is tossing and turning in the night or gets up for a bathroom break, you’ll barely notice them moving around.

Still, the Roamer packs down relatively small for a 2-person mattress. It measures 26 inches by 11 inches once rolled up, so you’ll need to reserve storage in your car or at home when it’s not in use. But, the Roamer rolls up much smaller than other double (and many single) mattresses, thanks to two compression straps and a durable stuff sack.

This option is also a durable workhorse. We’ve found it stays reliably inflated even when temperatures swing from below-freezing to 70°F. And, even after days of abrasive, sharp dog nails, rugged shoes, and wily kids, the MegaMat showed no signs of damage or wear and tear.

The main con of the NEMO Roamer is the premium price tag. But, for $400, you’ll be making a long-term investment in your comfort with one of the premier mattresses on the market, and it will last for many years with minimal care. For couples and families that want a stellar night of rest, the Roamer is one of the most versatile two-person sleeping pads available.

If you’re also looking for a sleeping bag for two, we highly recommend NEMO’s Jazz Double, which attaches to the NEMO Roamer in a pad sleeve on its underside. We also love the economical and ultra-comfy Kelty Tru.Comfort Double. Both bags rank highly on our guide to the Best Sleeping Bags for Camping.

The REI Camp Dreamer XL is a comfy and user-friendly camping mattress that won’t break the bank. If you’re looking for the best quality for the price, the Camp Dreamer is an outstanding value.

At less than half the price of competitors, the Camp Dreamer is budget-friendly but doesn’t skimp on comfort. This pad is four inches thick, which makes for a lavish experience, and the velvety surface material is easy to sleep on. The 6.6 R-value means you’ll stay toasty even when temperatures dip below freezing, making this REI model perfect for spring, summer, and fall camping.

The Camp Dreamer is also one of the most efficient self-inflating pads we tested, filling up in half the time of other models: in our testing, it took around five minutes to inflate, whereas other mattresses on this list can take more than 10. As with most self-inflating options, open the valve, wait for the mattress to fill on its own, top it off with a couple of breaths, and you’re ready for a siesta.

We also found the Camp Dreamer is relatively lightweight and portable at only six pounds, six ounces. We love when large mattresses are easy to carry, and two wide buckles, a massive closure flap, and an oversized storage duffel make packing up easy. 

Compared to the MegaMat and Roamer, the Camp Dreamer falls a bit short when it comes to durability. We’ve found that after a couple of seasons of use, it isn’t uncommon for the Camp Dreamer to develop weld splits near the inflation valves. However, we find this award winner is still an outstanding value – our team enjoyed many dozens of trips before we ran into any durability issues.

We also didn’t find the pump sack as easy to use as others on this list. The larger bag was a bit cumbersome to set up, and the nozzle didn’t always stay attached. But with practice and a bit of focus, using the pump sack gets easier.

And if you’re looking for an excellent two-person version, we also highly recommend the Camp Dreamer Double. For a luxurious and convenient camping pad that costs less, the REI Camp Dreamer XL is one of the best on the market.

If you’re looking for a luxury camping mattress, then the Hest Foamy is the sleep system of your dreams. This memory foam, ultra-premium option earns a top spot as one of the most heavy-duty and ultra-cushy mattresses we’ve ever tested for camping.

As the name implies, the Foamy uses two high-quality layers of supportive memory foam to align and support your curves and relieve all pressure points. With an impressive R-value of 8.8, the Foamy is the warmest mattress on this list, ensuring a cozy night’s sleep even in the coldest conditions. And, Hest includes a fitted sheet to turn this mattress into a bed – you’ll barely notice the difference.

The Foamy is easy to set up and use. Since there’s no air needed and no chamber to fill up, it deploys in one step – simply unroll the mattress, and you can lay down. Hest adds small but impressive extra details like a phone pocket on the side of the mattress and clips to connect two mattresses. The partial carrying case doubles as a mat for shoes or wet gear, and at 30 inches wide, you’ll have plenty of room to sleep like a starfish. 

On the downside, you can’t alter the firmness of the Foamy, unlike the precise adjustments that self-inflating options allow. We also find the memory foam is somewhat heavy: at 13 pounds, it takes a bit more energy and time to roll up and transport, and it is bulky to store.

Though the Foamy is expensive, we think this price represents an exceptional value for a burly top-of-the-line mattress that’s built to last. Where inexpensive mattresses will fail every couple of years and need to be regularly replaced, the Foamy does not: it should last for many seasons with minimal care, and could easily become your go-to basecamp mattress.

For folks whose top priorities are comfort and convenience when it comes to a camping mattress, this is the one.

The Paria Outdoor Products Recharge XL is one of the lightest and most affordable options on our list. If you’re looking for a comfy, versatile, and durable single-person sleeping pad for long summer backpacking trips or relaxing weekend camping, the Recharge is a great choice.

This pad is perfect for multi-day trips since it weighs only 1 pound, 10 ounces, and packs down to an efficient and compact eight by five inches. But, it’s still a posh frontcountry bed for car camping at four inches thick, so side and stomach sleepers will have an easy time catching Zs. 

For such a lightweight mattress, the Recharge punches above its weight in terms of comfort. A thin layer of foam insulation gives the mattress a cushy and soft feel, but it airs up as firmly as you need. We’re big fans of the lengthwise baffles, which give superior back and side support. And, we appreciate the stuff sack is slightly oversized, so we’re not wrestling with fabric when packing the pad away.

In our experience, the actual warmth of the Recharge XL does not match its listed R-value, so we recommend this mattress primarily for warm weather trips. In theory, pads that are third-party tested with an R-value like this Paria model (at 4.7) should keep you warm to 10-20°F. However, we found it was too cold to use below 30°F, so you’ll want to add more substantial insulation or swap for a better-insulated pad when the mercury really drops.

That said, for only $100, the Recharge is an unrivaled budget option. We highly recommend it for overnights in temperate weather. For beginner backpackers who want a dynamic sleeping pad, seasoned campers who need a backup option, or folks with an eye for a great deal on quality, lightweight gear, the Paria Recharge is worth a closer look.