I had a camping experience past summer at Cobankaya (in Bursa, TR) where I slept less than 6 hours and I can't forget how I felt the following day:
TERRIBLE!
No, I wasn't like surprised Pikachu.
Yes, I already knew sleeping has a huge impact on my overall mood.
...But it was the first time this happened during camping, and it was because I was ignorant:
- The pad I was sleeping on was a joke,
- I was cold as hell... Inside the tent was cold as hell!
- I kept waking up cold at night but incapable of doing anything about it. A nightmare.
So I ended up waking up at like 7 am only to restart the campfire to heat myself because my stomach started feeling bad. I wasn't even backpacking the next day - it was just a regular Sunday, but I still remember how my mood was terribly low throughout the day.
...which is when I was 100% sure that I just wasn't going to live the same experience ever again because, well, if you think low quality sleep is a torture... Try it while camping.
I'm not even going to reference to related scientific studies not because you can google it but because that's something like trying to prove gravity today - the only difference is that some people don't really know about it. If they did, I seriously think they'd pay thousands of dollars for it [1].
As some of you might already know, I've mentioned some important tips to sleep comfortably in a tent [2] and tips to heat a tent without electricity [3] to improve your overall sleep quality, and now I’ve done some research around the web on the camping air mattresses, and what I've found was disappointing. Some bloggers recommend HUGE 15 inch thick air mattresses for camping.
FOR. CAMPING!
So I did my own research, and after reviewing around 20 popular options, narrowed it down to the top five to explain in detail under this post - which is all you need.
We've been shopping online for years and never had any problems. Before you buy, do make sure to check the seller's return policy, but you can almost always return an unused mattress within a certain time frame. If you don't like it after trying it at home, you can always return.
Long story short, in the end, Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I turned out to be the best overall, without a major flaw considering comfort, inflation, warmth and carry-ability. Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap turned out to be a great alternative to this mattress - especially for beginners.
Major flaws of Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL and Exped MegaMat Duo 10 are warmth and packed size while major advantages are carry-ability and comfort, all respectively.
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Before you make up your mind, let's make sure you looked at all the facts in this table:
Turn your phone sideways for a much better table display!
Alternative to Air Mattress for Camping | |||||
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Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | Cell | |
Overall Score | N/A | ||||
Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I | Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL | Therm-a-Rest Luxury Map | Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Ultralight Foam Mattress | |
Best for those who are looking for... | ...best overall & best combination of comfort, inflation and durability | ...most carry-able air mattress for camping | ...best camping air mattress for beginners | ...best air mattress for car camping | N/A |
Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I | Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL | Therm-a-Rest Luxury Map | Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Ultralight Foam Mattress | |
Pros | Very comfortable, very durable, great warranty, light | Very easily carried, comfortable, light | Comfortable, easy to pack, self inflating, warm | Extremely comfortable, extremely warm, perfect for two | N/A |
Cons | Can be cold only in severe weather | Can be cold in regular-cold weather, might not fit in very small tents | Large packed size, time consuming inflation | Huge packed size, very heavy, need pump to inflate, won't fit in some 1p tents, overkill for most | N/A |
Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I | Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL | Therm-a-Rest Luxury Map | Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Ultralight Foam Mattress | |
Comfort Inflation Warmth Carry-ability | |||||
Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I | Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL | Therm-a-Rest Luxury Map | Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Ultralight Foam Mattress | |
R-value (indicates warmth) | 5.2 | Nemo doesn't give R-values but it's nearly: 3.1 | 6.8 | 9.5 | 2.6 |
Weight and packed size | 3.5 lbs 26.5 (H) x 7 (DIA) sq inches | 3 lbs 11 (H) x 6 (DIA) sq inches | 4.2 lbs 21 (H) x 6.2 (DIA) sq inches | 10.75 lbs 27.6 (H) x 11.8 (DIA) sq inches (=49L!) | Not packed - but folded |
Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I | Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL | Therm-a-Rest Luxury Map | Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Ultralight Foam Mattress | |
Open dimensions: Thk x width x length (inches) | Regular wide: 4 x 25 x 72 Large wide: 4 x 29 x 79 Double: 4 x 51 x 79 | 6 x 30 x 80 | Regular wide: 3 x 20 x 72 Large wide: 3 x 25 x 77 XL: 3 x 30 x 77 | 3.9 x 40.9 x 72 | |
User Manuals |
What to look for in an air mattress you'll be using specifically for camping?
I've placed equal weight to all these considerations (comfort, inflation, warmth and carry-ability) as for most of us, they're all equally important when looking for an air mattress specifically for camping.
And you end up with an air mattress isn't covered in this review, absolutely inflate it there, lay on it to check the comfort and to make sure the valve doesn't leak any air whatsoever with you sleeping on it. I'd even apply more pressure by adding more weight to the mattress with me to be safe for the future uses, too.
However, if you aren't like one of us "most campers", disregard my overall scores and pick the best one for YOUR needs after reading the individual reviews - or at least the pros/cons in the detailed table above.
Comfort
Most of these mattresses ended up in this list because they’re comfortable, so narrowing this down to the most comfortable and easiest to use is difficult to say the least.
That said, one mattress in this list really shine when it comes to comfort: Exped MegaMat Duo 10. That's why, ultimately, we gave the Exped mattress the most comfortable title due to its great plush construction and warmth - although I'll get to that later but as you agree it's very closely related to comfort.
If you don't have one, this one might be a good choice, but mostly anything else would also work perfectly fine.
But mind you if you didn't read the table above - it's more for car camping because of its HUGE packed size and weight.
On the other hand, Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I is just shy of comfort - but offers MUCH more carry-ability.
I'd also like to say that although Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap scored the lowest, it's still a whooping 7 - which is still quite comfortable compared to other mattresses.
Inflation
Inflation varies greatly among these camping air mattresses. In summary,
- Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL offers an large foot pump integrated into the mattress (our favorite),
- Exped MegaMat Duo 10 offers an external pump - which is one more thing to carry, but since it's already impossible to "hike" with this mattress and most will use it for car camping, it's not much of a deal,
- You don't get a pump with Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I but it self inflates fast, and you can speed it up even further by blowing some air inside,
- You don't get a pump with Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap either, and it also self inflates, but slower. You might have to use your lung power if you don't want to wait more than, say, approximately half an hour.
Better be safe than sorry. Before you hit the trail, know how to detect the air leak location on your mattress [4] and have a repair patch kit with you if you don't want to wake up in the middle of the night on the cold ground. There is this patch kit that can be good for most air mattress repairs.
BEWARE: If you choose Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL, you don't have to worry about the repair kit as you get one with it:
I specifically asked Amazon and not the retailer because I suppose most would order from there.
Lastly, all these mattresses offer some kind of "micro-adjuster" to customize firmness for increased comfort.
Warmth
This is a bit tricky, which is why I toyed with this criteria for a while... See the table below.
Now, the lowest is Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL which is nearly at 3.1, compared to a 9.5 Exped MegaMat Duo 10. When you check the table above, you can see the seasons and temperatures correspond to - and it isn't wrong.
But... Does that mean a 3.1 and 6 R value air mattress will perform the same during, say, spring?
Well, this is a no-brainer (sorry) but no - they won't. R-value represents heat insulation, so the higher the R value, the warmer you'll feel during the night.
Carry-ability
Or, in other words; packed size and weight.
For the sake of not repeating myself, please check the table for packed sizes and weights. Obviously, Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL is undoubtedly the winner with a 10/10 score and Exped MegaMat Duo 10 is the worst with a 2/10.
These scores pretty much apply not only to these four air mattresses but all of them out there!
Now the reviews.
Overall Best Camping Air Mattress: Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I.
Delta Core Technology that offers very good comfort, lifetime warranty and easy & fast self inflation are main reasons we chose the Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I. as the best overall air mattress for camping.
Delta core PU Foam cross section
Usually, we expect robust constructions like this to increase the weight, but Sea to Summit has thought of it.
Delta core foam is built inside the mattress in a triangle form which doesn't use any unnecessary material where it does more harm (extra weight) than good (increased comfort & durability).
Also, PU Foam is used more generously at the top and bottom of mattress to increase the heat insulation, but with 5.2 R-Value it still feels colder than Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap.
...but if you're a severe weather camper, this isn't your mattress.
After Exped MegaMat Duo 10, it scored the highest in terms of comfort. Delta Core makes a good job helping your elbows and hips sink into the mattress using their high pressure due to lower surface area.
This mattress uses a self inflating system with the help of two valves. Inflating time is great - one of the fastest ones out there. You literally hear the air flow inside when you open the valve.
Using the micro adjuster (at left, you see it's being pointed at using the finger tip mid-gif) you can dial in the right firmness for your personal preference - e.g. you can leave it 80% inflated if you'd like your body more sinked in into the mattress.
Believe me, this is a very nice to have if not a must-have. Everyone has different firmness expectations and even yours will change in time. Which is why all mattresses in this review have this feature - if you choose any other mattress, I'd make sure it has this feature.
My another gripe is packing it away - it'd probably take a few attempts to fold it and fit into the sack until you get the hang of it. Not a big deal if you aren't very sensitive about consuming a few more minutes though, and it's made easier by flipping around the one way valve as you see in the gif, so you can prohibit the air get into the mattress and make this process less demanding.
As long as you won't be sleeping on very cold ground, this mattress can be one of your best choices.
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Most Compact Air Mattress
At 11 x 5.75 inches packed size, Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL is pretty much the smallest a packed air mattress can get - which makes it the most "portable" one out there.
It's also one of your most comfortable options although not as much as Exped MegaMat Duo 10.
Also... check the floor area of your tent! If you're using a 1 person tent for two, or a VERY small 2 person tent, this mattress at 80 x 30 inches[4] MIGHT NOT FIT INSIDE!
Now the R value... Nemo doesn't rate its mattresses with an R value but gives an overall temperature rating of which the mattress provides decent warmth. For our Nomad Insulated 30XL, this value is 40 to 50F / 4 to 10C - which is lower than those of other air mattresses, but still high enough for most of us recreational hikers.
This is basically the sacrifice paid to achieve very small packed size.
I already mentioned its importance under "how to choose" heading, so in summary, you'd only have to worry about a tissue paper or a plastic foil and a soap water spray to detect the leak before you start repairing it.
To inflate this mattress, you open the valve beneath, and use the integrated foot pump - which makes things easier & simpler, as it removes the need for carrying an additional pump - which, in the end, makes this mattress even more pack-able.
The pump is pretty large inside, and hence you might pump it slower than usual as it moves more air than other mattresses. As a result, it inflates faster than most other mattresses.
Also, an important thing to mention here: DO NOT pump this mattress on the other side or the negative pressure sucks the pad to the floor.
...is that the valve requires a little more force to open and close than usual. The gripe isn't the force (even a 4 year old can manage perfectly fine), but the fabric that attaches the valve to the mattress wears off because of fatigue.
So, make sure holding the valve with one hand and opening the lid with other to ensure a healthy amount of stress applied to the fabric.
Deflation (=dump) valves are located out of the way and they are what make the deflation so fast. Including the packing the mattress into its sack, the whole process takes only about a few minutes tops.
Also, you push/pull the red micro adjuster valve to adjust the firmness. It works without any problems as others in this post.
The biggest advantage of this product isn't the inflation or attachment capability though, it's the packed size. When packed, it's LESS THAN HALF of Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and very, very packable at only 11 (H) x 6 (DIA) inches & 3 lbs!
This way the freaking abyss occurs between two mattress will stop freaking you out in the middle of your dream as if you were falling off a cliff.
Yes, MegaMat Duo 10 is pretty good for couples, but even if you carry TWO Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL, you'd still have more volume in your backpacks than carrying ONE MegaMat Duo 10.
See? It's the smallest when packed. 11 (H) x 6 (DIA) sq inches.
So if you're looking for an air mattress for 2, I'd recommend either this or the Exped. In the end, it comes down to your comfort, versatility and space expectations - but most importantly, whether you'll be camping with a car or not.
If it isn't clear by now, Exped is for the car camping.
As long as you'll only use this air mattress when it's above 40 F (4 C) outside and would prefer a very easily carried air mattress, this can be a very good option for you.
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Best Camping Air Mattress for Beginners
Having high comfort and high durability in one beginner's camping air mattress is kind of unusual, which is why we selected Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap as such.
Comfort is provided by its 3-inch thick loft and pressure mapping pattern (at left). It's an innovative system that offers die-cut foams in certain areas to even the pressure distribution and ultimately provide a more comfortable surface - although not as good as Delta Core of Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe S.I in most conditions.
R-value of 6.8 is very high and as expected, it provides the warmth needed even in extreme colds (see the chart under "warmth" subheading above).
However, it takes days for it to inflate fully if it's rolled in its own sack, so you must still blow some inside and consider the tip below. Which is why you should absolutely consider doing the following:
Because it'll come super deflated and would take days for it to self inflate; for fastest re-inflation while camping, make sure storing it open and flat (under your bed, for example) right after you receive it and leave it that way until you pack.
For next uses, inflation and deflation times are increased by adding 2 valves at the top edges instead of one. They're simply screwed tight if you want to inhibit air flow and vice versa.
Deflation can easily be sped up by applying more pressure on the mattress, but in most cases I wouldn't recommend it as you might cause leaks. If you didn't experience them before, believe me you don't want to.
It's impossible to give numbers like "30 minutes" when it comes to inflation and deflation as it depends on many things, but if one person uses the "lung power" while inflating, it lasts, say, maybe in 5-10 minutes.
The entire intent of self inflating air mattress is to eliminate the need for a pump and I wouldn't really recommend buying one, but if you want a compatible one with LuxuryMap, this pump is a good choice.
Stuff sack decreases versatility as it's too large for minimalist and too heavy (4.2 lbs) for ultralight hikers. If you aren't both though, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
The need to leave it open and flat for faster re-inflation also decreases versatility, but the self inflation and large, rugged build are all for a reason: Increased durability, and most people care about the durability more than the extra one liter volume inside the pack. The thing is that all air mattresses in this post are already quite durable.
If you're a beginner, thinking of a fair amount of warmth and comfort nights sleep for the long term and wouldn't really care about large packed size; Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap can be a decent option for you.
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Best Air Mattress for Car Camping
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 is indeed HUGE extremely comfortable & warm; but comes in a HUGE pack with a monster weight of 10.75 lbs - which is why we selected it as the best one for car camping.
It's also pretty good for couples, but one of you must carry this 49L mattress only - which is even larger than some of the best hiking backpacks [7] out there. So in that case, absolutely take a look at Nemo Nomad Insulated 30XL, too.
Along with its 16 kg/m² opencell PU foam for heat insulation, using more dense polyester fabric at the bottom (75D vs 50D) makes Exped MegaMat Duo 10 the warmest mattress in this review with an R value of a blasting 9.5!
But this mattress isn't even all about the warmth when it comes to comfort: The skin feels extremely soft, and the width is HUGE, hence the "Duo" modifier in the model name. It's the closest you get to feeling as if you're sleeping in your own bed, which can be overkill, so it's amazing for 2 - especially for couples.
BUT... check the floor area of your tent! If you're using a 1 person tent for two, or a VERY small 2 person tent, this mattress at 77.6 x 52 inches MIGHT NOT FIT INSIDE!
Unlike Sea to Summit Deluxe's micro-adjuster inside the valve, this time you use a mini pump as an aid. Rather than pumping this mattress with your hand as it's in the animation at left, using your foot would be easier.
It never feels good to have one more thing to carry when you're trying to minimize them as much as possible - but when car camping, it get more minor.
Left: Inflation Valve. Right: Deflation valve.
It offers two valves devoted to inflation and deflation separately. Larger deflation valve AND easy to use sack increase both the deflating speed and rolling it up & packing inside the sack.
Using the pin in the inflation valve, you can speed up both inflation and deflation. Once inflated enough, you can tap it to balance air getting in and going out & adjust your preferred firmness. This little mechanism is very similar that of Sea to Summit Deluxe Comfort S.I.
See? It is BIG, guys. Unless you're car camping or have at least one friend with some "expendable" space in your pack - I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT.
Oh and don't even think about carrying it in duffel style or something - the strap is going to be super uncomfortable, chafe your shoulders and you won't be able to carry it comfortably for more than FIVE minutes. Not to even mention you'll already have your backpack so.... (duh)
If you really like this mattress, but would prefer a smaller one for one person - here it is:
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Packed size is still bigger than other mattresses in this review - but nowhere near its MONSTER level size.
Due to incredible comfort and warmth, but enormous packed size, Exped MegaMat Duo 10 can be your best air mattress choice for car camping.
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Alternative to Air Mattress for Camping
Now I did say most of these mattresses have the guidelines sheet to repair and even lifetime guarantees - but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy for you to cope with leaks. And if you've ever owned a camping air mattress, you know they're almost inevitable after nearly 2 years of use - although you'll be safer if you go for with more durable models laid out in this review AND treat it more gently.
With that said, there is a good alternative to an air mattress while camping - a foam pad.
This way:
- You'll never have to worry about leaks again,
- You can use the insulator with as many people as your tent allows you to,
- Your sleeping area won't be restrained by the mattress but the tent.
Now this is a good foam pad to insulate the heat:
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It has an R-value of 2.6, which is high enough temperatures below nearly 34 F (1 C) (see the R-value vs Temperature chart above). Also, you don't get the tie down straps with this product,
You don't get the tie down straps with this product and hence you'll have to tie it to your backpack externally as you see in the image.
If you're one of those people who feel extremely cold during your sleep, either two foam pads, a thermal mattress topper, or a sleeping bag and/or foam pad with an unusually high R-value could be better for you.
I hope this review was helpful for you to understand which camping air mattress is for your needs. Feel free to ask me any questions, provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below if it's within my knowledge.
Thanks a lot for reading. Happy trails.
