The Best Camping Mattresses and Sleeping Pads of 2023

When you first lie down on the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D ($240-275), you realize what you’ve been missing. There’s room to spread out, all the warmth you could need, and tons of foam padding. The vertical sidewalls enhance the sleeping space by 20%, which means you can roll around without falling off.

The dual valves make inflation easier. And we like the way it completely opens up for a faster deflation. It will take a couple of times rolling it up tightly to fit in the carrying bag, which was one of our only issues with it, but it is possible.

On top of comfort and warmth, what really made this pad stand out is its long-term durability. We’ve used it for more than 200 nights, and it’s still going strong.

It’s withstood a rowdy, jumping toddler, lying directly on gravel and other variable surfaces, and constant adult weight-bearing through the night. Through it all, it’s maintained perfect inflation and comfort.

At $240 for the large, this pad falls in between the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap and NEMO Roamer in price, matches them in comfort, and beats them in warmth and longevity. So, you’ll have to decide which factor is most important to you.

If you go with the MondoKing 3D, rest easy knowing you’ll be ultra cozy all night long, and can bank on comfort for future trips you’ve yet to imagine. Overall, it’s the best camping mattress.

Available in large and XXL sizes.

Newly revamped for 2023, the REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL ($179) is back, still sporting all of the large and in-charge camping pad energy we loved in its previous iterations. At a plush 4 inches, this comfort-to-cost ratio on this budget pad is off the charts, and it lands itself high on our lists for not only ultra-comfortable, but also affordable, camping mattresses. With an R-value of 6.6, it’s got the warmth to keep you going far into the shoulder seasons.

Gone is the previous foam-filled pad pump that doubled as a pillow, and in its place is a new pump sack, which in testing we found to be an improvement in terms of speed and packability. The reversible high-flow valve is simple, and deflating the pad at the end of a trip is quite easy. If you want something that rivals the comfort of the MondoKing 3D or NEMO Roamer XL but clocks in for a few dollars less, this is the pad for you.

All of that plush comfort has to come at some cost, and here it’s packed size. Though certainly not as much of a concern with car campers, you should remember to leave space for the mattress when you’re playing packing games to get everything to fit.

Best for those who want a comfortable pad but don’t want to part with an arm and a leg for it, this mattress from REI has all the luxury with little of the cost typically involved.

Anyone who’s ever called their car home will appreciate the NEMO Roamer XL ($250). This is the ultimate adventure mobile mattress. It’s thick, warm, and it’s seriously comfortable. With 4 inches of open-cell foam, you can sleep soundly wherever home happens to be.

As with most self-inflating pads, you’ll need to top it off for maximum comfort. But the micro-adjust valve makes it easy to add air without worrying about losing any. And we liked how the one-way valves make quick work of deflating the pad fully when it’s time to pack up camp.

Traditional air mattresses are thin and more susceptible to tears, but with the foam construction and a 75-denier polyester bottom, the Roamer is truly built to withstand camping outside. As an additional perk, the loops and toggles on the side allow you to connect two Roamers to create a two-person mattress.

While it’s not ultralight by any means, it packs down fairly small for the added comfort it offers (about the size of a winter sleeping bag, or 10 x 16 inches).

We put this sleeping pad through extensive use, and after more than 150 nights it finally stopped holding air. The valves developed a slow leak that left us needing to top it off every night. For a permanent van or car dweller, it may not be ideal. But, for someone who car camps when exploring, we’d highly recommend it.

The Roamer also comes as a double ($400).

Therm-a-Rest followed the winning formula of their NeoAir XLite and XTherm pads to produce their most luxurious NeoAir pad yet: the NeoAir Topo Luxe ($180-230). At 4 inches thick, it’s also easily the most comfortable, and fills an interesting niche between camping and backpacking better than any pad we’ve slept on thus far.

When we initially tested the Topo Luxe during an overnight in North Cascades National Park, we had reservations. Typically, when a pure air mattress reaches a certain thickness it suffers from waterbed syndrome — an ailment where any movement translates into a bouncy ride.

Our fears, thankfully, were unfounded, largely thanks to Therm-a-Rest’s use of their Triangular Core Matrix: a double-stacked layer of baffles that stabilize the pad across its length. It even performed admirably when used atop a campsite of loose alpine rock. Now 2 years into our testing, we can confidently say that the Topo Luxe is tough enough to hang.

Because it’s the same recipe as other NeoAir pads, it doesn’t sport vertical sidewalls, which can make for less usable space for sleeping on. The pad also uses 50-denier polyester across the top and bottom, which is a thinner material than some of the pads on our list, and it’ll need to be treated as such.

No one-trick pony, this pad even slipped into our packs on shorter backpacking overnights where we can indulge in a few luxury items. As a real master of two domains, the NeoAir Topo Luxe would make an excellent pad for those who split their time between the front country and the back, or who want to simplify their gear closet.

The Topo Luxe is available in a number of sizes, including regular wide, large, and X-large.

When comfort is your main concern, the MegaMat ($350-490) is your answer. What it lacks in packed size and affordability, it more than makes up for in size and comfort.

The open-cell polyurethane foam insulates and cushions. And while some double sleeping pads perpetually send one partner for a ride when the other moves, the MegaMat Duo is stable and quiet.

As with all self-inflating pads, expect to top it off after heavy use. But instead of having to blow into it, you can use the included mini pump, which simplifies inflation and minimizes effort. It also includes a repair kit should you ever get a tear (although we’ve found it impressively durable).

One of our favorite things about this pad is how level it is. Some camping mattresses pop up in the middle when filled, but thanks to the 3D construction, this bad boy stays flat even when fully inflated and being slept on.

At 77.6 inches long and 52 inches wide, the MegaMat is large enough to snugly fit two adults or spaciously sleep one. For reference, a double-size fitted sheet fits almost perfectly.

The durable sidewalls provide support, and as our tester noted, “The vertical sidewalls increase the usable sleeping surface. This small addition compared to other sleeping pads is instantly noticeable.” Apart from adding comfort and space, these impressive sidewalls also help keep you dry in really bad weather.

“During one stretch, Mother Nature pounded us with rain for 3 days straight. The bottoms of the tents were soaked. The height and larger surface kept me dry and warm even over wet ground.”

Not lightweight, you’ll certainly notice the heft of the MegaMat among your camping supplies — it’s easily one of the heaviest we reviewed that isn’t a full foam mattress design. Along with that will be a bulky packed size, which makes this a camping mattress best suited for close-to-the-car endeavors.

Durable, comfortable, and stable — this is the ultimate sleeping pad for two people. It’s also available as a single. If you don’t mind the weight, it’s one of the best camping mattresses you can buy.

Read Review: Mega Size, Warmth, & Comfort: Exped ‘MegaMat’

For quick and easy setup, it’s tough to beat the convenience of a good air bed. With no internal foam, air beds like the ALPS Mountaineering Vertex ($180) pack away into much smaller packages over their self-inflating cousins, and when it comes to the best of the best, the Vertex is just about on top.

To be sure: Full air beds like the Vertex are better suited to warmer weather camping when the lack of insulation won’t be as much of a concern, but for summer nights when you’re tossing up camp in a hurry, the Vertex makes the grade in our books.

While the air mattress you might roll out for the in-laws is likely twice as thick as this mattress, we’ve found that these domestic versions fare poorly when taken outdoors. This is because, while they boast a very thick build, all of the air inside is particularly difficult for even a pair of campers to warm up. At 6 inches thick, the Vertex Air Bed from ALPS balances the issue well — providing enough comfort and warmth during our testing.

Gone are the D-cell-powered pumps of the past, too, as the Vertex comes with a rechargeable pump that cuts the cord and simplifies deploying the pad. While not the leader in warmth or comfort, the Vertex Air Bed does make a strong case for ease of use in a camping mattress.

The Hest Dually ($549-599) is an incredibly comfortable mattress that sleeps two and folds in half for travel. But its remarkable comfort and durability are matched only by its hefty price tag. Despite the price, the Dually Mattress is an excellent purpose-built truck bed sleep system.

To achieve great comfort at just 3.9 inches thick (open), the mattress uses two layers of high-performance polyfoam. It cradles your body for sleeping while providing effective insulation against the cold truck bed below you. Our tester has enjoyed wonderful nights of sleep on this mattress, and would recommend it for anyone looking for a permanent, portable truck bed mattress.

The bottom and sides of the Dually mattress use heathered nylon woven with a polyurethane backing for durability. It’s a tougher fabric that can handle jostling around in the back of a pickup truck with other gear. We packed lots of gear on top of the mattress when folded, and it showed no signs of wear.

Due to the seamless center-fold design, there’s also no noticeable seam where the mattress folds. Other cool features include phone pockets on each side and handles for easy carrying.

Read Review: Sleep in the Bed of Your Truck? Try the Hest Dually Mattress

Comfort, ahoy! The new Capitan Comfort Deluxe Camp pad ($250-350) from Big Agnes is the warmest and coziest from the brand to date, pumping out an 8+ R-value and 5 inches of foam-core comfort.

We absolutely loved kicking back on this pad during a recent testing trip to Joshua Tree National Park, where cold desert nights sent us running to our bags once the sun went down. Luckily the impressive warmth of the Capitan Comfort bounced our body heat right back at us, ensuring a toasty night.

Constructed with a foam-core construction, this self-inflator will keep you a full 5 inches off the ground, and thanks to the vertical side walls you can use every inch of the sleeping surface. We also truly appreciated the dual pull-tab valves during inflation and deflation, as well as the oversized side-opening stuff sack — no more fighting to stuff it back in!

Compared to other similar mattresses like the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D or the NEMO Roamer XL, the Capitan Comfort does edge both when it comes to warmth, but at a tradeoff when it comes to weight. At similar dimensions, the Capitan Comfort is roughly 1 pound heavier than both.

Perfect for cooler nights when you need an edge against the chill, the Capitan Comfort is high on our list of camping pads to bring with you into the shoulder season. And for those who are looking to outfit the back of their truck for a slice of the #vanlife, the 41″ x 72″ size is a few inches shorter than both the single and double versions to accommodate typical 6-foot-long truck beds.

Like a number of other mattresses on our list, the NEMO Quasar 3D Pad ($160-200) is comfortable playing double-duty as a camping mattress turned backpacking pad. Compact, lightweight, and simple to set up, this pad covers the range for whatever you’re looking to get into.

Stacked up next to the Therm-a-Rest Neoair Topo Luxe, the Quasar takes the edge on a few facets, most notably the 3D baffling that creates a gentle curve to keep your body centered while sleeping, and slightly lifts your head. During testing our campers certainly noticed this feature, which helps make up for any inconsistencies in the ground you’re sleeping on.

At 3.5 inches thick, the Quasar is a bit thinner than the Topo Luxe, although we found that pretty much anything over 3 inches thick feels about the same. The regular/wide version we tested provided ample sleeping space at 72 inches long and 25 inches wide, and other versions exist as well, including a long wide, and a double.

Compared to the pump sack provided with current Therm-a-Rest mattresses, we did take a liking to the Vortex sack ever so slightly more, as its narrow fill neck makes rolling down the bag an easier affair. We will note, however, that due to the design of the Quick Dump valve on the Quasar, if you over-inflate the mattress with the pump sack, the valve will eject on its own!

The Quasar comes in both insulated and non-insulated versions (we tested the insulated), although both are a bit under-gunned when it comes to warmth compared to other pads on our list. At an R-value of 3.3 (and 1.8 non-insulated), the Quasar will likely be relegated for summertime use. Comparatively, the Topo Luxe specs out at 3.7.

Value warmth and weight over all else? The Topo Luxe is probably your pad. But if you’re looking for packable comfort that cradles you as you sleep, it’s hard to beat the NEMO Quasar 3D.

Do you like a good memory foam mattress? Let us introduce you to the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Sleeping Pad ($180-240), with 3 inches of air and engineered foam that provide plenty of cushioning for a good night’s sleep — all at a palatable price. And with an R-value of 6, it will keep you warm on chilly summer nights (and into the shoulder seasons with the proper sleeping bag).

The horizontal core foam is designed to pack up easily and (as you can see in the above image) is mapped out in such a way as to provide more support in the areas that will see the most weight. We learned the hard way one night that these foam baffles make for a lumpy, uncomfortable surface if not fully inflated. When topped off, however, this pad rivals any hotel bed for comfort.

At 3 inches thick, this mattress has become one of our favorites to pair with a camping cot, as it isn’t too tall to make us feel off-balance when stacked atop a cot. Compared to the Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad, which is 2 inches thick, it’s fairly impressive just how much more comfortable an extra inch can be, and we’ll say confidently that this is just about the sweet spot for thickness when it comes to camping pads.

A soft, stretch-knit surface is comfortable next to the skin, which means this pad won’t need any sort of sheet to be cozy. The two TwinLock high-flow valves are simple, and deflating the pad at the end of a trip is quite easy. If you want something that rivals the comfort of the Exped MegaMat but clocks in for a few dollars less, the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap is the pad for you.

Like the NeoAir Topo Luxe, this pad shines in the spaces between camping and backpacking, with an added twist. The Klymit Klymaloft ($160-270) adds a supremely soft foam topper to the upper two-thirds of the pad, and we aren’t lying when we say this pad just felt good to sink into.

By using a combination of air and foam construction, the Klymaloft sleeping pad straddles the line between comfort and packability — compressing down to a respectable 8-inch x 11.5-inch cylinder. We greatly appreciated being able to bring along such a small package, without sacrificing any comfort to do so.

Since it’s an air mattress first, the pad won’t self-inflate much and you’ll need to do some of the heavy lifting. Thankfully, the pad is compatible with Klymit’s USB Rechargeable Pump ($60), a little device that we’ve come to love for quick inflation while setting up camp.

There was one issue, however: the R-value of 2.3, which keeps this pad firmly on the summer side of a three-season designation, and on the lower end of all the pads we tested. You’ll need to bring a bit more insulation to stretch this pad into shoulder season use. Since our initial season of testing with the Klymaloft pad, we’ve now relegated it to camping trips in the middle of summer, where it seems perfectly happy performing.

At $160, this pad is an affordable and compact way to bring along a good bit of comfort on your next camping foray. It’s available in regular, extra large, and double sizes.

The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus SI has a lot to offer. It’s priced under $200 ($170 for the regular version) and provides 3 inches of self-inflating comfort. We’ve now tested this pad over multiple seasons of camping, and overall, we’re highly impressed.

Although it’s not quite as plush as a thicker pad like the MondoKing, it’s incredibly comfortable. Even the side sleepers among us like it.

The 4.1 R-value means you’ll stay warm and could even use this camp mattress year-round (paired with the right sleeping bag). This upgraded mat is noticeably thicker and more comfortable than the previous models.

The Comfort Plus SI also scored top marks for next-to-skin comfort. The 30-denier knitted upper fabric is soft to the touch — but is a bit thin when compared to other mattresses we’ve tested. We have used this pad directly on the ground and in tents without a ground cloth, and so far it’s been holding up.

We also appreciate Sea to Summit’s flip-over valve system. It creates a one-way flow for inflation, and then you can pull it completely out for quick deflation. At nearly 3 pounds in the large size (our preferred), this pad is better suited to car camping, but you could conceivably use it for short backpacking stints if needed.

And if you have an Aeros Camp Pillow, you’ll appreciate the “Pillow Lock” system. It’s really just a bit of hook and loop on the pad and pillow, but it does help keep your pillow in place.

The Comfort Plus SI is available in regular and large versions, as well as double-wide, rectangular wide, and even a rectangular large.

If the 4 inches of comfort of the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 doesn’t quite do it for you, don’t stray far: The Exped MegaMat 15 Max ($350) bolsters the brand’s thickest camping mattress to a luxuriant 6 inches, and we’re here to say that bigger often is better.

With a thickness often only seen in purely air mattresses, this sleeping pad can be soft-inflated for the maximum in body cradling — and it avoids the typical bounce with the inclusion of channeled foam throughout the pad.

During testing, our reviewer had to often arm wrestle their tent mate over who would get the ‘big mattress’ that evening. Such a large pad does take a while to fully expand, and once the foam has done its thing we needed to top it off with the included mini pump. Alternatively, Exped does offer its Widget Pump ($50), an ingenious little electric pump that speeds up the process significantly. 

When it came time to roll we greatly appreciated Exped’s inclusion of a roll-top style stuff sack that opens on the long bias. This made storing the pad a breeze, which is saying something — this pad is a beast in its stored form. Easily one of the largest in our testing, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got space set aside to bring this one along.

When comfort is king (and money is no object), the Exped MegaMat 15 Max reigns supreme.

This self-inflating sleep mat ($125-139) gets high marks for durability and reliability. Year after year, night after night, it keeps inflating and providing plenty of warmth and cushion.

With an R-value of 6.8, it will keep even cold sleepers warm all summer long. And for most, it’s even enough insulation for winter camping. In addition to warmth, the open-cell foam provides a boost of comfort.

To inflate, simply unroll, open the valves, sit back, and relax. The foam will expand, and the pad will partially inflate. From here, you can top it off with a few breaths to reach your desired firmness.

For the easiest inflation, we recommend fully inflating your pad before your first camping trip. This will allow it to expand and prepare it for self-inflation.

Deflation is rather quick thanks to the high-flow valves, but it can take a couple of tries to get it rolled up tightly enough for packing. The polyester upper has a soft and comfortable fabric feel.

Once deployed, we comfortably laid directly on the sleeping pad and appreciated its furniture quality. With a 150-denier bottom, this pad has ample durability, and we didn’t worry about sticks or rocks when lying down.

At more than 3 pounds, it’s not the best camping mattress for backpacking, and is best used for car camping or short hikes into camp.

While there are thicker pads on this list, we found the Camp Bed to be a top pick thanks to its affordable price, ability to last through years of heavy use, comfort, and softness.

Rounding out the family of Exped camping mattresses, the Exped DeepSleep Mat ($160-180) is the budget choice of the bunch — but don’t count it out too quickly. It’s still got all of the excellent Exped tech baked in, just at a shorter stack height of 3 inches.

Something we really appreciated was the retention of Exped’s 3D construction in this sleeping pad, giving it a full-length sleeping area that doesn’t give an inch to seams. The upper fabric is also a brushed 75-denier polyester, meaning it’s both more durable and softer than the 50-denier nylon used in the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and Exped MegaMat 15 Max. 

Compared to other mats of the same thickness like the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus SI Sleeping Pad, we’d far rather be atop the DeepSleep, although for only a few more bucks, the Therm-a-Rest Neoair Topo Luxe offers a thicker and lighter pad, all in a more compact package.

The cost savings had to come from somewhere, and besides being a thinner pad than the other MegaMat offerings, the DeepSleep also doesn’t come with a pump or repair kit. Thankfully the pad self-inflates well enough, but it’ll be a sad day when we inevitably poke a hole in it.

For the money, the Exped DeepSleep Mat offers an easily obtainable slice of the good life, and is available in a dizzying number of sizes to fit any body type.