Best Air Mattresses for Camping of 2025

Whether or not you’re coaxing a first-time camper into the outside or upgrading your truck construct, a high-quality air mattress for tenting is a vital funding. In spite of everything, a great night time’s sleep is the inspiration for the following day’s adventures, whether or not that’s a day hike with the household, an early morning deer hunt, or all-day path working. That will help you select, we evaluated high choices from Alps, Exped, Nemo, Large Agnes, Luno, Sea to Summit, and Klymit for consolation, heat, packability, and extra. 

How Your Air Mattress for Tenting Retains You Heat

Many individuals wrestle with sleeping chilly whereas tenting, and the perpetrator is usually their air mattress. We’re used to fascinated about how sleeping luggage defend us from the chilly whereas tenting. However we neglect that sleeping luggage can’t defend us from the chilly floor pulling warmth from our our bodies. If you’re utilizing a top quality sleeping bag and wrestle with staying heat within the outdoor, it’s time to improve your air mattress for tenting. 

Learn Subsequent: The Best Cold Weather Sleeping Bags

Whereas sleeping luggage are rated for the precise temperature they will insulate towards, air mattresses are rated for his or her degree of thermal resistance, or R worth. This quantity on a scale of 1 to 10+ ranks the pad’s capacity to dam the chilly of the bottom. Air mattresses which might be full of nothing however air (equivalent to you’d use in your house) do nothing to dam the chilly of the bottom. If the bottom is chilly (and it often is), the air contained in the mattress shall be chilly. If the air contained in the mattress is chilly, you can be chilly. Even high-quality sleeping luggage can’t defend you from this situation, because the insulation that’s beneath your physique is unable to completely loft, stopping it from reaching its insulation potential.  

Happily, there are numerous high-quality air mattresses for tenting that may block, or resist, the chilly of the bottom. That is measured by third events and expressed as an R (for resistance) worth. Larger R values do extra to withstand the chilly of the bottom, whereas decrease R values shall be extra inclined to it creeping by. For the canine days of summer season, you’ll be able to sometimes get away with R values as little as 2. If it is going to be colder, with the evenings seeing you wrapped in one of many best camping blankets subsequent to a campfire, then you definately’ll need an R worth between 4 and 6. Should you’ll be tenting in colder climes the place there could be frost on the bottom come morning, intention for 8 or increased.

Don’t pack an air mattress for tenting with an R score decrease than 2 (or, worse, that doesn’t have an R score in any respect) except it is going to be so heat that you simply count on to not even want a sleeping bag or blanket. 

Learn Subsequent: What Is R Value? It’s Why Your Sleeping Bag Doesn’t Keep You Warm

How I Examined the Finest Air Mattresses for Tenting

As workers author and affiliate editor for the gear staff at Outside Life, we’ve slept numerous nights within the woods, each whereas backpacking and automotive tenting. We’ve slept on the entire beneath mattresses whereas tenting (lots of them a number of nights) and had different people sleep on them as properly. Primarily based on that discipline expertise, we’ve evaluated tenting mattresses on a very powerful metrics for campers and overlanders: worth, heat (R score), guarantee, consolation, and ease of use. I’ve moreover supplied an at-a-glance have a look at the completely different sizes accessible for every mattress in addition to their weight limits. 

Weight limits for the sleeping pads have been verified with every producer. Usually, the welds on the seams of the air mattresses are the limiting elements for weight. Extra notes are supplied on the best way to maximize the burden restrict of the completely different sleeping pads within the full evaluations, together with when a decrease PSI is really useful for heavier customers. 

For most individuals, R score is by far a very powerful consideration on your air mattress for tenting, much more so than its dimension, quantity of froth, or guarantee. Search for R rankings which might be finished in line with the ASTM F3340 (“Customary Check Methodology for Thermal Resistance of Tenting Mattresses Utilizing a Guarded Sizzling Plate Equipment”) as that is thought-about the gold normal for third-party, apples-to-apples testing. 

Learn Subsequent: The Best Sleeping Bags

If you’re in search of one thing with a smaller packed quantity or decrease weight than what seems on this record, take a look at our story on the best backpacking sleeping pads.

Finest Air Mattresses for Tenting: Evaluations & Suggestions

Finest General: Big Agnes Captain Comfort

buy at backcountry

buy at amazon

Professionals

• Very comfy
• Nice vary of sizes
• Restricted lifetime guarantee
• Simple to pack away
• Excessive R score means its applicable for all seasons

Cons

• Costly
• Not appropriate with Large Agnes pump sacks
• Not examined to a selected weight restrict

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Key Options

• 
  R Ranking:

  
  8.3

• 
  Accessible Sizes:

  
  78 x 30 inches; 72 x 41 inches; 78 x 52 inches

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  Unavailable

In a discipline of some robust opponents, the Large Agnes Captain Consolation simply squeaked forward to nab the highest slot. Throughout testing, I used to be impressed by how comfy this pad was (I slept like a child), and its restricted movement switch. I shared the medium-size model of this pad with my accomplice, who reported that he tossed and turned all night time. I didn’t really feel a factor. The 8+ R score was additionally enormously appreciated, as I examined this one throughout a mid-November rainstorm within the decrease foothills of the Cascade Vary. 

I additionally appreciated that they provided the medium, 41-inch huge possibility. For households, the 52-inch variations of those sleeping pads can generally take up an excessive amount of room within the best family tents, making the remainder of your dwelling house unnecessarily crowded. However what actually received me over was how little I struggled to place this pad away once more on the finish of the journey. After deflating and rolling, I used to be ready to make use of the supplied velcro straps to scrunch it down. The supplied sack for the pad was generously sized, with side-entry. With different air mattresses for tenting, I’ve needed to roll and reroll the pads to get it down sufficiently small to suit again within the bag. Not so right here. 

The one dings listed below are the worth, which was on the upper facet, and the dearth of a pump. In my expertise, self-inflatable pads hardly inflate in any respect the primary time you employ them. Whereas there’s at all times the choice of buying a pump (which I like to recommend), it might have been good if the Captain Consolation was appropriate with the identical air pump sacks utilized by its line of backpacking sleeping pads, which lower the issue of inflating these pads down by an element of 10. 

Whereas Large Agnes, in contrast to different best-in-class air mattress producers, was not capable of present weight restrict data for the Captain Consolation collection, they did say that they don’t have any indication {that a} consumer’s weight would affect the pad’s sturdiness. You’ll be able to then belief that in the event you did run into a problem brought on by extra weight, it might be lined by the warranty. Their producer welds the pads utilizing the identical know-how it employs on highly-regulated plane, medical, and navy inflatables. 

Most Deluxe: Exped MegaMat

buy at rei

buy at amazon

Professionals

• Excessive R values applicable for all seasons
• Extraordinarily comfy
• Vary of sizes to select from

Cons

• No lifetime guarantee
• Costly

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Key Options

• 
  R Ranking:

  
  8.1

• 
  Accessible Sizes:

  
  72 x 25.6 inches; 77.6 x 30.3 inches; 72 x 40.9 inches; 77.6 x 52 inches; 80 x 49.8 inches

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  330 kilos (single); 660 kilos (double)

Tenting doesn’t must imply a stressed night time on the bottom. The Exped MegaMat is probably the most comfy air mattress for tenting I’ve slept on. This 4-inch thick foam and air mattress won’t be fairly as comfy as your mattress at house, however it’s extra comfy than a double-thick air mattress or a variety of Air BnB beds I’ve crashed on.

The MegaMat Duo is self inflating so you’ll be able to prop open the “in” valve and it’ll slowly fill with air. If it’s chilly out, this options doesn’t work. It doesn’t matter what temperature it’s, I at all times convey the Kokopelli feather pump to complete the job. Exped’s widget pump doesn’t have the oomph to completely inflate the MegaMat and stops rising the PSI earlier than I’d like.

This mattress makes me excited to get within the tent at night time and I at all times sleep like a child. The 8.1 R worth ensures you’re toasty heat off the chilly floor. You’ll be able to pump the MegaMat as much as your required firmness, although in the event you underneath fill it for a softer really feel, you’ll discover the burden transference when your accomplice will get up a bit extra. When it’s absolutely agency, I barely discover.

What is R Value? It’s Why Your Sleeping Bag Doesn’t Keep You Warm

The 75D backside is sturdy sufficient for me to tug out into the grass to calm down on through the day. And when it obtained sprinkled on earlier than I may put it again within the tent, it dried shortly. Rolling up the mat is straightforward, if slightly time consuming. The roll-top bag is lots giant sufficient so that you’re by no means squishing or re-rolling the mat to make it match. The tip result’s fairly cumbersome, across the identical packed dimension as my favorite canvas tent. But when house have been actually crunched on a tenting journey, I’d depart the cooler at house earlier than I left this sleeping pad.

Exped recommends that you simply retailer this mat flat with each valves open. Whereas it feels ridiculous to get house from a visit and unroll your tenting mat, it is going to protect the life and luxury of your funding. Plus, it’ll be simpler to inflate the following time you roll it again as much as throw within the automotive. The LW+ mannequin I’ve is 52 by 78 inches. I retailer it up towards a wall in my gear closet, however underneath a mattress would work, too. — Ashley Thess

Finest for Automobiles: Luno AIR Pro Vehicle Mattress

buy at luno

Professionals

• Included pump
• Fairly comfy
• Head help
• Two mattresses zipped collectively
• Small packed dimension

---

Key Options

• 
  R score:

  
  1.5

• 
  Accessible Sizes: 

  
  Customized to your automobile

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  500 kilos per facet

Climbers and van lifers have made sleeping in vehicles appear fairly glamorous, however in actuality your head is falling into the backseat leg room and there’s a divot the place the trunk meets the reclined seats. However Luno makes tenting mattresses personalized to suit the 12 months, make, and mannequin of your automotive. This maximizes the sleeping house accessible in your trunk by conforming precisely to the curves of your automobile, upping the glamour and luxury issue of sleeping in your automotive immensely. 

Luno additionally solves the issue of getting to stuff sufficient gear within the backseat leg room to sufficiently help your head. This tenting mattress contains flaps that join the top of the mattress to the headrests. The hammock-style help means you’ll be able to even incline your head to observe a film or learn a e-book. 

The AIR Professional tenting mattress for {couples} is definitely two pads zipped collectively so in the event you’re on a solo mission, you’ll be able to depart the opposite half of your trunk open for gear. You may also pump every to that individual’s desired firmness. Plus, if one individual will get up at night time, it received’t have an effect on the air strain on the opposite facet. 

Whereas comfy and tremendous straightforward to inflate, there’s one purpose I wouldn’t advocate shopping for this explicit mattress. It has an R worth of 1.5, making it a summer-only setup. R worth is how properly your sleeping pad resists the chilly, and it’s completely essential to have not less than a 4 R worth to get the total temperature score out of your sleeping bag. In case your pad isn’t insulated or beefed up with foam, chilly air sits beneath your physique all night time permitting you to lose warmth.

Fortunately, Luno makes the AIR+FOAM Pro tenting mattress for {couples}. Whereas I haven’t but examined this mannequin, it has an R-value of 11 and solely prices $120 extra. On a spring night time with a low of 41 levels with sleeping luggage rated to be comfy at 15 levels, we have been nonetheless chilly on the Luno AIR. If you recognize you’ll love the considerate design components, fast inflation, and maximized house of Luno’s customized automotive tenting mattresses, spend minimally extra and get four-season use out of the AIR+FOAM mannequin. — Ashley Thess

Finest Worth: Exped DeepSleep

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buy at amazon

Professionals

• Excessive R values applicable for all seasons
• Low worth in comparison with the competitors
• Vary of sizes to select from

Cons

• No lifetime guarantee
• Much less comfy than different pads

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Key Options

• 
  R Ranking:

  
  8.5

• 
  Accessible Sizes:

  
  72 x 25.6 inches; 77.6 x 30.3 inches; 72 x 40.9 inches; 77.6 x 52 inches

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  330 kilos (single); 660 kilos (double)

Should you’ve been eyeing the MegaMat however simply can’t decide to that worth level, then the Exped DeepSleep could also be simply what you’re in search of. Whereas noticeably much less comfy than air mattresses for tenting with plushier foam, it was nonetheless lots comfortable for a weekend of informal tenting. A part of that’s as a result of its increased R score means it excels at protecting you heat. On my testing journey to the jap Cascades, temps dropped all the way down to the 40s. However the DeepSleep’s insulation from the chilly of the bottom was so wonderful that I ended up kicking off a blanket in the midst of the night time as a result of I used to be overheating. 

Whereas the valves of the Exped DeepSleep have been extra straight-forward to make use of than different air mattresses for tenting that I examined, I struggled with the vertical-entry stuff sack, even after cinching down the pad as tightly as I may with the supplied Velcro straps. 

Smallest Packed Measurement: Klymit Klymaloft

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buy at klymit

Professionals

• Very small packed dimension
• Simply as comfortable as bigger, dearer mats
• Gentle sufficient to tackle a low-key backpacking journey
• Affordably priced

Cons

• Low R values means it is a summer-only pad
• Should be inflated by blowing into it

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Key Options

• 
  R Ranking:

  
  2.4

• 
  Accessible Sizes:

  
  72 x 23 inches; 78 x 29 inches; 78 x 53 inches

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  Unknown

The Klymit Klymaloft is an uncommon pad. It contains foam within the development, however it’s not self-inflating. It’s both the heaviest of the best backpacking sleeping pads or the smallest of the perfect air mattresses for tenting. Should you’re a fair-weather camper with a smaller automotive, it could be precisely what you’re in search of.

This pad is extraordinarily comfy, with a luxurious foam high that’s extra noticeably comfortable than others that I’ve examined. It’s so comfy that my husband has claimed it as his go-to sleeping pad for all future summer season household automotive tenting journeys. Nevertheless, it has a really low R score in comparison with others on this record. Don’t take this one automotive tenting in the event you count on the in a single day temperature to drop beneath the 50s. The place I believe it excels is in packing up your automotive. House is usually restricted after I pack for an extended weekend of automotive tenting. This implies forsaking goodies just like the best inflatable paddle boards if I even have among the finest air mattresses for tenting. The Klymit Klymaloft takes up about as a lot house as a soccer, and is straightforward to cram into small nooks and crannies. 

This pad is just not, nonetheless, self-inflating. It additionally doesn’t include a pump sack, which implies that you’ll be blowing it up by blowing into it. Which may take some time. However in the event you don’t thoughts spending slightly additional, then there’s at all times the choice to buy a pump. 

buy at cabela’s

buy at amazon

Professionals

• Small packed dimension
• Sturdy
• Simple to arrange
• Supplied air pump might be charged previous to tenting

Cons

• Not as heat or comfy as mattresses that used foam

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Key Options

• 
  R Ranking:

  
  None

• 
  Accessible Sizes:

  
  39 x 80 inches, 56 x 80 inches

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  250 kilos

For a 6-inch-high air mattress, the ALPS Mountaineering Vertex delivers a shocking quantity of sturdiness and luxury. I used to be capable of cost the supplied air pump at house earlier than heading out for an extended weekend of tenting, which made blowing up the mattress a cinch. The air pump was so helpful that I ended up utilizing it to inflate the Exped DeepSleep and Sea to Summit Consolation Deluxe as properly.

Whereas there’s some movement transference when two individuals are utilizing this air mattress, it was lower than different air mattresses I’ve used previously, together with these in my take a look at. If you’re an exceptionally gentle sleeper, it could be higher to go for the HEST Dually Lengthy, however for most individuals this shouldn’t be a problem.

The 150D cloth of the ALPS Mountaineering Vertex was the thickest of any in my take a look at, and the sturdiness confirmed. After three days of testing, the air mattress was nonetheless absolutely inflated. The thickness of the material additionally didn’t compromise the small packed dimension of this mattress, which, at in regards to the dimension of a basketball, was the smallest in my take a look at.

Finest Air Pump: Kokopelli Feather Pump

buy at backcountry

Professionals

• Suitable with packrafts, vacuum luggage, swim toys, and air mattresses
• Light-weight
• Battery lasts for 40 inflations

---

Key Options

• 
  Worth:

  
  $50

• 
  Weight:

  
  6 ounces

• 
  Suitable with most air mattresses

The feather pump from Kokopelli is supposed for packrafts, however I’ve discovered it’s the perfect pump for air mattresses, too. The grey versatile attachment suits properly onto most mattress valves. It reaches the next PSI than different pumps I’ve used and it’s tremendous light-weight. I additionally love that it’s vivid orange so you’ll be able to at all times discover it inside a bag or buried in a bin. — Ashley Thess

Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe

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buy at amazon

Professionals

• Snug
• Restricted lifetime guarantee
• Excessive weight restrict

Cons

• Tough to pack away
• Decrease R worth is just not applicable for winter circumstances

---

Key Options

• 
  R Ranking:

  
  6.5

• 
  Accessible Sizes:

  
  72 x 25 inches; 79 x 29 inches; 79 x 51 inches

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  350 kilos (single)

The Sea to Summit Consolation Deluxe is a snug air mattress for tenting that got here in at a barely cheaper price level than a few of the top-rated choices. Whereas I slept soundly on this mattress on my testing journey for the best 8-person tents, the carrying sack made it unusually tough to pack away once more. I needed to roll it a number of occasions to get it to suit. It doesn’t include an air pump or pump sack, so count on to place in slightly additional effort to inflate it if it’s been in storage for some time.

When queried, Sea to Summit had finished probably the most weight testing of their pads of any of the producers I talked to: as much as 350 kilos for a single-person pad. Sea to Summit moreover shared that customers which might be nearer to the higher weight restrict for the mattress ought to plan to inflate the pad to between 2 and a pair of.5 PSI. Three PSI is the utmost strain the mattress can help, so don’t transcend that. — Laura Lancaster

Nemo Roamer

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buy at amazon

Professionals

• Restricted lifetime guarantee
• Snug
• Comes up with a pump sack for simpler inflation

Cons

• Costly
• Restricted accessible sizes
• Decrease R score is just not preferrred for winter circumstances
• Aggressive self-inflation mechanism makes it tough to pack away

---

Key Options

• 
  R Ranking:

  
  6

• 
  Accessible Sizes:

  
  78 x 30 inches; 78 x 52 inches

• 
  Weight Restrict:

  
  300 kilos (single); 500 kilos (double)

Whereas the Nemo Roamer didn’t fairly shine sufficient to win an award, it’s nonetheless a wonderful pad that I’d advocate. It’s exceptionally comfy with a excessive sufficient R score to see you thru the summer season season and into the shoulder season. Although expensive, it does embrace a appropriate pump sack (just like these used for backpacking sleeping pads) which makes the method of fine-tuning the inflation degree pretty painless, with out the necessity to spring for a dear air pump.

Unusually, the Roamer comes with two sacks, the one which it’s tightly packed into once you buy the pad (good luck ever getting it into that once more), and a bigger sack that works properly for journey, particularly after it’s been cinched down utilizing the provided Velcro straps. Provided that the Roamer is partially comprised of recycled supplies, and Nemo’s well-earned status for eco-consciousness, the inclusion of a mainly unusable stuff sack is slightly shocking. It’s additionally a reasonably minor ding. 

The Roamer lived as much as its declare of nearly on the spot self-inflation, however this proved problematic when packing away the air mattress. The self-inflation would kick in as quickly as I let the strain off the roll, making it tough to get it squeezed down tight sufficient so as to add on the Velcro straps. Nemo did present some instructions on the facet of the pad indicating the perfect mixture of valves to make use of throughout deflation. However this nonetheless proved extra of a problem that I’d have appreciated. 

Needless to say the self-inflation mechanism received’t work terribly shortly the primary time you employ the pad or after it’s been packed away for prolonged intervals of time. — Laura Lancaster

Issues to Take into account Earlier than Shopping for an Air Mattress for Tenting

R Ranking

It’s price repeating: A very powerful issue for consolation is heat, and your sleeping bag shall be minimally efficient at insulating you towards the chilly of the bottom except it’s rated 4 or increased on the R scale. Search for ASTM certification earlier than making a closing buy. 

Self-Inflation Mechanism

In my expertise, the self-inflating mechanism on air mattresses solely will get you thus far, as a result of after being saved all winter it takes a bit for the froth to spring again into form. Be ready to inflate some, if not all, of the air manually. Snagging a battery-operated pump may also help alleviate frustration.

Packing Up Your Mattress

Inflating an air mattress for tenting is one factor; deflating is one other factor fully. Earlier than heading out in your tenting journey, examine you can get it again into the supplied stuff sack (this was simpler stated than finished with a number of choices I examined). If it’s extra arduous than you count on, take into account straps to assist cinch it down extra effectively. When deflating your air mattress for tenting, you’ll want to open the valves per the producer directions to maximise air move out of your mattress and decrease air move inward. 

Storage

A number of of the manufacturers I spoke with indicated that one of the simplest ways to retailer their air mattresses for tenting was to unroll them and permit them to partially self-inflate. When you’ve got house underneath your mattress, or in one other a part of your own home to do that, it’s a really useful approach to improve the lifespan of your foam. 

Learn Subsequent: The Best Kids Sleeping Bags

FAQs

Ultimate Ideas on the Finest Air Mattresses for Tenting

Getting a top quality air mattress for tenting can elevate your out of doors sleeping expertise. Happily, there are numerous high quality manufacturers providing comfy, compact choices that may insulate you from the chilly and onerous of the bottom. Select the one that most closely fits your physique, funds, and sleep wants.