Jump to:
A good night’s sleep when you’re camping isn’t out of reach. All you need is the best camping air mattress to give you a full night’s sleep no matter where you go. We’ll show you the best mattresses for camping below.
What’s the Best Camping Air Mattress?
OSDG/Shutterstock
The best camping mattress is one that’s comfortable, long-lasting, and doesn’t leak. You also need a lightweight, easily portable mattress that’s affordable.
While that might seem like a tall order to fill, it isn’t. Every mattress on this list is supportive, easy to transport, and won’t break your budget.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall — Sleepingo Large Ultralight Camp Sleeping Pad
- Best for Backpacking — ZOOOBELIVES Extra Thickness Inflatable Sleeping Pad Airlive 2000
- Best for Support — IFORREST Sleeping Pad with Armrest and Pillow Ultra-Comfortable Backpacking Airbed
- Best for Flexibility — ECOTEK Outdoors Hybern8 Ultralight Inflatable Sleeping Pad
- Best for Side Sleeper — Trekology UL Sleeping Pad
- Best for Pillows — Clostnature Lightweight Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad
- Best for Glamping — Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Airbed Series
Whether you’re backpacking or just need a portable place to sleep, every item on this list is worth looking over. That way, you can decide which is the best mattress for you and how it fits your needs.
Why You Need a Camping Air Mattress
Kuzsvetlaya/Shutterstock
Air mattresses are the most portable, comfortable option for sleeping outdoors. Unlike foam mattresses or cots, they’re adjustable for softer or firmer support. You can control how much air you put in, which affects the support.
The best air mattresses will give you support no matter what your issues are. Whether you suffer from sore backs or shoulders, a good mattress keeps you off the ground and keeps your body in alignment. In comparison, foam pads or cots are less forgiving and too firm to give you a good night’s sleep.
Air mattresses are compact and simple to stow. They won’t take up much room in your car, so if you’re car camping, you don’t need to save a huge spot for them in the trunk. You can also use them anywhere.
Some people float larger models down rivers, while others take them hiking, so they have a place to sit while they eat their lunch. The versatility of an air mattress, along with its practical uses, makes it a must whenever you go camping.
Best Camping Air Mattress: Top 7 Picks
1. Sleepingo Sleeping Pad
- Waterproof and long-lasting
- No need for a pump
- Lifetime Warranty
- More for backpacking than car camping
- No pillow
Why You’ll Love It
Weighing only 14.5 ounces, the Sleepingo Sleeping Pad is extremely lightweight and easily portable. Measuring 75 by 23 inches inflated, it folds up into an eight by three and a half inches, the equivalent of a water bottle.
The Sleepingo uses rounded inflatable pieces to provide a flexible and comfortable sleep, keeping you two inches off the ground. The design caters to both side and back-sleepers, so that you can rest easy no matter your position.
The air mattress is strong and durable, supports more than 350 pounds, and is made from water and tear-resistant nylon. This mattress is easy to inflate with 10-15 breaths, cutting down on the time it takes to set up camp.
The air cells insulation keeps you warm in cooler temperatures, so you can camp from spring to fall. Its versatility, affordability, and durability make this the best camping air mattress available.
2. ZOOOBELIVES Airlive 2000
- Side snaps let you attach to other mattresses
- Can inflate with hands, feet, mouths, or a pump
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Hand/foot pump is slow
- Not warm enough for winter/high elevation camping
Why You’ll Love It
This single mattress is the best camping air mattress for backpacking. It’s lightweight, folds up small to put in your pack, and gives you enough comfort during the night to get a great sleep. At 74 by 24 inches, the Airlive 2000 folds up into six by 14 inches deflated.
It weighs barely three and a half pounds, so you can carry it into camp no matter if you’re hiking five miles or twenty. The Airlive 2000 has two separate valves to inflate the mattress to your liking.
One acts as a built-in air pump that works by hand or foot press. The other uses fast deflation so you can pack up your mattress in record time. Made from the same durable polyester as military parachutes, this air mattress can withstand tougher treatment and worse conditions than comparable products.
Waterproof and warm, it’ll keep you dry during backpacking and firmly off the cold ground. As it inflates to a total of four inches, you’ll have plenty of space between you and the bottom of your tent for a comfortable night.
3. IFORREST Sleeping Pad
- Suitable for four seasons of camping
- Built-in pillow
- Suitable for camping, cots, or hammocks
- Armrests hard to deflate in colder temperatures
- No built-in pump for armrests/pillow
Why You’ll Love It
A revolutionary way to look at camping, the IFORREST sleeping pad has inflatable edges and a built-in pillow. The edges, or armrests, prevent slippery sleeping bags from sliding to your tent floor in the middle of the night.
The armrests, along with the pillow, keep you centered on the mattress for the best and most supportive camping sleep possible. Perfect for car-camping or backpacking, the IFORREST packs up small and weighs only 2.8 pounds deflated.
The middle section of the mattress inflates to one and a half inches, while the supportive armrests inflate to two inches. Inflation is easy to accomplish by one-way valves for the armrests, pillow, and a self-inflating valve for the middle section.
The middle has an elastic foam core that expands as it fills with air, giving you a firm but comfortable surface to sleep on. Waterproof, durable, and strong, the IFORREST guarantees a good night’s sleep no matter where you are.
4. ECOTEK Outdoors Hybern8
- Slip-resistant
- Fast inflate/deflate time
- Fits inside sleeping bags for colder nights
- Not a four-season mattress
- Up to you to find a compatible pillow
Why You’ll Love It
Whether you’re sleeping in the back of a cramped car, a spacious tent, or a hammock, the Hybern8 will fit perfectly in each. Thanks to the innovative honeycomb design, the Hybern8 bends at any angle to sit fluidly in any available shape.
This flexibility means you don’t have to lie on folded chunks or wrinkles; instead, you get the most out of this weight-distributing, curvy mattress. The mattress’s rapid inflation valve is a one-way innovation that uses 10-15 breaths to inflate.
This process cuts down the time it takes to set up camp so you can relax. Within each “honeycomb,” air-spring cells support any weight over the entire mattress surface. The self-isolating aspect helps keep you warm during colder temperatures.
This mattress is 74 by 22 inches spread out, folds into a compact ten by three inches, and only weighs 18 ounces. The small size and extreme durability make the Hybern8 the best camping air mattress for extreme backpacking.
5. Trekology UL Sleeping Pad
- Adjustable firmness
- Keeps side-sleepers off the ground
- Ultralightweight
- Not great for temperatures under 35 F
- Air pump not included
Why You’ll Love It
Made to cradle your body as you sleep, the Trekology UL helps keep you centered and not on the floor. At 75 by 22.4 inches, it fits all shapes and sizes and can support up to 265 pounds. Fully inflated, the UL stands four inches tall to keep you comfortably off the ground.
Constructed from 40D nylon, the UL is tear-resistant and durable against extreme conditions. The water-resistant coating helps keep off spills and moisture to prevent mold growth and other damage.
This mattress can fold up to 7.3 by five inches, making it a great size for car camping or backpacking. At only 750 grams, it’s lightweight and strong for long-lasting use.
A patented two-way valve system allows for inflation by breath or a pump. Using the same valve, deflation is a breeze and is complete within a few minutes.
6. Clostnature Sleeping Pad
- Has three attached compression straps
- Waterproof and insulated
- Made from non-smelly, environmentally friendly materials
- Doesn't fold up smaller than a football
- Must blow into the valve for first-time use
Why You’ll Love It
This conveniently self-inflating sleeping pad mixes old-school technology with new-age innovation. Using a mostly memory foam structure, Clostnature gives an extra layer of comfort and support to the air mattress.
Easily inflatable, all you need to do is open the valve and wait for the mattress to do the rest. Breathing into the valve will speed up the process. With an attached pillow that inflates separately, the Clostnature provides the ultimate convenience of camping pads everywhere.
Inflation of the pillow only takes five to ten breaths and holds its shape longer than comparable brands. At six feet three inches by two feet, this sleeping pad fits most sleepers comfortably.
Added snaps allow you to connect to another Clostnature sleeping pad, so you can create your own double mattress out in the wilderness.
7. Intex Dura-Beam
- Affordable
- Firm and supportive
- Long-lasting inflatability
- Doesn't come with a bag
- This version doesn't come with a pump
Why You’ll Love It
Able to support up to 600 pounds, the Intex air mattress is everything you want when sleeping outside. The entire mattress weighs less than five pounds, so you can transport it without struggling.
When deflated, it’s compact and small enough to throw in the back of your car without disrupting your packing strategy. The surface of the mattress is velvety soft for maximum comfort. It comes in twin, full, or queen sizes to suit any sleeper or tent.
It is also waterproof to withstand accidental spills. Made from Fiber-Tech, the Intex is longer-lasting than other mattresses and is less likely to develop leaks or collapse over time.
A 2-in-1 valve accepts and releases air, making it easier than ever to inflate and deflate the mattress. The valve itself is extra wide, so either action takes less time.
Once fully inflated, the Intex gives a total of ten inches of support. You can sleep in comfort and warmth all night with nearly a foot of distance from the ground. You won’t feel any bumps or roots, and you’ll have insulation from the cold earth.
Camping Air Mattress Buying Guide
Ashley-Belle Burns/Shutterstock
How do you choose between all these mattresses? Well, here are a few considerations to help you decide.
What Kind of Camping Are You Doing?
Are you a backpacker? A car camper? A glamper? What you intend to use the mattress for is a big help in deciding which to choose. If you’re a backpacker, you’ll need a smaller, lightweight sleeping pad that still supports your body and keeps you warm.
If you’re a car camper, you can take a bulkier mattress, maybe one with a pillow attached. Mattresses that can fit inside a hammock will also suit your needs. If you’re a glamper, take the mattress you find most comfortable, so you don’t have to sacrifice any of your needs.
Size
How big do you want your mattress to be? Are you camping solo or with your family? Buying a single mattress over a double might have more practical value to you. Then again, you can also buy mattresses that snap together to make a larger one.
If you’re a backpacker, a single sleeping pad is probably best. However, if you do a lot of car camping with more people, a larger mattress or set of attachable ones will better suit your needs.
Pump Type
Would you rather blow into a valve or let it self-inflate? Maybe you’d prefer to use a hand pump or a generator. Self-inflation isn’t very common anymore, but many people still prefer not having to blow up a mattress themselves.
If you want a pump, consider a sleeping pad with one built-in. Or, maybe you prefer to blow it up yourself. If so, consider a mattress that takes fewer breaths to do the job.
Pillow Attachment
Are pillow attachments important to you? If so, check out a mattress that has an inflatable pillow. That way you’ll never forget your pillow when you go camping.
If you’d rather bring your own pillow, choose a mattress without a pillow attachment. However, even if you do have an attached pillow, you can leave it deflated and simply fold it under your mattress so you don’t have to worry about it at all.
So, What’s Best Camping Air Mattress?
We think Sleepingo’s Sleeping Pad is the best camping air mattress. It’s lightweight, portable, and affordable. However, any mattress on this list will give you what you need to make your next camping trip a little more comfortable.