The Best Camping Mattress Pads for a Good Night’s Sleep
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Spending a weekend camping requires a lot of gear. You need chairs for lounging around the site, flashlights for nighttime hikes, coolers for cooking up meals and countless other gadgets that will get stored in your camping bag. When you pack, it’s only natural that you think of all the activities you want to fit into your weekend and then plan accordingly. However, it’s just as important to come prepared for your downtime as it is for your adventures. Without a good night’s rest, it will be hard to fully enjoy everything else that you came to experience. That’s why you should bring a camping mattress pad with you on your next excursion.
Camping Mattress Pad Buying Guide
Camping mattress pads help give you a better night’s sleep by shielding your body from the cold, hard ground. Along with helping you stay warm, their inflatable nature means that they offer more stability and support than your sleeping bag. The best camping mattress pads are at least 2-inches thick, and some can even be over 3 inches. This thickness supports your back and leaves you better rested to take on your day.
When shopping for the best camping mattress pad, a couple other features to keep in mind are how the mattress pad is inflated and how compact it is once it’s deflated. Avoid mattress pads that require additional setup equipment or the use of your own breath. Instead, opt for camping mattress pads that use built-in foot pumps, inflating bags or built-in valves. The best camping mattress pads should be easy to carry with the rest of your gear, which means carrying cases and/or straps are essential. Many camping mattress pads can be compressed down to a super portable size. For some, this isn’t possible, and exceptions are rightfully made for memory foam or two-person options.
What Are the Best Camping Mattress Pads?
With the above tips in mind, here are the best camping mattress pads to consider for your next trip.
1. Powerlix Sleeping Pad
When you’re packing for a camping trip, it’s reasonable to skip the bulky items. Thanks to the PowerLix sleeping pad’s compact carrying case and lightweight design, you’ll never go without a camping mattress pad again. It weighs only 1.32 pounds and, when stored in its carrying case, measures 11 x 4 inches. Inflating the mattress pad is simple, too: It uses an inflating bag with its own air valve to inflate and deflate the mattress. Once inflated, the 2-inch-thick pad measures 22.8 x 74.8 inches. The mattress pad uses thermal insulation tech to protect you from the cold, hard ground and keep you warm. It’s made of durable, outdoor-grade ripstop nylon and is also waterproof.
2. Invoker Ultralight Inflatable Camping Sleeping Pad
For a simple, straightforward inflation process, look no further than this camping mattress pad. It has a built-in foot pump, which means you don’t need to attach any extra equipment or use your own breath in order to inflate the mattress pad. Simply step on the mattress pad as you would a regular foot pump and watch the mattress pad inflate in about 30 seconds. When inflated, it measures 78.7 x 25.6 x 2.95 inches. When it’s time to deflate and pack up, the mattress pad fits in its carrying case and measures only 3.9 x 11 inches, and weighs just over 1 pound.
3. Wellax UltraThick FlexFoam Sleeping Pad
Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the comfort of a thick mattress. This Wellax camping mattress pad is made with memory foam, just like your favorite mattress at home. It’s also built to withstand the great outdoors. It’s waterproof, abrasion and tear-resistant. This mattress pad uses valves to self-inflate and deflate, which is especially handy when you want a quick setup process. When fully inflated, it measures 77 x 28 inches. Deflated, it measures 31 x 8 inches and weighs 7 pounds. The mattress pad comes with two compression straps and a carrying bag, making it really portable and a great choice for any trip.
4. Hikenture Double Sleeping Pad
If you’re camping with family or friends, chances are you’re sharing a tent. Rather than having each person bring their own camping mattress pad, you can pack more efficiently by selecting Hikenture’s double-sized sleeping pad. This inflatable, waterproof camping mattress pad measures 78.7 x 47.5 inches and comfortably sleeps two people. It’s also pretty thick at 3.75 inches. Despite its size, it only weighs 3.64 pounds. When it’s deflated, it’s compact enough to fit into a backpack. Setup is easy, too: The camping mattress pad is built with two valves and it can deflate in seconds.