The best sleeping mats for camping sites – our most comfortable picks (2025)
Honorary mention
The following sleep pads don’t impress us like the ones above, but we’ll still recommend them if no one else is fantasizing about you.
Kelty Kush Queen airbed costs $100: This PVC-free large air table from Kelty includes a pump that inflates the ammunition (make sure to charge it before departure), while the 6-inch thick mat is very comfortable. It’s not an insulated air mattress like REI above, so it’s best to double as a spare bed at home for a few warm months.
Avoid sleep pads
Not every sleep mat is a winner. We have tested and encountered problems with the following models.
Exped Flexmat Plus: What if cheap, lightweight and indestructible closed-cell foam pads like the iconic Z-Rest and Ridgerest is… What to do with Giants? It’s an interesting idea, but Exped Flexmat Plus is a sublime failure. The problem with this super thick, 1.5-inch closed-cell mat is that while relatively light, cheap and indestructible, the foam is hard and irritating. By “Spikey”, we mean, it’s really just stab you while you’re sleeping. Fans say it takes time to break in. After six nights, commentator Martin Cizmar begged the dungeon guard to release.
Big Agnes Q-core: The Q-core mat is out of the box with impressive R-value and weight statistics. However, you should avoid them. The unique offset I-beam structure that makes the pad so light and comfortable is notorious for failure, which is exactly what happened to Cizmar after about a year of use. In our experience (other reviews), welds that put the top and bottom together pop up easily. Once the air is added, you will have a large chunk that grows over time and the tape cannot fix it.
Exped Deepsleep: If you are considering an inflatable expedition but are not entirely committed to shelling the Megamat 10, you may tend to try thinner and cheaper depths. Don’t do it. The deep slit is 3 inches, not 4 inches, but you will feel the inches of the bone. The 75-pink fabric on the deep curly top and bottom is durable, rather than the soft and elastic 50-shrink you find on the top of Megamat and some competitors. Deep legs are a solid mattress that may not be bad for some, but this is not the Exped Experience most sleepers are looking for. Stick to Megamat. – Martin Cizmar
Klymit static V2: Klymit’s budget inflatable cushion is popular among the unpleasant weekend Warriors because of its price point (about $50) and its impressive weight (1 pound). Actually, that’s why when I first ventured into a remote area, I bought one for my now 10-year-old daughter with her back to her. She didn’t complain, but when I used it overnight I found it was fragile, providing comparable mats, and compared to closed-cell foam pads like z-lite. The Z-Lite is smaller and you don’t have to worry about piercing it. The more expensive air beds above are great, but if you’re looking for a lightweight budget option, I’ll leave a sealed foam behind.
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