The Best Sleeping Pads For Campgrounds—Our Comfiest Picks (2025)

Honorable Mentions

The pursuing sleeping pads didn't impressment america arsenic overmuch arsenic nan ones above, but we’d still urge them if nary of nan others onslaught your fancy.

Kelty Kush Queen Airbed for $100: This PVC-free queen-sized airbed from Kelty includes a pump that makes inflating a threat (make judge you complaint it earlier you go), and nan 6-inch-thick pad is plentifulness comfortable. It is not an insulated aerial mattress for illustration nan REI above, truthful it's champion for warmer months, but it tin double arsenic a spare furniture astatine home.

Sleeping Pads to Avoid

Not each sleeping pad is simply a winner. We've tested and tally into issues pinch nan pursuing models.

Exped Flexmat Plus: What if nan cheap, light, and indestructible closed-cell foam mats for illustration nan iconic Z-Rest and RidgeRest were … giant? It's a nosy idea, but nan Exped Flexmat Plus is simply a noble failure. The problem pinch this extra-thick, 1.5-inch, closed-cell mat is that, while comparatively light, cheap, and indestructible, nan foam is difficult and spikey. And by “spikey” we mean that it's virtually conscionable spikes that stab you while you sleep. Fans opportunity it requires a break-in period. After six nights connected it, reviewer Martin Cizmar begged nan dungeon defender for release.

Big Agnes Q-Core: Q-Core pads are comfortable retired of nan box, pinch awesome R-value and weight stats for nan price. However, you should debar them. The unsocial offset I-beam building that makes this pad truthful ray and comfortable is somewhat notorious for failing—which is precisely what happened to Cizmar aft astir a twelvemonth of use. In our experience, which different reviews backmost up, nan welds that clasp nan apical and bottommost together are prone to popping apart. After adding air, you'll person a ample lump that grows complete time, and duct portion cannot hole it.

Exped DeepSleep: If you're reasoning astir an inflatable Exped but are not afloat committed to shelling retired for nan MegaMat 10, you whitethorn beryllium inclined to effort nan thinner and cheaper DeepSleep. Don't do it. The DeepSleep is 3 inches heavy alternatively of 4, but you'll consciousness that inch successful your bones. The DeepSleep has rugged 75-denier cloth connected apical and bottommost alternatively of nan soft and stretchy 50-denier polyester you find connected nan apical of nan MegaMat and immoderate competitors. The DeepSleep is simply a sturdy mattress and astir apt good for immoderate people, but it's not nan Exped acquisition astir sleepers are looking for. Stick pinch nan MegaMat. —Martin Cizmar

Klymit Static V2: Klymit's budget inflatable pad is celebrated pinch unfussy play warriors because of its value constituent (around $50) and awesome weight (1 pound). In fact, this is why I bought 1 for my now 10-year-old girl erstwhile we ventured into nan backcountry for nan first time, pinch her worldly connected my back. She didn't complain, but erstwhile I utilized it for a night, I recovered it was flimsy and offered comparable cushion and little power retention than a closed-cell foam pad for illustration nan Z-Lite. The Z-Lite weighs a mates of ounces less, and you won't person to interest astir puncturing it. The much costly inflatable beds supra are great, but if you're you're looking for a lightweight fund pick, I'd enactment pinch closed-cell foam.

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