The 9 Best Sleeping Pads for Car Camping (2025)

Updated August 22, 2025 08:37AM

Few things can tank morale on a camping trip like a bad night’s sleep. Fortunately, with so many stellar sleeping pads available, there’s no reason your gear should keep you from getting your beauty sleep, especially when you’re car camping and you’ve got the room to go big. We spent 50+ nights testing every type of sleeping pad for camping (and even cots) that prioritize comfort over weight and packability—from smart options designed for literal car campers to plush camping sleeping pads that can double as a guest room mattress. The options below delivered our best nights of sleep.

Updated August 2025: We added two new picks to this list, including the game-changing Zempire Monstabed Twin, a tall camp bed that’s as comfy as it gets. We also added the Sea To Summit Pursuit Plus—a do-it-all option for car campers who occasionally backpack, too.

Best Sleeping Pads: At a Glance

If the thought of investing in multiple sleeping pads—at least one for backpacking and another for car camping—keeps you up at night, you’ll sleep easier with Sea To Summit’s Pursuit Plus. The supportive, three-inch-thick pad is geared toward car campers looking for a comfortable night’s sleep without breaking the bank or wasting trunk space. However, it’s also packable enough for shorter backpacking trips or backpackers who care more about Zzzs than Gs.

Comfort comes courtesy of inflatable, hollow-cored, foam-buttressed internal channels, which provide a more supportive and plush sleeping platform than your standard inflatable pad. This construction isn’t just incredibly comfortable—it’s toasty, too. The Sea To Summit pad has an R-value of 4.2, making it suitable for at least three seasons.

A tester who cowboy camped above snowline in the Sierra said the channels protected him from the warmth-leeching ground and made sharp rocks and tufted alpine grass all but disappear. The pad is self-inflating, but if you like a firm platform, a few extra breaths are necessary. It’s made from a 20-denier fabric—lightweight and not something we’d consider bomber—but he reported no rips or punctures.

The pad comes in a contoured shape to save weight, as well as a significantly wider rectangular option for max sleeping real estate. “I had plenty of room to roll from side to side without tipping off the pad,” reported a tester after a stint on the curved version. Both shapes are available in regular and long sizes, giving campers plenty of options.

Dedicated backpackers won’t touch this pad with a 10-foot trekking pole, as the regular size we tested packs down to the size of a paint can and weighs 1.77 pounds. But if you’re willing to carry a few extra ounces, the quality of sleep is hard to beat.

Unlike the other pads on this list, the Kelty Kush Airbed does not offer fancy foam integrations, a luxuriously brushed topper, or self-inflation system. But it made this list because it costs a fraction of what other mats cost and still offers enough warmth, comfort, durability, and air retention to get one tester through a 35-degree night camping in late fall near Mt. Ashland, Oregon.

At a whopping six inches thick, it can handle near freezing temps even without the foam you find in other pads. The lack of internal foam also means the Kush Airbed packs down smaller (to about the size of a laptop) than other mats at this thickness.

While not self-inflating, it easily blew up in about four minutes with its included USB rechargeable pump, which holds a charge really well. One tester was able to inflate the Airbed and top off three other pads on a single charge. The Kush held air like a champ, remaining plenty sturdy with no need for top-offs during a weekend trip.

A few niggles: The zip-zip sound of a tester tossing and turning on the mat’s peached polyester upper drove his tent mate nuts. That top was also pretty rough against skin, an issue easily mitigated by staying in our sleeping bags or packing a top sheet.

The NEMO Roamer is our top pick for couples because of how comfortable it is and how easy it is to deflate and pack. Also available in XL Wide, we only tested the double, which at 78-by-52 inches, was generous enough to comfortably fit two adults and a six-year-old.

The Jackson family put in over a dozen nights on the double version while camping, and even used it as a guest room mattress for visitors. The deluxe four-way stretch polyester fabric and TPU topper is incredibly soft next-to-skin. That four-way stretch fabric also makes the NEMO Roamer one of the quieter pads we tested—it didn’t crinkle or rustle like unbrushed polyester pads do—when a kid sleeper thrashed around through the night. One tester noted that it felt like the mattress conformed to her body even when it was stiffly inflated. It also lived up to its R-value of 6: One tester found it offered plenty of insulation from the cold ground on a 28-degree night on the Scott River in California.

The Roamer Double was one of the few self-inflating mattresses in our test that actually completely self-inflated in about 15 minutes thanks to the pad’s large air channels (that’s not exactly fast, but it’s respectable for a double pad this thick). Testers who wanted to speed up inflation time or preferred a firmer surface used the included inflation bag. When it came to packing up the Roamer, every tester noted how quickly the pad deflated thanks to the very efficient dual deflate valve system. We let out all the air in about 90 seconds in a single roll—a revelation for seasoned car campers used to having to roll and re-roll pads during packdown to get all of the air out. Packed down into its duffel bag it’s about the size of a couch cushion.

We really have no complaints about the Roamer. It’s one of the priciest double mattresses on the market, but it also affords exceptional comfort for a camping mattress. If you’re on a budget and don’t need a double, the XL Wide pad (78” x 30”, $250) offers the exact same tech specs at a more palatable price.

Calling the Zempire Monstabed a sleeping pad is like calling Half Dome a hill—it just doesn’t do it justice. When inflated, this ultra-comfy camp bed is 16.5 inches thick. While not as elevated as the average bed (18-25 inches), the loft is a luxury at camp. More than anything, it makes it easier for achy adventurers to get in and out of bed. Plus, the Monstabed can double as a bench on rainy or buggy tent-bound nights.

Inflating is a breeze with the Monstapump ($50) or a similar electric pump. The bed features a dual-chamber design, with an open-cell foam topper perched on an inflatable platform. The lower section allows for the Monstabed’s notable thickness, while keeping the packed size smaller than it would be if it was purely open-cell foam. As is, the packed size is monstrous—about the size of a large carry-on suitcase—and one of our team’s few dings.

The topper, though, is what made our testers fall head over heels. One said that it rivals their bed at home. “I have never slept this well in the woods,” they raved. The topper gives the Monstabed a whopping 10.5 R-value, and testers gave it top scores for warmth and coziness accordingly.

Oh, and don’t be confused by the twin size. This version of the Monstabed is designed to sleep two campers—at 53 inches wide, an inch less than a standard full-size bed—although our team wouldn’t have minded more width, especially on warm nights when the very thought of cuddling is torturous. Testers noted that it fits perfectly inside Zempire’s Pro TM V2 tent.

Lastly, our team voiced some minor concerns with the bed’s 150-denier ripstop polyester base fabric. We didn’t have any issues camping on pine needles and pine cones, but testers weren’t eager to scrape the material over rock.

We have been testing versions of the Exped Megamat for over three years now and can confidently say that it sets the benchmark for comfort and warmth in the camp mattress category. This year, Exped updated the iconic mattress by coring out 30 percent of the foam to make it less bulky and improve packability. The result is a mattress that still delivers the same R-value (8.1) as the previous model and some of the best cushioning on the market in a package that is easier to roll up and store.

The ample foam in the interior meant that the Megamat Duo was still extremely comfortable even when not stiffly inflated, something side-sleepers appreciated. Aside from the Nemo Roamer Double, this mattress was the most comfortable in our test. Case in point: One tester slept on the Megamat Duo for seven straight days on a camping trip in Crescent City, California, then slept on it in a guest bedroom at home for two more weeks.

Its recycled 50-denier polyester and TPU polyether-laminated upper showed three superficial scuffs after our kid stress testers put it through the wringer as a play mattress, but it held air and its 75-denier polyester bottom looked no worse for wear after the unfair treatment. Another small detail we really appreciated about the Megamat Duo: The included handles made it the easiest two-person mattress to move around once inflated.

The MegaMat is an exceptionally plush pad once inflated, but it was the most challenging of the high-end pads to inflate. While it self-inflates to some extent, it requires pretty extensive top-up with the included pump, which worked at half the speed and required double the effort compared to other hand and foot pumps we tested. When all was said and done, it took about eight minutes to fully inflate this pad with the pump and some hard labor.

Luno has been at the forefront of making ultra-plush sleeping mattresses specifically designed to fit in the back of vehicles for literal car campers. The 4-inch-thick Camping Mattress uses Luno’s Air + Foam technology, which sandwiches open cell foam between sturdier protective layers to create a memory foam mattress-like cushion and serious insulation (11.4 R-value). It also comes with a head support bridge that connects the mattress to a car seat headrest to bridge the rear footwell and maximize every inch of sleeping space.

But the Camping Mattress isn’t just for those who camp in their cars. At 72 inches by 25 inches (regular), the rectangular mattress fits as seamlessly in the back of a Honda Element as in a crowded four-person tent.

With a 150-TPU bottom, this mattress was one of the most rugged we tested. Testers used it on a volcanic rock-strewn campground along the Klamath River and it came back with nothing more than minor scratches. The 30-denier elastic polyester upper is just as hardy, and while comfortable enough to sleep on without a cover sheet, it’s not as supple against your cheek as other mattresses in the $250-plus price range.

The Luno Camping Mattress landed in the middle of the pack when it came to inflation time. While Luno claims it self-inflates in 60 seconds, we found that we had to top it off with its included inflation bag to make it sleep-ready, bringing the total inflation time closer to two minutes. But when it came to packing up, testers loved how tidily the Camping Mattress rolled up and cinched down in Luno’s cam-strap headrest accessory. Once rolled up, the Camping Mattress was about the size of a pillow.

The Soto’s dual valve inflation system proved the most user-friendly in our test. Using either the pump integrated into the included pillow or our own electric pump, we had the Soto sleep-ready in under a minute.

While it didn’t boast the highest R-value in our test, its four-inch-thickness and open cell foam insulated one tester on a night that dipped below freezing on the Scott River in California. The Soto was the only sleeping pad in our test that featured a polyester-cotton upper, which made it feel more naturally soft and comfortable to the touch. It also proved surprisingly durable thanks to its hardy TPU-coated polyester body material: Six rowdy, cooped-up kids used the Soto as a wrestling mat during a wet, three-day camping trip and it looked no worse for wear after a light towel cleaning. What’s more, it remained fully inflated and needed no top-ups even after that multi-day ruckus.

The Soto comes in three available sizes (small, medium, large), and all are the same height (82 inches), so you should consider the number of sleepers rather than sleeper height when choosing the right size for you. We tested the 82-by-54-inch large pad, which was big enough to sleep two adults and a six-year-old.

Our only complaint: The dual air valves that make the Soto so easy to inflate are bulky—they stick out from the top of the air mattress and proved to be trip hazards in one family’s crowded tent.

Testers loved the Klymaloft for its integrated soft stretch-knit polyester fabric cover—considered the most luxurious topper after the Nemo Roamer. No need to remember a separate topsheet. The supple, sheet-like cover only spans 80 percent of the mattress (where you need it most), minimizing additional weight and bulk while maximizing comfort.

The combination of the plush foam topper and the i-beam air chambers created an excellent sleeping platform for testers who prefer a stiffer mattress but was not as comfortable at lower PSIs compared to the other premium mattresses on this list. That foam and i-beam combo also gives the Klymaloft a respectable R-value of 7, offering enough insulation for nights that dipped into the low 40s.

At just 4.4 pounds, the Klymaloft is pounds lighter than the other full-size, foam-integrated mattresses on this list—something one tester greatly appreciated after setting up a campsite a quarter mile from where he parked on the Scott River in California. While we rarely had to lug our testing mattresses long distances, weight is worth considering if you want something more portable than the plushest car camping pads.

While not self-inflating, the Klymaloft’s straightforward, twist-pull valve made inflation painless with an electric pump. It was also one of the quickest and easiest pads to deflate and pack up, taking fewer than four minutes to fully deflate fully and roll up into its stuff sack. Packed down, it’s roughly the size of a 5-gallon jug—still too large to take backpacking, but significantly smaller than the other single mattresses on this list.

In the world of sustainable product design, the gold standard is circularity—items made so that they can be broken down and remade without a constant input of new materials and output of waste. We’ve never tested a camping pad that achieves that standard—until the Circleback, which uses a TPU air bladder that is 100-percent recyclable and an insulating cover made entirely of recycled and recyclable polyester. When it’s time to retire the pad, Big Agnes will take it back and reuse every last scrap.

Sustainability aside, the Circleback’s modular insulation system is worth close consideration from anyone looking for a classic, do-it-all inflatable sleeping pad. With the removable cover, the Circleback has an R-value of 4.7, making it plenty comfortable in three seasons. One tester stayed warm and snug on an October trip in the North Cascades with overnight temps around freezing. Without the cover, the Circleback becomes a stripped down, lightweight summer pad.

Testers praised the extra polyester insulation, cushioning, and noise-muffling properties the polyester taffeta removable cover affords, but some testers found themselves sliding off the slick surface. “Even at a flat tent site, I woke up a couple mornings on the ground, with the pad next to me,” said a Seattle-based tester who used the 4.5-inch-thick pad on a three-night trip outside of Bozeman, Montana. Keeping the pad at a moderate to low firmness helped, but testers cautioned that it might not be ideal for restless sleepers.

The whole kit packs down to 6-by-13 inches (regular), making it a solid option for short backpacking trips where the priority is comfort over size or weight.

Other Sleeping Pads We Tested

How to Choose Your Sleeping Pad

Foam-Filled vs. Air-Filled Sleeping Pads

Self-inflating foam pads should inflate most of the way within roughly a half hour, depending on the model, and come with inflation sacks or pumps to finish the job. Our favorite pumps have a snug connection point with the pad and a large air chamber that’s easy to roll and push with minimal effort. Campers who don’t want to wait can invest in an electric pump, like Exped’s battery-operated Widget Pump. Almost all foam-insulated camping pads have high enough R-Values for winter camping (above 5), but it’s worth double-checking the rating if your adventures will include sub-freezing nights.

Sleeping Pad R-Value

This ubiquitous term will inevitably crop up when searching for the most appropriate pad for your outdoor activity. R-value is a universal measurement that rates a sleeping pad’s ability to resist heat transfer. R-values in sleeping pads typically range from 1-7, but some go well beyond R-7, especially in the case of car camping pads or expedition-level pads.

A pad with an R-value up to 2 works in temps with an expected nighttime low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit; an R-value between 2 and 3.9 works in temps with an expected nighttime low of 32 degrees; an R-value between 4 and 5.4 works in temps with an expected nighttime low as cold as 15 degrees; and a pad with an R-value of 5.5 or higher works in temps down to an expected nighttime low of zero degrees.

Pads with R-values above 7—such as luxury car camping mattresses, self-inflating foam pads, or heavy-duty expedition mats—offer extreme insulation for subzero temperatures, but also serve cold sleepers in more moderate temps (around freezing). Some premium car camping mattresses or self-inflating pads can reach R-values of 10 or higher, offering maximum comfort and warmth retention. These extremely high R-values are particularly useful when sleeping directly on cold ground or frozen surfaces, or inside unheated vehicles. While backpackers often aim for the lowest R-value that still keeps them safe, car campers may want to consider pads with R-values of 7 or higher since a pad’s weight and packability are not high priorities when accessing a campsite by car.

Does Packability Matter for a Sleeping Pad?

When you’re car camping, packability isn’t as big of a concern as when you’re backpacking and need to cram all of your gear into one bag. For that reason, the best sleeping pads tend to be thick, wide, and much heavier than their backpacking counterparts. Still, if you have a small car or limited storage, packed size might still be a major consideration. Some of the sleeping pads on this list pack down quite small (about the size of a large bag of potato chips), while others are beasts.

What Kind of Materials Do Sleeping Pads Use?

Aim for a higher-denier material on both the top and bottom of the pad, especially if you plan on dragging it outside for stargazing, or share your bed with a canine. While many backpacking pads use nylon uppers for weight savings and better durability, most car camping pads feature a polyester upper material to balance durability and next-to-skin comfort. Some of our favorite car camping mattresses on this list even feature brushed (or peached) polyester or stretch-knit uppers for enhanced comfort.

How We Test Sleeping Pads

Initially, we set up three different camps with 12 mattresses, and invited 13 testers to use them as “guest beds” and provide feedback on comforts or grievances. During the camping trips, we encouraged a lightly feral group of seven children to wrestle and play on the mats to rapid-test their durability. To test air retention in a more controlled setting, we inflated all the mattresses and left them inflated for four days in an insulated garage where temps fluctuated from the high fifties to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Then we hand-tested them. For one last layer of nuance, test director Joe Jackson spent at least one night on every one of these mattresses in a guestroom that he often sleeps in to offer his wife respite from his snoring.

That first test laid the groundwork for this guide, but this is an ever-evolving process. Brands are constantly dropping new products, and likewise, we always keep our ear to the ground for potential contenders. Since that initial test, we’ve called in another seven sleeping pads and camp beds. We sent those newer options out with testers on road trips and car camping missions in the Cascades and the Sierra. After months of testing, our crew filled out detailed review forms. They quantitatively scored aspects like durability and comfort, then dove deeper on qualitative questions. Among them: Did you have any durability concerns? If you tested a two-person mattress, was it roomy enough for two? Would you buy this? Why or why not?

Finally, we cross-referenced those newer reviews with our old favorites before updating this guide. Our goal? To fill any cracks in our coverage and showcase the very best car camping pads that are currently on the market.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Joe Jackson has been testing gear professionally for Outside for over a decade. By his best estimation, he has tested over 75 sleeping pads ranging from gram pinching ultra light backpacking pads to the luxurious mattress-replacing numbers you see on this list.

Drew Zieff is a Tahoe-based freelance writer and globe-trotting powderhound who directs Outside’s snowboard and splitboard coverage in the winters. Before he put roots down in Tahoe, he was a full-time vanlifer, and he currently manages Outside’s testing on rain jackets and car camping gear in the summers.

The 9 Best Sleeping Pads for Camping

Table of Contents

Best Sleeping Pads: At a Glance

Best Overall

Sea To Summit Pursuit Plus

Best Value

Kelty Kush Airbed

Best for Couples

NEMO Roamer Double Sleeping Pad

Best Camp Bed

Zempire Monstabed Twin

Most Luxurious

Exped Megamat Duo

Best for Car Use

Luno AIR + FOAM PRO Camping Mattress

Easiest Inflation

DOD Soto Sleeping Pad

Lightest Foam Mattress

Klymit Insulated Klymaloft Sleeping Pad

Most Sustainable

Big Agnes Circleback