An in-depth test of camping mattresses means we spent many nights outside! We took all the mattresses in this review camping — sleeping on them in tents, in the back of pickup trucks and vans, and on the bare ground. On multi-night trips, we changed mattresses each night to compare them in similar conditions and to get the best possible comparison between different models.
We also lent the mattresses to friends heading out on their own adventures and even took a couple of them on journeys that required flights across the country. Lastly, many of these mattresses were used indoors when friends and family came to visit. The cumulative knowledge gained from all these nights out gave us a good idea of the relative strengths and weaknesses of each mattress.
Comfort
Comfort is the most important metric in testing for camping mattresses. You are more likely to sleep well if you are comfortable, and when you sleep well, your tired muscles can recover for more fun outside. While comfort can be subjective, we consider whether a mattress can be adjusted to suit personal tastes. We evaluate bounciness, which will ruin a night's sleep and is extra important with two-person beds. We set up camp under trees and in the desert to assess whether roots or rocks could be felt through the bottom of the mattress. The material on the sleeping surface is also important to consider — is it noisy when you move around? Does it feel nice to the touch, or will your skin stick to it? All of these factors contribute to the overall comfort score.
Ease of Use
This metric is tested by setting up the mattresses for use and putting them away again. The first time using something can be quite different from how it performs after multiple uses, so we do this a lot. We have different people set up and roll up the mattresses to evaluate the ease of use for different folks. How long does it take to get the mattress inflated? How easy is it to deflate a mattress and pack it back in the car? While this may not seem like a critical metric, a mattress that takes a long time to inflate, deflate, or is difficult to pack can put some kinks into your camping trip.
Warmth
Not everyone thinks about warmth when they think of camping mattresses, but it turns out that what is underneath you is as important as what covers you up. Mattresses are rated with an R-Value, a measure of the material's ability to resist the transfer of heat. If you are sleeping on air, your body heat will feel like it is being drained away, no matter how warm your sleeping bag is. In all but the warmest temperatures, you will be more comfortable with some insulation beneath you. We take these mattresses out in as many environments as possible, in as wide a range of temperatures as possible. We try them on the ground and in vehicles and take note of when the chill starts to creep in.
Versatility
When we look at versatility, we evaluate whether a camping mattress can be used in multiple ways or with your existing camping gear. We measure whether they will fit into standard tents or truck beds. While these mattresses are not intended to suit the needs of a weight-conscious backpacker, some of them pack down pretty small. Can they do double duty for other activities like bike-packing? Can they fit in a duffel in the overhead compartment of an airplane? Are they comfortable enough to offer to guests in your home?
Packed Size
Camping mattresses are luxe by design. The assumption is that you are camping, so you aren't carrying your gear a great distance. Weight and size are not as critical as they are for backpacking. However, if you have a small vehicle, several people in your family, or limited storage at home, packed size should be considered. Part of the testing process is checking the packed size after many uses when the mattress has lost the factory roll and the foam cells have been fully inflated many times.
