When it comes to camping in the great outdoors, bar bringing in a four poster bed, there really is no better way to kip than on a camp bed. Runner up would go to an inflatable mattress, but if all else fails, a camping mat will stand you in good stead.
Yet, while they may be at the bottom of a normal pile, there are plenty of pros to opting for a camping mat above all others.
For one, they’re incredibly compact and light, making them ideal for solo campers and festival-goers for whom space is a premium.
Secondly they don’t require an electric pump to inflate - one less thing to carry or remember batteries for. And, while foam mats offer barely any cushioning or insulation against the cold ground, inflatable camping mats rise to typically 10cm, giving adequate squish on which to catch those precious 40 winks.
If you’re worried about being so close to the floor, add a foil layer between your mat and your tent’s groundsheet to help retain heat.
Best inflatable camping mats at a glance
- Best for lofty(ish) height: TREKOLOGY Self Inflating Camping Mat - £46.50, Amazon
- Best for self-inflating: Mountain Warehouse Ultimate Self Inflating Mat - £34.99, Mountain Warehouse
- Best for integrated pillow: Aksoul Camping Sleeping Self Inflating Mat - £26.98, Amazon
- Best for side sleepers: Berghaus Peak Compact Self Inflating Mat - £29, Go Outdoors
- Best for sharing with a friend: Trail Outdoor Double Self-Inflating Mat - £39.99, Amazon
- Best for extra space: Berghaus Double Self Inflating Mat - £149, Go Outdoors
- Best for general outdoor lounging: Eurohike Lazi Lounger - £22, Blacks
- Best for fast set-up: Quechua Self-Inflating Camping Mattress Comfort 65cm - £39.99 Decathlon
We’ve rounded up the lightest, most compact options below to help you get decent shut-eye when you’re camping out.
See our favourites below
TREKOLOGY Self Inflating Camping Mat
Best for: lofty(ish) height
One of the most respected names in the business, regular campers adore Trekology, an outdoors company based in Portland, Oregon USA.
One of its standout products is this self-inflating camping mat, which offers a glorious 12.5cm of height when fully inflated - more than any other on our list. This does mean it’s slightly heavier though, at just over 1kg packed.
However, the curved sides to stop you rolling off mid-snooze and the integrated pillow (20cm high) justifies the extra weight. When it’s time to go, the mat folds down into a compact carrying bag measuring 27.5cm x 12.5cm.
Buy now £46.50, Amazon
Mountain Warehouse Ultimate Self Inflating Mat
Best for: self-inflating
Tapered to fit your body shape, this mat goes from 17cm x 28cm rolled to 180cm x 50cm when inflated, making it ideal for festivals and short camping adventures. You won’t break a sweat when inflating it either - it’s simply a case of opening the valve and letting the design do the hard work while you get on with the rest of your set up.
The robust fabric features heavy duty ripstop technology, isolating tears and cuts so that they don’t run riot over the rest of the design. It’s available in one size only, so it’s best for campers who are 5”8 or less.
Buy now £34.99, Mountain Warehouse
Aksoul Camping Sleeping Self Inflating Mat
Best for: integrated pillow
Say goodbye to annoying pebbles and uneven ground: you won’t feel a thing laying upon this plush mat, which inflates to 10cm high to keep you off the ground. There’s even an integrated inflatable pillow (all plumped up with a foot pump), meaning there’s even less things to remember to pack on your outdoors adventure.
Three see-through patches are included to see off any tears and there are poppers on the side so you can attach two mattresses together and create one large sleeping area. Durable and waterproof, it’s comfortable for sleepers weighing up to 200kg.
Inflates to 196 × 69 × 10cm, from a folded size of 30 × 14 × 8cm, and weighs 830g.
Buy now £26.98, Amazon
Berghaus Peak Compact Self Inflating Mat
Best for: side sleepers
Bank a great night’s kip on Berghaus’ self-inflating mat, made with hard-wearing ripstop fabric to keep it in use for many camping trips to come. The wide design makes it one for side-sleepers but at 119cm in length, it’s suitable for shorter sleepers more than tall. It comes with a matching green carry bag and rolls up to 29 x 11cm when packed.
Buy now £29.00, Go Outdoors
Trail Outdoor Double Self-Inflating Mat
Best for: sharing with a friend
Great news if you happen to be sharing a tent: it means you can split a ton of essentials, like your sleeping mat.
This extra-large self-inflating design can sleep two campers and is fitted with an expanding foam core which not only offers additional support but adds a layer of insulation between you and the ground too.
Fully inflated, it measures around L186cm x W110cm x D2.5cm but packs up to H55cm x W16cm x D16cm (approx.) in its carry bag.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Berghaus Double Self Inflating Mat
Best for: extra space
Measuring 201 x 132 x 10cm when inflated, this camping mat is perfect for those who like extra wiggle room when snoozing under the stars. Open the self-inflating valve to get the bed at full tilt and ready to lay on. A flocked finish on the top helps to stop your sleeping bag sliding about.
Buy now £149.00, Go Outdoors
Eurohike Lazi Lounger
Best for: general outdoor lounging
Not a mat but a lightweight sleeping option nonetheless, this lounger makes a great temporary bed for a few nights in the great outdoors. Essentially it’s one giant windsock that becomes inflated using air-catching technology - you’ll need to find a hill or a clearing and run with it open to ‘catch’ air inside it. Once netted, tie and secure the straps, et voila! A comfy bed for the night.
Buy now £22.00, Blacks
Quechua Self-Inflating Camping Mattress Comfort 65cm
Best for: fast set-up
Lightweight at just 1.7kg and tested at least 200 times, this durable camping mattress means you can kick back and relax quicker once you get to your pitch. It's 1.8-inches thick, which should be enough to prop you away from the worst of floor debris and dampness. If there's more than one of you camping or you just fancy a bigger pit to roll around, the mattress can be clipped onto another to form a bigger bed.
Buy now £39.99, Decathlon
