Sleeping outdoors is an experience everyone should enjoy. The best way to get some shut-eye when sleeping under the stars is to invest in a sleeping mat that suits your budget, activity, and sleeping position. We’re proud to stock a wide range of the best sleeping mats for campers including self-inflating mats, sleeping pads, and budget-friendly roll mats. We even stock a section of luxurious high-rise single airbeds and double airbeds. Looking for a lightweight option? Then our collection of innovative self-inflating mats from Exped, Berghaus, and VANGO are worth investing in. If weight or pack size is no issue, then our airbeds and large inflatable mattresses are the ideal options for family camping trips and home sleepovers.
What is the purpose of a sleeping mat?
The main function of a sleeping mat is to provide insulation from the ground through conduction. A good mat adapts to the terrain, contouring for a more comfortable sleeping experience. Mats are more packable and compact than bags, although they are often used in conjunction with each other for a more comfortable camping experience.
What types of sleeping mats are there?
Sleeping mats come in different variations that will invariably suit different camping needs -
Self-Inflating Mat - Becoming increasingly popular is the self-inflating mat, often constructed with an open cell foam that automatically expands and fills with air reducing the need for manual construction, allowing for easy setup, simple deconstruction, and compact portability, ideal for those travelling with little storage space. As it is expanded with air, this type can be vulnerable to punctures.
Inflatable Mat – Sharing similar properties to the above, the inflatable mat is constructed with expanding cell foams, however it requires manual construction. While this may increase construction time it brings the benefit of allowing for the constructer to choose the firmness of the mat which is not possible on an automatic system. Again, it is compact and easily packable for added convenience making this a great choice for lightweight outdoor adventure. It may be considered less durable than a foam variation as it can be susceptible to punctures.
Foam Mat – Considered by many to be the ‘classic’ mat, the foam camping mat offers good insulation from the ground and provides strong durability qualities. The main downside of this kind of mat is that it is often bulkier and more difficult to pack up.
Closed Cell Foam Mat – Packed in tighter than other forms of mats, this type provides exceptional insulating properties whilst retaining the excellent durability properties of the traditional foam mat. However, it is often considered that this type of mat is less comfortable than the others on the list.