There are very few things that can tank morale on a camping trip like a bad night of sleep. Fortunately, with all the stellar sleeping pad options out there, there’s no reason for your gear to prevent you from getting your beauty sleep, especially when you’re car camping and you’ve got the room to go big. We tested a variety of pads (and even cots) that prioritize comfort over weight and packability—from smart options designed for literal car campers to pads so plush they can pull double duty as a guest room mattress. These are our favorites.

　　At a Glance Best Overall: Exped LuxeMat (from $350) Most Sustainable: Big Agnes Circleback ($250) Best Value: REI Co-Op Camp Dreamer Double Bed ($279) Best Guest Room Mattress: Big Agnes Captain Comfort (from $250) Best for Literal Car Campers: Exped MegaMat Auto ($400) Honorable Mention: REI Co-Op Campwell Folding Cot ($100) How to Choose Your Sleeping Pad How We Test Meet Our Lead Testers All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

　　Best Overall Exped LuxeMat From $350 at Exped

　　Weight: 6.6 lbs (medium wide)

　　Thickness: 4

　　Available sizes: Medium wide; long extra wide

　　Dimensions: 72 x 25.6 77.6 x 30.3

　　R-Value: 7.2

　　Pros and Cons

　　⊕ Comfortable natural fiber exterior

　　⊕ Convenient wide-mouth carry bag

　　⊗ Can be difficult to deflate entirely

　　Every tester who slept on Exped’s LuxeMat had the same initial response: “It felt like I was sleeping on my bed at home.” The brand achieved this “real mattress” comfort with an extra-cush self-inflating PU-foam core mattress and a quilted natural fiber topper. One tester slept on it for a week on their bedroom floor while waiting for her regular mattress to be delivered without any noticeable leakage or discomfort.

　　The four-way stretch organic cotton face fabric, quilted to wool insulation, has just the right amount of give to conform supportively to the shape of the user’s body, with the added luxury of wool’s breathability and cotton’s soft next-to-skin feel. “The top felt like a bed sheet, not a camping mattress,” said one tester, who used the LuxeMat on a 40-degree June night in Wyoming. “And, since the cotton fabric is grippier than the synthetic materials used on the exterior of a lot of the camping pads I’ve tried, my sleeping bag wasn’t slipping all over it.”

　　At 25.6 inches across, 72 inches long, and four inches thick, the medium-wide LuxeMat (the smaller of two available sizes) is roomy enough for nighttime tossing and turning, but isn’t inordinately bulky to transport and store. The mattress’s sides and base are a durable 210D recycled ripstop polyester fabric that didn’t show a single scratch even after repeatedly being dragged between the tent and rocky Washington beaches for oceanside naps. Zippers on the sides can be used to secure sleeping bags and quilts, or to attach another LuxeMat to make a camp bed for two. A pocket on each side (one stretch, one zipper) is perfect for storing phones and glasses overnight.

　　The mat self-inflates, but you’ll need the included foot pump to top it off and reach your desired pressure—a simple and quick process; getting all the air out during deflation proved a little tricker. Since the wide-mouthed, 30-by-8-inch carry bag can easily accommodate the extra bloating, our testers didn’t mind, but it’s something to consider if you’re worried about every inch of storage space.

　　Most Sustainable Big Agnes Circleback $250 at Big Agnes $250 at Campsaver

　　Weight: 2.1 lbs

　　Thickness: 4.5

　　Available sizes: Regular; long

　　Dimensions: 72 x 25 78 x 25

　　R-Value: 4.7

　　Pros and Cons

　　⊕ Circularly recyclable

　　⊕ Versatile

　　⊗ Hard to fit back into the stuff sack

　　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 Seattle-based tester Maeve Axtell, 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 Axtell cautioned that it might not be ideal for restless sleepers.

　　Despite the pad’s laudable comfort, the whole kit packs down to 6 x 13 inches (regular), making it a solid option for short backpacking trips where the priority is comfort over size or weight.

　　Best Value REI Camp Dreamer Double Bed $279 at REI

　　Weight: 9.3 lbs

　　Thickness: 4

　　Available sizes: XL (Single Person); double

　　Dimensions: 78 x 55

　　Pros and Cons

　　⊕ Easy inflation

　　⊕ Soft

　　⊕ Easy to pack

　　⊗ Slow deflation

　　At less than $300, the Camp Dreamer Double is one of the most affordable two-person sleeping pads in the high-end memory foam mattress category, with little sacrifice to comfort or durability.

　　Like many pads in this niche market, the Camp Dreamer uses horizontal polyurethane foam cores to provide stability and cushion, offering 4-inches of lift—less than some of the more deluxe models, but, for most sleepers, plenty plush and warm (with a cold weather-friendly R-Value of 6.6). After a 30 minute self-inflation time, the included pump sack delivered the final plumping through a designated inflation valve. “It’s convenient enough that I’ve started bringing it even if it’s just me and the dog,” says category manager Ryan Stuart.

　　The stretch 30-denier recycled polyester top fabric was soft next to skin and quiet, while the 75-denier bottom was tough enough to handle a gravel parking lot. Deflation was a bit arduous—we took a cat nap halfway through the two minute process—but once collapsed, it slid into a stuff sack the size of a large bear canister without a fight.

　　At 55 inches wide (two inches wider than most standard double mattresses) and with all the bells-and-whistles of higher-priced competitors, the Camp Dreamer Double is a no-compromise solution for comfort-seeking couples.

　　Best Guest Room Mattress Big Agnes Captain Comfort $300 at Backcountry (Double) $250 at Big Agnes (Single)

　　Weight: 6.4 lbs

　　Thickness: 5

　　Available sizes: Single; double

　　Dimensions: 78” x 30 72” x 41 78” x 52”

　　Pros and Cons

　　⊕ Super wide and supportive

　　⊗ Hard to get back into stuff-sack

　　It looks like camping pad, but, according to our testers, it sure doesn’t sleep like one. “Felt more like my mattress at home,” reported Ryan Van Horne, a Campbell River, B.C.-based tester.

　　The 50-denier polyester face fabric is cotton-soft and stretchy, and the high density foam, with horizontal coring for compression, creates a firm and supportive feel right to the edges. After self-inflating, just a couple of breaths topped it up to five inches high and 30 inches wide, with a winter-rated R-value of 8.3. It gobbles up tent space, but provides plenty of room to toss and turn. “I could sprawl like I do at home,” says category manager Ryan Stuart, who used it on a mountain biking road trip in the B.C. Interior. Our only complaint came when it was time to pack up—we struggled to get the pad small enough to fit into its included stuff sack.

　　The 75-denier polyester bottom fabric is about average for the category, and we didn’t notice any durability issues after normal use and abuse. The Captain Comfort lived up to its name with solid sleeps, even over rocky, stick-ridden campgrounds.

　　Best for Literal Car Campers Exped MegaMat Auto $400 at REI $400 at Exped

　　Weight: 8.5 lbs

　　Thickness: 4

　　Available sizes: One size

　　Dimensions: 76 x 52 (top width; bottom width is 39)

　　Pros and Cons

　　⊕ Specifically contoured to fit in a car

　　⊕ Warm

　　⊕ Stable

　　⊗ Expensive

　　Exped designed this pad specifically to turn the back of a Tesla Model X into a glass-ceilinged bedroom, but it also happens to work perfectly in most other compact SUVs, wagons, and even truck beds.

　　The head of the T-shaped pad is 52 inches wide, filling up a three-seat back row or a three-person backpacking tent before slimming down to 39 inches to fit around wheel wells. Standing four inches high, it does an admirable job of smoothing out the bumps and humps of a vehicle’s interior.

　　Cracking the dedicated inflation valve nearly filled the open-cell foam pad on its own, and it tops off easily with the included hand/foot-style pump. Ryan Van Horne, a Campbell River, B.C.-based tester, reported that it held full inflation for six days of base camping on a rock climbing trip to Quadra Island. It deflates surprisingly quickly for such a big pad, and the roll-top- style stuff sack swallowed it without a struggle.

　　Rated to R-8.1, it’s plenty warm for winter use. Wherever we used it—in a Subaru Outback or a tent, solo or with a partner—the brushed 50-denier polyester top was, in the words of one tester, “wonderfully soft and quiet.” The open cell PU foam didn’t transmit movement, either—Van Horne slept right through the night next to a fidgety partner.

　　Honorable Mention REI Co-Op Campwell Folding Cot $100 at REI

　　Weight: 17.8 lbs

　　Sizes: One size

　　Dimensions: 76” x 25” x 18”

　　Pros and Cons

　　⊕ Easy to set up

　　⊕ Supportive

　　⊗ Not insulated

　　⊗ Heavy

　　A cot is a nice sleeping option for anyone looking for a bit of extra structure or a setup that more closely resembles their bed at home. Our 78-year-old tester was pleased to be able to spare their stiff, aging muscles the chore of standing up from the ground first thing in the morning after sleeping on the Campwell folding cot in Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains.

　　Even younger testers who prefer traditional sleeping pads said that if they were to get a cot, they’d opt for this one. “It was so easy to set up, and much more supportive than my old inflatable pad,” said Virginia-based tester Peggy Lynch. The Campwell doesn’t have any built-in cushioning—the top is a layer of sturdy 300-denier recycled polyester fabric. But Lynch reported sleeping well with a foam pad stacked on top, which also provided insulation.

　　While many foldable cots are bulky and awkward to carry (and the ones made of multiple pieces are a chore to set up), this one fits in a tubular bag approximately the size and shape of a typical folding camp chair. At 17.8 pounds, it’s not exactly lightweight, but a carry strap makes it easy to transport over short distances, storage is easy thanks to its accordion-style folding mechanism, and setup takes less than 30 seconds. Blocky feet protect the tent floor from the cot’s steel legs, creating a wide, stable base.

　　How to Choose Your Sleeping Pad Foam-Filled vs. Air-Filled We recommend picking a modern, self-inflating, foam-filled pad. A purely air-filled pad might save money, but won’t be nearly as warm, comfortable, or supportive.

　　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 5.0), but it’s worth double-checking if your adventures will include sub-freezing nights.

　　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. A pad with an R-value of up to 2 works in temps with an expected nighttime low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit; an R-value between 2 to 3.9 works in temps with an expected nighttime low of 32 degrees; an R-value between 4 to 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.

　　Packability 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 backpack. 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.

　　Material 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.

　　How We Test Unlike lightweight sleeping pads used for backpacking, the pads we focused on for this category ignored the confines of weight and size and embraced the luxury of toting your bedding in the trunk of your car. They’re thick. They’re wide. They’re cozy.

　　We tried 15 different pads in vehicles, under the stars, and even took a couple of the lightest on a backpacking trip, checking for faulty valves, evaluating ease of use, and, most importantly, vetting comfort level.

　　Category manager Miyo McGinn slept on four different pads for at least a week each in her bedroom, making the best of a bad situation after she pulled a back muscle and couldn’t get comfortable on her bed’s worn-out mattress. McGinn spent 18 nights on the Exped Luxemat, our favorite pick this year, and can confidently say that it was just as comfortable as her new deluxe memory-foam replacement mattress that finally came in the mail.

　　Meet Our Lead Testers Miyo McGinn is an assistant editor at Outside based in Bozeman, Montana. She has camped in a dozen different states and four continents, but Washington state, where she grew up, will always be her favorite place to pitch a tent. Miyo got her start reviewing gear as Outside’s gear editorial assistant in 2021.

　　Ryan Stuart usually sleeps better on a sleeping pad than on his bed at home. After innumerable nights spent beach camping for surf, mountain bike road-tripping, and bumming around crags across the West, Stuart has become a discerning connoisseur of luxurious car camp mattresses. For this category he tapped a team of avid campers all based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.