A good night's sleep is important for us to be well-rested, which in turn allows us to feel mentally and physically stronger in the morning and then make the most of our day.
Sleeping on an uncomfortable bed can mess with this, making us feel tired and lethargic, not ideal if we only have a few days to enjoy a camping adventure.
There are many sleeping options in the bush, but a good mattress, whether on the ground, stretcher or caravan will ensure you sleep well and are at your best.
| Zempire Monstamat Self-Inflating Mattress | Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Mat | BlackWolf 2D Mega Deluxe Single Mattress | Coleman Queen Size Double High Quickbed w/ 240V Pump | Exped MegaMat 10 LXW Camp Mat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Pick  |  |  |  |  | |
198 x 69 cm | 183 x 55 cm | 198 x 77 cm | 198 x 152 cm | 197 x 77 cm | |
30D Ripstop Top, 75D Poly Pongee Base | 30/40D Ripstop Nylon | 100D Poly/Cotton with TPU coating | PVC with Flocked Top | 50D Tricot Nylon Top, Polyester Base | |
Anti-bacterial treated open cell foam | Thermolite® | Anti-fungal CFC free foam | Air | Air | |
10 cm | 5 cm | 10 cm | 18 cm | 10 cm | |
3.1 kg | 0.48 kg | 3 kg | 8.4 kg | 2.51 kg | |
2 years | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | 1 year | 5 years | |
Best Camping Mattresses Australia
Zempire Monstamat Single Self-Inflating Mattress
Our Pick
The Zempire Monstamat is a self-inflating mattress that is lightweight and super durable, providing you with years of comfortable sleeping.
The mattress uses durable polyester for its base allowing you to use it right on the open ground if needed without any damage and uses several innovations to reduce moisture damaging the inside over time.
The self-inflating mattress uses a one-way valve and takes about 10-15 mins to inflate on its own without you having to pump in the air which makes setup simple. There have been some reported issues with the adhesive around the valve not working properly over time, but this appears to be very minor.
Overall this is a highly rated mattress that is the right weight, size and price, and most importantly – it’s very comfortable to sleep on wherever you happen to be.
They also work well as swag mattresses.
Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Mat
Best For Summer Hiking
When you love to travel very lightweight or are out hiking overnight, you want to have a comfortable night’s sleep, but with as little extra weight as possible.
The Sea to Summit is an ultralight sleeping mat, coming in at under half a kilo that is easy to use and aims to provide you with a good night’s sleep. It has a durable base so you can sleep straight on the ground if need be too.
Overall this mattress gets mostly high reviews as it's lightweight, easy to fill with air and weighs very little. However, enough people are complaining that it deflates by itself in the middle of the night to be a consideration when buying this camping mattress.
Also, it does not hold any heat and there are complaints in sub-zero temperatures of the mattress being very cold. Still, given it’s made of quality materials and is so lightweight and comfortable, hikers will find it hard to beat.
BlackWolf 2D Mega Deluxe Single Mattress
Runner Up
Another self-inflating mattress that offers a great night's sleep is the Blackwolf 2D Mega Deluxe Single mattress. Like the Zempire Monstamat, this mattress uses a changeable one-way valve to self-inflate once turned to the right position in about 15 mins.
Coupled with a durable base and a comfortable stretchy top layer, this enables you to sleep just about anywhere.
It has velcro strips down the sides that allow you to place two or more of these together to create a mega bed inside your tent quickly and easily.
This mattress is hard to fault with almost all reviews being overly positive, with the only negative that the thickness may reduce if you use this every single night for years.
This is a great mattress for a couple to buy as you can use them together or as a single mattress giving you a great night’s sleep.
Coleman Queen Size Double High Quickbed w/built in 240V Pump
Budget Double Bed
If you don’t often camp and when you do it’s not for very long and you are a couple living together – then the Coleman Queen Quickbed may be suitable for you.
This is the lowest priced bed here, cheaper than all the singles even though it’s double the size and honestly, that’s because it’s not that comfortable. It’s larger, needs an electric pump to fill in a reasonable time frame and is made from a more plastic feeling type of PVC.
For a single person sleeping on it, it's quite good, but when it’s used by two people, its intended design – then not so much.
Reports of ‘it feels like sleeping on a jumping castle’ and ‘every time one person moves the other wakes up’ are not what you want to read or hear, yet this is a common thread with user reviews.
Coupled with some deflation issues and Coleman themselves stating it’s good for a spare bedroom – this can only really be recommended for couples with a spare room on a budget.
A better couples camping solution is to buy two Blackwolf Deluxe mattresses and place them together, provided you can afford this.
Exped MegaMat 10 LXW Camp Mat
Best Heavy Duty Option
There are three contenders for best mattress on this list and the MegaMat 10 LXW is definitely one of those three.
Like the Zempire Monstamat and the BlackWolf Mega Deluxe, this mattress self inflates and provides a super comfortable night’s sleep. It’s the same thickness as the others but has additional padding underneath making it more suitable for heavier people.
There are tons of positive reviews for this mattress, but before you run out and buy one, be aware of this; it doesn’t fit side by side as well as the Blackwolf for couples and costs almost $400, which is double the other two similar single mattresses.
If you are on the heavier side and can afford this price tag, you will be rewarded with an extremely comfortable night's sleep.
What To Look For When Buying Camping Mattresses
There are a number of factors to take into consideration when buying your next camping mattress that will help you find the most appropriate for you. Remember a good night's sleep is the aim here.
Budget
This is always a consideration with any equipment and with a camping mattress you can spend a lot or not much at all.
A higher-priced mattress should last you longer as it’s made from more durable materials and should provide you with a great night’s sleep due to its design. Electric pumps can be an expensive add-on, so keep that in mind too.
Inflation Style
This is important as this can affect ease of setup.
- Standard breath inflation - requires you to use your breath or an external pump and takes 5-10 mins
- Electric air inflation – comes with an electric pump, may need a battery or a vehicle to use and takes 2-3 min
- Self-inflating – uses a specific valve to inflate on its own, can take 10-15 mins
Mattress Profile
Mattresses usually come in either higher or lower profiles.
Low profile mattresses can be used on camp stretchers very easily. Higher profile mattresses come with an extra base underneath or an extra high inflated section and are better suited to sleeping straight on the ground or inside of your tent.
Single or Double
Your sleeping arrangements are important too. If you like to sleep with your partner close by then a large queen-sized mattress may be the best buy, like the Coleman Queen.
Or you can look at individual mattresses that work well side by side like the Blackwolf 2D Megamat.
Some larger queens do have issues where when one person moves, the air inside the mattress moves around, making the other person move too, often waking them up in the process.
Sleeping Style
People who sleep on their stomach, for example, are better suited to a harder mattress so their neck doesn’t get strained.
People who sleep on their back can generally sleep on any kind of mattress, while those who like to sleep on their sides would prefer a thicker, softer mattress to support their hips and shoulders.
Durability and Health
These are also issues to consider as many mattresses now come with anti-bacterial or anti-fungal properties to ensure they don’t become a haven for bad pathogens or bacteria.
These properties usually make the whole mattress more durable and will last longer as a result. This is something to be mindful of if you are breath inflating an old mattress that smells mouldy.
Camping Mattresses FAQ
How thick should a camping mattress be?
A mattress that includes both air and foam inside is a minimum of 10 cm in thickness, while others can be 15 cm or even 20 cm with extra padding. This ensures your hips and shoulders don't end up touching the cold ground or floor underneath.
What kind of mattress is good for camping?
Any mattress is good for camping, it’s all about how comfortable you want to be when sleeping. The composite foam and air self-inflating mattresses are easy to use and hard to go wrong with, but just an air mattress or a thin layer of foam works too.
What's better for camping, a cot or air mattress?
It's a matter of individual comfortability. Some people prefer to be on a stretcher off the ground, others are happy sleeping on an air mattress on the ground. The best idea would be to combine two to have an air mattress on a cot or camp stretcher.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, we all want a good night's sleep. We take the time and money to make sure we have a good bed and mattress at home, so it makes sense to ensure you have the same when out camping.
For hikers or minimalist campers, the ultra-lightweight Sea to Summit inflating mattress is an easy choice.
For couples or singles, the Zempire Monstamat and Blackwolf Mega Deluxe are the best choices for all-around ease to use, comfort and pricing. They also both do well when paired with a second unit.
Remember, the better night’s sleep you have the better rested and more you will achieve throughout the next day so if there was an item worth spending a little more on when you are buying camping equipment – your sleeping mattress is definitely one of them.
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
