Everybody loves winter camping, right? Are you looking for a camping mattress for side sleepers? Backcountry camping is best done with a small, light pack with only the essentials. But overnight camping requires good sleep with the right camping mattress for side sleepers.
Table of Contents
On a camping vacation, you want to ensure you can get the quality sleep you need to recharge for the next adventure after you exhaust yourself exploring the great outdoors. To do this, you need the best camping sleeping pad for side sleepers to make sleeping outside more comfortable.
To be precise, going back to nature doesn’t have to mean giving up comfort or the back support that conventional mattresses provide. Air mattresses, air pads, and sleeping pads are versatile and built for a good night’s sleep, whether you’re hiking in the mountains or having a backyard sleepover.
How to choose the Best Camping Mattresses?
You need to go through each of the products in the market based on the criteria like product quality, company image, and ethical business practices.
Here is a list of criteria you should consider while choosing the best camping mattresses:
- Customer feedback:
It’s important to read customer reviews to find out how they function. While most of these mattresses are obtainable on Amazon, you should also check reviews from outdoor gear shops like REI and Backcountry.
- Policy and warranty
A camping mattress won’t last as long as the one you buy for your bedroom, even though camping equipment is often robust. Most outdoor equipment manufacturers provide a 2- to 5-year guarantee, though this may differ with a third-party supplier.
- Designed for camping
The products should be designed in a way to withstand the challenges of outdoor use. This calls for using heavier materials, gripping components, and reinforced seams.
- Transparency and the company’s reputation
Products must be bought from reputed brands offering the best-quality outdoor materials.
- Recommendations from experts
Seek advice from experienced campers who share their outdoor experiences with other people
What Makes Up a Great Sleeping System?
To stay dry, it should primarily include a strong waterproof tent, a winter sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad that fits your side sleeping position. For added isolation, you may include a ground tarp, a liner, a cushion, and an eye mask.
This article will cover the basics of choosing the best sleeping pad for side sleepers. It will also suggest a few products you can quickly buy on Amazon.
Types of Sleeping Pads for Camping
Although many sleeping pads exist, inflatable and self-inflating ones are the most comfortable and practical for car camping. This is especially true considering that car camping emphasizes weight and compressed size less than hiking. However, some foam pads are ideal for car camping.
More on that below:
- Foam pads
Depending on the foam type, it may be appropriate for car camping. Although closed-cell foam pads are widely available and fairly affordable, they can be painful to the joints, and their advantage of being lightweight isn’t really necessary for car camping.
On the other hand, memory foam pads can function as a really comfy mattress-like sleeping pad for someone who doesn’t mind traveling with a little more bulk.
- Inflatable pads
You get what you think you are getting with inflatable pads; they are packed with air and hold you off the ground. Inflatable mattresses can be incredibly comfy because you are suspended in them. A side sleeper can provide more comfortable sleep than a self-inflating one.
In general, they’re also lightweight and compact, which is useful if you don’t have a lot of space in your car or want to use your car camping sleeping pad as a backpacking sleeping pad. The downside is that they could pop, leaving you with no padding. Find an inflatable pad that includes a repair kit to counter this.
- Self-inflating Pads
They are a bit misleading. These mats, filled with air and open-cell foam, mostly blow up on their own when rolled out and given time to expand. To bring them to the proper firmness for you, you must top them off with additional air. They’re usually heavier and bulkier than inflatable, which isn’t much of a problem for car camping but will rule them out for lighter-weight trips. They are frequently built of stronger materials and are less prone to pop than inflatable pads. Even if they do leak, the foam should still be comfortable.
Best Camping Mattress for Side Sleepers
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Ultralight Backpacking Air Mattress
Regular campers would be aware of Therm-a-Rest as a trusted manufacturer of sleeping pads. Therefore, even while the price may put you off, consider it a worthwhile investment, especially if you want to buy one for extensive usage.
Depending on your desire, you can choose between the Standard Valve and the WingLock Valve; however, the latter makes it easier to inflate and deflate the pad quickly!
Pros
- It keeps you warm
- It is comfy
- Highly durable
- It contains a repair kit
Cons
- It is priced higher
- It can be extremely slippery
Sleepingo Camping Sleeping Pad
This is certainly the greatest sleeping pad under $50 that meets all your requirements for a quality pad. Although it might not withstand harsh weather, it is water-resistant to prevent moisture buildup.
Even though it just has a 2-inch thickness, it is highly durable. It’s also designed to be noise-free, which is a big bonus for side sleepers.
Pros
- A top-rated low-cost sleeping pad
- Side sleepers will like the distinctive baffle design.
- It just takes 8–15 breaths to fill up, making inflating very simple.
- Ripstop fabric is extremely durable.
Cons
- Low insulation makes it unsuitable for below-freezing weather.
- Size options are limited.
Nemo Tensor Ultralight Sleeping Pad
The greatest advantage of Nemo’s Air pad is its variety of options, allowing you to select one that meets your needs quickly.
Also, side sleepers benefit greatly from noise reduction technologies because we move around a lot in the pad.
Pros
- Backpackers’ ultralight and small sleeping pad
- There are so many options to accommodate every type of sleeper! The best sleeping pad for tall people
- It’s thick enough to provide padding for side sleepers to rest their joints comfortably.
Cons
- Relatively costly
- Only suitable for mild weather conditions
- It can be not easy to swiftly inflate and deflate the pad.
Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
If you sleep on your side and are tired of waking up with various joint issues, you should try this. The pad raises you off the ground, but not so high that you feel like floating.
The specially designed baffle pattern specifically supports a steady pressure point. Morning joint pain is no longer an issue.
Pros
- Priced reasonably
- Lightweight backpacking gear
- When packed, it is compact
- Within 12 to 15 breaths, it can expand
Cons
- It’s quite pricey.
- The R-value is insufficient for extreme weather, even though it is a 4-season pad.
Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite Self-Inflating Foam Camping Pad
Therm-a-Rest, the brand that introduced air pads to the market, continues to make explorers’ lives easier by producing products that are guaranteed to last and are simple to use.
Additionally, this pad contains a Standard Vale and a WingLock Vale. To avoid the problem of air loss, it’s best first to fill the sleeping pad to its full capacity.
Pros
- It is very small and light in weight
- It is quite pleasant to sleep in
- A long-lasting option
Cons
- Due to the lack of baffles, the surface can be rather slippery
- It does not self-inflate. So you might have to do it manually, which won’t take long.
- Winter camping is not recommended
Big Agnes Sleeping Pad Insulated Trail Boss
Without question, this is a costly alternative. However, this Big Agnus sleeping pad meets industry standards as with its other items. You may use it for a long time because of its amazing build quality, which many users have praised.
It has received reviews from places other than Amazon to give the user a deep insight of it. The thick surface and honeycomb pattern make it a non-slippery, perfect surface for side sleepers to fall asleep on!
Pros
- Extremely durable
- It includes an antibacterial treatment system built in to prevent mold and microbe growth
- Because of the thick material, it is one of the best camping sleeping pads for side sleepers
Cons
- Extremely costly
- It may not be suitable for use in extreme weather conditions
Exped MegaMat Lite 12 Sleeping Pad
With this sleeping pad, you can put an end to all those sleep-deprived camping trips when you would wake up daydreaming about your cozy mattress at home. Even though it can seem expensive, it does the job quite well.
However, it may not be the finest pad for hiking and backpacking, so keep that in mind!
Pros
- Extra-thick cushioning pad. Ideal for side sleepers
- Exceptionally comfortable
- 5-year warranty
- The 2-valve mechanism makes it simple to inflate and deflate.
- Excellent durability
Cons
- If your joints get caught in the vertical design’s seams, you might feel a little uncomfortable
- It is quite heavy and substantial because, when rolled up, it is only half as big as a typical sleeping pad
- Relatively costly
Conclusion
So, getting a decent night’s sleep when traveling was difficult, but modern sleeping mats have much improved on earlier models. With cutting-edge baffling and cell designs, comfort is better than ever, weight and packed size continue to decrease, and you can have all the insulation and warmth you need for cold weather.
Also, Car camping has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about weight or pack size. You can focus more on comfort if it reasonably fits in your car.