Some of the best vacations don’t really feel like vacations at all. People often think about a vacation as something that needs to be relaxing, or they need to take a load off. For the most part, this is true, but it takes different shapes for different folks. Many people who spend their lives in offices, sitting down, or in long commutes have no interest in just lounging around for a week. Many of these folks want to get up early, do something physical all day, and wear themselves out. And many of these folks do it while camping.
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There is nothing better than seeing the sun rise with a hot cup of coffee, dew still crowding the blades of cheatgrass before the sun foils its claim of gathered water. Campers like to start early and wring as much as possible out of the day. After a good fire-roasted meal, there is nothing a weary body needs more than a good night’s sleep. And this is what we’re here to discuss today. There are thousands of published papers validating the importance of sleep. We don’t need to go down that route. But the quality of sleep is something that should be considered on every camping trip. The big decision comes down to three candidates for camping bedding: a cot, an air mattress, and a sleeping pad.
There is no right or wrong answer in this competition, but there are some right and wrong scenarios. A sleepless night is the best way to ruin a camping trip. So, let’s build out a proper camping bedding guide to make sure all your bases are covered.
The Sleeping Pad: Lightest Option, Biggest Trade-off
Put simply, the sleeping pad is the backpacker’s answer. If it’s a quick overnight trip, it will do in a pinch. Or, if the temps are ideal for open-air sleeping, a pad is good to throw down on the ground for light rest that’s better than nothing. When every ounce matters, this is the sleeping option you want, but if you want to fit out a bell tent or a cabin tent that was packed in the back of a vehicle, then the pad is the wrong tool for the job.
The sleeping pad’s primary function isn’t comfort; it’s insulation. Even the thinner versions create a thermal barrier between your body and the cold ground. Regardless of how good your sleeping bag is, the cold ground pulls heat from your body all night long. Keeping a barrier with a sleeping pad is the first line of defense. Sleeping pads are rated on an R-value: it’s resistance to heat flow. A summer camping pad is typically in the R-1 or R-2 range. A four-season pad runs R-4 and above.
For sleeping pads, there are really two types:
- Foam Pads: Indestructible and cheap ($20-$50), these have zero puncture risk and are reliably uncomfortable for anyone over the age of 30. As mentioned above, these are best for backpacking or in a pinch. They are nice to have in the camping kit to throw under anything else.
- Inflatable / Self-inflating Pads: These are more comfortable, and they work by forming an air layer between you and the ground. It slows the heat transfer and has a significantly higher R-value. These can reasonably range from $ 50 to $ 200 and are available double-wide for a couple’s backpacking trip.
Typical Use Cases: Backpackers, ultralight campers, anyone covering miles between camps.
The Air Mattress: The Comfort Leader, with Caveats
If the goal when you’re camping is to be sleeping as close as possible to a real bed, then the air mattress wins every time. A quality, double-height air mattress with a fitted sheet, a soft pillow, and a decent sleeping bag is literally indistinguishable from a bed at a hotel or sleeping in a guest room. You’ll remain in a resting slumber until around 2:00, when that pinhole leak you didn’t know about deflates the mattress enough for you to feel like some giant cartoon taco.
And that’s the caveat. Air mattresses are vulnerable. A dog claw, a forgotten tent stake, even dragging it on the ground across the garage as you load it can tear a hole you’ll never see, but know about after lying on it for 4 hours. It is highly recommended to bring a patch kit, but that patch doesn’t help you when you’re pinned between two canyons of balloons in the middle of the night.
These larger air mattresses are also really for hotter sleepers. With that much accumulated air, it begins to cool overnight, and they form a poor insulation layer. For some, this can cause a pretty chilly night of sleep, coming from below. In the summer months, this is a non-issue, but considering the disaster that can happen in colder temperatures, it’s not highly recommended for those who run cold or for those in cooler seasons. Maybe leave this one out of winter camp.
One of the more redeeming features of using an air mattress with your camping bedding is that they are relatively cheap. Like anything, it really depends on how much you want to spend, but you can get a decent air mattress in a modest range. It should be noted that you will get what you pay for. And in today’s disposable culture, items like massive plastic air mattresses frequently end up in the dump after only a couple of uses. Something to consider.
The two most common types worth knowing:
- Standard pump-inflate: $40-$150. These require a pump, either battery-powered or manual. Pack the pump wherever the mattress ends up. It is always worth having.
- Self-Inflating / built-in pump models: These range a bit higher and, as mentioned, even get into the thousands of dollars. A reasonable self-inflating air mattress should run around $80-$300.
Typical use cases: Car campers, families, glampers, anyone in a canvas cabin tent or a bell tent who wants a more domestic experience in the wild. Any of the larger versions of the White Duck Prota Cabin Tents or the Regatta Bell Tents would fit a queen-sized air mattress with no issue.
The Camp Cot: The Base Camp Standard
When considering your camping bedding, the camp cot is probably the most underrated sleeping option for vehicle campers. It is also the go-to for long-term campers like hunters and folks pitching base camps and long-trip camping. It doesn’t inflate, which means it doesn’t deflate to a flat plastic sheet by morning. The set-up is done in a matter of seconds. It doesn’t require a pump; it simply unfolds and is ready to go. And when you are done, you simply fold it back up and throw it in the back of the vehicle.
One feature that is often overlooked is the height and sturdiness advantage that the CMP cot offers. Throughout the day, when the cot is not being used for sleeping, it effectively becomes a sturdy seat. Also, in the summer months, the airflow on all sides of the body while sleeping makes for a more temperature-controlled sleep and, in most cases, produces better rest. But there is a downside.
All that circulating is nice in the warmer months. The flip side is that in the winter months, there is still circulating air, but this time it is not warm. That same circulating air works against you to produce a pretty chilly night. A thick blanket under your sleeping bag is a good fix, but the alternative is to keep the ambient air temperature inside the tent warmer in winter camp. Ideally, cots fit best in canvas tents and a wall tent in particular. Camp cots feature long, straight, flat lines, and they line up against the straight panels of a wall tent nicely.
If you end up getting a proper winter setup, a wall tent with a wood stove is ideal. Keep the stove stoked for a couple of hours before crawling into bed, and you should be warm throughout the night with just a sleeping bag on top of the cot.
Costs to consider:
- Standard camp cot: At $50-$150, these get the job done. They may not be the lightest cots on the market, so always check the weight ratings. When it comes to cots, you’re usually paying for the lightweight materials.
- Padded / XL cots: These are more comfortable, provide a layer of insulation, and provide a larger, more comfortable sleeping experience. The price tag shows the comforts when these can reach $300+.
Typical use cases: Hunters and extended base campers. Those looking to spend significant time in the backcountry. If you need your days to be productive, again and again, then go for the best night’s sleep you can with a camp cot.
Which Setup is Right for Your Trip?
The tent you are sleeping in shapes your decision for camping bedding as much as personal preference does. Even within the higher-quality canvas tent lines, there is going to be some distinction. Since you won’t be backpacking in one of these tents, we don’t want to bother with the sleeping pad in these configurations.
Canvas Wall Tent
The Alpha Wall Tent was built for rugged, long trips in the backcountry. This tent and sleeping setup earns its reputation in base camps and hunting camps. There is plenty of room for a starting point for long expeditions, and, with the ample room, there is room to spread out for sleep. The vertical sidewalls and long flat panels create an ideal scenario for cots. If more room is needed during the day to set up a table for a map, to clean guns, or otherwise, the cots move easily to make space. In other considerations, a nice blow-up mattress is great for a couple’s retreat, or if you’re looking to post up a comfortable queen-sized sleeping arrangement.
Canvas Bell Tent
The Regatta Bell Tent’s circular design lays out nicely for a queen-sized, double-height air mattress. For those who like to camp in comfort, the air mattress is ideal, and the bell tent features the style and comfort to match the desired lifestyle. This is really the glamping standard setup. But if this ends up being the route you go, take extra care of your air mattress. Deflate it completely, fold it up nicely, and wrap it in an old flat sheet before placing it in storage. Do everything you can to mitigate potential punctures. And if you’re headed out for a special glamping occasion, test the mattress before getting 250 miles away from any stores.
Canvas Cabin Tent
The canvas cabin tent is a family sleeping tent at its core. Cots along the walls, space in the middle to move around, change clothes, and the corners to store the gear. A large air mattress can eat up a lot of space in this one, but it’s not unheard of for couples and small families.
Finish in Comfort
All of these camping bedding recommendations are really just the foundation. Once you get the mattress or cot situation figured out, make sure to bring plenty of blankets if you decide on an air mattress. Likewise, for a cot, drape a wool blanket over the sides of the cot and throw your sleeping bag on top. This will help cut the circulation of cold air in the winter months. If you’re in the market for a sleeping pad, you’re likely headed deep into the backcountry, and you know what you’re looking for and need.
The foundation of any good time when camping is a good night’s sleep. So, make sure you’re getting yours.
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