The Best Sleeping Pads For Campgrounds—Our Comfiest Picks (2025)

Honorable Mentions The following sleeping pads didn't impress us as much as the ones above, but we’d still recommend them if none of the others strike your fancy. Kelty Kush Queen Airbed for $100: This PVC-free queen-sized airbed from Kelty includes a pump that makes inflating a snap (make sure you charge it before you go), and the 6-inch-thick pad is plenty comfortable. It is not an insulated air mattress like the REI above, so it's best for warmer months, but it can double as a spare bed at home. Sleeping Pads to Avoid Not every sleeping pad is a winner. We've tested and run into issues with the following models. Exped Flexmat Plus: What if the cheap, light, and indestructible closed-cell foam mats like the iconic Z-Rest and RidgeRest were … giant? It's a fun idea, but the Exped Flexmat Plus is a noble failure. The problem with this extra-thick, 1.5-inch, closed-cell mat is that, while relatively light, cheap, and indestructible, the foam is hard and spikey. And by “spikey” we m ... Read full article.