How to choose a self inflating mattress

One way to make your day of camping enjoyable is to ensure that you got a good nights rest! And your choice of bedding is going to play a very large part in that. For those of you who don’t have the luxury of a proper bed, that you might find in a caravan or camper trailer, then you might have to look at self inflating mattresses to improve your slumber.

As we have mentioned on other tip sheets, we believe you do get what you pay for.

Some brands are more expensive, but they have proven their worth in terms of durability and comfort. Therm-a-Rest is one of the most expensive mats available, but that’s because its one of the best. It really is worth paying more for it, as the quality is so good. For camping you are looking at self inflating mats, and hikers will look at the air filled mattresses (for weight purposes).

But are you confused about the terminology around self inflating mats? If so, we are here to help.

Here are some common questions about self inflating mattresses that might answer some of your questions.

Therm-a-Rest mat

What sort of mattress to choose?

That will depend on what you need it for.

Hikers are always looking to minimise weight, so they will be looking for a very light mattress which is easy to pack away. Many hikers won’t use the same sort of self inflating mattresses that everyday campers use, and that is a whole another story. We will not cover hiking mattresses in this story but this site, Outdoor Gear Lab has covered them in depth – so if you are after a hiking mattress, this could be a good place to start. Also check out our Hiking Gear Checklist which talks about sleeping mats for hikers.

Campers – which we will focus on – don’t frequently have the issue of weight, as they are only moving the mattress from vehicle to campsite. So these mats are larger, wider and they are designed for comfort, not for a backpack.

The sort of sleeping mat you end up choosing will be based on your needs, style of camping, budget and weather conditions.

How does a self inflating mat work?

Self inflating mats are a layer of foam sandwiched inside an air tight shell with a valve. The valve is closed when its rolled up. When you need to use the mattress, the valve is opened and the foam expands and sucks air into the mat. Once the foam has fully expanded the valve is closed and the mat is ready for use.

Don’t get these mats confused with the mattresses that need inflating by a pump or blowing up. The mats we are discussing, need no extra air added to them via pumps.

My mat has a R value. What does that mean?

R-value is complicated. It measures thermal resistance and is a way of comparing the insulation properties of the mat. With lots of mats out there, it can get confusing. The higher the number the more insulation the mat offers.

In winter, you would look at a R Value of 4 or higher. But that does not mean you can't use that mat in warm weather - your mat will still be suitable at any time of the year. The R value is about insulating you from what is coming up from the ground.
For 3 season camping and hiking, look at a R Value of 2 or higher.
R Values are additive though, so you can increase your warmth levels by putting 2 low R Value mats together, to get a high R Value.

Women generally have a lower body mass, so a higher R Value would be recommended.

Recommendation

The Trail Pro Womens Self Inflating mat isn't that light at 740g so may not make it on to the trail, but is a good camping mattress for women. The high R value of 4.8 means in cooler weather you will stay warm and comes with an excellent warmth to loft ratio.

Therm-A-Rest Trail Pro Womens Self Inflating Mat R Value 4.8

What should I look for in a self inflating mattress?

At this point, you know what you need it for (family camping) and who will be using it.

Look at length – you want it to be long enough to have your legs on it.    You want your legs and feet insulated too, especially in cold weather.     The 3/4 length mats are better suited for the hikers than for family campers.

Width – wide is good, especially if you toss and turn a bit.   Don’t want to keep rolling off during the night as you are on a skinny mat!

R-value – this is what the manufacturer have rated it in terms of insulation.   Everyone feels the cold differently, but if you are like me, and do feel the cold, a higher number R value is suggested.

Recommended for cold sleepers

The Therm-A-Rest basecamp mattress - core foam mattress, with excellent self inflating. R Value of 5.8 means its perfect for cold nights and cold sleepers.

Weight: 1.14kg

Therm-A-Rest Basecamp Mattress R Value 5.8

How comfortable are they?

Like temperature, we all have a different idea of comfort. What suits one person in terms of depth and width may be totally different to another person.

A good camping supply store, will have mats there for you to try. Lie down on the mat, compare with others. Roll over and see what sort of cushioning there is when in different sleeping positions. You can try in a camping store and then buy online if need be.

Ask for a demonstration on inflating/deflating and storage.

Should I buy bonded or non bonded?

Bonded means the outside material is bonded to the foam inside.    The foam doesn’t move around, the trapped air stays where it should and provides the insulation and the air is keeping you off the ground.

Non bonded means the outside material is not attached to the foam inside.   When you sleep on it, the air moves away from you, and you are lying on the foam – and that foam needs to be thicker or you will hit the bottom.

I come back to what I said at the very beginning – you get what you pay for.    The bonded is going to cost more, but will last longer and suit everyone.     The non bonded is not going to be as comfortable, more suited to younger campers and not be as durable, but it will be cheaper.

Can I add extra air to my self inflating mat?

Generally, the opinion by some experts is not to add air by blowing into it. Why? By blowing air into your mattress you are introducing moisture into the inside of the mat, which may encourage mould to grow or if you are in really cold conditions, that moisture could freeze. That is why some think pumps are preferred.

But if you do blow it up a little (and some mats don’t seem to inflate as much as you would like), ensure you leave valves open for a couple of days on return from your trip just in case any moisture is in there, and needs to evaporate.

I think a comfy night is important, and a few breaths might not end up doing anything! Therm-a-Rest says its OK to do so, and they are the experts! So listen to them if you are using one of their products!

Good luck with your purchase, whatever brand or model you find works well for you!

Need some suggestions on mats ? We use and recommend Thermarest .

Look at the Thermarest Prolite Large

A Thermarest Trail Pro for women

Or, a Thermarest Prolite Regular

Voted the best mattress for 2019 - the Thermarest NeoAiar Xtherm - see if its for you