Pony messaged me on the FB the other day, with a bunch of questions about sleeping gear.

What does a camping mattress cost?
How much do they weigh?
What is the most comfortable option?
What do you sleep on?

Thanks for the questions Pony! They are really good ones. I mean, what’s more important than a good night’s rest?

There are quite a few different options for sleeping when you’re in a tent, and I’ve tried most of them at one time or another. Each one has it’s upsides and downsides.

1. Sleeping On The Ground

When I first started travelling, I had a cheap sleeping bag and a little plastic tarpaulin, and that was it. I just lay right on the ground, or used my bundled-up clothing to make it a little bit softer. Obviously, I wasn’t super comfy. But, I didn’t have much money, and I wanted to travel light. I wouldn’t go back to sleeping that way. Too many mornings I woke up with pins and needles from the neck down.
– Upsides: minimal weight / minimal cost
– Downsides: cold / wet / waking up semi-paralysed

2. Foam Mat

My first hiking mattress was the high density foam variety, like in the pic, above. It was very cheap (less than USD$20.00), and not too heavy. The problem with it was, it was very bulky, and just not that comfortable either. It felt OK when I first lay down at night, but after a while the foam would compress a bit, and it was pretty much the same as lying on the ground. I kept using it for quite a long time, despite its short-comings, because I didn’t know any better, and also because I was staying in hostels a lot, so I only used it occasionally anyway.
– Upsides: cheap / relatively light / slightly better than sleeping on rocks
– Downsides: hard / bulky / slightly better than sleeping on rocks

3. Hiking Air Mat

In Australia we call them hiking mats, in the USA they are hiking pads, but they are the same thing. There are plenty of different brands and styles, but basically, they are all light-weight, nylon air mattresses.
Aside from keeping your bones off the rocks, air mats also create a thermal insulation zone, so the cold ground doesn’t leach away your body heat.
The weight of hiking mats varies between about 300 grams, and 600 grams.
Hiking mats do get punctures from time to time, no matter how careful you are, but they are easily repaired with a bit of super-glue.
As well as weight, it is important to compare the rolled-up dimensions. A good mat should not be any larger than a 1.5 litre bottle when it is packed.
The one I have is the Klymit Static V2 (see pic above). I’ve owned a few different air mats, and this one trumps them all forone simple reason; it is incredibly comfortable. Sure, it’s light. Sure, it is quick to inflate. And yes, it is compact, but it’s the comfort factor that is outstanding. Klymit air mats are cleverly designed with diagonal air cells, which feel like a real bed to sleep on, even for a 6’4″ giant like me.
– Upsides: light / compact / comfortable / warm
– Downsides: expensive / prone to punctures
 

I’ve been sleeping on hiking air mats for a few years now, at least four months out of every year. I wouldn’t be without one. To me, they are worth every dollar. They are so easy to carry, and make sleeping in a tent a pleasurable experience, rather than a pain in the neck… and arse… and back… etc.
If you are going to spend more than a few days sleeping in a tent, then a hiking mat is going to be one of the best investments you ever make!

Happy trails!

>> Got a question about backpacking gear? Message me on Facebook and I’ll give you the answer (or tell you where to find it)!

Hi! Manny here, the guy who makes this blog.
Want to start an adventure of your own?
Download your FREE copy of my e-book: The Raw Safari Travel Hackers Handbook and learn how to see the world on $10 a day!
Everything I’ve ever learned about low-budget adventure is in this book. Get it now, for free: click here!