Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping expertsSign up for our free IndyBest emailSign up for our free IndyBest emailBeyond finding a reliable tent, a comfortable camping mat is one of the best ways to promote a good night’s kip while sleeping in the great outdoors. As an id camper and outdoors enthusiast, I’ve spent countless nights under the stars and, over the years, I’ve tested more camping mats than I can count, learning firsthand how the right one can make or break a night’s sleep in the wild. I know what matters and I’ve brought that knowledge into this guide to help you find the best camping mat for your own adventures.
Camping mats will, broadly speaking, fall into two categories: inflatable and foam. For multi-day camping trips, you’ll be best off with inflatable or self-inflating mats, as they tend to be more comfortable. Less bulky when packed away too, they’ll make a wise choice for backpackers and wild campers, but bear in mind they are at risk of puncturing.
More robust and less expensive than inflatable mats, foam camping mats can be ideal for festivals, budget campers or sleeping on rocky ground, as they can’t puncture. Whether you want to sacrifice some comfort for this, however, is something individual campers will want to weigh up.
Material aside, you should also take into account something called an R-value – this tells you how warm your new mat will be to sleep on (measured by its capacity to resist heat loss). The main job of a good camping mat is to keep you insulated from the cold ground, and the higher the R-value, the more insulating it’ll be. Broadly, an R-value below two is best for summer use, two to four will suit three-season use, and winter campers should look for four or above.
Don’t forget to think about the weight and size of your new camping mat, too. Hikers and wild campers will want a compact and lightweight mat (some compress as small as a water bottle and weigh less than 400g). Meanwhile, family and car campers can pack something bigger and bulkier that offers great comfort, or even go for a double camping mat that two adults can share.
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How I testedMy family and I packed our backpacks for several camping trips, ranging from wild camping in northern Scotland to glamping on the Cornish coast, to test out these camping mats. We slept on each one for multiple nights in autumn and winter conditions, to test them against a series of criteria, including:
Warmth: A good camping mat does more than just provide comfort – it plays a crucial role in insulating you from the cold ground. We evaluated each mat's R-value to ensure it could retain body heat effectively in various weather conditions. Mats were tested in both cool and temperate environments to assess real-world performance, especially overnight when temperatures drop. Comfort: I know how important a good night’s sleep is when you’re camping, so I paid close attention to each mat’s thickness, cushioning, and surface texture to see how well it eased pressure points and kept me from sliding around. By trying them out in different sleeping positions and on various types of ground, I was able to find the mats that struck the best balance between softness and support. Durability: I examined the materials and construction of each mat, paying attention to how resistant they were to general wear and tear. I also looked at how well they held up after repeated inflation, deflation, and packing. Portability: When you’re hiking or backpacking, every ounce and inch matters. I looked at how much each mat weighed and how compactly it packed down, since a bulky or hey mat can really weigh you down on the trail. For me, a portable mat means more freedom to explore without being bogged down, so it played a big role in which mats I ultimately recommended..png)
I tried out a variety of camping mats in different climes (Sian Lewis/The Independent)Why you can trust IndyBest reviewsSian Lewis is an award-winning trel and outdoors journalist who has written for IndyBest since 2020. Sian has previously delivered her verdict on the best camping and hiking gear, from walking boots to sleeping bags and more. In her reviews, she offers her honest opinions and will only recommend products she believes are worth your money.
The best camping mats for 2025 are:Best overall – Therm-a-Rest neoair xlite NXT camping mat: £192.50, Amazon.co.ukBest budget buy – Nhowin self-inflating camping mat: £23.99, Amazon.co.ukBest self-inflating design – Vango comfort 7.5 double camping mat: £109.99, Outdoorworlddirect.co.ukBest for comfort – Snugpak XL self-inflating camping mat: £90, Snugpak.com