Sleeping gear

Camping Sleeping Gear

Air mattresses, sleeping pads, cots and sleeping bags, compared on R-value, thickness, packed size and the temperature rating that actually keeps you warm, from double air beds for car camping to insulated pads for cold shoulder-season nights.

  • R-value
  • Thickness
  • Packed size
  • Temperature rating
  • Inflation
What R-value do I need for camping?

R-value measures how well a pad resists heat loss into the ground. For summer camping above 10C, R-1 to R-2 is enough. Three-season trips want R-3 to R-4, and freezing nights need R-5 or higher. Uninsulated air mattresses sit near R-1 no matter how thick they are.

Skip the reading:Couple, car campingCold nightsSpare bed for guestsBackpacking pad
  • 71 products compared
  • 5 specs tracked
  • Data updated Sep 2026

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What we measure in camping sleeping gear

Almost every bad night outdoors is a heat-loss problem, not a comfort problem. We compare insulation first and cushioning second, because the ground takes warmth faster than the air does.

  • R-valueHow well the pad stops the ground stealing your heat. The number that decides cold nights.
  • ThicknessLoft under your hip, which is what keeps side sleepers off the ground.
  • Packed sizeRolled or folded volume, the difference between a boot and a backpack.
  • Temperature ratingComfort rating rather than survival limit, wherever the maker publishes both.
  • InflationPump type, and how long a genuine full inflate takes.

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Camping Sleeping Gear: common questions

What R-value do I need for camping?

R-value measures how well a pad resists heat loss into the ground. For summer camping above 10C, R-1 to R-2 is enough. Three-season trips want R-3 to R-4, and freezing nights need R-5 or higher. Uninsulated air mattresses sit near R-1 no matter how thick they are.

Air mattress or sleeping pad?

Air mattresses are thicker and more comfortable but uninsulated, so they feel cold below roughly 10C and eat boot space. Insulated pads are warmer per gram and pack down small. For summer car camping, comfort wins; for cold nights or anything you carry, insulation wins.

Why does my air bed go flat overnight?

Most overnight softening is air contracting as the temperature drops, not a leak. Inflate fully at bedtime, top up after twenty minutes, and let the bed warm up indoors before you judge it. A real leak usually shows at a seam or the valve within an hour.

Are camping cots worth the space?

Cots lift you off cold ground, free up storage underneath and suit anyone who struggles to get up from floor level. They are bulky, heavier than a pad, and cold from below in shoulder season unless you put a pad on top of them.