Camping Mattress and Ground Sheets

Depending on what type of camping you're going to use it for, the ideal type of camping mattress would vary. Comfort becomes a priority when weight is not an issue. In general, the more comfortable a camping mat is the heavier it is.

If you are going to carry your camping gear over long distances, you might want to choose a lighter camping mattress and sacrifice a little bit of comfort. If you really have to carry a heavy camping mat because you need that much comfort but don't want to carry too much weight on your back, you can reduce the weight of your other camping gear instead.

With a good night sleep you'll feel refreshed in the morning. A camping mattress also keeps you warm at night by providing insulation against the cold ground and keeps your sleeping bag from getting dirty. Sleeping bag makers assume that the user is using a mat when they rate a sleeping bag. If your pack is frameless you can use some pads as a frame.

There are actually three but for the sake of simplicity the air mattress and self-inflating pad is combined into "inflatable mattresses"

Foam pads are light and cheap. They can be as light as four ounces and usually not more than twelve.

It's not very comfortable but this can be remedied by using leaves or grass or anything soft underneath.

One big advantage of foam pads is that there's no need to worry about punctures. This is the cheapest option for camping mattresses.

Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite Sleeping Pad ---------------->
Probably the most compact foam mat ever made.

Anything pad that uses air to make it bigger can be considered an inflatable mattress and this includes self-inflating pads and air mattresses.

The comfort that inflatable mattresses provide is unmatched by foam pads much like the lightness of foam pads cannot be matched by inflatable mattresses.

However, there is a risk involved when using inflatable mattress because it can puncture especially if you're not careful in choosing a spot to sleep in.

Exped DownMat 9
A popular self-inflating pad. See reviews linked below for the older Exped DownMat 7

The purpose of a ground sheet is to keep your sleeping bag clean at all times by keeping away dirt and moisture. Protect your inflatable mat from punctures by using a durable ground sheet but also be sure that the area where you sleep is free from sharp objects. To save weight, you can use your poncho as a ground sheet.