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A mattress will smooth the way for old bones and warm your backside when you sleep on cold ground. There are 4 basic types of trail camping mattresses.

Air Mattress:

Except for car camping, the traditional air mattress is extinct. Except in the heat of summer, air mattresses cannot be used with down sleeping bags.

Body weight compresses an air mattress down to near-zero thickness. Synthetics are less affected. If the ground is cold, your backside is too!

If you want to be comfortable and warm, place a thin, closed-cell foam pad on top of your air mattress.

Closed-Cell Foam:

Closed cell foam insulates efficiently and is waterproof, inexpensive and unaffected by punctures… and not very comfortable. It’s the foam of choice for subzero camping, however where a mattress failure could be serious. Three-eighths of an inch is thick enough for summer: double that for use on snow.

It is the best pad for children, especially those who may wet their beds.

Fabric-covered open-cell foam:

A trail mattress of this type is basically a hude sponge covered with nylon or cotton. This design is reasonably comfortable, inexpensive, unaffected by punctures, and not water-proof. Open-cell foram is bulky when rolled, and it doesn’t insulate as well as closed-cell foam.

Air filled foam pads:

The Therma-Rest began on the revolution: now there’s lot of competition. Basically these units consist of a low-density (soft and cushy) open-cell foam that’s sealed in an envelope of vinyl and nylon. An oversized plastic valve controls the air flow.

Open the valve and the pad inflates itself. Close the valve to lock in the air. The result is a very comfortable, incredibly warm (suitable for subzero use) and surprisingly reliable mattress.

Some Camping Mattress Tips:

Make a tough cotton or light wool cover for your air-filled foam pad. The cover will protect the pad from punctures and keep it from sliding on the slippery nylon tent floor. In hot weather the cotton or woool material will be more comfortable to sleep on than the non-porous nylon shell of the air pad.

Don’t use a cotton cover in winter: Damp cotton will draw hear from your body. Winter covers should be made from pure polyester or tightly woven wool.

A crinkly space blanket, set silver side up under your foam pad, will add considerable warmth to your sleeping system. If you find yourself sleeping on an uncomfortable incline, level out your sleeping system by placing folded clothes beneath your air mat or foam pad. This method can make an otherwise intolerable sleeping situation quite bearable.

Tip: If you are stuck with an inclined site, pitch your tent perpendicular to the top (one side lower than the other), rather than parallel to it with the entrance high, as suggested in most camping books. It’s easier to level a “sunken side” than a “lowered end”.

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