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    Best sleeping mat options for couples?

    Best sleeping mat options for couples?


    Hi there. I'm used to sleeping on a single roll mat, or roll mat with an inflatable mat if it's cold, that's always done for me.

    However, I've been doing some casual camping with my gf, and she one, gets cold from the floor, and two, gets a bad back from the ground sometimes …

    She's just a casual camper but I love going out camping with her. šŸ„°

    So….. What options are there for mats for either couples, so a double size one? That are cosy etc, and where saving space isn't the main concern?

    Obviously we could get two single size ones too, and put them side by side, which is basically what we do now (with all the extra layers and blankets under her).

    Bonus points for a solution that will be great for car camping but is also light and "packable" enough for me to take on my solo hiking/camping adventures.

    Thanks in advance!

    EDIT: Thanks everyone for the advice.
    In summary, I need a high quality foam and air double mattress, (or two singles but we'll probably get a double) like one of these.

    This seems solid
    https://www.thesleepingbagstore.com/shop/vango-shangri-la-luxe-16cm-double-sleep-mat-copy/

    This is a bit cheaper, but is thinner and obviously not as good.
    https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/self-inflating-2-person-camping-mattress-ultim-double-comfort-200-x-136-cm/329980/c3c1m8938397

    Or what is apparently the holy grail of camping comfort
    https://www.expeduk.com/products/megamat-max-copy?srsltid=AU7gw4VjjQpUIn_cjK6WvcqOXeF1Mp09AgUwL_M4eDWcmRPX2-4l1gDc

    Since it's the off season here I'll go to some of the camping stores nearby and see if they have any sales on, for something comparable, otherwise I'll save up and buy us a nice one for next spring.
    I can't have my girl sleeping badly! šŸ˜‚

    Thanks again everyone. Very much appreciated.

    by MarginalMadness

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    20 Comments

    1. Square-Succotash-491 on

      I feel this. My ex had same problem, always feeling the cold from ground even in summer. We ended up with two single wide ones zipped together, was less fuss than finding actual double mat and you can use one solo. For car camping those self inflating ones are pretty thick and comfy, but theyre bulky like a big baguette for hiking. Maybe get something like that for the car and keep your roll mat for solo trips, no point carrying extra weight on trail when you dont need.

    3. StrategyRude4376 on

      Just got the Double Dometic Highrise 15 and my partner and I are blown away. We simply couldn’t be happier with the purchase. Thankfully stumbled onto Dometic somehow while trying to find out where I could get an Exped. Think I saved a few hundred dollars. I have no idea how it could be any better.

      So happy with the purchase.

      That said, I only think seasoned sherpas used to carrying western tourists up mountains would consider this hikable.

    4. Cghy8b on

      My boyfriend was the ā€œsensitiveā€ sleeper. We both got single foam bed rolls and use a fitted sheet to hold them together and as a base. He likes to add an inflated sleeping bad under his foam but I donā€™t. Then we use a quilt year round but will add a Pendleton wool blanket in colder weather. We have two single pendletons so one of us can use it without the other person getting too hot.

    5. Bliezz on

      Aight. I sleep cold like your girlfriend and I have a bad back with the surgery scars to prove it.

      Iā€™ve been camping my whole life. My instinct was to snuggle with my new boyfriend on an airmatress in a zipped together sleeping bag. I thought sharing body heat would be better. It was so much worse. When he got up the air mattress changed density and hurt me. The zipped together bag let sooo much heat escape.

      Iā€™ve found a system that works for me. The coldest Iā€™ve slept this is 2C next to Lake Ontario that still has ice on it in the spring. I was comfy. Iā€™m confident I could go colder.

      Closed foam mat right on the ground. This acts as a thermal insulator and has a high R value. Canadian Tire has it cheap. On top of that I have a Nemo thermal wide and long. For summer sleeping I put a polyester sleeve around The mat and then Iā€™m on or in my sleeping bag. I use a pillow from home, and if there is space, my body pillow too. This works well in our 5 man tent that we can stand up in. Or beds go on either side of the aisle so I can get dressed in solid ground.

      If it is going to be cold, we take the 3 man tent instead of the 5 man. Or mattresses are side by side. Closed foam, Nemo mattress, thick blanket under both of us, individual sleeping bag, big blanket over both of us. I wear thermal socks, long Johns, thermal top long sleeve, hoodless sweater, and a toque. I have a mummy to on my sleeping bag that I will use, and my winter jacket that I can put over me if I get cold.

      Canoe camping, just the Nemo mattress, polyester sleeve, and sleeping bag go. I typically only canoe camp in the part of the summer.

      Happy to answer questions.

    7. xyzzzzy on

      First abandon the idea of a dual purpose for backpacking, absolutely nothing that is backpackable will meet the comfort standard for two people. The closest thing would be an ultralight cot, you can get cheap ones for ~$60, but then youā€™re both on cots not snuggling up.

      For your price point your best best is straight up memory foam pads, the 4ā€ thick ones. Get two singles and push them together because doubles are like stupidly bulky.

      For a little more money you can get self inflating foam, Exped knockoff like Lost Horizon. This is what we use and they are lovely, but probably past your price point.

    8. LogicalOtter on

      For car camping you are looking for a foam plus air mat – they are comfy and warm. These are too heavy for backpacking.

      We have the Exped mega mat duo. It has a high R value (protects you from the cold ground) and love it. Only problem is itā€™s expensive if not on sale. A cheaper alternative that people say is pretty much the same is the Lost Horizon from/air mat. You can find it easily on Amazon in double and even Queen sizes.

    9. Rayne_K on

      Air mattresses are terrible – giant cold sinks.
      I use a low cot with a high R 3ā€ thermarest. But youā€™d each need one. Cot sharing does not work

      The gold standard that that we hear about time and time again is the exped megamat.

      Expensive? yes. But compare it to 2-3 nights of a paying for hotelā€¦ now think that youā€™ll use it far far more than that.

    14. EagleEyezzzzz on

      For car camping, the exped megamat duo. The literal absolute best.

      Get something else for backpacking.

    15. magicelastic on

      iā€™d check facebook marketplace or whatever location sales you have for inflatable mattresses?

    16. Windjammer1969 on

      If you have the space & the budget, our car camping set up uses a Zempire MonstaMat Twin (2 person) sitting on top of a pair of BigAgnes GooseNest inflatable cots. Wife loves the combo, & we use the MonstaMat on the sofa sleeper in our guest room – and it has received rave reviews.

      A FlexTail Tiny Pump tops off the Mostly Self-inflating Zempire, and inflates the GooseNest cots. It also does a great job at the Final ā€deflationā€ of cots & mat. We use the BigAgnes netting option to help secure the cots – which do have hook&loop connecters as well.

    17. Upbeat-Bake-4239 on

      For campground camping I got a double Nemo Roamer self inflating pad and a little rechargeable air pump to add extra air. I can’t sleep on the ground anymore due to arthritis in my hip. It is a little pricey, but this is the BEST money I have ever spent on camp gear.

    18. BMThiker on

      Skip the idea of getting a double sized mattress, especially if it inflates. Every movement is felt by the other partner. Two separate mattress aligned side by side is the way to go. We’ve been happily using two Thermarest MondoKing XL mattresses with a double wide sleep bag system from Kelty for 3-4 years now. The mattresses are self inflating, but you really need to put a small pump on the fill valve to get max pressure (if desired).

    19. Deepsea2121 on

      If space and budget allows, buy 2 Coleman ComfortSmart Big &Tall cots and enjoy the next level. My days of screwing around with anything else are over thank God.

    20. aligpnw on

      I don’t know if they still make them, but we have a pair of 3″ thick Cabela’s sleeping pads that have velcro down one side (on a little flap.) You can stick ’em together or use them separately.