I Bought the 10 Best Camping Mattresses for Couples (2024)
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For this review, I bought and tested these 10 best camping mattresses for couples:
- Exped MegaMat Duo 10;
- REI Co-Op Camp Dreamer Double;
- Klymit Double V Insulated Sleeping Pad;
- Klymit Double V Uninsulated Sleeping Pad;
- Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed;
- Lightspeed Outdoors 2-Person Camping Air Mattress;
- Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress;
- Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress;
- Intex Classic Downy Airbed; and
- Coleman Quickbed Air Mattress.
Summary
Here are all the camping mattresses for couples that I recommended (after buying and testing, of course):
2P Mattress | Recommendation | Score | Price |
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BEST OVERALL Exped MegaMat Duo 10
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MOST COMFortable Exped MegaMat Duo 10
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RUNNER UP REI Camp Dreamer Double
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MOST PORTABLE Klymit (Uninsulated) Double V
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PORTABLE + INSULATED Klymit (Insulated) Double V
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BEST VALUE FOR MONEY Sierra Designs 2-Person Air Mattress
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BEST BUDGET PICK Intex Classic Downy Airbed
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All the camping mattresses for couples that I bought and tested:
2P Mattress | Full Review | Check Price |
---|---|---|
Exped | Read Review | Amazon, REI Co-Op, Backcountry, Moosejaw |
REI | Read Review | REI Co-Op, Stoic from Backcountry (Alternative) |
Klymit Insulated | Read Review | Amazon, Backcountry |
Klymit Uninsulated | Read Review | Amazon, REI Co-Op, Backcountry |
Alps Vertex | Read Review | Amazon, REI Co-Op |
Sierra Designs | Read Review | Amazon |
Lightspeed | Read Review | Amazon |
Etekcity | Read Review | Amazon |
Coleman | Read Review | Amazon |
Intex | Read Review | Amazon |
*These are my measured specifications of the 10 best camping mattresses for couples, and may differ from the brand’s marketed specifications:
2P Mattress | Test Model | Type | Loft | Thickness | Length | Width | Total Weight | Accessories |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | Medium Double | Self-Inflating | Foam + Air | 4 inches | 73.5 inches | 42.5 inches | 7.6 lbs (mattress + stuff sack + pump) | Stuff sack, pump, repair kit |
REI Camp Dreamer Double | Double | Self-Inflating | Foam + Air | 3.75 inches | 81 inches | 54 inches | 13 lbs (mattress + stuff sack + pump) | Stuff sack, pump |
Klymit Uninsulated Double V | 2-Person | Air Pad | Air | 2.5 inches | 74 inches | 46 inches | 2.7 lbs (pad + stuff sack / pump) | Stuff sack / pump, patch kit |
Klymit Insulated Double V | 2-Person | Air Pad | Air | 2.5 inches | 74 inches | 47 inches | 3.6 lbs (pad + stuff sack / pump) | Stuff sack / pump, patch kit |
Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed | Queen | Air Mattress | Air | 6 inches | 80 inches | 56 inches | 6.1 lbs (mattress + stuff sack + pump + chargers) | Stuff sack, pump, nozzles, AC + DC chargers, repair kit |
Sierra Designs Camping Air Mattress | 2-Person | Air Mattress | Air | 7 inches | 77 inches | 54 inches | 6.6 lbs (mattress + stuff sack + pump + batteries) | Stuff sack, pump |
Lightspeed Outdoors Camping Air Mattress | 2-Person | Air Mattress | Air | 6 inches | 80 inches | 55 inches | 6.9 lbs (mattress + stuff sack + pump + batteries) | Stuff sack, pump |
Etekcity Upgraded Camping Mattress | Queen | Air Mattress | Air | 9 inches | 80 inches | 59 inches | 14.9 lbs (mattress + bags + pump + chargers) | Storage bag, pump, nozzles, AC + DC chargers |
Coleman Quickbed Air Mattress | Full | Air Mattress | Air | 8 inches | 73 inches | 53 inches | 7.6 lbs (mattress) | N.A. |
Intex Classic Downy Airbed | Full | Air Mattress | Air | 8.5 inches | 73 inches | 53 inches | 6.8 lbs (mattress) | 1 patch |
For more clarification:
- Total weight: I included not only the weight of the mattress but also the weight of the stuff sack and pump if included by the manufacturer.
- Accessories: This was what was included in the box.
If you need more info on the specifications of each camping mattress for couples, click here for more detailed tables.
I spent more than $1,100 buying these 10 camping mattresses for couples, and over 6 months testing them out.
Over these 6 months, I slept on one of these camping mattresses for couples every single night, and I forced convinced my partner to test them out with me (we weight about 300 pounds together) each night.
To thoroughly test all of these 2-person camping mattresses, I slept in them both outdoors and indoors, I tested them in tents of different sizes (from 2-person tents to 4-person tents), I inflated, deflated and packed up every single one of them dozens of times, amongst other things.
After all that, here’s how I scored each of the 10 camping mattresses for couples (10 is the best, 1 is the worst).
2P Mattress | Overall Rating |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 9.2 |
Klymit Uninsulated | 8.6 |
Klymit Insulated | 8.4 |
REI Dreamer | 8.1 |
Alps Vertex | 7.6 |
Lightspeed | 7.6 |
Sierra Designs | 7.3 |
Etekcity | 6.3 |
Intex | 6.3 |
Coleman | 5.8 |
Top Picks
Which camping mattresses for couples are in my Top Picks?
1. Exped MegaMat Duo 10 (Best Overall + Most Comfortable)
Key Info
- I Bought the: Medium Double
- Type: Self-Inflating
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 73.5 by 42.5 by 4 inches
- Weight: 7.2 pounds (mattress), 1.6 ounces (mini-pump), 5.3 ounces (stuff sack)
- Fastest Inflation: 10 minutes (self-inflating) + 1 minute (pumping)
- Fastest Deflation: 2 minutes 45 seconds
- R-value: 8.1
- Material: 50D Nylon (Top), 75D Polyester (Bottom)
- Valves: 2 FlatValves (one for inflation, the other for deflation)
Pros and Cons
Summary
If comfort’s your priority, the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 is the most comfortable camping mattress for couples that I have for so many reasons. It’s crazy plush, super soft, and the surface is flat so there’s no weird dips or contours that poke into your body. The fabric is quiet, bouncing is super minimal, and it’s also my warmest mattress with an R-value of 8.1.
And that’s not all. Not only is the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 the most comfortable, it’s also my highest quality, most versatile and easiest to use mattress.
The Medium size that I bought takes me just 1 minute of pumping to inflate it, and less than 3 minutes to deflate and pack it up nicely. I can also use it for all seasons, even in winter, and it can be used in all tents, no matter how short or narrow.
However, it’s my most expensive camping mattress on this list. But because I have a 5-year warranty, and I use the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 very frequently, it’s given me plenty of bang for my buck.
More info on the Exped MegaMat Duo 10:
2. REI Co-Op Camp Dreamer Double (Runner Up)
Key Info
- Type: Self-Inflating
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 81 by 54 by 3.75 inches
- Weight: 11.6 pounds (mattress), 11.8 ounces (pump), 11.5 ounces (carry bag)
- Fastest Inflation: 10 minutes (self-inflating) + 1 minute (pumping)
- Fastest Deflation: 5 minutes
- R-value: 6.5
- Material: Polyester
- Valves: 2 hi-flow TPR valves (both with inflation and deflation functions)
Pros and Cons
Summary
If the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 (above) is out of your budget, but you’re still looking for a comfortable self-inflating camping mattress, check out the REI Camp Dreamer Double, which is my Runner Up pick.
At full price, the REI Camp Dreamer Double is already a good 20% less expensive than a similar-sized Exped MegaMat Duo 10. What’s more is that the REI Camp Dreamer Double regularly goes on sale, and I got mine for a whopping 44% less than the Exped MegaMat Duo 10. (Talk about a great deal, huh?)
The REI Dreamer Double is very slightly less thick though, less warm, and to me it also feels a little less plush, but only very slightly.
Also, if you’re looking for a Full or Queen sized self-inflating mattress, just like this REI Camp Dreamer Double, bear in mind that it’s going to be super bulky. The REI Camp Dreamer Double is the bulkiest camping mattress for couples that I have.
More info on the REI Camp Dreamer Double:
An alternative to the REI Camp Dreamer Double:
3. Klymit Double V Uninsulated 2-Person Sleeping Pad (Most Portable)
Key Info
- Type: Air Pad
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 74 by 46 by 2.5 inches
- Weight: 40.3 ounces (pad), 3.1 ounces (pump/stuff sack), 43.4 ounces (total)
- Fastest Inflation (With Airflow): 1 minute 45 seconds (14 bags of air)
- Fastest Inflation (Without Airflow): 2 minutes 15 seconds (17 bags of air)
- Fastest Deflation: 3 minutes 15 seconds
- R-value: 1.3
- Material: 75D polyester
- Valves: 2 FlatValves (one for inflation, the other for deflation)
Pros and Cons
Summary
The Klymit Double V Uninsulated Sleeping Pad is easily the most compact and lightweight camping pad for couples that I have on this list. It packs down to just 11 by 7 by 5 inches, and here’s what it looks like beside a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle:
The Klymit Uninsulated Double V is not just portable, it’s also very high quality, and very user-friendly. The FlatValves are low profile and feel rugged, the entire sleeping pad is made of thick 75D polyester, top and bottom, the stuff sack doubles as a very efficient pump, and can inflate the Klymit Double V with or without air flow, and without even having to blow into it.
Also, the Klymit Uninsulated Double V has no serious flaws. It just can’t be used in off-season camping. If you need something for 3-season camping, the next pick would be perfect for you.
More info on the Klymit (Uninsulated) Double V:
4. Klymit Double Insulated 2-Person Sleeping Pad (Portable + Insulated)
Key Info
- Type: Air Pad
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 74 by 47 by 2.5 inches
- Weight: 53.5 ounces (pad), 3.7 ounces (pump/stuff sack), 57.2 ounces (total)
- Fastest Inflation (With Airflow): 1 minute 30 seconds (11 bags of air)
- Fastest Inflation (Without Airflow): 1 minute 45 seconds (13 bags of air)
- Fastest Deflation: 4 minutes 45 seconds
- R-value: 4.4
- Material: 75D polyester
- Valves: 2 FlatValves (one for inflation, the other for deflation)
Pros and Cons
Summary
The Klymit Double V Insulated Sleeping Pad is one of the most versatile camping pads for couples that I have. It can be used not only for camping, in all 2-person tents (even ones with low peak heights!), and traveling, it can even be used for shorter backpacking trips.
The main advantage that this Klymit Insulated Double V has over its Uninsulated counterpart is its R-value of 4.4, which means that you can use this not only in summer, but also for 3-season camping. It’s the perfect pad for people who want just 1 pad for everything.
Like the Uninsulated version, this Klymit Insulated Double V is also extremely high quality and user-friendly, complete with thick 75D polyester and rugged FlatValves, and an even bigger pump-cum-stuff sack for a slightly quicker inflation.
However, because the Klymit Insulated Double V is more insulated and thus thicker, I found the roll-top of the stuff sack a bit more difficult to fit the Insulated Double V back into. It also weighs almost a pound more than the Uninsulated Double V, and has a 60% bigger packed size.
More info on the Klymit (Insulated) Double V:
5. Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress (Best Value for Money)
Key Info
- Type: Air Mattress
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 77 by 54 by 7 inches
- Weight: 4.8 pounds (mattress), 1.5 ounces (stuff sack), 1.7 pounds (pump with batteries)
- Fastest Inflation: 3 minutes 30 seconds
- Fastest Deflation: 2 minutes 30 seconds
- R-value: None
- Material: TPU-coated
- Valves: Boston valve
Pros and Cons
Summary
The Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress is easily my least expensive PVC-free camping mattress for couples that I have.
Despite its inexpensive price tag, the Sierra Designs is surprisingly comfortable, even with the divots along the entire mattress, and it’s my only 2-person camping mattress that has a comfy in-built pillow at one end.
It also comes with a user-friendly and high quality Boston valve that is well-positioned, making it very easy to inflate and deflate the Sierra Designs Air Mattress. The stuff sack is oversized, so it’s really easy to pack the entire mattress away even if it’s not fully deflated.
However, the included pump is pretty low powered, and mine even stopped working a few months in. There’s also some amount of bouncing, but it’s not the worst I’ve seen in an air mattress. Overall, this is a solid case where the pros greatly outweigh the cons, and is perfect for anyone looking for a comfortable PVC-free 2-person air mattress without a large budget.
More info on the Sierra Designs Air Mattress:
6. Intex Classic Downy Airbed (Best Budget Pick)
Key Info
- I Bought the: Full (without pump – my mistake!)
- Type: Air Mattress
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 73 by 53 by 8.5 inches
- Weight: 6.8 pounds (mattress)
- Fastest Inflation: 4 minutes
- Fastest Deflation: 1 minutes 30 seconds
- R-value: None
- Material: PVC, top is flocked
- Valves: 2-in-1 valve
Pros and Cons
Summary
The Intex Classic Downy Airbed is the camping mattress for couples that I paid the least amount of money for, yet it performed pretty decently (not the best for sure, but not the worst either).
For the price that I paid, I was surprised to find that the baffling is a lot more gentle and more comfortable than I thought it would be, and the hard plastic 2-in-1 screw-on valve was also decent quality and user-friendly.
However, it’s quite bouncy, and it’s made of PVC (which I’m not a big fan of, because PVC is naturally heavy, doesn’t pack down small, and smells for quite a few days). But the Intex Classic Downy Airbed is still perfect for someone who doesn’t camp very often, someone who’s on a tight budget, or someone who needs a quick or last minute sleeping solution.
More info on the Intex Airbed:
The Other Camping Mattresses for Couples that I Tested
And here are the other camping mattresses for couples that I bought and tested. These are not bad camping mattresses by any means, I just couldn’t think of anywhere to really place them.
7. Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed
Key Info
- I Bought the: Queen size
- Type: Air Mattress
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 80 by 56 by 6 inches
- Weight: 4.8 pounds (mattress), 2.5 ounces (stuff sack), 11 ounces (pump with nozzles), 7.4 ounces (AC and DC chargers)
- Fastest Inflation: 1 minute 30 seconds
- Fastest Deflation: 2 minutes 30 seconds
- R-value: None
- Material: TPU-coated nylon
- Valves: Boston valve
Pros and Cons
Summary
The Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed is the best camping air mattress for couples that I have. It’s the complete package when it comes to air mattresses – I got the mattress inside a stuff sack, a pump with 3 detachable nozzles, a DC vehicle charger, an AC charger, and even a repair kit.
The Vertex Airbed is made of TPU-coated nylon, is PVC-free, and has a great quality Boston valve. What makes the Vertex Airbed stand out even more is the powerful rechargeable pump that inflates the Airbed in just 1.5 minutes, it holds a lot of charge (~17 minutes’ worth), it has multiple charging options, and can be used even when being charged.
However, the Vertex Airbed is my most expensive air mattress for couples.
You can check out whether it’s on sale using these links below. If it’s not on sale, you can skip it. If it’s on sale though, it’s good value for money.
More info on the Alps Vertex:
8. Lightspeed Outdoors 2-Person Camping Air Mattress
Key Info
- Type: Air Mattress
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 80 by 55 by 6 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds (mattress), 1.7 ounces (stuff sack), 1.7 pounds (pump with batteries)
- Fastest Inflation: 2 minutes 30 seconds
- Fastest Deflation: 2 minutes 30 seconds
- R-value: None
- Material: 150D polyester laminated with TPU
- Valves: Single screw-on valve with in-built flap
Pros and Cons
Summary
The Lightspeed Outdoors 2-Person Camping Air Mattress has almost the same design as the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed (above), except for the valve. I really liked the high quality, high Denier TPU-coated 150D polyester that the Lightspeed Outdoors Air Mattress was made of.
However, I didn’t really like the valve that it came with. Unlike the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed that came with a Boston valve, the Lightspeed Outdoors Camping Air Mattress came with a screw-on valve with a simple inner flap. It’s less user-friendly, and if your mattress is anything less than 90% inflated, air will leak out through the flap until you screw the cap back on.
Another significant difference is that the Lightspeed Air Mattress’ pump is much lower quality, not very efficient, and it was difficult to inflate the Lightspeed Air Mattress fully at times with such a low-powered pump and the less user-friendly valve. Also, the included pump pooped out on me in a few months.
The Lightspeed Mattress also doesn’t come with a repair kit, so even though it’s quite a bit cheaper than the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Airbed, I think it offers slightly less value for money.
More info on the Lightspeed Air Mattress:
9. Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress
Key Info
- I Bought the: Queen size
- Type: Air Mattress
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 80 by 59 by 9 inches
- Weight: 13.4 pounds (mattress), 3.5 ounces (storage bag), 16.8 ounces (pump with 3 nozzles), 4.1 ounces (AC and DC chargers)
- Fastest Inflation: 2 minutes
- Fastest Deflation: 2 minutes 45 seconds
- R-value: None
- Material: PVC (20% thicker), top is flocked
- Valves: 2-in-1 plug-type valve
Pros and Cons
Summary
The Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress is a popular air mattress as well because it’s not too expensive, and you get the complete package as well – like the air mattress, a stuff sack, a pump, nozzles, charges, and 2 repair patches.
It comes with a powerful rechargeable pump that can inflate it in 2 minutes, it’s also a true Queen size, with the largest dimensions (80 x 59in) and highest profile of all the mattresses I tested, and has minimal bouncing for an air mattress.
But personally, it’s not my favorite camping mattress for couples, because I’m not a big fan of the plug-type valve, so I could not make slight adjustments to the firmness of the air mattress. I also did not really like that it’s made of PVC, making it super humongous and extremely heavy.
It’s my heaviest camping mattress for couples, and it’s even the same size as my self-inflating Exped MegaMat Duo 10, which is crazy.
More info on the Etekcity Mattress:
10. Coleman Quickbed Air Mattress
Key Info
- I Bought the: Full size
- Type: Air Mattress
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 73 by 53 by 8 inches
- Weight: 7.6 pounds (mattress)
- Fastest Inflation: 3 minutes
- Fastest Deflation: 2 minutes
- R-value: None
- Material: PVC, top is flocked
- Valves: Single plug-type valve (no 1-way valve!)
Pros and Cons
Summary
While the Coleman Quickbed Air Mattress is reasonably priced, you do get what you pay for.
The Coleman Quickbed lacks one of the most important aspects of camping mattresses – comfort. When inflated to firmness, the baffling got really pronounced and poked into my body, and I couldn’t really find a comfortable position to sleep in. There’s also quite a bit of bouncing when there’s another person in bed with you.
On top of that, there’s no 1-way valve (so not the most user-friendly), and it’s also made of PVC (so it’s going to be bulky, heavy and smelling of fumes).
Overall, the Coleman Quickbed isn’t a fantastic mattress, and I recommend the Intex Classic Downy Airbed as the best budget pick instead. But you can still give this a shot if the Intex Airbed is out of stock.
More info on the Coleman Quickbed:
Recommendation Summary
Here’s a summary of all the camping mattresses for couples that I bought and tested:
Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Exped MegaMat Duo 10
- Most Comfortable: Exped MegaMat Duo 10
- Runner Up: REI Camp Dreamer Double
- Alternative to REI Camp Dreamer: Stoic Double Cloud Camp Bed
- Most Portable: Klymit Uninsulated Double V
- Portable + Insulated: Klymit Insulated Double V
- Best Value for Money: Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress
- Best Budget Pick: Intex Classic Downy Airbed
The Others:
- Best Air Mattress: Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed
- If Alps Mountaineering is out of stock: Lightspeed Outdoors 2-Person Camping Air Mattress
- Largest Dimensions + Highest Profile: Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress
- If Intex is out of stock: Coleman Quickbed
If you’d like to compare how each of the 10 best camping mattresses for couples performed in each test, here’s a cool graphic where you can do so:
For more information on how I tested each camping mattress for couples, and came up with these scores, I’ll explain all of it in detail in the next section.
Performance and Test Results
I put each camping mattress for couples through these 5 different tests:
- Comfort
- Ease of Use
- Portability
- Versatility + Sizing
- Quality
At the end of all the tests, I compiled all the data and came to a decision in the Overall Performance Section.
Comfort
For comfort, I looked at:
- The thickness;
- Type;
- Bounciness;
- Noise; and
- The surface of each camping mattress for couples.
Thickness and Type
Here’s the thickness in inches and the type of each camping mattress for couples, from the most to the least comfortable:
2P Mattress | Thickness | Type |
---|---|---|
Exped Duo | 4 inches | Self-Inflating |
REI Dreamer | 3.75 inches | Self-Inflating |
Etekcity | 9 inches | Air Mattress |
Intex | 8.5 inches | Air Mattress |
Coleman | 8 inches | Air Mattress |
Sierra Designs | 7 inches | Air Mattress |
Alps Vertex | 6 inches | Air Mattress |
Lightspeed | 6 inches | Air Mattress |
Klymit Insulated | 2.5 inches | Air Pad |
Klymit Uninsulated | 2.5 inches | Air Pad |
For all of these mattresses, my body does not touch the ground whether I’m sleeping on my back, stomach, or side.
I found the self-inflating Exped MegaMat Duo 10 to be the most comfortable because the foam contours to the shape of my body and gives my body plenty of support.
In close second, we have the REI Camp Dreamer Double, which is a quarter of an inch less thick than the Exped MegaMat Duo 10, but it’s still really comfortable because it’s also a self-inflating mattress.
After the self-inflating mattresses, we have the air mattresses ranging from 6 to 9 inches in thickness, and they’re all thick enough such that I don’t feel the ground in any position, even when leaning on my elbow or when sitting down.
I put the Klymit Double Vs in last place, because with just 2.5 inches in thickness, I could sometimes feel the ground when tossing and turning in bed.
I found that the 2.5 inches in thickness was more than enough for sleeping on my back, and just enough for sleeping on my side.
Bounciness
Next, I looked at the bounciness of each camping mattress with 2 people on it, from the least bouncy to the bounciest:
2P Mattress | Bounciness |
---|---|
Exped Duo | Minimal |
REI Dreamer | Minimal |
Klymit Insulated | Minimal |
Klymit Uninsulated | Minimal |
Etekcity | Minimal |
Alps Vertex | Moderate |
Lightspeed | Moderate |
Sierra Designs | Moderate |
Coleman | Moderate |
Intex | Maximum |
I tested the bounciness of each camping mattress for couples by lying on it and having another person moving in bed next to me.
The self-inflating mattresses like the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and REI Camp Dreamer Double, and air pads like the Klymit Double Vs tend to have less bounce in my experience.
My air mattresses tend to be a lot bouncier, though the Etekcity Camping Air Mattress is the least bouncy air mattress that I have. (I think this might be because it’s very thick and therefore more sturdy.)
The Alps Mountaineering Vertex and the Lightspeed Air Mattresses have more segmented air chambers (which I think helps to reduce the shifting of air in the mattress) and I found them to be less bouncy than your average air mattress. Check out what the air chambers look like:
On the other hand, my Sierra Designs Camping Air Mattress and Coleman Quickbed have fewer segmented air chambers and are bouncier than the Alps Vertex and Lightspeed Mattresses. The fewer air chambers means more shifting of air, check out what it looks like:
And finally, the Intex Airbed has a crazy amount of bounce, and the vertical baffling really doesn’t do much to reduce bouncing:
Noise
I tested the noise level of each camping mattress for couples by moving around in bed without any sheets. Here are the quietest to the loudest 2-person camping mattresses for couples:
2P Mattress | Noise Level |
---|---|
Exped Duo | Quiet |
REI Dreamer | Quiet |
Etekcity | Velvety (Quiet) |
Coleman | Velvety (Quiet) |
Intex | Velvety (Quiet) |
Alps Vertex | Moderate |
Lightspeed | Moderate |
Sierra Designs | Moderate |
Klymit Insulated | Loudest |
Klymit Uninsulated | Loudest |
The self-inflating Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and REI Camp Dreamer Double are the quietest.
Next, I found that air mattresses with soft velvety flocked tops, like the Etekcity Camping Air Mattress, Coleman Quickbed and Intex Airbed, tend to be quite quiet as well, as the flocked tops help to reduce noise.
After, we have the air mattresses with TPU-coated top surfaces, like the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Airbed, Lightspeed Outdoors Air Mattress and Sierra Designs Air Mattress. I found that the TPU coatings on these mattresses were quite a bit louder against the skin.
Last, the Klymit Double Vs, which are air pads, are the loudest with a slight crinkly sound, but at least they don’t sound like bags of chips.
Surface Material
I also looked at the material of the surface fabric that I slept on, from the most to the least comfortable.
I generally prefer soft mattresses to firm ones, which is why I rated the soft surfaces as more comfortable:
2P Mattress | Surface Material |
---|---|
Exped Duo | Softest |
REI Dreamer | Soft |
Alps Vertex | Firm |
Lightspeed | Firm |
Sierra Designs | Firm |
Intex | Firm |
Klymit Uninsulated | Firm |
Klymit Insulated | Firm |
Etekcity | Firm |
Coleman | Firm |
I found the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 to be the most comfortable because it felt the softest and most plush.
The REI Camp Dreamer Double was slightly less soft, but still really plush.
The air mattresses and air pads have naturally firmer surfaces, which can feel more rigid. I found that especially for air mattresses, they need to be inflated to firmness to reduce the amount of bouncing made by your partner at night.
Tip: If you enjoy soft mattresses, you will find self-inflating mattresses (soft) much more comfortable than air mattresses (firm).
Surface Texture
In addition to the material of the surface that I slept on, I also looked at the texture and baffling, and here’s my pick of camping mattresses for couples starting from the most comfortable:
2P Mattress | Surface Texture |
---|---|
Exped Duo | Flat |
REI Dreamer | Flat |
Alps Vertex | Gentle |
Lightspeed | Gentle |
Sierra Designs | Gentle |
Intex | Baffling |
Klymit Uninsulated | Baffling |
Klymit Insulated | Baffling |
Etekcity | Thick Baffling |
Coleman | Thick Baffling |
Both self-inflating mattresses, the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and the REI Camp Dreamer Double, had flat sleeping surfaces and felt the closest to a regular bed.
The Alps Mountaineering Vertex, Lightspeed and Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Mattresses have gentle baffling and divots that were pretty comfortable. (Not as comfortable as the flat surfaces of the self-inflating mattresses, but still better than most air mattresses.)
The Intex Airbed and the Klymit Double Vs have deeper baffling that can take some getting used to, but they felt decently comfortable after I got used to it a few nights later.
The 2 mattresses that I did not like were the Etekcity Camping Mattress and Coleman Quickbed. When I inflated both these mattresses fully, the baffling got really pronounced and poked into my body, and I couldn’t really find a comfortable position to sleep in.
When I let out some air to make these air mattresses a bit softer, they became more comfortable, but this makes the mattresses even more bouncy.
Dimensions
And here are the dimensions of each camping mattress for couples (rounded up to the nearest inch):
2P Mattress | Dimensions |
---|---|
Etekcity | 80 by 59 inches |
Alps Vertex | 80 by 56 inches |
Lightspeed | 80 by 55 inches |
REI Dreamer | 81 by 54 inches |
Sierra Designs | 77 by 54 inches |
Intex | 73 by 53 inches |
Coleman | 73 by 53 inches |
Klymit Insulated | 74 by 47 inches |
Klymit Uninsulated | 74 by 46 inches |
Exped Duo | 74 by 43 inches |
Because most brands offer different sizes of each mattress and I bought different ones, I decided not to rate them based on these dimensions.
Comfort Ratings
So, based on the thickness, type, bounciness, noise, surface material and surface texture, I rated the comfort of each camping mattress for couples (out of 10, with 10 being the most comfortable).
Here are those ratings in chart form:
And also in table form:
2P Mattress | Comfort Ratings |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 10.0 |
REI Dreamer | 9.5 |
Alps Vertex | 7.5 |
Lightspeed | 7.5 |
Etekcity | 7.3 |
Sierra Designs | 7.3 |
Klymit Insulated | 7.0 |
Klymit Uninsulated | 7.0 |
Intex | 6.3 |
Coleman | 6.3 |
Ease of Use
For ease of use, I looked at:
- Inflation;
- Adjustments; and
- The deflation and pack up of each camping mattress for couples.
Inflation
For inflation, I looked at the different types of camping mattresses (air mattresses, air pads and self-inflating mattresses) separately.
Air Mattress Inflation
For the inflation of my 6 air mattresses (which are the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed, Etekcity Camping Air Mattress, Lightspeed 2P Air Mattress, Coleman Quickbed, Sierra Designs 2P Air Mattress, and the Intex Classic Downy Airbed), here are the timings from fastest to slowest:
2P Air Mattress | Inflation Timing |
---|---|
Alps Vertex | 1.5 mins |
Etekcity | 2 mins |
Lightspeed | 2.5 mins |
Coleman | 3 mins |
Sierra Designs | 3.5 mins |
Intex | 4 mins |
For this test, I timed the inflation using the provided pump, and if there was no provided pump, like for my Coleman Quickbed and Intex Classic Downy Airbed, I used the pump that came with my Sierra Designs and Lightspeed 2-Person Camping Air Mattresses.
The pumps that came with my Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed and Etekcity Camping Mattress were much higher powered, so inflation was a lot quicker.
To get the inflation timings in the air mattress table above, I used the 2-way opening of all the air mattresses (as inflation through the 2-way opening is much faster than the 1-way valve), and then I used the 1-way valve after to top off the mattress to firmness.
Air Pad Inflation
For the inflation of my 2 air pads (which are the Klymit Double V Uninsulated Sleeping Pad and the Klymit Double V Insulated Sleeping Pad), here are the inflation timings from fastest to slowest, as well as the corresponding bags of air:
2P Air Pad | Bags of Air | Inflation Timings |
---|---|---|
Klymit Insulated | 11-14 bags of air | 1.5 mins |
Klymit Uninsulated | 14-17 bags of air | 2 mins |
The Red Klymit Insulated Double V has a slightly larger stuff sack, so:
- If there’s moving air flow, it takes around 11 to 12 bags of air to fill the Insulated Double V, which is around 1.5 minutes.
- If there’s no air flow, the bags of air tend to be slightly smaller, and it takes around 13-14 bags of air to fill the Insulated Double V. This takes around 1 minute and 45 seconds.
- So, the average timing is 1 and a half minutes.
The Blue Klymit Uninsulated Double V has a slightly smaller stuff sack than the Insulated Double V, so:
- If there’s moving air flow, the bags of air tend to be slightly bigger, and it takes me around 14 bags of air to fill it up, which is around 1 minute and 45 seconds.
- If there’s no air flow, the bags of air tend to be slightly smaller, and it takes around 17 bags of air to fill the Uninsulated Double V. This takes around 2 minutes and 15 seconds.
- So, the average timing is about 2 minutes.
Self-Inflating Mattress Inflation
For the inflation of my 2 self-inflating mattresses (which are the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and the REI Camp Dreamer Double), here are the self-inflation timings from fastest to slowest, as well as the amount of time I spent pumping up each mattress after the self-inflation:
2P Self-Inflating Mattress | Self-Inflation Timings | Pumping |
---|---|---|
Exped Duo | 10 mins | 1 min |
REI Dreamer | 10 mins | 1 min |
Both my Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and the REI Camp Dreamer Double take an average of about 10 minutes to self-inflate (to about 85% of the maximum inflation), followed by about 1 minute of pumping.
But they could take a lot longer to self-inflate, maybe 30 minutes to an hour, if you store them compressed like this.
Also, you’ll have to pump them up more, up to 5 minutes or so. So, I would recommend storing them unrolled with the valves open if you want them to self-inflate more quickly.
All Mattress Inflation
After putting all of the timings from the different inflation methods together (air mattresses + air pads + self-inflating mattresses), here are the timings that I spent pumping up each mattress from the fastest to slowest:
2P Mattress | Inflation Timings |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 1 min |
REI Dreamer | 1 min |
Alps Vertex | 1.5 mins |
Klymit Insulated | 1.5 mins |
Klymit Uninsulated | 2 mins |
Etekcity | 2 mins |
Lightspeed | 2.5 nins |
Coleman | 3 mins |
Sierra Designs | 3.5 mins |
Intex | 4 mins |
I spent the least amount of time pumping up the self-inflating Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and REI Camp Dreamer Double, and the most time inflating the Intex Classic Downy Airbed.
These timings you see in the table above are just the timings of the pumping, and do not include me taking the camping mattress out of the stuff sack, unrolling it and laying it on the ground, or letting it self-inflate. If you’d like to include this as well, just add 11 minutes to the self-inflating Exped and REI, and 1 minute to the rest of the air mattresses and air pads.
Adjustments
Being able to make adjustments while lying down on the camping mattress is very useful, especially if you find the camping mattress too firm.
2P Mattress | Adjustments |
---|---|
Exped Duo | Yes |
Klymit Insulated | Yes |
Klymit Uninsulated | Yes |
Lightspeed | Yes |
REI Dreamer | (Yes) |
Alps Vertex | (Yes) |
Sierra Designs | (Yes) |
Intex | (Yes) |
Etekcity | No |
Coleman | No |
For the Exped MegaMat Duo 10, both Klymit Double Vs, and the Lightspeed Mattress, just gently press on the in-built flap of the Inflate valve to release a bit of air for more cushioning.
For the REI Camp Dreamer Double, just unscrew the caps of one of the valves, and push it in slightly to let some air out.
For the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed, Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress, and the Intex Classic Downy Airbed, these come with screw-on 2-way valves, and I found that unscrewing the 2-way valve slightly lets out a bit of air.
But you’ll have to listen for the sound of air escaping and also, be careful to not unscrew it too much.
The only 2 camping mattresses that lets out too much air at one time are the Etekcity Camping Air Mattress and the Coleman Quickbed, because they come with these plug-type valves.
Deflation
I deflated all my camping mattresses for couples on my own by pushing the air out using my body weight. Then I folded each one and packed it nicely back into the stuff sack.
Here are the timings of my deflation from the fastest to slowest:
2P Mattress | Deflation Timings + Pack Up | Stuff Sack? |
---|---|---|
Alps Vertex | 2.5 mins | Yes |
Lightspeed | 2.5 mins | Yes |
Sierra Designs | 2.5 mins | Yes |
Etekcity | 2.75 mins | Yes |
Exped Duo | 2.75 mins | Yes |
Klymit Uninsulated | 3.25 mins | Yes |
Klymit Insulated | 4.75 mins | Yes |
REI Dreamer | 5 mins | Yes |
Intex | 1.5 mins | No |
Coleman | 2 mins | No |
The air mattresses were the easiest to deflate just by using the 2-way opening and my body weight, although there are specific ways to fold each mattress back into the stuff sack. I found the Alps Mountaineering Vertex and Lightspeed Air Mattresses more intuitive to fold than the Sierra Designs Camping Air Mattress.
The self-inflating Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and REI Camp Dreamer Double took slightly longer than the air mattresses because of all the foam inside, which made pushing the air out slightly more time-consuming.
The Klymit Double Vs took slightly longer as well, because the roll top of the stuff sack was a bit tight, especially for the Klymit Insulated Double V.
The Intex Classic Downy Airbed and Coleman Quickbed did not come with stuff sacks.
Ease of Use Ratings
So, based on the inflation, ability to make adjustments, deflation and pack up, I rated the ease of use of each camping mattress for couples (out of 10, with 10 being the easiest to use).
Here are those ratings in chart form:
And also in table form:
2P Mattress | Ease of Use Ratings |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 9.7 |
Lightspeed | 9.3 |
Klymit Uninsulated | 9.0 |
Alps Vertex | 9.0 |
Sierra Designs | 8.3 |
Klymit Insulated | 8.0 |
REI Dreamer | 7.7 |
Etekcity | 7.7 |
Intex | 7.5 |
Coleman | 6.5 |
Portability
For portability, I looked at the:
- Weight; and
- Packed size of each camping mattress for couples.
Weight
Here’s the weight of each 2-person camping mattress from lightest to heaviest. This is the weight of just the deflated mattress alone, without the stuff sack, pump, or any other accessories:
2P Mattress | Weight of Mattress |
---|---|
Klymit Uninsulated | 2.5 pounds |
Klymit Insulated | 3.3 pounds |
Sierra Designs | 4.8 pounds |
Alps Vertex | 4.8 pounds |
Lightspeed | 5.0 pounds |
Intex | 6.8 pounds |
Exped Duo | 7.2 pounds |
Coleman | 7.6 pounds |
REI Dreamer | 11.6 pounds |
Etekcity | 13.4 pounds |
And here’s what each camping mattress for couples weigh after including the stuff sack, pump, batteries, cables, and any other accessories required:
2P Mattress | Total Weight |
---|---|
Klymit Uninsulated | 2.7 pounds (pad + stuff sack / pump) |
Klymit Insulated | 3.6 pounds (pad + stuff sack / pump) |
Alps Vertex | 6.1 pounds (mattress + stuff sack + pump + chargers) |
Sierra Designs | 6.6 pounds (mattress + stuff sack + pump + batteries) |
Lightspeed | 6.9 pounds (mattress + stuff sack + pump + batteries) |
Exped Duo | 7.6 pounds (mattress + stuff sack + pump) |
Intex | 8.5 pounds (mattress + pump) |
Coleman | 9.3 pounds (mattress + pump) |
REI Dreamer | 13.0 pounds (mattress + stuff sack + pump) |
Etekcity | 14.9 pounds (mattress + bags + pump + chargers) |
Packed Size
And here’s the packed size of each camping mattress for couples, from the smallest to the largest, which is quite proportional to the weight:
2P Mattress | Packed Size |
---|---|
Klymit Uninsulated | 11 x 7 x 5 inches |
Klymit Insulated | 12 x 7.5 x 7 inches |
Sierra Designs | 14 x 8 x 7 inches |
Lightspeed | 17 x 8 x 6 inches |
Alps Vertex | 18 x 8 x 6 inches |
Intex | 20 x 12 x 5 inches |
Coleman | 21 x 14 x 5 inches |
Exped Duo | 23 x 11 x 10 inches |
Etekcity | 13 x 17 x 12 inches |
REI Dreamer | 29 x 15 x 12 inches |
For a size comparison, here’s what the smallest packed size (Klymit Uninsulated Double V) looks like beside a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle:
And here’s what the largest packed size (REI Camp Dreamer Double) looks like beside this same 32-ounce Nalgene bottle, as well as its included deflated pump:
Also, here’s 3 pictures showing what all 10 camping mattresses for couples look like side by side:
Portability Ratings
So, based on the weight and packed size, I rated the portability of each camping mattress for couples (out of 10, with 10 being the most portable).
Here are those ratings in chart form:
And also in table form:
2P Mattress | Portability Ratings |
---|---|
Klymit Uninsulated | 10 |
Klymit Insulated | 9 |
Sierra Designs | 8 |
Alps Vertex | 8 |
Lightspeed | 8 |
Intex | 6 |
Exped Duo | 5 |
Coleman | 5 |
REI Dreamer | 2 |
Etekcity | 2 |
Versatility
For versatility, I looked at:
- Insulation, so whether the mattress can be used for summer, 3-season or winter camping;
- Whether it can be used for backpacking;
- Whether it fits into 2-person tents, 4-person tents, and so on; and
- Also the versatility of the pump of each camping mattress for couples.
Insulation
The insulation of a camping mattress depends on mainly this one thing – the R-value of the mattress, which is the capacity of a mattress to resist heat flow through it. The higher the R-value of the mattress, the better the insulation.
Here are the R-values of each camping mattress for couples that I tested in this review, from the most to the least insulated:
2P Mattress | R-Value |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 8.1 |
REI Dreamer | 6.5 |
Klymit Insulated | 4.4 |
Klymit Uninsulated | 1.3 |
Sierra Designs | None |
Alps Vertex | None |
Lightspeed | None |
Intex | None |
Coleman | None |
Etekcity | None |
Those with no R-values are air mattresses, which are usually not insulated. The R-values you should look out for depends on the type of camping you plan on experiencing.
Summer Camping
For summer camping, little to minimal insulation is required, so all the mattress above can be used in the summer.
I was a little worried that I may not be able to use the insulated mattresses (like the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 with an R-value of 8.1 or the REI Camp Dreamer Double with an R-value of 6.5) in summer, but when I used them for camping in summer in about 60 to 80 degree (Fahrenheit) weather, neither of them felt too hot, although I am a cold sleeper and I like it warm when I sleep.
3-Season Camping
For off-season or 3-season camping (but not in winter conditions), an R-value of about 2.5 (anything less than 2 is considered to be minimal) to about 4 is recommended. You can get a higher R-value pad/mattress if you’re a cold sleeper like I am.
So, only the Klymit Insulated Double V (R-value of 4.4), the REI Camp Dreamer Double (R-value of 6.5), and the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 (R-value of 8.1) can be used for 3-season camping.
Winter Camping
For winter camping, an R-value of at least 5 or 6 is highly recommended. As such, only the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and the REI Camp Dreamer Double can be used in winter.
Also, depending on how severe the winter conditions are, you can get pads that are much more highly insulated. For example, the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 is highly insulated with an R-value of 8.1, so it can be used in temperatures way below freezing, around -40 degrees Celsius or -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Backpacking
Only the Klymit Double Vs (both Insulated and Uninsulated) are light enough to be used for backpacking, but even so they’re not exactly ultralight, though you could probably use them for shorter backpacking trips.
Sizing
Here are the dimensions of each camping mattress for couples, from the smallest dimensions to the largest dimensions:
2P Mattress | Test Model | Dimensions |
---|---|---|
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | Medium Double | 73.5 x 42.5 x 4 inches |
Klymit Double V | Uninsulated | 74 x 46 x 2.5 inches |
Klymit Double V | Insulated | 74 x 47 x 2.5 inches |
Coleman Quickbed | Full | 73 x 53 x 8 inches |
Intex Classic Downy Airbed | Full | 73 x 53 x 8.5 inches |
Sierra Designs Air Mattress | 2-Person | 77 x 54 x 7 inches |
REI Camp Dreamer | Double | 81 x 54 x 3.75 inches |
Lightspeed Air Mattress | 2-Person | 80 x 55 x 6 inches |
Alps Mountaineering Vertex | Queen | 80 x 56 x 6 inches |
Etekcity Camping Air Mattress | Queen | 80 x 59 x 9 inches |
The Exped MegaMat Duo 10 (in a Medium Double size) and both Klymit Double Vs have the most versatile sizing, because they’re just about the size of 2 regular sleeping pads put together.
They are also lower profile and don’t eat too much into your livable space, and can be used in all 2-person tents, even ones that are narrower and have lower peak heights.
And you can fit 2 of these mattresses in a 4-person tent, and so on.
On the other hand, camping mattresses for couples with much larger dimensions (like a Queen, or even just a Full size) have less versatile sizing, because you won’t be able to fit 2 of these into a 4-person tent:
Also, air mattresses tend to be higher profile (those I tested in this review range from 6 to 9 inches), so they won’t be able to fit into all 2-person tents, especially those with shorter peak heights.
This is a picture of the Klymit Double V (thickness of 2.5 inches) inside a tent with a lower peak height, and my head is already almost touching the top of the tent:
So, before buying a camping mattress for couples, do consider the following:
Pump Versatility
I found the pumps of the Exped MegaMat Duo 10, the REI Camp Dreamer Double and both Klymit Double Vs to be the most versatile, because they can be used without charging and without batteries.
The pumps that came with my air mattresses are electric pumps, and require either batteries or charging via an outlet.
This feels quite a bit less versatile to me, because if you run out of juice or batteries, you won’t be able to inflate your air mattress at all.
Versatility Summary
Here’s a summary of the different settings and situations that I considered:
The self-inflating mattresses and air pads, like the Exped, REI and Klymit, are much more versatile and can be used for many different occasions. On the other hand, air mattresses, such as the Alps Mountaineering, Sierra, Lightspeed, Etekcity, Coleman and Intex, are much less versatile.
Versatility Ratings
Based on insulation, whether the camping mattress for couples can be used for backpacking, in tents of different sizes and peak heights, and the versatility of the pump, I rated each camping mattress for versatility (out of 10, with 10 being the most versatile).
Here are those ratings in chart form:
And also in table form:
2P Mattress | Versatility Ratings |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 9 |
Klymit Insulated | 9 |
Klymit Uninsulated | 8 |
REI Dreamer | 8 |
Alps Vertex | 5 |
Lightspeed | 5 |
Sierra Designs | 5 |
Intex | 4 |
Coleman | 4 |
Etekcity | 4 |
Quality
I also looked at the quality of the:
- Material;
- Valve;
- Stuff sack;
- Pump; and
- The air retention of each camping mattress for couples.
Material Quality
Here’s the material of both the top and bottom surfaces of each camping mattress for couples:
2P Mattress | Top Material | Bottom Material |
---|---|---|
Exped Duo | 50D Nylon (Polyester Laminate) | 75D Polyester |
Lightspeed | 150D Polyester (TPU Laminate) | 150D Polyester (TPU Laminate) |
Klymit Insulated | 75D Polyester | 75D Polyester |
Klymit Uninsulated | 75D Polyester | 75D Polyester |
REI Dreamer | Polyester | Polyester |
Sierra Designs | Polyester (TPU-coated) | Polyester (TPU-coated) |
Alps Vertex | Nylon (TPU-coated) | Nylon (TPU-coated) |
Etekcity | PVC (20% thicker) | PVC (20% thicker) |
Coleman | PVC | PVC |
Intex | PVC | PVC |
The 3 main materials that you will find in such camping mattresses are nylon, polyester, (sometimes with a TPU coating) and PVC.
After using these camping mattresses for couples for the past 6-12 months, I realized that the only material that I did not like was PVC, because it’s heavy, doesn’t pack down small, and it smells. The smell does fade after a few days, but it never completely leaves.
And I just tend to prefer PVC-free mattresses, because PVC that has not been treated and tested rigorously can be toxic to humans. So, PVC not only has a lot of cons, but health issues tooo.
Valve Quality
For valves, I looked at the number, type, quality and build of the valves, and here they are starting from the highest quality:
2P Mattress | Number of Valves | Type of Valves |
---|---|---|
Exped Duo | 2 | FlatValves |
Klymit Insulated | 2 | FlatValves |
Klymit Uninsulated | 2 | FlatValves |
REI Dreamer | 2 | Hi-flow TPR |
Sierra Designs | 1 | Boston |
Alps Vertex | 1 | Boston |
Intex | 1 | 2-in-1 screw-on |
Lightspeed | 1 | Screw-on + Flap |
Etekcity | 1 | 2-in-1 plug |
Coleman | 1 | Plug |
I really love the separate FlatValves for inflation and deflation on the Exped MegaMat Duo 10. They’re flushed with the surface, labeled, and feel rugged and high quality.
Not only that, the Deflation valve is slightly larger for a quicker deflation, and the Inflation valve comes with an attached toggle for a faster inflation. (Talk about attention to detail, huh?)
I also really like the FlatValves on the Klymit Double Vs. They’re also labeled, flushed with the surface and similarly feel rugged and high quality.
The hi-flow TPR valves on the REI Camp Dreamer Double feel good quality as well. Despite many reviews of leaky valves, I never had any issue. They’re just a little less user-friendly, because to ensure that no air leaks out, I had to align the valves well for a tight seal.
The Boston valves on the Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress and the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Airbed are great too, and the Sierra Designs even has a color-coded Boston valve (black for the top 1-way valve, and white for the bottom 2-way opening).
The only valve that I didn’t like was the plug-type valve on the Coleman Quickbed. It’s my only 2-person camping mattress that doesn’t have a 1-way valve, so it’s much less user-friendly.
Stuff Sack Quality
I also looked at the quality and design of each stuff sack that came with each camping mattress for couples, from the highest to lowest quality:
2P Mattress | Stuff Sack? | Ease of Carry |
---|---|---|
Exped Duo | Yes | Shoulder strap |
REI Dreamer | Yes | Shoulder strap |
Klymit Uninsulated | Yes | Handle |
Klymit Insulated | Yes | Handle |
Alps Vertex | Yes | No |
Lightspeed | Yes | No |
Sierra Designs | Yes | No |
Etekcity | Yes | Shoulder strap |
Intex | No | N.A. |
Coleman | No | N.A. |
I really love the stuff sack of the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 and the REI Camp Dreamer Double the most. They’re the best fitting, most user-friendly and highest quality.
I also really like the quality of the stuff sack on the Klymit Double Vs, but the roll-top is a bit tight. But it’s still great quality:
The rest of the stuff sacks are a bit too oversized, though it is easier to get the mattress back in, even without proper deflation. These are the stuff sacks of the Alps Vertex, Lightspeed Outdoors, Sierra Designs and Etekcity:
My least favorite stuff sack is the Etekcity’s, because it looks and feels the cheapest.
Pump Quality
Here’s the quality of each pump that came with each camping mattress for couples, from the best quality to the lowest quality:
2P Mattress | Pump Quality |
---|---|
Exped Duo | Manual |
REI Dreamer | Manual |
Klymit Uninsulated | Manual |
Klymit Insulated | Manual |
Alps Vertex | Electric (High powered) |
Etekcity | Electric (High powered) |
Sierra Designs | Electric (Low powered) |
Lightspeed | Electric (Low powered) |
Intex | No |
Coleman | No |
The pumps that came with the Exped MegaMat Duo 10, REI Dreamer Double and Klymit Double Vs are the best quality; they pop into place and fit perfectly with the Inflate valves, they’re very efficient, very durable and can last for many years, and they don’t require batteries or charging.
The Alps Vertex and Etekcity mattresses came with high powered rechargeable electric pumps that are also very efficient, but the charge that it holds slowly decreases over time and doesn’t last me more than a couple years.
For example, my Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed electric pump is quite new (~6 months old), and it holds its charge for about 17 minutes. However, my Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress electric pump is older (~2 years old), and holds its charge for only 4 minutes.
The electric pumps of the Sierra Designs Air Mattress and the Lightspeed Air Mattress are low powered, less efficient, and both died on me with just a few months of light usage.
Air Retention
I also tested the air retention of every single camping mattress with another person (about 300+ pounds together) and here are the results after each night:
2P Mattress | Air Retention |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 100% |
REI Dreamer | 100% |
Klymit Uninsulated | 100% |
Klymit Insulated | 100% |
Alps Vertex | 100% |
Lightspeed | 100% |
Sierra Designs | 100% |
Etekcity | 100% |
Intex | 85% |
Coleman | 85% |
The only camping mattresses that lost a bit of air was the Intex Classic Downy Airbed and the Coleman Quickbed.
To be fair though, they were not uncomfortable the next morning, and I never had to worry about waking up on the ground. But I did have to top them off with air every night.
Quality Ratings
Based on the material quality, valve quality, stuff sack quality, pump quality, and air retention, I rated the quality of each camping mattress for couples (out of 10, with 10 being the highest quality).
Here are those ratings in chart form:
And also in table form:
2P Mattress | Quality Ratings |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 10.0 |
REI Dreamer | 9.8 |
Klymit Insulated | 9.8 |
Klymit Uninsulated | 9.8 |
Alps Vertex | 8.6 |
Lightspeed | 7.8 |
Sierra Designs | 7.8 |
Etekcity | 7.6 |
Intex | 7.0 |
Coleman | 6.3 |
Overall Performance
Based on all 5 tests that I rated above (comfort, ease of use, portability, versatility and quality) and the scoring in each test, here’s all the scores of each camping mattress for couples side by side for easier comparison:
I color-coded the ratings to make it easier to look at. Green is for good, yellow is for not so good, and red is for pretty bad. The overall performance scores are in the last column. I got to these scores by using this following weightage:
- Comfort: 25%
- Ease of Use: 25%
- Portability: 10%
- Versatility: 20%
- Quality: 20%
- Total: 100%
In case you just want the overall scores without the individual tests, here you go:
2P Mattress | Overall Ratings |
---|---|
Exped Duo | 9.2 |
Klymit Uninsulated | 8.6 |
Klymit Insulated | 8.4 |
REI Dreamer | 8.1 |
Alps Vertex | 7.6 |
Lightspeed | 7.6 |
Sierra Designs | 7.3 |
Etekcity | 6.3 |
Intex | 6.3 |
Coleman | 5.8 |
Detailed Specifications
This section contains detailed specs only. Click here if you want to skip past this section and read the buying guide instead.
This table contains detailed specs on the dimensions and weight of each camping mattress for couples:
2P Mattress | Dimensions | Weight (Mattress) | Weight (Stuff Sack) | Weight (Pump) | Total Weight | Packed Size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | 73.5 x 42.5 x 4 inches | 7.2 pounds | 5.3 ounces | 1.6 ounces | 7.6 pounds | 23 x 11 x 10 inches |
REI Camp Dreamer Double | 81 x 54 x 3.75 inches | 11.6 pounds | 11.5 ounces | 11.8 ounces | 13.0 pounds | 29 x 15 x 12 inches |
Klymit Uninsulated Double V | 74 x 46 x 2.5 inches | 40.3 ounces | 3.1 ounces | N.A. | 2.7 pounds | 11 x 7 x 5 inches |
Klymit Insulated Double V | 74 x 47 x 2.5 inches | 53.5 ounces | 3.7 ounces | N.A. | 3.6 pounds | 12 x 7.5 x 7 inches |
Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed | 80 x 56 x 6 inches | 4.8 pounds | 2.5 ounces | 11 ounces | 6.1 pounds | 18 x 8 x 6 inches |
Sierra Designs Camping Air Mattress | 77 x 54 x 7 inches | 4.8 pounds | 1.5 ounces | 27.9 ounces | 6.6 pounds | 14 x 8 x 7 inches |
Lightspeed Outdoors Camping Air Mattress | 80 x 55 x 6 inches | 5 pounds | 1.7 ounces | 27.9 ounces | 6.9 pounds | 17 x 8 x 6 inches |
Etekcity Upgraded Camping Mattress | 80 x 59 x 9 inches | 13.4 pounds | 3.5 ounces | 16.8 ounces | 14.9 pounds | 13 x 17 x 12 inches |
Coleman Quickbed Air Mattress | 73 x 53 x 8 inches | 7.6 pounds | N.A. | N.A. | 9.3 pounds | 21 x 14 x 5 inches |
Intex Classic Downy Airbed | 73 x 53 x 8.5 inches | 6.8 pounds | N.A. | N.A. | 8.5 pounds | 20 x 12 x 5 inches |
And this table contains inflation + deflation timings, insulation, material and valves:
2P Mattress | Fastest Inflation | Fastest Deflation | R-value | Top Material | Bottom Material | Valves | Stuff Sack | Pump |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exped MegaMat Duo 10 | 11 mins | 2.75 mins | 8.1 | 50D nylon with polyester laminate | 75D polyester | 2 FlatValves | Yes | Yes |
REI Camp Dreamer Double | 11 mins | 5 mins | 6.5 | Polyester | Polyester | 2 hi-flow TPR valves | Yes | Yes |
Klymit Uninsulated Double V | 1.75 mins | 3.25 mins | 1.3 | 75D polyester | 75D polyester | 2 FlatValves | Yes (Doubles as pump) | Yes |
Klymit Insulated Double V | 1.5 minutes | 4.75 minutes | 4.4 | 75D polyester | 75D polyester | 2 FlatValves | Yes (Doubles as pump) | Yes |
Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed | 1.5 minutes | 2.5 minutes | None | TPU-coated nylon | TPU-coated nylon | 1 Boston valve | Yes | Yes |
Sierra Designs Camping Air Mattress | 3.5 minutes | 2.5 minutes | None | TPU-coated | TPU-coated | 1 Boston valve | Yes | Yes |
Lightspeed Outdoors Camping Air Mattress | 2.5 minutes | 2.5 minutes | None | 150D polyester laminated with TPU | 150D polyester laminated with TPU | Single valve with inner flap | Yes | Yes |
Etekcity Upgraded Camping Mattress | 2 minutes | 2.75 minutes | None | PVC | PVC | 2-in-1 plug-type valve | Yes | Yes |
Coleman Quickbed Air Mattress | 3 minutes | 2 minutes | None | PVC | PVC | 2-way plug-type valve | No | No |
Intex Classic Downy Airbed | 4 minutes | 1.5 minutes | None | PVC | PVC | 2-in-1 valve | No | No |
How to Choose the Best Camping Mattress For Couples
In addition to the tests that I conducted above (which are comfort, ease of use, portability, versatility, sizing and quality), here are a few more considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best camping mattress for couples for your partner and yourself:
- Type
- Durability
- Warranty
- Ease of Cleaning
- Budget
Type
The question to consider here is this – What type of camping mattress suits your needs best?
In this review, I tested 3 different types of camping mattresses for couples, and here’s a brief explanation of each, as well as some pros and cons.
Air Mattresses
I tested these 6 camping air mattresses for couples in this review:
- Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed (Queen)
- Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress
- Lightspeed Outdoors 2-Person Camping Air Mattress
- Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress (Queen)
- Intex Classic Downy Airbed (Full)
- Coleman Quickbed (Full)
Camping air mattresses are filled with nothing but air, and are often slightly higher profile; the air mattresses I tested in this review ranged from 6 inches (Alps Mountaineering Vertex and Lightspeed Outdoors Air Mattress) to 9 inches (Etekcity Camping Mattress) in thickness.
These camping air mattresses are made for camping, and they’re never light enough to be taken backpacking.
The camping air mattresses in this review ranged from 4.8 pounds (Alps Mountaineering Vertex and Sierra Designs Air Mattress) to a whopping 13.4 pounds (Etekcity Camping Mattress). They have a packed size bigger than air pads, but usually smaller than self-inflating pads.
Air mattresses also come with electric pumps for inflation. Some electric pumps are powered by batteries, while others are rechargeable. How quickly your air mattress inflates depends on the power of the pump, though I have found that air mattresses tend to deflate faster than other sleep systems.
Personally, air mattresses are my least favorite sleep system to take camping, because it has more cons than pros:
Air Pads
I tested these 2 air pads in this review:
- Klymit Double V Insulated 2-Person Sleeping Pad
- Klymit Double V Uninsulated 2-Person Sleeping Pad
Like air mattresses, air pads are also filled with nothing but air, but are usually much lower profile.
Both my Klymit Double Vs had a thickness of just 2.5 inches.
Air pads usually have smaller dimensions than air mattresses, both my Klymit Double Vs have dimensions of about 74 by 47 inches, and it’s rare to find air pads in Queen or even Full sizes because of space and weight constraints.
While air pads aren’t usually the most comfortable sleep systems around, I find them extremely useful when I need to cut weight or space. In fact, my Klymit Uninsulated Double V weighs just 43.4 ounces for the pad and stuff sack, while my Klymit Insulated Double V weighs just 57.2 ounces.
Here are some pros and cons of air pads:
Self-Inflating Mattresses
I tested these 2 self-inflating mattresses in this review:
- Exped MegaMat Duo 10 (Medium Double)
- REI Camp Dreamer Double
As the name suggests, these camping mattresses self-inflate. When I went camping, all I had to do was to take the mattress out of the stuff sack, lay it on the ground, and open the valves. This allows the foam inside to take in air and expand.
10 minutes later, and both my Exped and REI had inflated to about 85% of their maximum firmness. Then, all I had to do was to insert my included manual pump and pump the mattresses up for a mere 1 minute.
Self-inflating mattresses are usually my sleep system of choice, because it has so many pros and not many cons:
If you have the budget to afford one of these, as well as the space to store it, I highly recommend that you try out one of these. Once I started using my Exped MegaMat Duo 10, I never looked back.
Durability
There are a few things that I look out for when it comes to durability:
- Denier Rating
- Valve durability
- Patch or repair kits
Denier Rating
The Denier rating is a measure of how durable a mattress material is, and is one of the most important things to look out for when it comes to durability.
The Denier ratings of the camping mattresses for couples that I tested in this review range from 50D to 150D (higher ratings are usually indicative of higher durability). For example, the top surface of my Exped MegaMat Duo 10 is made of 50D nylon with a polyester laminate, while my Lightspeed Outdoors Camping Air Mattress is made of 150D polyester with a TPU laminate.
The Denier ratings of the top surface and bottom surface of a camping mattress can differ. For example, the top surface of my Exped MegaMat is 50D nylon with a polyester laminate, while its bottom surface is made of 75D polyester for added durability.
I generally look for a denier rating of about at least 75D for the bottom surface, and I find that it’s plenty durable for my use.
Valve Durability
The type of valve(s) that come with the camping mattress for couples usually affect its durability. As a general guide, I find FlatValves and Boston valves to be high quality and high durability. On the other hand, I’m not really a big fan of plug-type valves.
For example, both my Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress and Coleman Quickbed came with plug-type valves that are made of rubbery-plastic.
The rubbery-plastic never feels terribly high quality to me, and I don’t really like that I have to push and pull on the valve constantly, because it feels like it’ll wear out more easily.
My more expensive camping mattresses for couples usually come with higher quality FlatValves and Boston valves, so I never usually have to worry about them.
Patch or Repair Kits
While having a patch kit or repair kit isn’t indicative of the durability of a material, it is something that I like to have on hand when going on a camping trip, in case I ever puncture a hole in my camping mattress. It gives me peace of mind.
Not all my camping mattresses for couples came with patch kits, and here are the ones that did:
2P Mattress | Patch Kits |
---|---|
Exped Duo | Yes |
Klymit Insulated | Yes |
Klymit Uninsulated | Yes |
Alps Vertex | Yes |
Etekcity | Yes |
Intex | Yes |
REI Dreamer | No |
Sierra Designs | No |
Lightspeed | No |
Coleman | No |
Warranty
I also like to look at the length of the warranty, which is the amount of time that a manufacturer is willing to back their product for. During the warranty, you will be protected from manufacturing defects, like this:
As a general guide, I find that the higher quality and more reputable manufacturers tend to back their products for longer periods of time, which give me peace of mind.
The camping mattresses for couples that I tested for this review have warranties ranging from no warranty at all to a lifetime limited warranty. For example, my Intex Classic Downy Airbed has no warranty at all, while my Klymit Double Vs have limited lifetime warranties.
Here’s all the info that I could find on each camping mattress’ warranties:
2P Mattress | Length of Warranty |
---|---|
Alps Vertex | Lifetime (limited) |
Klymit Uninsulated | Lifetime (limited) |
Klymit Insulated | Lifetime (limited) |
Exped Duo | 5 years |
Etekcity | 2 years |
REI | 1 year |
Sierra Designs | 1 year |
Coleman | 1 year |
Lightspeed | 1 year |
Intex | No warranty |
*This is based on the info that I could find online and in my purchase (if provided). Please double check or ask customer service about the warranty in case the above has changed.
Also, not all manufacturers have equal standards when it comes to customer service. I’ve personally only used REI’s customer service and warranty because there were issues with my REI Camp Dreamer Double, and it was wonderful, really. I have not used the rest.
Ease of Cleaning
How easy it is to clean a camping mattress for couples depends on a few things:
- The material of the surface;
- Whether the surface is flocked; and
- The baffling of the mattress.
Surface
Generally, I find TPU, polyester and nylon surfaces slightly easier to clean as compared to PVC surfaces.
I don’t quite like PVC for this as well – it feels rubbery and slightly sticky, so dirt particles tend to stick to it more easily. Also, it isn’t quite so easy to run a cloth over PVC surfaces, because of the slightly “sticky” nature of PVC.
Flocked Tops
All the PVC camping mattresses for couples that I tested in this review come with flocked tops, which does help to reduce the noise I make when tossing and turning in bed, but it’s not quite so easy to clean though.
It generates a lot of friction when running my damp towel or cloth over it, so it takes me a much longer time to clean than simple TPU surfaces.
Baffling
I also found deeper baffling slightly more difficult to clean than non-baffled surfaces.
For example, my Klymit Double Vs have quite deep baffling. Whenever I find dirt trapped within the baffles of my Double Vs, I would have to run my cloth in between each baffle, which can be slightly time-consuming.
The most annoying camping mattress for couples that I had to clean was my Coleman Quickbed. It has deep baffles and a flocked top, so it was the most time-consuming.
Budget
How much money should you spend on your camping mattress for couples? Well, this depends on this one big consideration – how often do you plan to go camping?
If you plan to camp frequently, I highly recommend going for a more expensive camping mattress, like the Exped MegaMat Duo 10.
This camping mattress is made of premium quality materials, is super comfortable, and has an extremely long warranty of 5 years. It’s worth the price for the added durability and the more restful sleep you will get while camping.
On the other hand, if you don’t plan to camp often, and you don’t have a lot to spend, I recommend either the Intex Classic Downy Airbed (Best Budget Pick) or the Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress (Best Value for Money).
Both are air mattresses, which are typically cheaper than self-inflating mattresses or air pads. Both cost a fraction of what the Exped MegaMat Duo 10 does, but they get the job done. Just expect less soft plush comfort, more bouncing, and less durability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why You Should Trust Us
I spent over $1,100 buying, 6 months testing the 10 best camping mattresses for couples that I bought for this review, and another 3 months after that putting together this review. I don’t accept free products from manufacturers, and don’t accept sponsored posts or YouTube videos that may cause me to give a biased review. Each and every product is bought by me with my savings, and all opinions are my own, from months of real-world testing and usage.
Over 6 months, I slept on one of these camping mattresses for couples every single night, either by myself or with my partner. I slept in these camping mattresses for couples both outdoors and indoors, tested them in tents of different sizes (from 2-person tents to 4-person tents), inflated, deflated and packed up every single one of them dozens of times, amongst other things.
I looked at and examined every important aspect of each camping mattress for couples, including but not limited to comfort ease of use, portability, versatility, sizing, and quality. I also cover all specifications and even unboxings. Hopefully this comprehensive review has helped you to find the best camping mattress for couples for your partner and yourself.
Conclusion
Ultimately, of all the 10 best camping mattresses for couples that I bought and tested, I think there’s one that will best suit your needs, and here’s quick summary of all of them:
Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Exped MegaMat Duo 10
- Most Comfortable: Exped MegaMat Duo 10
- Runner Up: REI Camp Dreamer Double
- Alternative to REI Camp Dreamer: Stoic Double Cloud Camp Bed
- Most Portable: Klymit Uninsulated Double V
- Portable + Insulated: Klymit Insulated Double V
- Best Value for Money: Sierra Designs 2-Person Camping Air Mattress
- Best Budget Pick: Intex Classic Downy Airbed
The Others:
- Best Air Mattress: Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed
- If Alps Mountaineering is out of stock: Lightspeed Outdoors 2-Person Camping Air Mattress
- Largest Dimensions + Highest Profile: Etekcity Upgraded Camping Air Mattress
- If Intex is out of stock: Coleman Quickbed