How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

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Combining self-inflating convenience with homestyle comfort, the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D Camp Mattress offers 4 inches of comfort to make uneven ground, rocks and twigs vanish throughout the night.
Shop similar productsBest Use | Camping |
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Sleeping Pad Type | Self-inflating |
Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
Insulation Type | Open-cell Foam |
R-Value | 11.4 |
Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
Pad Thickness (in.) | 4 inches |
Gender | Unisex |
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I bought this Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D mattress after trying a smaller other type that didn't quite fit my needs car camping mainly because of the width. I just returned from a 3 night camping trip at Yosemite, camping at 8,600 ft and low 30 F weather at night. I was so amazingly comfortable and warm all three night that I can't wait to go camping again. My camp neighbors had to pack up after the first night because they were freezing on their basic blow up mattress. Not once did I feel any coolness from the bottom and I actually slept better than in my bed at home - meaning without back pain (most likely because it's nice and firm). Absolutely worth the money!!!
We purchased two of these in September, and used them for the 3rd time this weekend. They’ve been on a family room floor once, and side by side in an REI Half Dome 2 Plus two times (where they fit perfectly, by the way). Best mattress pad I’ve owned. No issues with bottoming out (I’m 215#), and big enough to roll over on. It was like tackling a greased pig to get them back in the cinch sacks the first couple of times, but we developed a solid technique for deflating them so it has gotten easier. If they hold up, it will certainly be worth the investment.
This thing is huge but perfect for my 6'6" husband. He has a bad back but we were finally able to go camping using this combined with a cot. Our first night camping, I slept on my self-inflating mattress pad on the floor. Mid-day, I took a nap in this Thermarest and it was ridiculously comfortable. I question that it's more comfortable than our memory foam mattress at home. It's pricey but worth every penny for anyone with back issues. We can finally go camping. Thank you Thermarest!
Bought this after going through the both the rei camp bed 3.5 and mountain summit gear 3.5,. I returned both of those mats because they started leaking. I also went through 2 other 4 inch pads I bought off ebay. they all started leaking within a year or two. I decide to pay more for the thermarest name and am glad i did. The foam is softer and more comfortable than any of my previous car camping mats. I have thermarest mats i bought 20 years ago that never failed so I have great faith in the brand. I do take care of my mats all my previous leaks have been at the valves and delamintated seams not punctures from poor placement. Thermarest is made right here in the USA and backed by a solid warranty. I am confident this is the last mat I am going to buy. It did take 4 days to inflate fully the first time but who know how long it was packed up for. Now it inflates much faster , just don't buy it the day before your trip and you should be fine
I have over a dozen air beds, mattresses, and pads. This is my favorite portable total bed when I don't have to carry one a long way on my back. For insulation R-value it is much better than anything else available in winter, nothing else is close. For comfort, it is outstanding. Pricey but worth it.
Works best as a car camping/overlanding mattress. After purchasing the Mondo King XXL, I removed it from its bag, allowed it to self-inflate, and stored it that way for a week before it's first use. Self-inflation is now rapid and complete - I felt no need to add additional air. It is a very warm and comfortable mattress, and before I packed it up after its first use, I opened the valves while laying on it to simulate a puncture. I felt like it was still very comfortable that way and am not concerned about a puncture ruining my nights sleep. If it does ever get a puncture, I might not even bother trying to fix it until the trip was over. The only difficult part is deflating it and rolling it up. It basically requires grasping with both hands and resting both of your knees on the rolled up portion and slowly roll it up towards the open valves. I attribute that difficulty to its strong self-inflation characteristic, and it really wasn't that big of a deal, it's just slower/more difficult to roll up than a regular air mattress. I'm very satisfied with my purchase.
Got this for a bargain price at the annual garage sale. Tag said it was returned because the previous owner couldn't get it back in the bag. This is a common issue with this model but another reviewer figured it out. Open the valves and Roll the mattress pretty tightly, don't go nuts but try to get as much air out as possible. Once you have it rolled, close the valves and unroll the mattress. Now roll it again (keep the valves closed). It should be easier to get a tighter roll. Roll as tight as you can until you've squeezed whatever air is left into a pocket near the end. Open the valves and press out the last bit of air. Voila! Now it should fit snug but smoothly into the bag. This mattress is high Quality, great firmness and it holds all of its air. I sleep on my side and it worked perfectly. Almost as good as home. Not good for hiking in or backpacking but if you're a car camper, get this mat.
So nice I'd sleep on it at home (and have). Purchased this for car camping, and to reduce the use of my backpacking inflatable mattresses which are very prone to leaks. After setting up my tent, I just open the vents and toss it out. Going to sleep, just give it a few breaths and it's pretty much good! Used it for 2 years now and haven't had to worry about it leaking for a second. Pain/impossible to get back into its fabric bag, so I use a bungee cord around it to keep it secure for transport, much easier. Wouldn't knock a star off for that though, as the product itself is excellent.
The MondoKing mattress comes second to none as far as comfort. And the only reason I didn't give a 5-star rating would be the difficulty rolling this mattress back up when you're ready to leave. If you're not in a hurry to pack up and leave and you have someone helping you put it away...it's an "Excellent" purchase.
Bought this several weeks ago at the Seattle flagship store and very happy with it. I bought the 25" wide one partially because the 30" one would probably be too large for my uses. Bulky, but very comfy.