Compact Air Mattress Alternatives?

[Logan-Kn]

Hey everyone,
I currently have a deep sleep air mattress that I camp with in the back of my Jeep with my girlfriend and dog. It’s great how small it packs down and comfortable it is relatively. My issue though is I’ve already had one leak and now it has another one that is hard to repair. I’m kind of sick of the air mattress dance and waking up on the ground in the middle of the night whenever it springs a leak. I’d hate to go on a longer trip and have my air mattress fail part way through and have to sleep on the floor. Does anyone have any recommendations on alternatives to an air mattress? I have considered taking one of those tempurpedic mattress pads and cutting it to shape but I feel like I’d hard to get it doesn’t compact very well and takes up a lot of room when not in use. I’m curious if anyone has any creative mattress ideas for the back of the Jeep that they use.

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[Jeffy56]

I've used a Thermarest camping pad with cut up pool noodle to fill in the V-gap. You also might consider a small tarp as a base to protect your pad. Dog nails can be sharp.

 

[KrzybonesJLU]

I’ve come across the same issue with my deep sleep and really there is no way to resolve it due some factors. One is if you don’t cover it or keep the area clean there’s a chance of a puncture by something. Second is how it is folded. The only work around is going all foam mattress like the 3” foam from Costco or do a self inflating pad. The only down side to a self inflating pad is that it’s still vulnerable to puncture and you’ll usually need two pads. You can consider the deep sleep solo x2 pad or just any 3” camping self inflating camping pad.

 

[ArcadeTracks]

Not a tried method, just an idea -- How about a foam mattress which you can roll/store in one of those plastic vacuum bags? Some "real" mattresses (IKEA, I'm looking at you) arrive rolled. They take a bit of time to take shape, but if you have an hour or so of prep time, it might be enough for a mattress.
I've seen lots of things shipped and stored in those bags -- they take up significantly less space, and you might be able to use your air compressor to "deflate" the bag.

 

[Logan-Kn]

Not a tried method, just an idea -- How about a foam mattress which you can roll/store in one of those plastic vacuum bags? Some "real" mattresses (IKEA, I'm looking at you) arrive rolled. They take a bit of time to take shape, but if you have an hour or so of prep time, it might be enough for a mattress.
I've seen lots of things shipped and stored in those bags -- they take up significantly less space, and you might be able to use your air compressor to "deflate" the bag.

Hey that’s not a bad idea!! I’ll have to give that a proof of concept test asap! I’ve tried in the past using two ratchet striaps around a rolled foam pad to compress it a good amount, but it never really had enough coverage to really compress it,

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

I bought this 5 inch memory foam then cut to shape:

Amazon.com: Linenspa 5 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress, Firm Mattress, Low Profile Bed Full 5 Inch Mattress : Everything Else

 

[hoch]

This is really spendy but I use a Megamat duo mat. I’ve not used it in the Jeep but it’s ~52” wide. Maybe that’s too wide. But it is so comfortable and knock on wood, I’ve not had one leak. And I’ve got 3 of them for the past 2 years.

 

[Logan-Kn]

Not a tried method, just an idea -- How about a foam mattress which you can roll/store in one of those plastic vacuum bags? Some "real" mattresses (IKEA, I'm looking at you) arrive rolled. They take a bit of time to take shape, but if you have an hour or so of prep time, it might be enough for a mattress.
I've seen lots of things shipped and stored in those bags -- they take up significantly less space, and you might be able to use your air compressor to "deflate" the bag.

So I found my old mattress topper that I have actually used for rent camping before and cut it to fit the Jeep. I then rolled it up and took the measurements and got one of those vaccum pack bags from the hardware store. I managed to get it to compress down to about the same size as the deep sleep air mattress when it’s folded up. In fact, it actually fits in the bag for the deep sleep mattress. I’d say this is a definite when and I can’t wait to test it out on the trails!

 

[ArcadeTracks]

So I found my old mattress topper that I have actually used for rent camping before and cut it to fit the Jeep. I then rolled it up and took the measurements and got one of those vaccum pack bags from the hardware store. I managed to get it to compress down to about the same size as the deep sleep air mattress when it’s folded up. In fact, it actually fits in the bag for the deep sleep mattress. I’d say this is a definite when and I can’t wait to test it out on the trails!

That's fantastic! I'm so glad it worked. I'm definitely going to remember/try it if I go camping.

 

[Bayrat]

I purchased a topper from a company called Sleep on Latex. It's pretty much indestructible and very dense. It can easily be used for a standalone base for a sleeping bag.

 

[rcadden]

I'm interested in this as well. I've actually been surprised that Deep Sleep hasn't come out with a foam solution, tbh.

I avoid air mattresses for the same reason. I tried one of the small self-inflating ones. It was crazy small wrapped up, pretty comfy, but my problem was it was about 3" too long for the back of the Jeep. All the ones on Amazon are just as long.

Then I tried one of the foam sleeping pads. More comfy, but not great for a side-sleeper. Also, it "packed" huge. Roughly the size of two 5 gallon buckets stacked on top of each other. Granted, it was a double-wide, but still.

If someone would come up with a self-inflating pad that packs small but is cut/sized to fit the back of a JLU, I'd be first in line.

 

[ArcadeTracks]

So I found my old mattress topper that I have actually used for rent camping before and cut it to fit the Jeep. I then rolled it up and took the measurements and got one of those vaccum pack bags from the hardware store. I managed to get it to compress down to about the same size as the deep sleep air mattress when it’s folded up. In fact, it actually fits in the bag for the deep sleep mattress. I’d say this is a definite when and I can’t wait to test it out on the trails!

From my own experience with similar things, I'd recommend opening it as soon as you can, to allow if to puff out to full size/shape in time to be used.
I'm also not sure if having it compressed longer means it will take longer to "decompress," but it does seem like it might.

 

[Odyssey USA]

Thermarest. They have a self inflating mattress I use. Or you can breathe in a few seconds to add air faster. They have up to a 4.25” mattress iirc. I have the 3” LuxuryMap version. It’s been great.
https://www.thermarest.com/products/sleeping-pads

 

[JakeOh]

Thermarest. They have a self inflating mattress I use. Or you can breathe in a few seconds to add air faster. They have up to a 4.25” mattress iirc. I have the 3” LuxuryMap version. It’s been great.
https://www.thermarest.com/products/sleeping-pads

Seconding this, I have Basecamp one - a bit on a cheaper side but still really solid.

 

[Mtexcursioner]

I use a self-inflating foam sleeping pad by sea to summit. I went thru the smaller (no foam) air sleeping pad and two Klymit brand foam/air sleeping pads before settling on this. Buy once cry once is what I should have done.

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