Mattress & Sleep in the Campervan: The 3 Options (From Camping to… Your Home)
After a full day of driving and exploring, all you want is a good night's sleep. However, choosing a mattress for the van is not as simple as for the home. Your mattress must be comfortable, resist moisture, not take up the entire height of the van (stealing headroom), and, if you have a folding bed, be able to be stored or cut easily.
You must also ensure that you have a flat surface to sleep on, rather than a tilted one or one with different levels.
Let's look at the 3 most prevalent categories so you can choose the one that suits you.
1. Self-Inflating/Inflatable Camping Mattresses (Self-Inflating Mats)
Here we are talking exclusively about high-quality self-inflating or inflatable mats.
Advantages: It is the ultimate solution if you have a small van or a tent, because they combine a relatively small volume, quick setup, and decent comfort. Most of the time, they do not require a pump, they lay perfectly flat, and they resist moisture quite well. The better quality such a mattress is, the better insulation from the ground it offers, especially if you are sleeping in a tent.
What to avoid: Many confuse self-inflating/inflatable mats with simple inflatable mattresses like yoga mats, beach mats, or cheap air mattresses. These deflate during the night, have no insulation, and cannot withstand daily use. In short: if the mattress is a "beach inflatable" or "yoga" type, it is not suitable for sleeping in a campervan beyond temporary use.
2. Foam Mattresses
The classic, proven foam. It is the option that feels most like a home mattress.
Advantages: Very comfortable, it never deflates, cuts to the shape of the van, makes no noise, and insulates well from the cold. There are options with mattresses of different densities (e.g., memory foam on top, firmer foam underneath). The most important thing: If it fits in the van and you do not want strange cuts, it is worth buying a ready-made mattress from large chains. such as IKEA or Jysk. They have guest mattresses in standardized sizes (e.g., 80×200, 90×200) with a ready-made cover, which work perfectly for the van without going through the process of cutting foam and looking for a tailor to make a cover.
Disadvantages: It takes up a lot of space and does not fold easily. It requires attention regarding moisture, because foam can grow mold if it is not ventilated, and it is expensive to have custom covers made by a tailor.
3. Home Mattress or Ready-Made Memory Foam from Major Chains
Here you go for a regular home mattress or a ready-made memory foam mattress from major chains (IKEA, Jysk, etc.). It is a choice that is best suited for big vans, where there is a permanent bed with fixed dimensions.
Advantages: Maximum comfort, sleep quality just like home, a wide variety of firmness and thickness options, ready-made cover, and a warranty. No cutting is required if the dimensions match the bed space.
Disadvantages: Heavy and bulky, does not fold, requires good ventilation because it traps moisture, and usually does not fit in small vans or on folding beds. Additionally, its height can cut into valuable headroom.
Conclusion
- Tent: Self Inflating
- Small van or jeep: Foam mattress custom-made to your liking, or a self-inflating mat.
- Large van: Large ready-made mattress (home or memory foam from major chains).
The best choice depends on the size of the van, the storage space, and how often you sleep in it. And a tip to remember: the more ready-made a mattress is, the more economical it will be.
For example, in my first van, I bought foam and cut it myself, then had a tailor cover it, and it turned out much more expensive (300 euros) than a ready-made foam and memory foam combination mattress with its own cover and everything (240 euros), which is a class above.