What’s the most comfortable type of camper mattress to sleep on?

Getting a good night’s sleep is just as important when you’re travelling in a camper as when you’re at home in your own bed.

There’s nothing worse than waking up feeling unrested and sore because of a thin or lumpy mattress whilst you’re trying to enjoy a holiday. You want to start each day feeling refreshed so you can do all the things you want to do in the great outdoors. 

A comfortable sleep in a camper starts with the mattress. Here’s some helpful info and tips to keep in mind when you’re shopping around for either a new camper or a new camper mattress.

Foam mattresses

Image source: Dunlop Foam Mattresses

Poly foam mattresses have been used in hybrid campers and camper trailers for years.  They are lightweight, durable, inexpensive and can be easily sourced in many different sizes.

You will find that most mattresses in campers with slide out beds are made from foam because they are relatively easy to fold/unfold into place on the slide-out bed section.    

TOP TIP – As seasoned campers with loads of experience with all types of camping mattresses, for the best nights’ rest the team at Modcon recommend using a one-piece, non-folding mattress. We’ve all had experiences with those caravan day/night lounges where you drop the table down and make the mattress up from all the cushions from the lounge.  There’s nothing worse than laying down on your nicely made bed, and the cushions all moving and you end up spending the night on the hard table!        

The main drawback of foam mattresses is that they can feel hard and uncomfortable to sleep on. This is because they are made from high-density foam for the purpose of longevity. High-density foam tends to be quite firm which some people find uncomfortable. 

The higher the foam density, the better the quality of the mattress. However, higher density makes for a heavier mattress which can be problematic in a camper as you want everything to be as lightweight as possible for towing reasons. 

When looking at foam camper mattresses, take into consideration where your pressure points such as shoulders and hips will sit within the fold points of the mattress. A lack of support may cause discomfort in any part of your body. For example, pain in your hips, shoulders, lower back or neck can cause you to involuntarily move throughout the night to alleviate the pain or stiffness. Then once you move, the situation is repeated all over again as there just isn’t adequate support from the mattress. All this discomfort and unrest can upset a sleeping partner, and so the unhappy cycle continues. 

As for memory foam or latex foam mattresses, whilst they are very comfortable (if you like a soft bed), bear in mind that they are very heavy. They can also be very hot to sleep on – which might be great in a Tasmanian winter but not what you want in a Queensland summer!

Innerspring mattresses

Innerspring mattresses give you more support compared to poly foam mattresses and have much sought after ‘anti-disturb’ qualities.  But there are many different sizes and styles of innerspring mattresses available, so you need to make sure you pick the right one for you.

The first thing to look at is thickness.  Fitting a mattress into a forward fold, rear fold or soft floor camper trailer where there is limited room can be a challenge sometimes. As a result, some campers come with innerspring mattresses that are just 100mm thick.  

In my personal experience, I have found these mattresses to feel very hard as they have almost no pillow top on them and very little compression. For a better night’s sleep, the slightly thicker 120mm mattress is the way to go! 

In hybrid campers where there is a bit more interior space in comparison to a camper trailer, most manufacturers will opt for 120-140mm thick innerspring mattresses. But for a superior experience, I’d go for a 160-180mm mattress.

As you’re shopping around, ask whether the mattress has a pillow top, or is there room in the camper for a mattress topper to be fitted. Some innerspring mattresses benefit from the addition of a mattress topper. However, just be aware of the weight of the topper you are introducing.

When is a queen bed not really a queen bed?

When it’s a camping queen!

You’ll hear this phrase a lot in the camping industry.  A camping queen is basically a smaller version of the traditional queen mattress (152cm x 203cm) but it’s not as small as a double mattress (138cm x 188cm). 

Camping queen mattresses come in all different shapes and sizes. Some slightly narrower, some slightly shorter and some even have rounded corners.  

Wherever possible, try to find a camper model that comes with a true queen size mattress. This will make for a good night’s rest as your body will be more naturally used to the size of a queen.

Final tips for when you're choosing a camper mattress

Let’s face it, at the end of a long day driving, the last thing you want to do is have to set up your bed and then make it!  

One of the most important things to me in relation to choosing a camper and a camper mattress is whether I can just open up the camper and get into bed if I’m coming into a campsite later than expected.  I’ve been on lots of touring holidays where you only stay a few nights in the one place. During these types of getaways, I look forward to climbing into a comfortable bed at the end of the day. So my advice is to try to find a camper with a bed that you can leave made up as you’re travelling. 

Also, look at how easy the bed is to make.  If your camper is very cramped and “you have to go outside to change your mind” you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s not going to be the easiest to make a bed in there.

Thinking of purchasing a new camper? Talk to the Modcon team today

Our range of campers and hybrids are engineered to withstand all the harsh conditions our beautiful Australian landscape has to offer, while giving you a comfortable, trouble-free camping experience. They are perfect for grey nomads, young families and couples alike.

If you’d like to see the level of quality you can expect from Modcon for yourself, visit us at your nearest showroom. We’d love for you to stop by. Click here to get in touch with us today.