In fact, the old camping practice saw one third insulation above and two thirds beneath for a good night's sleep – your sleeping bag providing the upper insulation and a mattress or mat providing the bottom insulation. Today's camper is lucky to benefit from self-inflating mat technology that uses the latest manufacturing techniques and modern materials to bring home comfort to the pitch. The self-inflating mat (or SIM) overcomes many of the problems experienced by other forms of mattress. For instance, the air bed may provide a comfortable base on which to rest but the internal mass of air can sap body heat unless you add extra thermal insulation between you and the ground. This is often a blanket or the simplest mattress − a sheet of closed-cell foam that traps insulating bubbles of air between the airbed and you. Here you can browse our full selection of comfortable self-inflating mats for camping.

The SIM replaces air with heat-trapping open-cell foam − when you open a valve on the mat, air rushes in and expands the foam. Close the valve and the SIM retains the air. Depending on thickness, the air/foam combination can provide a good, if not superior, amount of insulation. This, along with the extra comfort that natural compliance brings, is the key advantage of a SIM over a standard airbed.

While SIMs offer superior insulation, some campers still prefer the extra height of durable double and single camping airbeds

Outwell self-inflating mats are available in a range of thicknesses and sizes from the slimmer, lighter versions that offer comfort for lightweight touring to extra thick, double mattresses that rival the feel of a domestic sprung mattress. Our Dreamcatcher models feature an extra-long design, making them an ideal choice for taller campers who need full-length support. To complete your sleep system, pair your mat with ergonomic camping pillows for a better night's sleep.

As with all camping gear where transportation space is at a premium, remember that, while so comfortable, the weight and bulk of a SIM increase the thicker it gets. And the thicker it gets the harder it is to pack away. As soon as you open the valve to roll up your SIM you start to fight against the foam's ability to suck in air. This makes life very difficult unless…

First, open the valve. Next, fold the mat into thirds towards the valve, pressing your body weight down to remove air each time you fold it over. Close the valve to prevent air from being drawn in.

Unfold the mat and start to roll towards the valve. Open the valve once you meet air resistance and continue to roll up the SIM to remove excess air. Close the valve.

If there is still too much air left in the SIM, unroll and tightly roll up again until you meet air resistance. Open the valve and continue to roll until all air is expelled. This will be far easier…

IM maintenance is simple. Clean, dry and store, where possible, unrolled with the valve open. Any punctures can be repaired using a standard repair kit. You can fine-tune firmness with a few breaths or by using reliable manual and electric pumps for airbeds and mats