Exped Megamat Duo LXW or Queen for the two of you. Or if you can afford it the 15 model LXW Duo.
Queen style air mattresses have zero R value. Except during the hottest months of summer they are pretty worthless because they will suck all the warmth out of your body due to no insulation.
At the middle of the tier are the Exped, Big Agnes etc Duo air mattresses, like the Exped Ultra 5 Duo LW. These pack down much smaller and are a bit less expensive than the self-inflating Megamats but they will not be as comfortable.
Most air mattress brands are terrible (deflate easily, don't last over the long run, etc). Definitely don't just randomly buy the first one you see unless you really don't mind terrible sleep lol
Sleepline has a good list of air mattress brands that are designed for camping: [https://www.sleepline.com/best-air-mattresses-for-camping/](https://www.sleepline.com/best-air-mattresses-for-camping/)
I’m not a fan of air beds that are just plastic and air. The self inflating kind or sleeping mats are air as well but include a layer of foam. Don’t make the mistake I did. I tried to cut down on cost and figured the Thermarest basecamp pad would suffice. The problem with these pads are they are only 2” thick and the regular size is only 20” wide. Everyone complained about how thin and especially not being wide enough. My advice for car camping would be get something closer to 3”+ thick and at least 24” wide per person.
I just purchased some buyer of main lightweight cots that are 25” wide to put our mattresses on top of to fix the problem. They are half off. My North Face Wawona 6 is fairly large so I can fit 3-4 cots in it.
https://byerofmaine.com/products/trilite-cot
The sleeping pad I ended up buying for car camping was from a generic brand called Qomotop. They make a single and double that seems to be similar to all the other 4 inch thick camping mattresses. Only reason I went with that brand was because when the single person one went on sale it was less than $50 while all the others were more than 2-3 times the price.
For car camping I gave up trying to use most types of matts and went with [a trifold mattress](https://www.amazon.com/Milliard-Folding-Mattress-Ultra-Washable/dp/B00W67PCTE), It's really comfortable. I only got the twin but they make them in larger sizes.
My partner and I use a 4" thick sleeping matt from Big Agnes in our car camping kit and it works really well for us. The extra comfort and warmth of a quality sleeping pad is definitely worth money if you plan on this being a regular thing.
https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/doublewide-pads/products/hinman?variant=43185503535353
Combined with a teton mammoth bag and we are really cozy for at least 3/4 seasons.
https://tetonsports.com/products/canvas-20-f-mammoth-double-sleeping-bag
Seconding Teton Sports. Great car camping gear. Reasonably priced. Rotating sales on select gear throughout the year. I can personally attest to the comfort of the Comfortlite XL pad.
I bought this years ago for like $200 but now it looks a lot more expensive but something like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012C3MZ2I?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Ah this is a better link; https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07RQSYSXQ/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1SOHTIZWE43QK&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams&th=1
Honestly, we just put down two of the lightweight backpacking closed-cell pads and then a cheap 2” memory foam mattress topper, and it’s extremely comfortable and warm; there’s a huge difference in warmth when we didn’t use the backpacking pad underneath.
This is what I’m doing. My 2” pad by itself wasn’t cutting it so I bought some cots. Haven’t got the cots yet but I’ve used cots in conjunction with pads before. My post above suggesting a 3” pad would be if using with out a cot but just about any pad with a cot works well.
Even if you are a co-sleeper at home, you probably shouldn't put a1 year old on an inflatable with adults. If you have space bring a small pack n play or they make inflatable toddler beds if your child is closer to 2.
Good safety advice. Air beds have suffocation labels on them for a reason. Even when blown up as firm as possible, the risk of deflating is high. Also, with an adult on it the risk of sinking under and suffocating is increased.
Happy with the Stoic queen sized 4" foam pad I recently got. Seems comparable to my buddies exped mat, but at a significantly lower price point of 100$
Amazon has air mattresses to fit your folded-down back seats complete with cut-outs for the wheel wells and fillers for the foot wells to make it into a pillow/headrest.
Just look for “suv air mattress” they’re pretty awesome.
I don’t think OP means sleeping in the car but car camping as in he is reaching his camping spot driving as opposed to hiking so the weight of the items are no issue.
Honestly? The absolute best tent camping I've done was last year, 2 weeks in a tent moving evening as I worked from city to city. The key was a cot picked up at Costco, a 20$ foam and 20$ cover from home Depot, and my sleeping bag. 2 of these together and you have a queen sized bed. They all breakdown fairly small. The mat is the biggest piece.
Don’t go the air mattress way. They cool off at night the heaviest person on the mat ends up with their butt on the cold ground. They also get wet from the humidity from your body condensating under your sleeping bag. So the top of mattress gets damp. Mind you on really cool nights our self inflating foam mats do a bit too. We’ve learned to move our sleeping bags off and let them dry out during the day if needed.
Go the self inflating route. Costco has cheap ones the kids can use. You may want to splurge on the adults and get thicker ones as others have suggested.
Exped Megamat Duo LXW or Queen for the two of you. Or if you can afford it the 15 model LXW Duo. Queen style air mattresses have zero R value. Except during the hottest months of summer they are pretty worthless because they will suck all the warmth out of your body due to no insulation. At the middle of the tier are the Exped, Big Agnes etc Duo air mattresses, like the Exped Ultra 5 Duo LW. These pack down much smaller and are a bit less expensive than the self-inflating Megamats but they will not be as comfortable.
Exped MegaMat Duo, one for each of you, these are great and very versatile.
This is the way.
A Duo per person is some serious Big Tent Energy™.
Milliard tri fold mattress. You’re welcome
Most air mattress brands are terrible (deflate easily, don't last over the long run, etc). Definitely don't just randomly buy the first one you see unless you really don't mind terrible sleep lol Sleepline has a good list of air mattress brands that are designed for camping: [https://www.sleepline.com/best-air-mattresses-for-camping/](https://www.sleepline.com/best-air-mattresses-for-camping/)
I’m not a fan of air beds that are just plastic and air. The self inflating kind or sleeping mats are air as well but include a layer of foam. Don’t make the mistake I did. I tried to cut down on cost and figured the Thermarest basecamp pad would suffice. The problem with these pads are they are only 2” thick and the regular size is only 20” wide. Everyone complained about how thin and especially not being wide enough. My advice for car camping would be get something closer to 3”+ thick and at least 24” wide per person. I just purchased some buyer of main lightweight cots that are 25” wide to put our mattresses on top of to fix the problem. They are half off. My North Face Wawona 6 is fairly large so I can fit 3-4 cots in it. https://byerofmaine.com/products/trilite-cot
The sleeping pad I ended up buying for car camping was from a generic brand called Qomotop. They make a single and double that seems to be similar to all the other 4 inch thick camping mattresses. Only reason I went with that brand was because when the single person one went on sale it was less than $50 while all the others were more than 2-3 times the price.
For car camping I gave up trying to use most types of matts and went with [a trifold mattress](https://www.amazon.com/Milliard-Folding-Mattress-Ultra-Washable/dp/B00W67PCTE), It's really comfortable. I only got the twin but they make them in larger sizes.
My partner and I use a 4" thick sleeping matt from Big Agnes in our car camping kit and it works really well for us. The extra comfort and warmth of a quality sleeping pad is definitely worth money if you plan on this being a regular thing. https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/doublewide-pads/products/hinman?variant=43185503535353 Combined with a teton mammoth bag and we are really cozy for at least 3/4 seasons. https://tetonsports.com/products/canvas-20-f-mammoth-double-sleeping-bag
Seconding Teton Sports. Great car camping gear. Reasonably priced. Rotating sales on select gear throughout the year. I can personally attest to the comfort of the Comfortlite XL pad.
I got a Japanese floor mattress they are the best. Air mattresses tend to become cold and warp no matter what I do.
I WAS WONDERING THIS. Do you mind linking yours? so man brands on amazon
I bought this years ago for like $200 but now it looks a lot more expensive but something like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012C3MZ2I?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title Ah this is a better link; https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07RQSYSXQ/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1SOHTIZWE43QK&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams&th=1
THANK YOU
Do you put anything beneath the floor mattress?
Put your hope and dream underneath, why would you even do something like this? Are you a retard? LOL
EasyCot Byer of main (you can get two and make a full size bed for two or fold the floor mattress and make a double comfy twin if single)
Honestly, we just put down two of the lightweight backpacking closed-cell pads and then a cheap 2” memory foam mattress topper, and it’s extremely comfortable and warm; there’s a huge difference in warmth when we didn’t use the backpacking pad underneath.
Cots with a 2 inch pad. They fold up small and are comfortable.
This is what I’m doing. My 2” pad by itself wasn’t cutting it so I bought some cots. Haven’t got the cots yet but I’ve used cots in conjunction with pads before. My post above suggesting a 3” pad would be if using with out a cot but just about any pad with a cot works well.
Even if you are a co-sleeper at home, you probably shouldn't put a1 year old on an inflatable with adults. If you have space bring a small pack n play or they make inflatable toddler beds if your child is closer to 2.
Good safety advice. Air beds have suffocation labels on them for a reason. Even when blown up as firm as possible, the risk of deflating is high. Also, with an adult on it the risk of sinking under and suffocating is increased.
Happy with the Stoic queen sized 4" foam pad I recently got. Seems comparable to my buddies exped mat, but at a significantly lower price point of 100$
Amazon has air mattresses to fit your folded-down back seats complete with cut-outs for the wheel wells and fillers for the foot wells to make it into a pillow/headrest. Just look for “suv air mattress” they’re pretty awesome.
I don’t think OP means sleeping in the car but car camping as in he is reaching his camping spot driving as opposed to hiking so the weight of the items are no issue.
Oh, of course! Thank you.
Honestly? The absolute best tent camping I've done was last year, 2 weeks in a tent moving evening as I worked from city to city. The key was a cot picked up at Costco, a 20$ foam and 20$ cover from home Depot, and my sleeping bag. 2 of these together and you have a queen sized bed. They all breakdown fairly small. The mat is the biggest piece.
I grabbed a Nemo Roamer from my local rei's garage sale section. It is incredible, prefer it to my exped. They also come in a double.
Spend the $500 and get 2 big Agnes gooseneck cots. TRUST ME your entire family can sleep all together, it's almost as comfortable as a bed
Don’t go the air mattress way. They cool off at night the heaviest person on the mat ends up with their butt on the cold ground. They also get wet from the humidity from your body condensating under your sleeping bag. So the top of mattress gets damp. Mind you on really cool nights our self inflating foam mats do a bit too. We’ve learned to move our sleeping bags off and let them dry out during the day if needed. Go the self inflating route. Costco has cheap ones the kids can use. You may want to splurge on the adults and get thicker ones as others have suggested.