9 Most Supportive Camping Mattresses for Bad Back Pain Relief

If you are in the market for what is quite possibly the best camping mattress for bad back pain, then you have got to check out this offering from Wellax. One of the best features for this mattress is its lightweight design. It barely weighs anything, tipping the scales at a minuscule 0.9 pounds. This makes it an excellent option for pretty much any kind of camping, but especially for backpacking. This lightweight design won’t add a ton of weight to your backpack, so you can increase your comfort level without weighing yourself down.

This is also one of the easiest sleeping pads to inflate and deflate. The reason that these tasks are so easy to accomplish is the fact that it has two separate valves. Both of these valves are extremely easy to operate. They open up nice and wide, which allows you to blow air in very quickly when you are ready to settle down for the night. Releasing the air in the morning is quite quick as well so that you can get the mattress packed up very quickly to get on with your day.

Aside from its weight, the other factor that helps to make this such a perfect option for use as a backpacking mattress is how compact it is once you pack it away. When you are ready to move along the trail, all you need to do is deflate the mattress, roll it up, and place it into its stuff sack. Once you have the mattress packed away, it measures a compact 10 inches by 3.5 inches.

This mattress is thicker than most other models of similar design, and thanks to the dozens of flexing points it feels comfortable even if you like to sleep on your back or sides. Keep in mind that though it’s advertised as thermal resistant, using this mattress alone, without anything underneath it is not advisable in cold weather. Once it is fully expanded and inflated, it is quite large and supportive, which is why it is possibly the best camping mattress for bad back pain relief.

What we liked:

• Lightweight
• Easy to inflate and deflate
• Compact when compressed
• Large when expanded
• Great for back sleepers

What could be better:

• Not good for cold weatherNot good for cold weather

One of the biggest issues that a lot of people have with camping mattresses is that they have to be inflated. This, unfortunately, takes a lot of effort on your part, plus a whole bunch of time. Even if a mattress comes with a pump, it will still take a ton of time, and you would have to charge the pump or have a power source readily available when you are camping. This mattress, thankfully, does all of this hard work for you.

To inflate this mattress, all you have to do is unroll it from its bag. Once it has been fully unrolled, it will inflate all on its own. While this doesn’t happen instantly, it is still much faster than having to blow it up on your own. Even though it doesn’t have any valves at all, it is also effortless to deflate. When you are ready to pack it up, just roll it up, and put it in its bag. That is all the work you need do to deflate this mattress, which is another time saver.

The Triphunter Gear pad is still quite lightweight, though not as light as some other models available. It is also a bit bulky, which might make it a tougher fit for longer camping trips. Thankfully, this bulk makes it a very comfortable mattress to lay on, as long as you aren’t trying to use it in extremely cold weather.

If you are looking for a durable mattress, this is also a good choice. It is made with polyester, which makes it very easy to keep clean. This mattress is completely waterproof. Since it is waterproof, you won’t need to worry about being wet when you sleep. By preventing you from being damp while you sleep this mattress will save you from experiencing any stiffness in not only your back but all of your joints as well when you wake up.

What we liked:

• Lightweight
• Waterproof
• Self-inflating
• Easy to pack up
• Comes with mending kit

What could be better:

• Not suitable for cold weather
• Narrow
• Bulky when compressed

One issue that crops up with a lot of inflatable camping mattresses is that they tend to deflate during the night, especially in colder weather. If this is a problem that you have experienced in the past, then you will know how much more pain this lack of support can cause for your back while you are trying to sleep on your camping trip. To help prevent this issue from cropping up on you, the Last Lake Camping Pad has an airtight seal around the entire pad. This helps to keep all of the air inside where it belongs so that you have the support you need all night long.

Another nice feature that this mattress comes equipped with is an easy-to-use valve. The valve makes it very easy to inflate and deflate, but that isn’t what sets it apart from other valves. The valve on this sleeping pad makes it very simple to adjust the pressure so that you can get precisely the amount of support you desire no matter if you are a side, back, or front sleeper. The pad also has an extra thick layer of foam to give you all of the support you need while you sleep. This makes it ideal for use by heavier individuals, though it is a bit narrow.

As you would expect with such a thick mattress, this one is quite insulated against the cold. Therefore, it’s a bit bulky, even when it is completely compressed. The cover is also tear resistant, making it a very durable option to take with you on camping trips.

What we liked:

• Easy to inflate
• Valve for adjusting air pressure
• Lightweight
• Airtight seal to prevent air loss
• Thick foam layer for extra support
• Tear resistant cover
• Insulated

What could be better:

• Bulky when compressed
• Narrow

Even though most people usually only think of camping in the warmer spring and summer months, there are some individuals out there that like to go camping in every season. Unless you want to spend a ton of money on a different sleeping pad for each type of camping weather, you would need to find an all-weather camping mattress, which is exactly what the Static V happens to be. It is insulated, so it remains cool in the summer, and warm in the winter, making it a perfect option for anyone who likes to enjoy the great outdoors all year long.

This mattress also has a unique baffle support system. This design feature gives it an ultra-supportive 2.5 inches of thick cushioning, making it ideal for someone with back issues. In fact, this mattress is so supportive, that it can be used in any sleep position, no matter if you are a back, front, or side sleeper.

Once you have fully inflated this mattress, which usually only takes about 10-15 breaths, you will notice that it is somewhat narrow and short, limiting its effectiveness for larger individuals. Its narrow design is because it comes with inflatable side rails. Even though they do make the pad a bit narrower than it should be, these side rails will help to keep you on the mattress while you sleep.

While this is indeed not the lightest camping mattress available, it is also not the heaviest. It could certainly be used for backpacking or site camping, and shouldn’t take up too much space in your backpack. In fact, this is one of the most compact mattresses on the market.

What we liked:

• Very supportive
• Insulated
• Perfect for all weather conditions
• Good for all sleeping styles
• Lightweight

What could be better:

• Not for larger individuals
• Narrow

Even if preventing back pain is high on your priority list, it is always a good idea to save money wherever you can. If you are trying to watch your budget, but still get a quality mattress to help alleviate your problems with you back, then this might be a good option for you.

First of all, this is a very compact, lightweight, and easy-to-inflate mattress. It is such a great value: it even comes with a camping headlamp. The mattress is one of the lightest on the market, which makes it an excellent option for backpacking campers. The air valve is very easy to open and close, and inflation will only take you about ten breaths until the mattress is fully inflated.

Secondly, it is made out of extremely durable nylon. This material makes this one of the toughest mattresses you can buy. Its high durability level also removes the necessity to bring along a tarp or ground cover, as this mattress is strong enough to lay right on the ground inside your tent on its own.

This mattress is also surprisingly large for its price. Thanks to its impressive length, and supportive nature, it is perfect even for taller individuals. Mind, though, that it is, unfortunately, not quite comfortable enough for anyone over 250 pounds.

One other negative factor to keep in mind before you decide upon this mattress is the fact that it is challenging to pack up. While most camping mattresses need to be rolled up for storage in their carriers, this model needs to be folded. This makes it tricky to pack up, which could slow you down on a camping trip.

What we liked:

• Comes with headlamp
• Compact
• Easy to inflate and deflate
• Lightweight
• Long
• Made with durable nylon

What could be better:

• Difficult to pack up
• Not for heavier individuals

In the world of backpacking, lighter is always better. The lighter the gear, the farther you will be able to hike without your back and shoulders feeling fatigued. The Thermarest NeoAir Xlite is, by far, the lightest mattress on our listing. It weighs an astounding light 0.75 pounds, which makes it a great mattress to take along with you on any camping trip, but especially if you are going to be backpacking.

Not only is this mattress lightweight, but it is insulated too. The insulation is not very thick, which isn’t surprising since the whole mattress is relatively slim. Nevertheless, the insulation is still enough to keep you nice and warm while you are sleeping. Even if you choose to go out in colder weather, you shouldn’t experience any inconvenience.

Another great feature that this mattress offers is a textured base. The base is designed to keep you in place while you are sleeping so that you don’t need to worry about slipping and sliding over the pad. It is unfortunate that the top of the mattress isn’t also textured, instead it is completely smooth and very noisy. If you are someone who tosses and turns in your sleep, you might have a tough time sleeping through all of the noise you will create.

As you would expect with such a lightweight mattress, the Xlite is very simple to both compress and pack up in the morning. All you need to do is open the valve, roll up the mattress, and stuff it into its bag. This easily collapsible design is yet another reason why this mattress is perfect for backpacking.

What we liked:

• Textured base
• Easy to compress and pack up
• Very lightweight
• Insulated

What could be better:

• Noisy
• Slippery top

Even though most camping mattresses need to be blown up in order to be used, that is not always the case. Some beds are self-inflating, while others, such as this one, are actually filled in all of the time. The advantage to this kind of a mattress, as you would expect, is that you don’t need to blow it up to use it. Instead, you simply need to unfold it, lay it down, and start relaxing.

Packing it up is also very simple. All you need to do is fold it back along its partitions, and Velcro it together. From there, you can use the attached carrying strap to take it to your next location. Once you get it to where you are headed, simply open the Velcro, and unfold the pad.

The biggest drawback to this type of mattress is that it isn’t very compact or lightweight. In fact, even when it is all the way folded up, it will still take up plenty of room. This makes this mattress a much better option for use as a site camping tool, rather than a backpacking mattress. It weighs about 7.5 pounds, which is much too heavy to be used as a backpacking sleeping pad.

The mattress itself is made with high-density foam, and it comes with a cover that has a non-slip texture on the bottom that will keep you in place all night long. The thickness of the mattress makes it a great option for all sleepers who deal with a lot of back pain. Since this mattress is so thick and supportive, you might even feel like you are sleeping at home, rather than in a tent.

What we liked:

• Thick and supportive
• Doesn’t need to be blown up
• Carry handle
• Non-slip mesh on bottom
• Good for larger individuals

What could be better:

• Best for site camping only – too heavy and bulky

The very first thing that you should take note of with this mattress is its unique design. Unlike another air mattress that you can get to help you with your back pain, this model has both side rails and a built-in pillow, which are designed to give you all of the support and comfort that you need. The inbuilt headrest will also help you with your packing since you don’t need to take along a separate pillow.

Of course, since there are extra panels, you will need to spend more time inflating this mattress than other models. It will take about 15-20 breaths to fill completely, while other mattresses only need around half as many breaths. While this is certainly not a deal breaker, it is something that you should consider, since you might not feel up to the task at the end of the day. You can also allow the mattress to self-inflate, though this will take even longer.

Though this mattress might seem like a good idea for backpacking due to its lightweight design, it is better suited to be used as a site camping tool. This is because it is tough to get compressed and packed up. This mattress is also very bulky, even when you have it packed away correctly, which means that you might have trouble carrying it along with you as you hike.

This mattress is made out of highly durable, and easy-to-clean polyester. It is also completely waterproof so you shouldn’t have to deal with any additional back or joint pain because of dampness in your tent.

What we liked:

• Waterproof
• Easy to clean
• Lightweight
• Built-in side rails and pillow

What could be better:

• Narrow
• Bulky when compressed
• Self-inflate feature takes a long time