SIM Comfort 7.5

We have an Exped SIM Comfort Duo 7.5 and it was pricey but it has served us for over 10 years and has been amazing. I’m pretty sure it was in the $200-$300 range. 😖 and I would not still be sleeping on the ground if it wasn’t for that bad boy.

This may not help in the short term, but I highly recommend looking into hammock camping. I genuinely prefer it to my bed at home. I also have a 3” exped mattress that I find very comfortable as well, although I would prefer the thicker model.

You are off to a great start and almost anything you need is gonna just depend on your activity. It doesn’t look like you have a sleeping pad. I would highly recommend a thick self inflating type, like an exped, if you are car camping. If you are interested in backpacking, you could get a more compact style, but I find the self inflators pretty bombproof and very comfortable. I sleep better in my hammock than I do at home, but that is gonna require a tarp, hammock, and under quilt; all of which can be pretty expensive.

I used one for a bit and it definitely collects condensation. It did feel good for my back though. Ended up investing in an Ex Ped camping mattress, full size for me and my spouse. Takes up the same amount of space in the car but fits 2 people and no condensation problem. Also purchased a $20 rechargeable micro air pump to inflate it fast. They’re not the cheapest, but also didn’t get sore back after a week on it.

I've had great success with Thermarest, REI, and Exped self inflating mattresses. All have good customer support too. I wouldn't ever bother with an all air mattress. Poor insulation, rotten in cold. Get a FlexTail pump.

I tried long term sleeping on an Exped. They're a seif inflating pad. It did not last a full year. The fabric in those is glued to the foam, and as it turns out tossing and turning can eventually break that bond, and the fabric blister.

Yes. They were going to honor the warranty, but it was less than a year so just easier to drop it at REI where I bought it and get a refund. Definite bummer; great mattress even at home. If they ever do a long lasting home version I'll be all over it...literally. :)

Exped, REI, and Thermarest pads have all lasted that long and more. All self-inflaters.

Exped is the current king of the semi self inflating mattresses but there are other worthy considerations which are more affordable, especially on sale. I went with a Lost Horizon I found on clearance for half price. Probably not as bomb proof as the Exped, but after about a dozen trips this summer it’s going strong without issues. The bottom line is these type of mattresses are exponentially more comfortable than anything else on the market. I will never go back. The only drawback is they don’t roll up small.