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REI Co-op Campwell Sleeping Pad Review

Andrew Shults bio photo
By Andrew James Shults
Jan 15, 2026
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Our Take:
4.2/5
Certified

The REI Co-op Campwell Sleeping Pad ($129) delivers impressive warmth and durability for its price, but—unsurprisingly—there are tradeoffs you’ll need to reckon with. It’s the thinnest car camping pad we’ve tested, and side sleepers especially may find themselves better acquainted with the ground than they’d like. Still, the 7.0 R-value is excellent for cold-weather use, and the fabric quality feels far more premium than its budget-friendly price tag suggests. If you can work around the relatively low comfort, this is a solid mat for value-focused campers.

Comfort

Comfort

2.5/5
Warmth

Warmth

4/5
Durability

Durability

4/5
Ease of Use

Ease of Use

3.5/5
Weight & Packability

Weight & Packability

4/5
Sustainability

Sustainability

4/5

Dimensions

72 x 25 x 2.5 in. (R)

Type

Self-inflating mat

R-value

7.0

Weight

3 lb. 8 oz.

Pros

7.0 R-value provides excellent insulation and will keep you warm even in winter.
Two toggles on each side allow a secure connection with other Campwell pads or a cot.
Soft, stretchy top fabric feels comfortable against the skin.

Cons

At just 2.5 inches high, it’s the thinnest pad we’ve tested.
Topping it off can be awkward; the inflate valve sits flush with the pad’s surface, and there’s no pump sack.

For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Camping Mattresses.

I won’t mince words: The REI Co-op Campwell is the thinnest car camping pad Better Trail has tested, and that’s pretty obvious once you lie down on it. It measures 2.5 inches thick—far below average for this gear category—and during my testing, I consistently felt the ground when sitting, kneeling, or side sleeping on it; I even woke up once with a sore shoulder from bottoming out. This pad might be fine for back sleepers who don’t toss too much, but if plush support is a priority, other pads like the 4-inch-thick Nemo Roamer or the Zempire Monstamat King (also 4 in. thick) are in another league. Both of those pads insulate better against pressure points and offer a noticeably more luxurious night’s sleep. Having said that, neither of those models is a true budget pad. The Roamer costs twice as much as the Campwell ($250), and the Monstamat will run you $180.

Additionally, while the Campwell’s dimensions—72 by 25 inches—are about average for a single-person pad, the usable surface area feels a bit more limited than that due to the gently sloping sides. (The pads I mentioned above both have vertical sidewalls.) While I appreciated the soft, stretchy top fabric and how the pad’s foam conformed slightly to my back, the comfort level dropped off when I shifted to a side-sleeping position. Overall, you can sleep on the REI Co-op Campwell if the ground beneath you is quite soft, or you’re someone who can doze off just about anywhere. Campers who are sticking to a strict budget may even sleep better, given the money they’re saving. But comfort is where the Campwell’s value-oriented design makes the most concessions, so be aware of that before you bed down.

With a 7.0 R-value that’s high enough for winter camping, the Campwell punches well above its price point when it comes to insulation. I used it in temps as low as the 40s in California’s San Gabriel Mountains and again in the low 50s at June Lake, paired with 20- and 30-degree sleeping bags. Each time, the mat retained heat well, and I never felt cold air leeching through the bottom, even when the air was brisk and the ground was cold. In fact, the rest of my body stayed warm enough that the only discomfort came from an unprotected face (and I’d rather have a cold nose than a cold core, of course).

Compared to similarly budget-oriented alternatives like the Coleman Silver Springs (5.0 R-value) and the Sea to Summit Camp Plus (4.3 R-value), the Campwell clearly outperforms its price tag. It isn’t the warmest camping mattress we’ve tested—models like the Exped DeepSleep (9.0) and the Monstamat (10.5) offer more extreme insulation—but for the vast majority of three-season campers, the Campwell is more than enough. Winter users who aren’t venturing into truly arctic conditions will find it a dependable and cozy option.

This is another win for the REI Co-op Campwell’s price-to-performance ratio. Despite its budget-friendly status, this pad feels reassuringly rugged. While the 30-denier top fabric is soft and only moderately durable, the 75-denier polyester bottom—which is where the majority of pad failures happen—held up well to a handful of rocky and twiggy campsites without any damage.

After four nights of use (and two photoshoots), there were no punctures or valve issues, and the build quality feels on par with premium pads like the Nemo Roamer, which also has a 75-denier base (ditto for the Silver Springs). I did wish that the Campwell’s included repair kit was easier to identify—it may have just been a fabric swatch, as my sample didn’t seem to come with a full kit—but I felt confident that the pad could stand up to extended use, especially if handled with a bit of care.

Inflation is fairly straightforward for this self-inflating pad: open the inflation valve and let it sit. After a few hours, the REI Co-op Campwell self-inflated to about 80%, and I finished it off with around 15 breaths. Topping the pad off isn’t the easiest, though: The inflation valve sits flush with the pad surface, which looks clean but makes breathing into it a bit awkward—it’s simply not easy to position near your mouth.

There’s also no pump sack, which further limits convenience, but otherwise setup is relatively hassle-free. Plus, the Campwell’s deflation valve is a different color, which makes things easy for bleary-eyed campers. I also like the pad’s included toggles—two on each side—that you can attach to another Campwell pad to create a two-pad snuggle session, or wrap around the sides of a camping cot to secure the mat.

At 3 pounds, 8 ounces and with a packed size of 26 by 6.3 inches, the Campwell definitely isn’t a backpacking pad, but it's not so bad compared to some other car camping behemoths Better Trail has tested. It’s much lighter than the Monstamat King (7 lb. 15 oz.) and packs away slimmer than the Roamer (16 in. by 10 in.), though it’s still bulkier than an air mat like the Nemo Quasar. I had no trouble fitting it into the included stuff sack on the first roll, and I appreciated the grab handle for hauling it around camp. While the Campwell will take up a bit of room in your trunk or gear closet, it should be manageable for most car campers—and it’s impressively packable for a self-inflating mat with this much insulation.

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Longevity

Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.

Coleman Silver Springs ($70): A True Budget Option
Despite the significant drop in price from the Campwell, the Silver Springs has a thicker 3-inch build—though that advantage is somewhat offset by its thinner-than-advertised feel. Both pads also feature durable, 75-denier bottom fabrics that can stand up to years of car camping. Otherwise, the Campwell is the superior mat. It’s 5 inches wider, offering more room to roll around, and its 7.0 R-value will keep you warmer than the Silver Springs’ 5.0 R-value build. Additionally, its soft polyester top feels far nicer than the Silver Springs’ cheap, plasticky surface. Packing the Campwell up is also far easier, and it’s a pound and a half lighter. If you’re on the tightest of budgets (or can sleep just about anywhere), the Silver Springs is a fine choice. But the Campwell is a clear step up, while still appealing to most price-conscious buyers. For more, read our Silver Springs review.


Exped DeepSleep ($170): Thicker and Warmer
If you’ve got extra cash to spend, the DeepSleep offers a noticeable jump in comfort and warmth over the Campwell. At a true 3 inches thick, it makes it less likely you’ll feel the ground beneath you, and its 9.0 R-value keeps you even warmer when temperatures drop. Both pads share nearly identical lengths and widths, but the DeepSleep’s vertical sidewalls provide a truly flat sleeping surface compared with the Campwell’s sloping sides. And the DeepSleep includes a pump sack, making topping off easier. The Campwell, however, is a pound lighter, if you’re thinking of taking a quick jaunt from the car or simply want to lighten your kit. Side sleepers and winter campers should opt for the DeepSleep, but some folks might appreciate the Campwell’s $41 in savings despite the tradeoffs. For more, read our review of the DeepSleep.

REI Co-op Campwell Sleeping Pad ($129)
REI Co-op Campwell Sleeping Pad product name
4.2/5

The Campwell Sleeping Pad doesn’t offer much in the comfort department, with a thin build that means you can feel the ground beneath you. As a value-oriented car-camping option, though, it delivers impressive warmth, durability, and a few nice-to-have features in an affordable package.

Dimensions
72 x 25 x 2.5 in. (R)
Type
Self-inflating mat
R-value
7.0
Weight
3 lb. 8 oz.
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Comfort

2.5/5
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Warmth

4/5
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Durability

4/5
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Ease of Use

3.5/5
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Weight & Packability

4/5
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Sustainability

4/5
Coleman Silver Springs ($70)
Coleman Silver Springs sleeping mattress in tent
3.6/5

The standout quality of this throwback pad is its fantastic price, but the Silver Springs is not a good option for campers who seek even moderate comfort. At least it’s warm and durable enough to last until you get more into camping and decide to buy a better pad.

Dimensions
72 x 20 x 3 in.
Type
Self-inflating mat
R-value
5.0
Weight
5 lb.
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Comfort

2/5
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Warmth

3/5
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Durability

3.5/5
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Ease of Use

4/5
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Weight & Packability

3.5/5
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Sustainability

0.8/5
Exped DeepSleep ($190)
Camper holding the Exped DeepSleep sleeping mattress
4.4/5

This trimmed-down version of Exped’s popular MegaMat is a little thinner, features firmer foam, and is much more affordable. The DeepSleep’s soft top fabric and high R-value are nice touches, but they can’t match the comfort of heftier pads.

Dimensions
72 x 25.6 x 3 in. (MW)
Type
Self-inflating mat
R-value
9.0
Weight
4 lb. 8 oz.
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Comfort

4/5
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Warmth

5/5
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Durability

4/5
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Ease of Use

4/5
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Weight & Packability

3.5/5
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Sustainability

3.7/5

Is the Campwell for You?

If price is the first thing you’re looking at when buying a car camping mat, the REI Co-op Campwell is a pretty decent buy overall. Its warmth, durability, and packability are above-average regardless of cost, which is less than half that of some of the category’s standouts. However, you’ll have to buy this pad knowing that a pillowy sleep platform isn’t in your future, especially if you’re a side sleeper. If you’re a back sleeper, a deep sleeper, or simply don’t rate comfort that highly, though, the Campwell offers great value.

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