Quoted:
Looking for recommendations for a self inflating camp mattress. Was originally thinking a ridgerest or similar but need something that folds up smaller. It most likely will never see the great outdoors, but hotel floors with my son's hockey team, and my office storage room floor for me in the off season.
Budget is $40 ish. And I'm 6'2" for sizing.
Any must-haves, or must avoids?
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Going to be hard to stay under $40 but I will suggest a few...
*IF* you think you might carry it in a pack or have to go camping with it I would suggest something like this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Self-Inflating-Mummy-Sleeping-Pad-Mossy-Green/33563202#about-item
I have one of those and its my go to when space is not a premium, as in weekend hunting trips, where I don't want to spend a ton of time filling it up or worry about something happening to it. I use it when I am out playing bushcraft or camping at my leanto.
Its as comfortable as a 1.5" pad can be I guess. Your feet will be right at the end I am sure. I am 200# & 5'8 and I have plenty of room. I can lay on my side on it and as long as weight is evenly distributed my hip or shoulder doesn't bottom it out. Stomach or back is fine as well. Its a good budget option that will work well as a hiking/ backpacking pad. Ignor the Walmart branding, I have handled a few different pads and I would consider this though a bit bulky, a very sturdy affordable option. I am not sure where those bad reviews are coming from about getting a bubble in one, I am not sure how that is even possible unless people are trying to blow it up like a balloon? With that type of pad you let it self inflate for a while, add two or three full breaths and that's as full as they are meant to go. Its not a pool toy style pad.
I used a basic cheap foam pad for years and just last year switched to air pads. Night and day difference!
If I am headed out for a longer term camp, or hunt where space in my pack is a premium then I bring my manual inflating sea to summit pad but that's more for light weigh hiking etc. You need a stuff sack pump to fill it, because it takes a stupid amount of air to function.
Other then that you might look at something a even bulkier but providing a bit more comfort?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Self-Inflating-Camp-Pad-with-Attached-Pillow/35518760
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Self-Inflating-Camp-Pad/20594104
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Silverton-Tall-Self-Inflating-Camp-Pad/43195791
I haven't tried any of those Coleman pads, but Coleman is a good base level brand. If you get it at wally world and don't like it, its easy to return so that's something to consider.
Combine something like that on top of a cheap foam pad for use in hotel rooms and I think you will be as comfortable as you can be with a pad setup.