REI Camp Dreamer Tenting Mattress Assessment


Backside Line

Searching for an inexpensive however comfy tenting mattress? The REI Camp Dreamer XL is your key to a refreshing night time of relaxation. Whereas there are many nice choices on our finest tenting mattresses information, this one is a stable price range decide that will get the job completed.

Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has introduced the Camp Dreamer on 10 tenting journeys throughout Colorado and southern Wyoming from late winter by means of summer season. He loves its plush really feel, with 4 inches of thickness and a gentle outer materials that forestalls bottoming out and accommodates any sleeping place.

This one earns its hold with a spacious design and better R-Worth, so it’s a stable choice for year-round automotive campers. It fills up rapidly – and we love that it dumps air quick, too. REI features a pump sack, and an outsized storage stuff sack is large enough to get the mattress inside with out a battle.

Nevertheless, it does include some drawbacks. The Camp Dreamer XL is nice for budget-conscious campers, however you’ll sacrifice sturdiness for that cheaper price level. After solely a handful of makes use of, Ian discovered it started to leak alongside the seams subsequent to the valve. It’s additionally on the heavy and hulking aspect in contrast with a lot of the competitors, and it’s a little bit of a activity to roll up – normally two repetitions to get all of the air out. We additionally discovered the pump sack a bit awkward to make use of. Nonetheless, for the value, this mattress is a cushty selection that’s price a more in-depth look.

Fast Specs

REI Camp Dreamer XL

Greatest Worth Tenting Mattress


CleverHiker Score:

4.0/5.0


Value:

$180


Dimensions (LxWxH):

78 x 30 x 4 in.


Weight:

6 lb. 6 oz.


Type:

Self-inflating


R-Worth:

6.6

Execs

  • Wonderful worth
  • Comfy
  • Spacious
  • Deflates rapidly
  • Pump doubles as a pillow
  • Straightforward to pack
  • Pump Included
  • Storage sack is giant

Cons

  • Not as sturdy as prime 2 selections
  • Cumbersome packed dimension
  • A bit difficult to roll up
  • Pump shouldn’t be as simple to make use of as others

A person holds up a sleeping pad in a package to show off the bottom, where the text reads "CAMP DREAMER Self-inflating Pad XL" with the REI CO-OP logo.
The Camp Dreamer balances consolation and ease of use. – Picture Credit score: Ian Krammer (CleverHiker.com)

Consolation

If consolation is your precedence, the REI Camp Dreamer XL delivers. It’s 4-inches thick – which is common for our automotive tenting record. However due to horizontal foam and wonderful structuring, it feels even thicker. The Camp Dreamer is supportive and plush. Whether or not we slept on our stomach, aspect, or again, this mattress successfully alleviated stress factors for a snug night time of sleep. Gear Analyst Ian will be choosy in regards to the aspect seams on mattresses once they stick out an excessive amount of. The Camp Dreamers are rounded, so we barely observed them. We additionally discovered the velvety polyester face cloth felt lavish towards the pores and skin. It didn’t snag or catch on base layers, both. 

We choose the one-person model of the Camp Dreamer for its soft really feel and respectable portability, but it surely additionally is available in a double model. The double is bulkier and heavier, however should you choose cuddling up with a accomplice, beloved one, or canine bff, it might be price paying extra for the shared house.

Nevertheless, the Camp Dreamer XL doesn’t have the identical adjustability as different mattresses. Many have a small button on the consumption valve to set free miniscule quantities of air to get a exact adjustment on the firmness, however this one doesn’t. You may manually set free a bit extra air by sticking your finger into the valve and shifting the bit of fabric blocking airflow. Nevertheless, the nuance is misplaced, which limits the general customization.

Close-up image of someon'es elbow pushing into a camping mattress. There are slight folds in the fabric from the pressure.
A gentle outer cloth and rounded seams make this pad cozy with none annoying edges. – Picture Credit score: Ian Krammer (CleverHiker.com)

Ease of Use

The REI Camp Dreamer XL is among the fastest-inflating tenting mattresses we examined, and we extremely suggest it should you like a fast, low-effort setup. We timed the self-inflating system to a bit lower than 5 minutes. It required solely two to a few pump sacks of air to prime it off – or about 60 seconds of breath. The valve caps keep closed all night time, and the pad offers loads of house to unfold out whereas accommodating the largest sleeping baggage. The big storage sack design is amongst our favorites, too, so regardless that it’s a bit heavier than most mattresses, it’s nonetheless extremely transportable.

We do have just a few complaints for usability, although. Our largest difficulty comes all the way down to sturdiness. Within the first few makes use of, Ian’s mattress developed two pinhole-sized leaks – one alongside a prime side-seam and one other subsequent to the dump valve – places that would not be patched. Our analysis exhibits this downside isn’t essentially distinctive to our expertise, which is why this mattress ranks close to the underside of our record. Fortunately, REI has a year-long return coverage, so we had been in a position to swap it out for a second mattress. The alternative mattress hasn’t had any sturdiness points.

Moreover, we like that the pump sack is included, but it surely isn’t as simple to make use of as others. Its opening is a bit slender, and the nozzle will be finicky to connect to the valve. We additionally discovered rolling the mattress up will be time-consuming. Usually, one roll isn’t sufficient to get all of the air out, so we find yourself rolling it up twice to get it to suit into the bag. Regardless of these challenges, this mattress remains to be very simple to make use of.

Close-up image of an intake and dump valve on a camping mattress. A hand holds open the intake valve.
We favored the intuitive valve design. – Picture Credit score: Ian Krammer (CleverHiker.com)

Heat

This REI mannequin lands squarely in the midst of the pack for heat with an R-value of 6.6. That was greater than heat sufficient to maintain us cozy between 30° and 80°F, so it’s a stable choice for spring, summer season and fall. Our testing discovered the built-in foam insulation helped retain and mirror warmth that prevented frigid air from seeping by means of.

Nevertheless, Ian has examined this mattress in severe winter situations. He took the Camp Dreamer for a spin on a week-long journey to southern Wyoming’s Vedauwoo Climbing space in January the place temps dropped as little as 18°F. Used along side a toasty-warm sleeping bag, the Camp Dreamer saved him loads heat. That mentioned, 18°F is on the acute finish for this pad, and we’d principally reserve this one for journeys that keep above 20°F. It’s nice for gentle to average situations, however it is going to really feel chilly with out layers.

A man puts a sleeping mattress into a tent with no fly on. There is a snowy, mountainous landscape in the background.
This one is a good selection for staying heat even in freezing temps. – Picture Credit score: Ian Krammer (CleverHiker.com)

Packed Measurement

Regardless of its heavier weight – the Camp Dreamer is 6 kilos, 6 ounces – this mattress is barely extra transportable than most. It measures 30 inches by 11 inches, which isn’t fairly so long as a lot of the competitors. Its carrying case opens lengthwise, so we aren’t making an attempt to slip the entire mattress by means of a small prime opening. Two large buckles act as compression straps to maintain the mattress contained, and a thick nylon shoulder strap frees up your arms to hold different gear. 

Nonetheless, this factor shouldn’t be small. You’ll must price range house within the trunk for this mattress, regardless that it isn’t fairly so long as some we examined and reviewed.

A man loads a rolled-up sleeping mattress into the back of a truck.
It’s a cumbersome pad, however the intelligent storage bag helps hold every thing tidy and manageable. – Picture Credit score: Ian Krammer (CleverHiker.com)

Ought to You Purchase the REI Camp Dreamer XL Mattress?

The REI Camp Dreamer XL is a stable decide for campers who need the consolation, heat, and ease of use of a premium mattress with out the steep price ticket. Its thick, 4-inch design and spectacular heat make it well-suited for year-round situations. Its soft polyester floor additionally punches above its class for a refreshing night time’s sleep. We discover the spacious dimensions and tremendous quick self-inflating function are a slam-dunk for informal automotive campers who need a hassle-free setup. This one is a wonderful worth with out compromising on consolation or efficiency.

Nevertheless, the tradeoff you’ll make is sturdiness and adjustability. We had a difficulty with our first Camp Dreamer leaking – though we’ve had no difficulty with the alternative. This one additionally isn’t as adjustable as others in the case of firmness, and we discover the pump is a bit awkward to connect and fill with air. Lastly, the Camp Dreamer shouldn’t be as dreamy to roll up, both. That mentioned, these aren’t dealbreakers for us. When you’ve received a watch in your pockets, the Camp Dreamer XL is an efficient selection for a comfortable, thick tenting mattress.

A man sits up on one arm in a a sleeping bag on a camping mattress in a tent.
Whether or not you sleep in your again, aspect, or abdomen, this mattress stays comfortable all night time. – Picture Credit score: Ian Krammer, CleverHiker.com

What Different Tenting Mattresses Ought to You Take into account?

If the REI Camp Dreamer XL didn’t catch your eye, see different prime picks on our finest tenting mattresses information:

Therm-A-Relaxation Luxurious Map XL Assessment: The Luxurious Map shares the Camp Dreamers worth level, making it a wonderful price range choice as nicely. It’s not fairly as heat and a bit lighter, however this one has superior sturdiness. 

REI Campwell XL Assessment: Positive, the REI Campwell isn’t practically as thick because the REI Camp Dreamer – it’s solely  2 and a half inches off the bottom – however you’ll get a hotter pad that’s lighter and packs smaller. 

Sea To Summit Consolation Deluxe LW: The Consolation Deluxe lands in our prime three favorites of the yr due to its good all-around efficiency, together with a smaller packed dimension, lighter weight, and related heat.

Close-up image of a person's hand on the side of a thick camping mattress.
At 4 inches thick, the Camp Dreamer XL provides beneficiant assist with out feeling overly agency or stiff. – Picture Credit score: Ian Krammer (CleverHiker.com)

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