Self-inflating Camping Mattresses

Of course! On decathlon.com.gr you will find an excellent variety of self-inflating camping mattresses to fully enjoy every outdoor excursion. Our collection includes both thick, comfortable models for classic family camping that emphasize sleep quality, and lighter, compact self-inflating trekking mattresses that fold easily to fit inside your backpack.

Its function is based on a very clever combination of materials: inside the mattress is a specialized, open-cell foam core, similar to a sponge, which is compressed and sealed within an airtight shell. As soon as you open the valve, the foam naturally tends to return to its original shape, expanding and automatically drawing ambient air into the mattress without needing a pump at all.

On average, a self-inflating mattress takes about 10 to 20 minutes to inflate on its own to 80% or 90% of its capacity, depending on how long it has been stored rolled up. Once this automatic process is complete, you simply need to blow into the valve 1 or 2 times by mouth to adjust the firmness exactly to your comfort preference, and then close it.

Each serves different needs, and you can choose the one that suits you best! Self-inflating models are ideal if you look for stability, as they lack the "wobbly" feeling of inflatable mattresses when you turn over, require no pump to set up, and provide much better insulation from the cold ground thanks to the internal foam. Standard inflatable mattresses have the advantage of packing down much smaller, being lighter, and usually being thicker, offering greater clearance from the ground, but they require a pump and can feel colder in winter conditions.

The golden rule to prevent the internal foam from degrading is as follows:
When at home, always store it unrolled (flat) with the valve open. If you leave it rolled up and tightly compressed inside its storage sack for months, the foam will lose its elasticity, meaning the next time you go camping, it will not be able to self-inflate. Keep in mind that it should only be packed into its bag during actual transit.

The R-value measures the mattress's ability to insulate you from the cold ground. For winter camping in low temperatures near or below freezing (0°C to 5°C), you need a mattress with an R-value of at least 3.5 to 4.0 or higher. If you plan to sleep on snow or in extreme cold, you should look for an R-value above 4.5, or alternatively, place a closed-cell foam pad underneath your self-inflating mattress for combined insulation protection.