Your bed is your sanctuary, whether you’re on the road or in a house, apartment, or condo. It’s where you recharge, dream, and prepare for the adventures ahead.
When planning for van life, a campervan mattress is not usually the top priority. We hear all too often how people choose an inexpensive, easy option for their bed, thinking that it “would be fine,” only to discover that they can’t get comfortable and aren’t enjoying their van life adventure as much as they had hoped.
Van life doesn’t have to be like a typical camping experience, with thin, uncomfortable padding to sleep on. It should be just like home; enticing, cozy, and comfortable.
Let’s talk about why a comfortable sleep setup is crucial and share some tips on selecting the perfect campervan mattress.
Table of Contents
The Health Benefits of Quality Sleep
It’s no secret that we need quality sleep for our physical and mental health. Sure, some people need more sleep than others, but we ALL need quality sleep. Here are a few reminders about the benefits of rest, recuperation, and comfort.
- Boosts Immune System: Quality sleep strengthens your immune system, helping you fight off illnesses and stay healthy on your travels. Have you ever caught a cold after you’ve run yourself ragged too long? We’ve all been there, and when you’re traveling in a campervan, getting sick is even less desirable (Is that even possible? We think so…)
- Enhances Mental Health: A good night’s rest can improve your mood, reduce stress, and even help with anxiety and depression. There’s a reason toddlers throw temper tantrums when they haven’t had their nap on time.
- Improves Cognitive Function: Sleep is vital for memory, focus, and decision-making—all essential functions for navigating new routes and planning your next destination! Please don’t become a sleepy driver and end up in an accident that could have otherwise been averted with a good night’s rest.
- Aids Physical Recovery: Whether you’ve spent the day hiking, surfing, or exploring a new city, sleep helps your body recover and repair muscles.
Benefits of a Comfortable Campervan Mattress
- Increased Energy Levels: Waking up refreshed means more energy for the day’s adventures. More energy means more adventures. See where we’re going here?
- Better Mobility: A supportive mattress can alleviate aches and pains, making it easier to move around and enjoy activities.
- Enhanced Relaxation: A comfortable sleep environment makes your campervan feel more like home, providing a cozy retreat after a day of exploration.
Tips for Selecting Your Campervan Mattress
Everyone’s needs are different, but here are some key things to consider when selecting your own campervan mattress:
- Sleeping Position:
- Side sleepers may prefer a softer mattress to cushion the shoulders and hips.
- Back sleepers often benefit from medium-firm mattresses that support the spine.
- Stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress to prevent sinking and keep the spine aligned.
- Material Matters:
- Memory foam provides excellent support and contouring but can retain heat and can wear out quickly.
- Latex is breathable, supportive, and naturally hypoallergenic.
- Performance foam is typically layered to provide the ultimate comfort level.
- Cool-gel memory foam wicks away heat and distributes weight evenly.
- Size and Fit:
- Measure your van’s sleeping area accurately to ensure the mattress fits perfectly.
- Consider the height of the mattress, especially if your van has limited headroom.
- Remember that you still want to rotate/flip your mattress occasionally. Thicker, heavier mattresses are more difficult to move in small spaces.
- Temperature Regulation:
- Look for mattresses with cooling features if you travel in warmer climates.
- Breathable materials and proper ventilation can prevent overheating.
- Durability:
- Choose a mattress that can withstand the rigors of van life, including varied temperatures and moisture in the environments you travel through.
- Are you using your mattress as seating also? This means more wear and tear.
- Are you traveling with pets? You may want a campervan mattress that is waterproof, or that can be spot-cleaned easily.
- Warranty:
- Check for warranties that protect your investment in case of defects or wear.
A Case Study From a Full-Time Vanlifer
We don’t want you to just take our word for it, so we interviewed Sierra, a full-time vanlifer, who decided to invest in a better campervan mattress after a year of traveling. Here’s a little Q&A right from the source:
Q: What type of mattress did you originally have in your campervan?
A: My campervan is completely custom, so the builder had 4” thick medium-density foam cushions custom-cut to fit the dinette-to-bed conversion setup. It was “comfortable enough” initially, but it was apparent very soon that the quality of the foam and the design layout wasn’t ideal.
Q: What was the main issue with your original campervan mattress?
A: Since the cushions were custom-shaped, they were designed to fit perfectly along the angle of the rear corners of the benches, which was also a section of the bed when the dinette was in bed mode. This meant that since the cushions didn’t have square corners, there was no way to rotate them to help them wear evenly. I work full time and spend a lot of time with the bed in dinette mode. The cushions started wearing out very quickly, and soon they were not nearly as comfortable to sit on, much less sleep on.
Q: Did you try anything different before investing in a new mattress?
A: I bought a small memory foam topper to use when I was sleeping, which worked well initially. Unfortunately, that meant I had to roll up the topper and stow it in the driver’s seat daily when I needed my bed converted to dinette mode. The memory foam was also quite warm and wore out quickly since it was just a thin topper.
Q: Why did you choose a custom campervan mattress?
A: After over a year of uncomfortable, restless nights I decided I needed a mattress that was as comfortable as my bed was in my old apartment. But you can’t just put a regular mattress in a campervan. For starters, my bed was also my dinette. But even if it wasn’t, regular household mattresses are heavy, fixed sizes, and cumbersome to move around in a campervan. (You still need to flip a mattress around every so often in a campervan!) Especially with my setup, a custom campervan mattress was the only solution.
Q: What did you consider when choosing your new custom campervan mattress?
A: Sleep comfort was my number one priority. I prefer a softer mattress and firmer seat cushions. I was traveling with a dog, so durability and cleanliness were necessary features. My campervan had beautiful custom wood carpentry inside, so as petty as it sounds, aesthetics were also a consideration. That’s a tall order, and I didn’t think it would be possible to check all those boxes.
Q: What custom campervan mattress did you select?
A: I stumbled across Roam Rest on Instagram and reached out when I saw they offered custom campervan mattresses. I honestly didn’t think they would be able to meet my needs and I would have to sacrifice something, but their customer service was outstanding, and they provided me with the absolute perfect solution! The timing was also perfect because I was traveling through Oregon at the time and was able to stop in at their Clackamas facility to try out some options.
Some highlights of the custom campervan mattress I chose from Roam Rest are:
- 5” thick mattress with different three layers of foam padding
- Beautiful, durable custom fabric that matched my campervan interior perfectly
- Dual-sided cushions; one soft side for sleeping and a firm side for sitting
- Waterproof, cleanable fabric on the firm side for day use; no dog paw print stains on the cushions!
- Squared-off shape so I can rotate cushions to ensure even wear.
- The best sleep I’ve had since moving into my campervan full-time!
Sure, not everyone needs this much from their campervan mattress. Roam Rest has many other options for folks not as needy as me. Regardless of your sleeping situation, if you’re in the market for a new campervan mattress, I highly recommend Roam Rest.
What Do You Need in a Campervan Mattress?
Investing in a high-quality campervan mattress is investing in your health, comfort, and overall van life experience. With the right mattress, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on whatever the road throws your way.
Be sure to check out Roam Rest to see their range of campervan mattresses designed to give you the best night’s sleep, no matter where your adventures lead you.
