Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest DreamTime Sleeping Pad

Full disclosure: This mattress is not light, cheap, or packable. But if you do a lot of car camping, you won’t care. “It’s honestly like sleeping on my bed at home,” says our gear editor after using the oversize DreamTime for two years all over New England. It pairs a 2.5-inch-thick, self-inflating air mattress with a one-inch layer of memory foam that’s wrapped in a removable (and machine-washable) microfiber cover.

The fabric feels oh-so-soft against skin, and the air/foam combo delivers the ultimate in springy, cushy comfort. The mattress needs a few breaths to bring it to full loft—but it still required far less effort than any other comfort pad we tested. It also packs easily: Just roll and secure with the attached buckles. Bonus: Big guys will love the extra length and width. $190; 6 lbs. 11 oz.; 25”x75”x3.5”; cascadedesigns.com