I have no qualms with hiking miles to summit a mountain or sliding on my butt to get to the bottom of a canyonβbut sleeping on the ground with only a thin layer of nylon separating me from the outside world is where I draw the line. My solution has been to ditch the tent entirely and turn the back of my Subaru Crosstrek into a cozy campsite instead.
This setup, which hinges on an air mattress designed for cars, is more comfortable than sleeping on the ground and blocks the elements better than a tent ever could. It also provides more security from potential campsite scaries, like small creatures and critters, or even predators like mountain lions.
But keep in mind that, even though a car offers more protection than a tent, bears can still break in, especially if they smell foodβso be careful not to eat or store food in your car overnight. This air mattress has six inflatable chambers that allow it to fit into a wider range of cars, including sedan back seats.
It includes a car-compatible air pump, along with two inflatable pillows and a piece that fills the backseat footwells. The first thing you need to transform your car into a comfy cocoon is an air mattress specifically intended for use in sedan backseats and SUV cargo areas.
It has six separate inflatable chambers that you can fill or leave empty as needed to fit your space. This makes it compatible with most SUVs and sedans and lets you personalize your setup in a way that makes most sense for you. Also included is an air pump with a 9 V car adapter that can be used to inflate and deflate the mattress. Fully inflated, the mattress has a max weight limit of pounds and can comfortably sleep two adults. It loses a bit of air overnight, especially when two people use it, so you have to top it off if you plan to use it a second nightβthough I find myself deflating and folding up the mattress in the mornings anyway so I can use my car to get around during the day.
