I purchased my (first) Luno Air Mattress in 2020 in an effort to spend more nights outdoors and have used it obsessively ever since. Honestly, this car mattress doesn’t even leave my car 95% of the time, so I am always ready to hit the road and go camping.

In terms of usability, durability, and convenience, this car camping air mattress is my number one pick. This air mattress is a game changer for anyone looking to spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time pitching a tent. Here is my detailed review of the Luno Air Mattress, now referred to as the AIR Pro Vehicle Mattress.

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Is the Luno Air Mattress worth the hype?

As a self-designated full-time teacher and part-time adventurer, I am always looking for ways to free up my time and maximize my time outdoors. So when I started leaving work on Fridays and heading straight to the mountains, I was trying to find gear that would be easy to set up efficiently in the dark. In college, I inadvertently spent some nights “car camping”, aka sleeping in my car at rest stops for long commutes home from school. So when I realized that people actually sleep in their cars at trailheads for early starts or prefer a solid roof over a tent in the rain, I worked on researching my idea car camping setup.

After debating over the price ($350) of the Luno Air Mattress, I ended up biting the bullet, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made for my outdoor recreation goals. This review of the Luno mattress is almost five years in the making, and after countless nights of car camping.

Overall Thoughts on the Luno Air Mattress

The Luno Air Mattress has been one of my most-used pieces of outdoor gear for the last five years, and I would recommend it to almost anyone who asks about it. From the convenience of having somewhere comfortable to sleep on a forest service road to being able to go on an adventure-packed road trip, this air mattress has been with me through it all.

Since my first purchase of this air mattress in 2020, the air mattress has been updated, making it an even better piece of gear. I have been using the updated air mattress since 2025, and boy, it is even better!

The newly improved, thoughtful design maximizes room, includes an additional storage space for smaller items, and can be converted into a single or double mattress.

Luno AIR Pro Vehicle Mattress Pros:

  • Durable – You don’t need to worry about pine needles and pet claws popping your air mattress. The mattress is made of a puncture-proof material (300D) 300-denier Oxford fabric. Trust me, my 80lb American Bully, Meatball, has tried his hardest to pop this thing.
  • Fit – Choose the perfect fit mattress for your car based on the vehicle you drive. This is not a “one size fits all” air mattress.
  • Easy Setup – As long as your car is somewhat organized, setting up this mattress is a breeze. I’ve even set it up without leaving my car during a heavy rainstorm.
  • Adjustable Inflation – While I wouldn’t recommend under-inflating your mattress, you can control its firmness. Since the two sides are not connected, you can make your side firmer or softer than your partner’s.
  • Compact – This air mattress is pretty compact when not in use, unlike some of the foam-based car camping mattresses.
  • Double or Single Sided – The newly improved air mattress now allows you to set up the mattress as single-sided or double-sided by zipping the two sides together.

Luno AIR Pro Vehicle Mattress Cons:

  • Low R-Value – R value measures heat transfer, and with an R-Value of 1.5, this mattress can make you pretty cold in the winter without proper layers.
  • Cost – The upfront cost of this air mattress is pretty steep. They do offer gear bundles with some of the other items that you might need to make it more affordable.
  • Valve Issues – On my old mattress, the pump valve started leaking, so I would have to reinflate it each night. The updated version of the mattress now has improved valves that I haven’t had issues with.

What is included in your purchase?

The AIR Pro Vehicle Mattress comes with an air mattress that perfectly fits your vehicle. When you purchase the mattress, you will enter your Vehicle’s Make, model, and year to ensure a custom fit in your car.

But you will also receive a storage bag with a repair patch kit and an electric air pump to inflate your mattress.

The build of the mattress includes the head support bridge attachment that gets wrapped around the headrest of the front seats. This attachment has some small pockets that you can use to keep your phone, car keys, a Kindle, and any other small items you might want access to while sleeping in the back of your car.

The air mattress also comes with a 3-year warranty with the option to add on a lifetime warranty at an extra cost. This helps cover any (improbable) puncture holes, broken headrest attachments, and valve leaks. Recycled mattresses become part of Luno’s Project ReRoam upcycled gear to minimize their impact. I have the large outdoor ground mat and firewood carrier from their Upcycled Gear program.

Additional Accessories:

Luno Shoe Storage Bag
Luno Window Screen

Luno has a whole array of car camping accessories that are used to make car camping comfortable. While I definitely promote using what you already have when you first start car camping, they do sell a few items that have made the biggest impact on my comfort.

  • Fitted Mattress Sheet – Vehicle Mattress: When I camp with my dog, this fitted mattress sheet has gotten pretty dirty. But then I can bring it home and wash it instead of trying to scrub dirt off of the mattress. I also use this fitted sheet to hold down one of my Rumpl Blankets for added insulation.
  • Window Screens: If you want to car camp year-round, window screens are a must. They allow you to sleep with your windows open for circulation without allowing bugs inside. I’ve had mine for 5 years and have used them almost every time I camp.
  • Gear & Shoe Storage Bag: The magnet for the storage bag is very strong. If it is muddy around camp, I will use this bag for my shoes, but I have also been known to throw my dog poop bags in it…
  • Camping Fan: The Luno Camping Fan attaches to the window and uses a USB-C cord to plug into an external battery. When we’re camping in the desert, this has been a lifesaver.

Luno definitely has a lot of fantastic gear that I’ve used for years. I actually keep all of my Luno gear in a now-discontinued mesh duffle, which makes it easy to keep everything together!

There is some Luno gear that I do not like: the Cargo Hammock, Seatback Organizer, and Car Privacy Curtain.

Is the Luno Air Mattress good for road trips?

If you plan to go on a road trip, drive around a lot, and not spend long in one spot, the Luno Air Mattress is great. It sets up quickly and packs down even quicker. On some of the road trips I’ve taken with it, I’ve actually just deflated the mattress, but left it set up in the back with a bunch of gear on top of it while I drove to the next place.

It is the better alternative to setting up a tent at each campsite, especially if the day you’re leaving your trip, a giant rainstorm rolls in and you have to pack up a soaking wet tent covered in wood chips and pine needles…true story.

If you’re going to be staying at a destination for an extended amount of time, 3+ days, a tent would be fine, but you’ll still need a sleeping pad to sleep on. Might as well just sleep in your car IMO.

Is the Luno Air Mattress worth the price?

A photo of the Luno mattress from 2020!

For how long this car camping mattress has lasted me and how much use I have gotten out of it, it is worth the price to me. I probably use it once a month during the school year and at least 5 times a month in the summer.

The up-front cost feels worth it to me since I use it so frequently.

If you’re not sure if you will like car camping, you could always try it with a backpacking sleeping pad to get a feel for it! Otherwise, you can sometimes find EXPED MegaMats in the REI Re/Supply section; they’re nice sleeping mats, but they take up more storage space.

If you are just going to be car camping solo, you can also look at their upcycled Single Side AIR Vehicle Mattress, which comes at a discounted rate.

What do you need to start car camping?

If you want a complete list of gear for car camping, check out my ultimate guide to car camping.

Here is a short list of items you might want to bring if you are going to have a good night’s sleep while car camping with a Luno Life AIR mattress. Remember, you don’t need much gear to enjoy time outdoors!

  1. Air Mattress
  2. Sleeping Bag – I used the Sea to Summit Ascent relaxed mummy sleeping bag that I use for backpacking
  3. Pillow – You can bring a pillow from home, or you can purchase a pillow for your car camping setup. I use this packable camping pillow.
  4. Camp Light or Headlamp – Luno sells camping string lights, but I prefer my BioLite since it can charge my phone.
  5. Fitted Sheet or Blanket to go on top of the mattress.
  6. Car Window Screens – I have the new window screens from Luno, and they have lasted me a long time…I’ve even driven with them in my car.

And that is really it for my car camping sleep setup.

Where do you put your stuff when your Luno air mattress is set up?

The back of a vehicle set up for car camping with pillows and blankets

In the original design of the Luno Life Air Mattress, they used base extenders that went in the rear passenger footwells to support the length of the air mattress. These base extenders took up a ton of space, and I am happy to see them gone with the updated version of the mattress.

Now, there is space for storage beneath the mattress with the rear passenger footwells available.

You can also put your gear in the front passenger seat, which is where I typically keep my hiking backpack and duffel bag. I like to leave the driver seat open.

If you bring a lot of gear on your camping trips, you could invest in a roof cargo box, but I will also just put items underneath my car or on the roof for extra space if the weather is looking clear.

What about the other Luno Air Mattresses?

Luno has been working on perfecting their air mattress game, and they now have a number of different air mattress options.

  • Luno AIR Truck Bed Mattress – If you’re looking. totruly sleep under the stars while car camping in the bed of your truck, they have made an air mattress that can make that happen. The shape of this mattress makes a comfortable sleeping surface out of truck beds.
  • AIR Pro Van Front Cab Mattress – The Luno front cab air mattress converts the van’s front cab into extra sleeping space with inflatable base extenders.
  • AIR+FOAM PRO Series – For added comfort and warmth, Luno released a hybrid self-inflating mattress that is available in double and single sizes, and for specific vehicle shapes like the Rivian R 1S and Jeep Wrangler.

All of these different Luno Life air camping mattress options really allow you to pick the best option for your needs.

Setting Up the Luno Air Mattress

Luno mattress set up in a dispersed campsite with the ReRoam Mat.

The Luno Air Mattress has a quick and easy set-up so you can get to camp and maximize your time relaxing by the fire.

Here is how to set up your mattress:

  1. Move your front seats forward. I keep my driver’s seat accessible in case I have to leave camp quickly.
  2. Fold your rear seats down.
  3. Clear out the space you need to set up your air mattress. If you’re setting up one side, I recommend using the side opposite the driver.
  4. Attach the Head Support Bridge Attachments to the head rests of the front car seats.
  5. Roll out your mattress and make sure your “out” valves are closed. I always forget to close them from the previous use and end up confused why my mattress isn’t inflating.
  6. Attach the mattress to the G-hooks on the head support bridge. Adjust the head support bridge so that the bottom of the mattress is lying flat.
  7. Use the 12-V Electric Air Pump that is included with your purchase to blow up your mattress.
  8. Adjust the firmness of the mattress using the one-way valves on the mattress!
  9. Add your pillows, sleeping bags, and blankets to create your most comfortable sleeping area.

TLDR: Luno Air Mattress

The Luno air mattress has an innovative design that revolutionizes the car campers experience. The easy setup and take-down mean you can spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time setting up camp. It means you can leave for the mountains late after work and have your sleep system set up in the back seat in no time.

Accessories like the packable camp pillow and window screens only add to the comfort that Luno brings to the car camping experience.

I love this mattress because I can spend the night at a trailhead for an early start, bop around to different National Parks for a quick minute road trip, and find incredible dispersed campsites on a forest service road.

Have questions about the Luno Life Air Mattress? Drop your question in the comments. I would be happy to answer it!

Want to learn more about car camping? Here are some related reads…

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