Last Updated on April 30, 2024 by Nikole

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

One of the most sought-after sceneries in van life is that back door that opens up to those rolling mountain views, or crashing ocean waves. What else would make that moment more perfect other than the most beautiful and comfortable bed?

I am going to show you everything you need to know about camper van bedding; Where to store your bedding. Should you use wool or fleece? What about pillows?

Hello, Nikole and Clark here! We love traveling in our small Ford Transit Connect camper van. While we travel we hope to give you some insight on how to live the best life you can in your van!

Check out this post on how to find the best van for a conversion!

Materials

Let’s dive right into what you should look at first when it comes to covers. The most important factor you should consider is what materials you are looking for when purchasing your bedding.

Cotton Camper Van Blankets

One of the most versatile camper van bedding materials is cotton. Because it is breathable this type of material can be used for all seasons. It’s also the most basic form of material to cover up with, so there will never be a problem finding these blankets on store shelves.

You can find this material in throw blankets, pillows, and just about any type of covering for your camper van bed.

Choose from a variety of colors and sizes with these 100% Cotton Waffle Weave Blankets. You can use this blanket for layering with your already existing camper van bedding, or use it as a throw for sitting at the fire pit.

Camper Van Blankets With Down

Down blankets such as the Get Out Gear Down Camping Blanket and bedspreads are best for cold climates. This down blanket will help keep you warm in your camper van home. This type of material consists of feathers so be cautious of possible allergens.

You can purchase just about anything with down stuffing including comforters, throw blankets, and sleeping bags.

The only “down” side to down is the feathers that tend to get loose. I hate down pillows because they like to poke my face in the middle of the night, causing me to have horrible sleep. If you purchase down, just be aware of this possibility.

Synthetic Camping Blankets

If you don’t want a down blanket, try synthetic. Synthetic is similar to down bedding, but usually without the allergens as it is made up of recycled materials. This type of camper van bedding is compact and lightweight, and yet still a great option for insulating you from the cold.

You will typically find that most camping blankets are made up of synthetic recycled materials, which makes it easy to squeeze them into tight spaces within your van storage. They make for the perfect choice for van bedding because these blankets will keep you super warm and are a hassle-free way of making the bed.

The Easthills Outdoors 2-Person Puffy Camping Blanket is also used from recycled materials and is water-resistant. This makes for a perfect top cover for those super cold nights. It’s also great for laying under the stars or sitting around a campfire.

Wool

Wool is one of the warmest materials you can cover up with. Not only is wool amazing for camper van bedding but for those who don’t have the best heating in their van as well!

Typically this type of material wouldn’t be used for full-time bedding as it tends to be scratchy. On cold nights, however, you may be switching your cotton blanket with a warm wool one. If you are cold-weather camping be sure to include a wool blanket in your winter van gear stash.

Because this is such a great material for insulating, it will keep your body heat from escaping the blanket. It also has moisture-wicking properties. That’s probably why wool socks are also a huge favorite in the camping world.

If you become sweaty in the winter that sweat will become as cold as the air outside. But with the wool blanket, your sweat will be wicked away without a problem.

Wool is typically scratchy, but the PuTian Merino Wool Blanket promises to be super soft for your skin, and probably the best van blanket yet!

Fleece

Fleece has to be our favorite material option for bedding, even for full-time coverage. Even though this blanket is not built for full-time usage nor is it great for keeping you warm, it’s still super comfy.

At first, when covered with a fleece blanket you will feel warm. Eventually, the warmth will escape through the blanket leaving you cold at night.

You may want a different type of blanket to cover up with during the harsh cold months. Try the Eddie Bauer – Throw Blanket fleece during mild spring or fall nights.

Bamboo

The best option for warm-weather travel is bamboo camper van bedding. This type of material will absorb body heat on those hot summer nights.

Cooler bedding is best for camper vans when you are traveling in hot climates. You won’t need to run the A/C unit quite as much if you sleep with cooler bedding- therefore saving you power consumption.

Say goodbye to moisture while you are sleeping with this DANGTOP Cooling Blanket, Bamboo Blanket. Not only is it super lightweight, but it’s also breathable making it suitable for hot climates.

Camper Van Duvet Cover

Why purchase a duvet cover for your campervan bedding? You really don’t need to, but if you insist on using a comforter you may want to consider a duvet cover for these reasons.

• It could provide just a tad more layering for those winter months.
• If it’s too hot in the summer, just use the duvet cover and ditch the thick comforter.
• It helps to keep your bedding clean.
• It makes everything easier to clean. You can actually fit a duvet cover in the washer.

I realize there are some people out there who still don’t know what a duvet cover is, like my husband, you are not alone! To put it simply a duvet cover is a slip that you can cover your entire comforter with. In a way, it’s kind of like a sheet for your comforter!

Consider before you purchase Camper Van Bedding

Bedding is one of those things that can really pull your whole camper van look together. Whether you want something aesthetically pleasing or just something comfy, a great blanket can give you just that. In order to accomplish those goals here are a few things to consider when purchasing a camper van blanket

Climate: If you are living in a camper van full time you need to consider carrying both cold weather and warm weather blankets and covers. If you are just traveling with a camper van, plan your bedding according to the climates you will be traveling to.

The last thing you want is to be on a freezing cold excursion with a thin blanket, that would seriously put a damper on your travels.

Comfort: Why else do we read articles like this than to find the most comfortable option for a cover. Some bedding, like wool, may keep you the warmest but isn’t always the most comfortable. Know what you are willing to compromise.

It all depends on the climate you are in. If you are in freezing weather it may be best to compromise on some comfort to get that warmth.

Storage space: Thicker comforters may be super comfy, but not always convenient as they take up space. Blankets with down or synthetic materials are more compact and are great for smaller camper vans.

Some vans have beds that need to be taken completely apart, therefore you would need to find a space for all the bedding. Whereas ours folds up and the bedding can stay, which gives us more space.

Electricity usage: Van travelers are always conscious of the electricity they need to use. Having the appropriate blanket during the right seasons will help greatly with this. You will use less of your heater if you have the warmest blanket and vice versa in warm weather.

Color: Color plays a bigger role than one may think. White bedding in a camper van may not be the best idea, especially if you go hiking a lot. Since you will be tracking the outdoors into your tiny home, white and lighter colors will most definitely show more dirt.

Personally, we will be getting darker colors in the future because our white sheets are turning a nice brown shade. Yikes!

Types of blankets and covers

Camping blankets: A great option for travel, this camping blanket is extremely compact and yet super warm for those cold weather days. You can use this for backpacking excursions or for traveling in your camper van.

Comforters: One of my favorite options for camper van bedding is comforters. Not only do they feel warm to me but they are super comfortable. You can find a comforter in many different materials including wool, cotton, and even fleece.

There’s nothing like cuddling in a bed with a huge poofy comforter that just swallows you.

Sleeping bags: A sleeping bag may be the best option for those who are only part-time traveling in a camper van. They are perfect for cold weather because you can purchase zero-degree sleeping bags for freezing weather. The one pictured below is great for below freezing to zero degrees.

I HATE sleeping bags in the van because they make me feel completely restricted. The noise also makes me go crazy every time I move. I wake my husband every time!

Throw blankets: Throw blankets shouldn’t be your main source of comfort or heat in your van. These are great for chilling around the fire. I love cuddling up to my throw blankets in the early morning sipping on my cup of coffee.

Are you making your Camper Van bed the wrong way?

We all know how to make the bed right? We put on the fitted sheet, then the thin sheet, then the comforter and decorate it with some pillows and omg you have the best-made bed ever.

Apparently what looks nice isn’t always the warmest way to sleep. Think about it, these animals that survive the cold have thick fur directly on their skin, wouldn’t it make sense for us to have the warmest part of the blanket closest to our bodies?

Try sleeping with your main blanket/comforter on top of you first, then put the thinner blanket on the outside, trust me, you will be much warmer, so warm you will never want to get up to make breakfast.

How Do You Store Bedding in a Camper Van?

As we all may know by now, moisture can do quite a bit of damage to a camper van. It’s important to know how to store your bedding in your camper van to avoid damaging the material.

I would recommend using an air-tight bag if you insist on storing your bedding in your camper van. Otherwise, just take out the bedding when you are not using the van.

Keep in mind that critters can get inside your van while you aren’t using it, and they love to find a cloth for nesting! I’ve lost good cotton comforters after storing them in the attic with no air-tight bag around them, and it was so sad!

Not only are you keeping your bedding away from the mice, but also that dreaded mildew smell. Because your camper van can retain moisture, this will get into your bedding causing it to smell. Properly storing blankets or taking them out of the camper van can help ensure they smell fresh.

What to do about the night sweats When it comes to bedding

If you are like me you sweat pretty bad at night. Choosing the right bedding can help with that. I find that I sweat more with fleece blankets as it sort of traps the moisture (and yet I still sleep with them, I can’t resist the fuzzies). Sleeping with materials like cotton or bamboo will help wick away the moisture from your body.

Camper Van Sheet Options

Solutions to fitting sheets to custom mattresses: This happens to be a problem for most who have a custom-sized mattress. Because people have customized mattress sizes the sheets will need to be custom made.

If you don’t want the expenses or the struggle of custom-made sheets you can use this little gadget to keep the fitted sheet secure on your mattress (Pictured below).

Mattress pad covers: Mattress pad covers are great for keeping together a mattress that is cut into several sections. It gives the mattress an extra hold along with the fitted sheet.

Along with holding your mattress together, the cover can also allow for breathability between your mattress and fitted sheet.

We personally don’t care to have one on our mattress because it doesn’t have a cut all the way down the middle. We don’t have a mattress that needs to be heald together. Why spend the extra money on something you don’t need right?

Mattress Toppers: Toppers help to provide more comfort for your mattress and will go beneath your mattress pad cover.

We took apart our foam mattress and replaced a layer of foam with a memory foam mattress topper. We did this only for comfort because the foam was too hard for our comfort level.

You can also use a topper to add to a thin mattress.

Sheet materials: Depending on which climate you find yourself in will determine what kind of sheet set to get for your bed.

Microfiber seems to be the best bet for most climates, and it is easily washed. Here is a great affordable and durable microfiber sheet set with different styles.

If you find yourself in colder climates try for some flannel sheet sets like these here. I sleep like a baby when I’m on flannel sheets.

Pillows

It can be frustrating finding the right pillow, as it can throw off your sleeping posture and leave you with a restless night’s sleep. Here are some pillow options for all types of sleepers out there.

Memory foam: These memory foam pillows are great for any kind of sleeper as they offer support and are yet super plush.

• Suportive
• Plush
• For most sleeping positions
• Breathable

Adjustable: Wool-filled pillows are one of the only adjustable pillows you can purchase. Even though they come at a hefty price they are great for those who are in need of customization. All you need to do is take some of the stuffing out from the inside of the pillow or put more in for a thicker feel.

On the plus side, wool pillows are great for those who sweat at night, because they wick away moisture.

• Fully adjustable
• Moisture wicking
• Durable

Synthetic: A great alternative to down especially if you have allergies to down. One of the most standard pillow options is synthetic. These are some of the cheapest options you can purchase for your campervan bedding.

• Cruelty-free
• Plush
• Cheap

Travel: It’s always great to have a travel-sized pillow in the camper van. You may need it for a backpacking adventure, or maybe just to lay on while your partner drives to your next destination. I wouldn’t recommend this size for full-time usage as it does not offer much support.

Our choice option for travel pillows is Wise Owl, it’s super comfy and not that expensive. We don’t use this pillow as a part of our camper van bedding, but we use it while camping in our tent or napping in our hammocks.

• Compact
• Versatile for travel needs
• Light weight

Conclusion for Camper Van bedding

What do you use in your camper van for bedding? We would love to know, leave us a comment with what your favorite bedding is.