If you’ve spent even one night on a noisy air mattress or a paper-thin foam pad, you know a good night’s sleep is one of the most underrated parts of any truck camping setup. That’s where the HEST Dually steps in.
Built specifically for truck beds, the Dually is a foldable memory foam mattress designed to bring legit comfort to your overland rig. After using it for a full year on trips ranging from weekend getaways to multiweek outings, here’s how it’s held up.
Table Of Contents
Fit & Function
The Dually comes in two versions, short and long, both designed to nest (relatively) cleanly between your truck’s wheel wells – whether you have a 5 or 6 foot bed. They are all 4″ tall.
- Short: 50″ W x 64″ L
- Long: 50″ W x 78″ L
- Wide: 60″ W x 72″ L (this one might work better than the long for my long bed 4G)
- Queen: 60″ W x 78″ L
I’ve been using the long version in a 2025 4th Gen Tacoma with a long bed paired with my BamBeds platform. The fitment is tight, but it works. It just takes a bit of finesse to get the tailgate to close. It’s slightly too long but not a deal breaker.
Build Quality
Two-Layer Foam + Smart Cover
The Dually’s comfort comes from a dual-layer memory foam system…
- A plush upper layer that contours your body
- A firmer base layer for support
The exterior features a water-resistant stretch nylon cover that’s both soft and rugged. It’s super durable and easy to clean, a major win if you’ve ever been to the dunes, the desert, or any place with loose dust and grit.
The mattress folds in half (not rolled) and buckles together, featuring built-in handles for easy carrying. No storage bag is required, and it fits easily into most truck cabs or camper shells.
Field Review
HEST’s truck bed mattress, paired with a BamBeds platform, makes for a stealthy and quick to deploy sleep setup that’s hard to beat.
Comfort & Warmth
The Dually is legitimately comfortable. Think of real bed levels of support. The foam insulates well from the cold bed floor, and it flattens out minor terrain imperfections when used directly on a truck bed. With the BamBeds system underneath, the foundation is rock solid, and the overall feel is incredibly stable.
Weather & Clean-Up
Condensation, dog hair, trail dust? No problem. The water-resistant cover wipes clean with just a damp cloth or towel. After dozens of nights on the road, some in wet and muddy conditions, the mattress still looks nearly new.
Packability
Setup and breakdown take under 10 seconds. No inflation. No fighting with stuff sacks. Just fold, buckle, and carry. If you’ve ever battled a soggy air mattress in the dark or played the patch and pump game on a cold morning, this is a total upgrade.
How It Compares To Other Options
Air Mattresses
Air mattresses are popular because they’re compact and affordable, but that’s where the advantages end. Over the years, I’ve dealt with slow leaks, squeaky plastic surfaces, and the dreaded middle-of-the-night deflation. Airbeds also get cold fast. Even with a sleeping bag, I often woke up chilled from underneath.
The Dually solves all of that. It doesn’t leak, it doesn’t make noise, and the foam provides insulation from the cold truck bed floor. No need to carry a pump and no surprises at 2 a.m. when your bed turns into a raft with a slow leak.
Foam Pads
Closed-cell or roll-up foam pads are a big step up from air mattresses in terms of reliability but not in comfort. They’re typically thin and leave you feeling sore after a few nights. Some overlanders stack multiple pads or try hybrid setups, but they rarely match the comfort level of something like the Dually.
What sets the Dually apart is its thickness, structure, and purpose-built design for truck beds. You’re not just lying on padding. You’re lying on a real sleep system with actual support.
DIY Mattress Hacks
Plenty of people make do with a cut-up futon or trimmed foam topper, and I’ve been there, too. While it might save a few bucks, those DIY setups tend to break down quickly and rarely pack up nicely. They’re bulky, difficult to clean, and often don’t fit truck beds cleanly.
HEST’s execution is what really sets the Dually apart. Every part of the design, from the tailored fit to the innovative folding layout, feels intentional. It’s not just comfortable. It’s also easy to live with, even on longer road trips, when organization and speed matter.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Real mattress comfort in the back of your truck
- Foldable design, easy to set up and pack away
- Tailored dimensions for truck beds
- Durable, water-resistant cover
- No pump or extra bag is needed
- Pairs great with the HEST Travel Pillow and comforter for a full sleep system
Cons
- Premium price point
- Slightly bulky if space is tight
- Tight tailgate clearance on long beds requires some finesse
Final Thoughts
After a full year of sleeping on the HEST Dually, I can confidently say it’s one of the best upgrades I’ve made to my truck camping setup. It eliminates all the usual frustrations that come with air mattresses and thin foam pads. No leaks, no noisy plastic, no waking up sore or cold. It’s just consistent comfort that feels closer to a real bed than anything I’ve used in the back of a truck.
What really stands out is how well it fits into the rhythm of life on the road. Setup takes seconds, cleanup is easy, and the quality holds up over time. Whether you’re out for one night or living out of your rig for a week, the Dually makes the sleeping part of your trip something you actually look forward to.
Pairing it with a solid platform like the BamBed takes it even further. With that foundation in place, you get a stable, supportive surface that stays in position and transforms your truck bed into a functional and comfortable space.
Yes, it costs more than your average sleeping pad, but the comfort and reliability it provides make it a worthwhile investment if you take your sleep seriously. For anyone building out a dependable truck camping setup, this should be at the top of the list.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to others? Without a doubt.
