I’m Kayla, and I travel with two kids, a patient husband, and a lot of snacks. We camp in a 2016 Forest River Sunseeker. While planning one of our loop trips, we spent a long weekend at Riverhouse Acres, a quiet riverside campground that turned out to be the perfect place to put these new bunk mattresses through their paces. It has skinny bunks—28 by 72 inches. The stock pads were… fine for a kid nap. Not for a full night. My nine-year-old called hers “the tortilla.” That stung a bit. For the full behind-the-scenes story of how I tackled every cut and corner, you can read my real-life take on an RV bunk mattress.
So I tested two real bunk mattresses over a few trips: a Zinus 6" Green Tea Memory Foam (narrow twin), and a Lucid 5" Gel Memory Foam. I cut both to fit the weird size. Yes, I actually cut them. With a bread knife. It worked way better than I expected.
Fit Comes First (And Corners Matter)
- Bunk size: 28" x 72" (mine)
- Zinus came as 30" x 75"
- Lucid came as 30" x 75"
I made a cardboard template for the rounded corners. I traced it on the foam, then trimmed. I used painter’s tape along the cut line so the foam wouldn’t flake. You know what? It gave me a clean edge. I slid the mattress in on its side to clear the door and the cabinet. That part felt like Tetris, but we got it.
The 6" Zinus sat a bit high, so the safety rail felt shorter. The 5" Lucid left a little more rail above the mattress. My youngest sleeps wild, so I notice stuff like that.
First Nights: Kid Report, Then Mom Report
Night one with the Zinus: my oldest slept the whole night and did not grumble. That is huge. She said her hip didn’t dig in anymore. I tried it too, for half the night, and I felt fine on my shoulder. I’m 150 pounds and a side sleeper. No numb arm. That was a win.
Night one with the Lucid: cooler feel right away. My hot sleeper (the little one) stuck with this one. She didn’t toss the blanket off like she usually does.
If I had to sum it up: Zinus felt softer, like a hug. Lucid felt a bit firmer and cooler.
Smell, Heat, and All That Real Stuff
Both had that “new foam” smell. Not wild, but it was there. I opened the window, turned on our MaxxAir fan, and left them out for a day. By the second night, I barely noticed it.
Heat: the Zinus ran warmer. In Arizona last spring, my back felt toasty. The Lucid stayed cooler in the same spot. On chilly nights in Colorado, the Zinus was cozy. So it depends on the weather and the kid.
Motion: the foam didn’t squeak. No springs means no “boing” when someone climbs up the ladder at 2 a.m. I liked that.
The Moisture Thing Folks Don’t Tell You
Bunks don’t breathe much. We got a damp patch under the mattress after a rainy weekend in Oregon. Lesson learned. I added a HyperVent Aire-Flow mat under the bunk. Also tried cheap rug gripper under the mattress. Both helped. Since then, no musty smells. I also crack a window when we cook inside. Steam adds up.
On the Road: Will It Slide?
Yes, it can. The Zinus slid half an inch after a long, bumpy road to a state park. I fixed it with two strips of heavy hook-and-loop at the head, stuck to the plywood. Now it stays put. The Lucid stayed a bit better, maybe because it was lighter.
Covers, Spills, and That One Hot Chocolate
I used a SafeRest waterproof encasement and a soft jersey sheet. It made cleanup easy. There was one “hot cocoa surprise” at midnight. The cover saved me from a meltdown. Well, two meltdowns, if we count mine.
Comfort vs Space: 5" or 6"?
Here’s the thing. Both are good, but they do different jobs.
- 6" Zinus: best for comfort if you’re an adult or a heavier teen. Softer top. Warmer feel. But watch the guard rail height.
- 5" Lucid: best for kids who sleep warm, or if you need more rail above the mattress. Feels a little firmer. Good support for little spines and flippy sleepers.
Small Gripes I Noticed
- Zinus: warmer, and the edges felt softer when I sat to tie a shoe.
- Lucid: corners were a hair slow to puff up after cutting. They did settle fine by day two.
Quick Pros and Cons
-
Zinus 6"
- Pros: plush feel; great pressure relief; quiet
- Cons: runs warm; lowers guard rail; slides a bit unless you secure it
-
Lucid 5"
- Pros: cooler; keeps more guard rail; easier to lift and move
- Cons: a touch firmer; not as cushy for adults on side
One More Little Fix That Helped
I added a thin 1/2" wool felt pad between the mattress and the cover for the Zinus. It wicked sweat and kept the heat down. Old camper trick from a neighbor in Flagstaff. He was right.
Final Call: What I Kept
We kept the 5" Lucid on the top bunk for my hot sleeper and the 6" Zinus on the bottom for my older kid and me on movie nights. That mix worked. If I had only one bunk and a teen or adult uses it, I’d go Zinus 6". For little kids or summer trips, Lucid 5" is the easy pick.
For a wider roundup of highly rated picks that ship fast, check out this best mattress on Amazon guide.
Would I buy either again? Yes. I’d still cut to size, still add the airflow mat, and still use a waterproof cover. And I’d still stash a bread knife in the RV bin. Sounds odd, but it saves the day. If your mattress plans eventually stretch beyond bunks to the main bed, take a peek at what really happened when we swapped to an RV king mattress—that upgrade had its own surprises.
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