MAZZU Camping Mattress, LAYER’s revolution for outdoor comfort
The London-based studio continues its collaboration with the Chinese startup, setting new standards with MAZZU Camping Mattress: a foam- and glue-free product that is repairable and easily disassembled.
Engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking or camping offers relaxing experiences that reconnect us with nature, but they can also be a challenge, especially when we think about comfort during the night. One of the most critical aspects is the ability to sleep on a surface that is comfortable, lightweight, easy to transport, and simple to clean.
The solutions available on the market are mainly padded or inflatable mattresses, each of which comes with several issues: on one hand, there is the use of polyurethane (PU) foam, which requires a lot of energy to produce and also releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to health and well-being. On the other hand, according to studies published in 2018 and 2020, about 60 million tons of mattresses are disposed of every year worldwide, and over 90% of their components are non-recyclable.
With these premises in mind, LAYER studio, known for its visionary approach, collaborated with the Chinese startup MAZZU, which specializes in sleep products rooted in advanced engineering, practicality, and sustainable, high-performance design. This partnership led to the creation of the innovative MAZZU Camping Mattress, launched in October 2025, which is revolutionizing its product category.
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Made without the use of foam or glue, the product offers the same comfort as a domestic mattress in a format designed for the outdoors and sets a new standard for this typology. At the center of the design is a modular system developed through 72 elastic units with precision-engineered springs – pre-compressed coils enclosed in a durable cover – each of which adapts independently to the weight and shape of the body, ensuring comfort in any position, even when sharing the mattress with a partner.
The structure can be easily assembled thanks to intuitive snap-fit connectors and paracord ties, while a thin upper layer similar to a topper adds softness and uniformity to the surface. The spring units are designed to be stacked during transport, reducing the system to a fraction of its original size.
To complete the project, the two teams designed a wheeled case roughly the size of a portable cooler. All components of the mattress – the foldable base, the spring modules, and the topper – can be stored inside. Once emptied, the case can be used as a bedside table or storage box, extending its functionality during camping.
With an eye to the principles of the circular economy, the open structure that showcases the internal engineering is not only an aesthetic choice but also a functional one. This solution allows users to clean, repair, and replace individual components, extending the product’s lifespan and reducing waste.
As Benjamin Hubert, founder of LAYER, explains: “The MAZZU camping mattress brings high performance and modular sustainability to a completely new context. Traditional camping mattresses often compromise comfort for portability, but our goal was to bring both together in one system. The design introduces a new way of thinking about outdoor gear – modular, sustainable, repairable, and intuitive to use – while still offering the kind of restorative sleep people expect at home.”
The MAZZU Camping Mattress features a color palette inspired by outdoor equipment, with natural tones and bright accents for visibility. The product follows the success of the first MAZZU Mattress – also designed and engineered by Layer – which won the prestigious Red Dot Design Best of the Best Award for its modular, foam-free construction.
