Air mattresses are essentially blow up beds that can offer an excellent solution to a better night’s sleep while staying in the great outdoors. Camping, for a long time, had a reputation for involving an uncomfortable and restless snooze, but this no longer needs to be the case with the vast array of air mattresses that are now available.
Gone are the days when air mattresses were renowned for being bouncy, hard work to inflate, or easy to puncture. A new generation of air mattresses is available to today’s camping enthusiast, offering a variety of handy features, such as self-inflation, puncture resistance, and even memory foam layers for added comfort.
When looking for an air mattress for your camping trip, it’s important to first assess which key features you will need from your travel bed. Dimensions should be your first and foremost consideration to ensure that your air mattress will fit nicely in your tent. Ideally, you will want some floor space left free once your mattress has been inflated to allow for storing your luggage and other camping supplies. If you plan to eat inside your tent, you will also want to allocate a food preparation area.
A further consideration when looking for the best mattress to suit your requirements will be who plans to use the mattress. Knowing who will be sleeping on the air bed will allow you to correctly choose a suitable size and weight limit. Children will likely not need an air mattress as long or as deep as adults.
The method of inflation will be key for some campers who may not have the energy or motivation to manually pump up their mattress after a long day of hiking. Similarly, some people will be happy to manually inflate their air mattress if it means there is less equipment for them to carry around.
We have rounded up a selection of 14 of the very best air mattresses for camping to suit a varying range of requirements and budgets. For the ideal mattress for your camping trip, look no further than the list below.
Etekcity Camping Portable Air Mattress
The designers of this air mattress have been considerate in their use of fabric on the covering of the mattress. The top outer layer is a soft flocked fabric to give a comfy feel against the skin, eliminating the need to pack extra sheets, while the underside of the air mattress has been equipped with a non-slip fabric that prevents the mattress from sliding around on your tent floor. The non-toxic PVC material is an extra thick 0.35mm for added durability and will please anyone who is sensitive to the synthetic smell that is often given off by more basic air mattresses.
Aside from promising a home-like standard of sleeping, this Etekcity air mattress cleverly includes a rechargeable battery-operated pump. This feature enables the mattress to be inflated in a matter of minutes with total ease, eliminating the need to spend hours puffing air into the mattress or stomping on a manual pump. After charging the pump for a few hours at home in an outlet, or in your car while out and about, the pump will effortlessly inflate the air mattress.
Included with the mattress is a travel bag that both the mattress and the pump can be stored in for easy storage and portability. The total weight of the contents comes in at 10 lbs, which is a light load compared to similar air mattresses on the market, making this product the one to choose if you will need to carry your camping supplies around with you and aren’t willing to compromise on comfort.
Coming in both a twin size and a queen size, this air mattress is a great all-rounder for camping, offering all of the luxury features that you could want from a portable mattress to make your trip that much more comfortable and hassle-free.
Active Era Premium Queen Size Air Mattress
The queen size model boasts a raised edge around the full perimeter of the mattress, which has the dual function of helping to prevent anyone from falling off the bed as well as acting as a built-in pillow for added comfort and neck support. This feature may be particularly useful to families camping with younger children who may benefit from the safety barrier of a raised edge.
This air mattress also benefits from an advanced air coil structure, with a total of 35 air coils built into the internal cavity of the mattress, promising maximum support for a comfortable sleep. The firm structure minimizes strain on back and neck joints, so you’ll be fully rested following a night spent on the air mattress. You’ll be free of aches and pains, ready to take on your day of camping activities.
A built-in electric pump enables the mattress to be inflated with ease within three minutes. The lectric pump does require an outlet for electricity, so this feature will really only benefit campers who have access to a generator or car adapter. While the mattress is also fitted with a manual valve and can be inflated with a manual pump, this would require a fair amount of time and effort due to the size of the mattress. Deflation is quick and easy with an automatic deflate function.
With a soft flocked coating that also has the added benefit of being waterproof, the integral fabric of the mattress is a sturdy, puncture-resistant material that will stand up to even the most vigorous use.
Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D Self-Inflating Foam Camping Mattress
Although only available in single sizes, a universal couple kit can be bought separately to fix two mattresses together if you would prefer to sleep next to your partner without the dreaded gap forming between you.
For convenience while you travel, this camping mattress comes with a storage sack and carrying handle. The only aspect that may cause an issue for some campers is the size of the mattress when deflated and packed away. At a rather hefty packaged size of 7 inches by 26 inches, this air mattress may be too cumbersome for people who will be hiking with their camping equipment. Our opinion is that’s much better suited to those who are driving to their camping destination.
If your priority is the best possible night’s sleep on your camping trip, and you don’t mind compromising on fold down size, then this air mattress is a winner.
WonderSleep Classic World Comfort Air Mattress
Inflation and deflation are simple and efficient with the built-in powerful rotary pump. This mattress can be fully inflated in under four minutes, but does require access to power, so this is an important consideration when deciding which air mattress will be best for your camping needs.
The main selling point of this WonderSleep mattress is the technology that sits beneath the surface to bring you a superior night’s sleep while on your trip. The mattress features honeycomb layering and 35 filled air columns to help keep your spine in alignment and your body cushioned for a restful night’s sleep.
Included with this mattress is a handy storage pouch for easy portability, as well as a puncture repair kit should any accidents happen.
When packed away, the WonderSleep mattress weighs in at 20 lbs, so it may be better suited to campers who drive to their pitching spot. If you’re going on a hike to reach your campsite, then you may find this too heavy to carry long distances along with all the other essential camping gear you’ll have with you.
King Koil Luxury Raised Air Mattress
If you are looking for a truly luxurious stay for your camping trip, then this mattress has your name written all over it. Available in a grand California King size, this air mattress offers sleeping space like no other. It also boasts an extra thick quilt top for added comfort.
Inflated with the use of a built-in pump, this mattress does require access to an outlet. With just a single switch, it will fully inflate in four minutes, and promises to be quieter than its competitors. Deflation also occurs with the twist of a switch, and is achieved without the need to connect to any electricity. All the air is removed from the mattress within four minutes, and it can be easily folded away for transportation or storage. Just think what you could do with all the time you save on not manually pumping up your air mattress!
Intex 68765E Classic Downy Airbed Set
This Intex model comes with a foot pump and will need to be manually inflated. It features extra wide valves to assist with quicker inflation and deflation, but will naturally require more time and effort than its electric-powered rivals. One possible option would be to purchase an electric pump that can be connected to your car to inflate this mattress if you’re not keen on spending your time inflating it.
What this mattress lacks in technology, it makes up for in simplicity. It is lightweight to carry when folded up and is waterproof and easy to wipe clean. As an added bonus, it comes with two inflatable pillows.
This air mattress will not give you the same level of comfort as its more expensive counterparts, but it will certainly be more pleasant than sleeping on the ground, and will make less of a dent in your bank balance. If you are looking for an entry-level air mattress, then the Intek 68765E is an excellent choice.
Coleman SupportRest Double High Air Bed
This Coleman air mattress does not come with a pump, so be sure to do your research and decide which pump would be best to complement your purchase. The universal valve will fit any pump intended for use with an air mattress. Battery powered pumps are available for efficiency and ease if you’re unable to connect to an electrical outlet while camping. A traditional foot pump might be more your style if you like to keep things basic.
Supplied with a carrying bag, this attractive khaki green colored air mattress comes in both a queen and a twin size.
Lightspeed Outdoors 2 Person PVC-Free Air Bed Mattress
Made with revolutionary fabric, the Lightspeed air mattress is both PVC free and phthalate free. Using superior polyester, which is then laminated in thermoplastic polyurethane, you won’t experience the typical stretching and sagging that can happen with PVC-based mattresses. The fabric is both rugged and long lasting, promising leak-free usage time and time again.
You would expect that as this mattress is ultra lightweight, it would have needed to compromise on comfort, but thankfully, that isn’t the case. Benefitting from a patented stabilizer system, this air mattress minimizes bounce and spreads weight evenly. Inflation is also not an issue for this great all-rounder as it is supplied with a battery-operated pump.
Available in six classic, muted colors, this air mattress is sure to have something to please everyone.
Intex Cozy Kidz Inflatable Air bed
Available in four bright colors, this inflatable mattress will make your kids look forward to getting into bed after a long day of fun at the campsite. No pump is included, but due to its small size, it shouldn’t be too much of hassle to use a manual pump to inflate it.
Ideal for space conscious families, this fun looking mattress gets two thumbs up.
Coleman Airbed Cot with Side Table
Being lifted away from the floor has the advantage of keeping you away from creepy crawlies as well as distancing you from any damp ground. The frame is easy to assemble and disassemble, and the foldout side tables are a useful addition so that you don’t have to keep your essentials on the floor.
Supplied with a battery-operated pump to inflate the air mattress, this Coleman travel bed is extremely efficient to use. Time saved manually pumping mattresses can be better spent in the great outdoors, or better yet, sleeping on your cozy air bed!
Berocia SUV Air Mattress
Included with this mattress is an air pump, a car charger, and a US AC charger, so you never have to worry about how you will inflate your air mattress. Pack it away in the supplied travel bag and stow it in your vehicle, so you’ll never be caught out without a comfy place to sleep.
Made of an environmentally friendly, extra thick fabric, this bed will stand the test of time without giving off the bad PVC smell that accompanies some air mattresses.
For the camper who is partial to a spontaneous night under stars, this air mattress and handy accessory pack is a must.
SoundAsleep Camping Series Air Mattress
The most impressive feature of this air mattress is the patented external, rechargeable pump. The pump can be charged easily at home in a 110v outlet or in your car charger while out on the road. The powerful pump can then be used to fully inflate the air mattress in under three minutes.
OILEUS XL Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad Mat
The clever design inflates completely by itself within ten minutes and is extra lightweight when folded back up. This inflatable bed also features a built-in cushion for added comfort and is available in two colors.
Hikenture Double Sleeping Pad
Weighing in at just 3.64 lbs, this ultra lightweight mattress folds up small and is a breeze to carry. This is an ideal addition to any hiker’s camping equipment, providing the comfort of a 3.75- inch thick air mattress at the end of a long day, when a night of comfortable rest is of the utmost importance.