Camping is one of the more popular ways people enjoy the summer months and the weather that comes along with that. It’s an enjoyable way to get a large group of people together, eat terribly, and a great excuse to drink all day (what else is there to do right).
But mostly it is an awesome way to disconnect from the monotony of day-to-day life and reconnect with friends and family.
The biggest complaint I hear from non-campers is that they, absolutely cannot stand sleeping on the hard ground and every air mattress they buy deflates on them during the night. If this is the boat you’re in, then you’ve come to the right place. What we will do today is go over a few different styles of mattresses that you can choose from, and which one fits your needs is the best air mattress for camping
Best Air Mattress for Camping
What will be your camping experience
The first thing you need to determine when looking to buy an air mattress for your next camping trip is what type of camping you’ll be doing.
I know it sounds silly, but it is necessary. If you are going to pitch a tent with a group of friends at the lake for the next week, then you will want an entirely different type and grade of the mattress than you would if you were going on multiple day hikes, stopping in various places each night to get some rest.
Tent size
This may be a no-brainer (but sometimes we overlook the simplest of things). If you have a two man tent, you won’t be able to fit a queen size mattress comfortably.
Durability
This goes along with the type of camping you are doing. Trekking through mountainous landscape will require a more durable mattress than spending a week at a proper “campground”.
Type of inflation
There are several different kinds of ways to inflate an air mattress, electric pump, portable pump, built-in pumps, and self-inflating mattresses. Choose the option that is most convenient for you. Now that we’ve gotten that part out of the way let’s begin looking at a few different air mattresses, one of these is certain to fit your needs.
Coleman Airbed Cot
We will start out with the Coleman Airbed Cot, this is the perfect mattress for somebody who wants to sleep elevated from the floor. Its “cot” feature stands roughly 22 inches high, so getting in and out of bed will not be an issue.
The bed frame is rated for a staggering 600 pounds and is large enough for people up to 6 feet tall. This Coleman mattress is factory tested, making sure their air-tight system is 100% leak free. It comes included with a 4D (battery size and amount needed) pump to make inflation, as well as deflation, quick and painless
The metal bed frame folds easily and sits high enough to allow some storage room underneath the mattress. But maybe the most overlooked feature it has is the camping equivalent of a night stand. The airbed cot has one cup holder on each side of the mattress, and I think that is freaking awesome.
Should you purchase this one?
If you are going to be staying at the same site for the duration of your camping trip, then this mattress is right for you. If you don’t want to have to feel as though you are sleeping on the ground, then again, this is the product for you.
But if you will be moving from site to site, with a lot of travel in between. Please stay far away from this one, it is entirely too heavy and bulky to be carrying all over the wilderness.
Lightspeed Outdoors TPU
This is a relatively lightweight mattress, weighing only 6 pounds, so it is somewhat transportable, although it doesn’t pack down very small (18.4 inches by 9.2 inches). But the fact that it is so light means it isn’t incapable of going to multiple different sites. It has a Boston pump that requires 4 “D” batteries and gives you rapid inflation and deflation times.
Because it is made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), it is much more resistant to abrasions. This means you won’t have to worry about puncturing it in some of the more rugged terrains. And it is temperature stable keeping you cooler at nights (always a positive).
Should you get this?
This is more of a hybrid mattress. It really is meant for keeping in one place, but it absolutely can be carried with you during longer hikes if you have the space to carry it (again I personally wouldn’t).
If you aren’t looking for a high portability rating, then this will do well. It is light enough and comfortable enough to be a good addition for your next trip.
Stansport Self Inflating Mattress
This is a mattress made with portability in mind. If you are going to be doing a lot of hiking from site to site or even kayaking down a river, this is a good product for you. It’s made from premium grade high-density open cell foam.
What does that mean for you? It means it is extraordinarily durable, while still being able to pack down small enough that you almost won’t even feel it while you hike through the wilderness.
The self-inflating aspect of it makes it pretty convenient, and the brass valve has nylon covering over it, so air will not seep out (even in the coldest of environments).
Should you buy this one?
Like I said earlier, this is perfect for those of us who go from place to place. However, self-inflating mattresses are not nearly as comfortable as the ones you inflate yourself. If you value comfort more than you value mobility this isn’t a match for you.
Wrap – Up
From long outings at one site to week long hiking trips where you stop at many sites. There is certainly a mattress in this list that will make your next camping trip more enjoyable.
Remember to factor in all of the variables before purchasing one of these products, if you do I am confident you will be happy with your purchase. I hope you like our review about the best air mattress for camping that we know off.
Need a cold weather sleeping bag? Check out our favorite one here.
Are you a side sleeper? Read about our best sleeping pads for side sleepers for 2018.
Taking a backpacking trip soon? Learn about the best sleeping pad for backpacking.
