One of the most common worries for would-be campers is whether they’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep in a tent. After all, a holiday isn’t much fun if you’re not getting a proper rest, especially if you’re spending a week running around with free-ranging kids. A decent airbed is the best way to make sure you sleep well in the outdoors, and if you’re keen on regular camping trips it’s probably the most important purchase you can make after a good tent.
You’ll see both camping mats and air beds on the market. Camping mats are thin, inflatable mats that roll down small and are designed for backpacking, wild camping and adventures where portability and weight are key factors. Air beds, on the other hand, tend to be large, heavy and time-consuming to inflate. But if you’re packing up the car and spending a week at just one or two campsites they are totally worth having, as you’ll sleep far better on a cushiony air mattress than a thin mat, and they allow you to eschew sleeping bags in favour of proper sheets, pillows and duvets which again, if space is no issue, makes camping really comfy. A good airbed is also a good investment for putting guests up at home.
There are plenty of cheap air mattresses available to buy but this is one bit of kit where we’d recommend spending as much as you can. A cheap air bed can be a false economy, as they are prone to slowly deflating in the night, and can be plasticky and uncomfortable to sleep on. Our picks are all reliable, comfortable and durable.
How to buy the best air bed for you
What key features should I look out for?
As well as how the mattress inflates (see below) the other key factor in a good air mattress is durability – cheap ones tend to be a false economy and can easily burst when camping on rocky ground or, just as bad, slowly deflate during the night.
We would advise against picking a mattress with a plasticky finish – mattresses with material top are far more comfortable, and some even sport memory foam toppers.
Who do you need a mattress for? Consider whether you want a single or double air mattress – and there are also some great ones for kids. It may sound obvious, but check that your new air bed actually fits into the bedroom section of your tent! Some ‘double’ compartments in smaller tents are actually quite cramped and may only fit a single mat.
Consider how big, bulky and heavy the mattress you buy will be once folded away. If space isn’t an issue (i.e you have a big cupboard or garage for storage at home and a big car boot on camping trips) then you may as well go as big as possible; grab a really roomy but heavy mattress. If you’d like something portable and easy to store or transport in a smaller car, go for something more modest. Some mattress come with their own carry bag, which is useful for transportation and storage.
What’s the best inflation method to pick?
Mattresses are usually either self-inflatable or need blowing up manually. Usually only the thinnest camping mats need inflating with just lung power, larger air mattresses usually require a pump and can take time to fill up. If you’re picking a big mattress we’d definitely recommend spending more to get one that inflates fast without too much effort, otherwise it could become a serious hassle on camping trips where you’d rather be relaxing. Check what the mattress comes with, too. If it requires inflating with a battery-operated or electric pump, do you need to buy that separately?
Foot pumps can be exhausting so it’s worth spending extra to get a no-effort pump. Some mattresses even inflate with a hairdryer, which is useful indoors if not outdoors. Check what the mattress’s insides are like, too - the better options contain several different air chambers which makes them comfier, sturdier and less likely to deflate on you.
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The best air beds you can buy
1. ReadyBed Deluxe Airbed: The best sleeping bags for all the family
Price:£50 (toddler) to £100 (adult double) | Buy now from Amazon
Don’t these fantastic beds look cosy? A one-stop shop for sleeping, the ReadyBed combines a deep, durable air bed with a built-in, washable sleeping bag and pillow. They’re extremely comfortable and fun to sleep in for big and little campers alike, but we especially rate them for children because they take such little fuss to get ready; you’ll never have to worry that you forgot a vital bit of sleeping equipment. They come in different cheerful colours and designs and a battery operated pump makes them easy to inflate. They’re great for sleepovers, too.
Key specs - Dimensions: 140 x 75 x 30cm to 200 x 150 x 24cm; Weight: 2-6.42kg; Self-inflating: No; Pump provided: Yes
2. Campingaz convertible Quickbed: The most versatile camping mattress
Price:£33 | Buy now from Amazon
Not sure if you need a single or a double mattress? Get the best of both with this clever Quickbed – you can zip together the two mattresses to make a comfy double, use them separately or stack them together for a deep single bed. Campingaz reckons uts Airtight system ensures no air leaks – we found it stayed inflated very effectively in tests. The Quickbed comes with a repair kit, but not a pump, so we’d recommend buying an electric or battery-operated one. It also packs away into a neat little package for easy storage.
Key specs - Dimensions: 188 x 74 x 19cm; Weight: 3.3kg; Self-inflating: No; Pump provided: No
3. Vango Shangri-La double sleeping mat: The best sleeping mat for people who take sleep seriously
Price:£191 | Buy now from Millets
The Shangri-La is possibly the poshest camping mat on the market. Yes, it costs an arm and a leg, but Vango’s beautiful-quality mattress delivers sleep quality worthy of its paradisiacal namesake. It’s heavy and looks rather slim but delivers a really comfortable sleep akin to a proper bed mattress – we especially like the lovely soft integrated mattress topper. It’s self-inflating, too, which means you can let it sort itself out on a camping trip whilst you get on with relaxing. Look after it and it should look after you for decades. A good choice for glampers.
Key specs - Dimensions: 200 x 132 x 10cm; Weight: 5.9kg; Self-inflating: Yes; Pump provided: N/A
4. Bestway Airbeds camping mattress: The best low-budget camping mattress
Price: £15 | Buy now from Amazon
Watching your pennies? This cheap and cheerful air bed ticks all the boxes – it’s easy and quick to inflate with a pump (not included), is comfortable and roomy and packs away easily. The flocked mattress topping is fine but you may want to pop your own fluffy mattress cover on top for a comfier sleep. The Airbed’s rubber material is on the thin side, too – pop it on top of an extra ground sheet if you’re camping on uneven ground. A good repair kit is also included and unlike some cheap air mattresses the inner construction is sturdy and comfortable to sleep on. It’s a good cheap choice for having guests over, too.
Key specs - Dimensions: 191 x 137 x 22cm; Weight: 3.3kg; Self-inflating: No; Pump provided: No
5. Arpenaz Quechua Air comfort mattress: The best camping mattress for saving space
Price:£25 | Buy now from Decathlon
Need something light and portable that still gives two people a decent night’s sleep? Quechua’s Air mattress is a great choice for wild camping, backpacking and cycle tours where space is an issue but you still need a comfy night’s sleep. It only weighs 3.5kg, comes with a carrying case and is thin and comfy to sleep on, with a flat sleeping surface that feels supportive and soft. A pump included and it’s the work of minutes to get the mattress inflated.
Key specs - Dimensions: 90 x 140 x 11cm; Weight: 4.2kg; Self-inflating: No; Pump provided: Yes