Best Air Mattress For Camping : Pump Options, Cot & Raised Bed

When you’re getting ready to go on your next camping trip, you’re probably thinking about all the extra supplies that you’re going to need.

Maybe you’re tired of sleeping on the hard ground or your back can’t handle it as well as it could when you were younger.

There’s no shame in needing a little more support. This is where the best air mattress for camping comes into play.

Air Mattress or Mat – Which is Better for Camping?

You might have been caught up in the conversation about air mattresses, mats, and self-inflating mats that are available for camping.

What you might want to consider is how far you are camping and what you need to make sure that your back is supported.

If you are younger or need a lighter pack, then you will want to go with a mat or a self-inflating mat.

However, there are many varieties of air mattresses that are out there that will be really comfortable when you’re sleeping on them.

You shouldn’t be afraid to get a typical air mattress to make sure that you’re getting the right amount of support for sleep.

An air mattress can also make sure that you are up off the ground and better insulated when you’re camping in cold or hot areas.

Best Air Mattress for Camping

Buying Guide – What to Look for in an Air Mattress for Camping

When you’re trying to find the best air mattress for camping, there are some qualities that you will want to think about that are slightly different than what you would be looking for if you were looking for an air mattress that would work in your home.

We’ll be giving you some tips and things to look for so that you are better informed if you go out and look for an air mattress.

But don’t forget about our air mattress reviews that we have included. Maybe one of the air mattresses in this list will wind up being the best air mattress for camping for you.

1. Pump

The biggest deal is whether or not you have a pump built into the air mattress or what kind of air mattress pumps you can use with the air mattress.

If you were getting an air mattress that requires an external electric pump, then you’re going to find that it takes up quite a little bit more space than you would like in your pack.

There are some varieties of air mattresses for camping that don’t even need a pump, but they are few and far between.

You might be tempted to get an air mattress that has a built-in pump, but you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting an air mattress that doesn’t necessarily need to be plugged in to inflate.

If your air mattress needs to be plugged in, then you might struggle to inflate it unless you aren’t camping that far away from your car.

2. Size

The size of an air mattress will matter a lot as well. It can change depending on whether or not you have a tent, and it can also change how much space it takes up in your pack.

If you aren’t going that far and have plenty of space in your pack, then you may be able to get away with a taller and larger size of air mattress.

However, if you’re going a little bit further and need some extra space in your pack, then you’ll want to go with something that is smaller and thinner.

3. Materials

The materials of an air mattress can change a lot depending on where you are going and how often you’ll be using the air mattress for camping.

If you’re getting an air mattress that is just made for camping, then you’re going to find that there are much sturdier materials used.

Sometimes these air mattresses can have puncture resistant outer covers that make sure that you aren’t able to easily puncture the air mattress when you’re transporting it or setting it up.

This isn’t always necessary, but it can be great for air mattresses that are often going to be taken out when you’re camping.

You will also want to pay attention to the material that is used for the top of the air mattress. If it is a completely vinyl material, then your air mattress might slip and slide around on the surface of the air mattress.

There are flocked tops of all kinds of materials. Some of them are velvet in texture.

They can make your sleeping bag stays in place. This can be great as even some mats and self-inflating mats are a bit slippery for your sleeping bag to be on top of.

4. Price

This will likely be the first concern that you have.

There are a variety of air mattresses with a lot of different prices. You’ll find that sturdier ones often cost more because of the price of the materials that are necessary to make the air mattress sturdy.

It can also increase depending on the size, the brand, and the internal design of the air mattress.

If you’re not planning on needing the air mattress that often, then you may be able to get away with purchasing one that is on the cheap end.

However, if you need an air mattress that will last a bit longer, you’ll have to pay a little bit more money.

The price of your air mattress may also increase when you are looking for extras. Extras can be built in pillows, built in air pumps, extra bags, and more.

You will have to decide if you want to pay for those extras. Some of these extras can also be things that are external to the air mattress like pumps or extra inflatable pillows.

5. Extras

Like we mentioned, there are many extras that you can get.

Getting those extras that are attached to the air mattress are often helpful because it means that you won’t have to pack extra things and can instead focus on finding other objects that you need for your camping trip.

However, getting extra things in a pack can mean that you’re getting a better deal. If an air mattress comes with a pump, then you won’t have to look for an extra pump and spend the time and energy picking out the right one.

This is particularly useful for those people that need to just pick out some things quickly.

What extras you want and need will change depending on the situation.

A built-in or external pump might be nice, but you might be more worried about bringing pillows with you. So when you’re looking at an air mattress, make sure that you’re also paying attention to the extras and whether or not they are necessary.

There are often several air mattresses in a line that have more extras than others, but you should be able to find one that is fairly basic if you don’t want any of the extras.

Camping Air Mattresses For Couples

Getting an air mattress for camping when you’re a couple is always an interesting challenge.

A larger air mattress will definitely take up more space, but it’s not terrible when you consider that there are two people to haul all of the supplies out. This can make it more reasonable to grab a slightly larger air mattress to put into your pack.

You’ll want to make sure that the air mattress can support two people on it, so you’ll need to pay attention to the total amount of weight that it can handle.

Many air mattresses can handle 300 or more pounds, which means that this shouldn’t be too hard for you to find something that will work with you.

However, there is something to be said for having some extra width on the air mattress. You might not be able to fit a queen air mattress inside of your tent, so you might want something more like a full sized air mattress.

This might be a little too big, so you might want to find a couple of thinner air mattresses that you can easily put together.

However, the simplest way to get a space for you and your significant other to sleep together is to buy an air mattress that is wide enough that two can sleep on it and supportive enough that it can handle both of your weights.

If you are also looking for a tent right now, then you might consider one that will fit a queen-sized bed as this will be the most comfortable that you can have while you are out camping.

Camping Air Mattress For Back Pain

It is a well known that fact that air mattresses, in general, are better for the back than a typical air mattress.

There are more support and a little more flexibility in how the air mattress feels. You’ll be able to adjust the firmness of the air mattress to fit exactly what you need.

However, when you’re looking for an air mattress to deal with back pain while you’re on a camping trip, you’ll want to keep in mind the fact that you’ll need a raised air mattress to get the most out of the experience.

This is because you’ll need to make sure that you’re getting the proper amount of support.

It’s much more difficult when you’re closer to the ground to make sure that you’re getting enough support.

However, an air mattress, in general, will be the better option for those people that are suffering from back pain. Compared to self-inflating mats or just regular mats, the air mattress will be able to provide more support.

If you can, try to get an air mattress that adjusts easily and that is a little bit taller.

However, if this setup doesn’t fit in your pack, then just an air mattress will do better for you than anything that’s much thinner or that you can’t easily adjust.

Car Camping Air Mattress

When you’re planning to camp in your car, then you’ve got a little bit more flexibility with what air mattresses you can bring with you.

You can get a bigger air mattress than you would have otherwise brought. You’ll be able to bring one that needs to be plugged in.

You may even be able to bring the air mattress that fits in your car. There are even air mattresses built just for the trunks of trucks. This opens up a lot more options for you.

While having more options might be a little bit scary, just know that you will need to find something that fits your car.

Some cars are built differently and therefore need different things to fit. If your car isn’t that tall, then you might want something thinner. If you don’t have a back that folds down, then you might be limited to air mattresses that fit across the backseat. It just depends on the situation.

Make sure that you are picking an air mattress that will work for your situation. Anything else that you can get is extra.

Having an air mattress in the car can mean that you’ll be able to camp in style. You’ll also be able to bring more with you than you would have otherwise been able to when you were having to pack bags for your gear.

Car camping works for some people, but it might not be right for those that want to go on longer hikes. So make sure that you’re getting something that works for what you need.

Should You Buy a Heavy Or a Light Air Mattress?

When you’re camping with an air mattress, you’ll have to make sure that you’re picking something that works for you.

One of the factors that come into play is the weight of the air mattress. There are many light versions and many versions that are a little bit heavier.

You may not want to bring a heavier air mattress, but it might more durable and easier to use when you’re out in the wilderness.

You’ll want to be careful when you’re deciding on weight. Getting rid of weight can mean that you’re getting rid of great features like a built-in pump or extra height on the air mattress.

If you’re going long distance and need all the space and weight that you can get in your pack, then you’re going to want to opt for a lighter air mattress.

This can mean also skipping out on a pump entirely and using your own lungs to inflate the air mattress. There are some that have built-in foot pumps, so that can be a good compromise.

However, going too light with the air mattress that you are taking camping can also mean that you’re skipping out on the most durable products that you can get.

So you’ll have to take everything into account when you’re deciding how heavy you want your air mattress to be.

You might have a lighter air mattress for longer trips and a slightly heavier one that would help you more when you are out in the wilderness.

Hand Vs Electric Pump Mattress Vs Foot Pump

Getting an air mattress for camping means that you’ll have to take into account how it inflates.

There are several different ways that your air mattress can be inflated. You may not know which way is most effective for you.

There are [wpsm_highlight color=”green”]hand pumps[/wpsm_highlight]. They might look little like bike pumps depending on the build.

These will be fairly intuitive to use and not that complicated for you to really get the air mattress pumped up. Luckily after a long day of hiking, your arms aren’t going to be the most tired part of your body.

This can make this kind of pump a lot easier on your body. However, it can wear you out.

Another kind of pump is [wpsm_highlight color=”green”]a foot pump[/wpsm_highlight].

This one will also require exertion on your part, but it will require you to use a different part of your body.

Instead of using your arms, you’ll have to use your leg to get the pump to work.

There are some air mattresses that have this pump built into the fabric of the air mattress, but they are also something that you can purchase outside of the air mattress.

Getting a manual pump like these can be great as they won’t cost a lot and you won’t have to include batteries or recharge them.

The biggest downside is that they require quite a bit of effort on your part. You will have to use your arms or your legs to inflate the air mattress.

If you’re doing a tough hike, then you might not want the foot pump. But if your upper arm strength isn’t that great, then the hand pump can be a little bit difficult.

However, there is another option for you if you don’t want to have to exert a ton of effort yourself in order to inflate your air mattress.

There are [wpsm_highlight color=”green”]electric pumps[/wpsm_highlight] that you can purchase outside of the air mattress for use.

These pumps range in a variety of different designs. There are some that need batteries. Some other ones need to be plugged in. You’ll have to figure out what you will need, probably based on the situation.

There are also built in air pumps that you can find.

Some brands like Coleman that specialize in creating products for use in the outdoors will include pumps that can run off of batteries, but these aren’t always a guarantee.

You will have to spend some time looking at the different styles of pumps and trying to figure out what you’re going to need.

There’s a lot to consider, but make sure that you’re doing the best that you can for your next camping trip.

Best Air Mattress for Camping Review

Here are brief reviews of some of the best air mattresses for camping –

SoundAsleep Camping Series Air Mattress Review

SoundAsleep’s products are made to make your sleeping experience great wherever you are and this particular one will allow you to go much further than ever before.

This air mattress includes a rechargeable air pump. This is much better than the air pumps that you have to plug in for them to work.

You will find this a lot easier, even though you will have to recharge it every now and then to make sure that the air mattress is ready to go.

This can involve bringing a small generator or limiting the length of your trips.

However, despite the fact that you might be limited, this air mattress comes in a couple of sizes and will be able to fit your camping style. You will be able to get a twin or a queen sized air mattress.

Both of these choices are great.

This air mattress may be a bit thinner and less useful for those that have major back problems. However, for campers that want to keep a lot of space open in their pack, then this air mattress may be the better option.

A lot of campers out there swear by this set up because you’re not only getting a good air mattress but a great pump that will work without batteries and is still fairly compact.

This might be one of the best that you can get for camping.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”SoundAsleep Camping Series” pros=”Rechargeable pump included in package;Sturdy air mattress that will last for quite a while;Made of high-quality materials;Inflates and deflates quickly;” cons=”Higher price than other air mattresses out there;Need to recharge the pump regularly, which can mean shorter trips;” score=”9″ ]

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SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress Review

SoundAsleep is an online company that hasn’t been around for a while that focuses on air mattresses. Just because they’re new, you might be a little hesitant to put your faith in these products.

However, there are a lot of great reasons to get this air mattress for your next camping trip.

This air mattress is quite a bit taller than other air mattresses.

This means that you won’t have to worry if you’ve got a bad back. However, in order to make this air mattress work, you will need to be near an outlet.

This can be a major downside, but that means that it will work well for car camping or camping at least near your car.

This air mattress is definitely made to help you get the best night of sleep when you are away from your bed at home.

It can work well for both camping and at home use, but it isn’t going to be able to stand up to a ton of use on the bare ground, so you will want to at least have it in a tent or in the car if you are using it.

While this might not be the first option that you consider when you’re thinking about an air mattress for camping, it might be a nice addition for those people that struggle with a bad back but want to get out into nature.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”SoundAsleep Dream Series” pros=”Raised up rather high which makes it more comfortable;Inflates and deflates quickly;Has a decent warranty;Works in a variety of situations;” cons=”More suited for use indoors than outdoors;Will require an outlet to inflate and deflate;May be too tall or too wide for some tent setups or car setups;” score=”9″ ]

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Coleman Support Rest Twin Elite Air Bed Review

Coleman has been making excellent products for years to try and make your life a little bit easier.

This includes products like air mattresses that you can take with you to the outdoors.

While they don’t focus on air mattresses, they usually create good products for you to enjoy.

This particular air mattress is made to be taller than other mattresses. This one will be more like a typical setup for a bed. This can be great if you aren’t that used to camping that often and want to feel like you’re back home.

This air mattress can also work well when you’re at home for any guests that you have over.

When it comes to camping with this air mattress, you might find it a little more difficult just because of the fact that it involves a built-in air pump that needs to be plugged in.

However, you shouldn’t let that stop you from considering it for a camping trip. You could take a generator with you, especially if you aren’t planning to camp too far away from your car.

There is the possibility of bringing another pump with you that is hand operated or battery operated, but those pumps may take quite a bit of time to inflate the air mattress.

Despite the problems that you will face with the air mattress needing to stay near an outlet, this air mattress is a great price and fairly sturdy which makes it great for going outdoors.

You will want to keep it nice and use it inside of a tent, but you don’t have to use it just indoors.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”Coleman Support Rest Twin Elite Air Bed” pros=”Reasonable price;Inflates quickly;Made of quality materials;Stable sleeping surface;” cons=”Needs a pump to inflate quickly;Might be too tall for some ;” score=”9″ ]

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Coleman Airbed Cot Review

If you’re looking for a great thing to bring with you camping, then you’ll have to stop and consider an air mattress that contains a frame in it.

This air mattress has that in it. This means that you’ll be sleeping on a surface that will be more like a normal bed. This can be great for long camping trips.

The best part about this setup is that you’re not just getting an air mattress that has a frame built into it. The way that this setup is built up, you’re going to have an air mattress that fits into a cover that is attached to the frame.

This is great news because it means that you won’t have to worry about spending a ton of money on a setup that will be useless as soon as the air mattress falls apart.

This kind of bed can make you feel a little more at home while you’re outside. You don’t have to feel like you have to sleep close to the ground when you’re camping.

One of the biggest things that you’re going to notice about this air mattress is how heavy it will be to carry with you.

You’re going to have to carry the frame with you and even though it isn’t that heavy, it can be rather annoying to carry the frame all the way up and down a mountain.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”Coleman Airbed Cot” pros=”Includes frame and provides elevated sleeping;Air mattress is removable;Unfolds fairly easily;Comes with a pump;You can keep luggage below the bed!;” cons=”Slightly more difficult to carry than just a mattress; Only suitable for flat surfaces” score=”9″ ]

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Intex Classic Downy Airbed Set Review

Intex is well known for all of their air mattress.

They make some that are perfect for use in your home for guests that are staying over for the holidays. They also make some that are perfect for travelling.

The company also makes their air mattresses fairly cheap. This means that you can get one to use for a couple of trips and not be that worried about whether or not it breaks after that trip.

This particular air mattress is one of the simplest designs that Intex makes, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great deal.

This air mattress may not be able to handle a ton of rough use and probably won’t do great if you put it straight on the ground. It will do okay in a car and inside of a tent.

This set comes with some inflatable pillows and a pump as well, but the price of the set is still pretty low. This can be great if you are looking for a set that will work fairly quickly. You don’t have to use all the pieces, but they can work very well together.

Because this air mattress is on the cheaper side, it’s not going to hold up to a bunch of repeated stress, but this can be one that you get when you have a sudden camping trip coming up.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”Intex Classic Downy” pros=”Cheap set includes more than just the air mattress;Pump is included;;” cons=”No warranty!;Not one of the most durable ones;” score=”8.5″ ]

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Intex Pillow Rest Raised Airbed Review

There is another model of Intex air mattress.

This one is raised higher up than other ones and includes an electric pump that you can use efficiently.

Because the air pump is built into the air mattress, you will find that it’s a little harder to use when you’re camping, but it can still work well if you’re not too far from your car or if you’re car camping.

Having a raised air mattress is really great for those that have bad backs. This air mattress is a little bit more expensive and a little bit sturdier.

This can make it better for camping when you’re out often. This particular model is also a little bit wider as a queen air mattress, which makes it better for couples that want to go camping.

This air mattress has pillows built into the structure of the air mattress. This means that you’ll spend less time struggling with the air mattress and more time sleeping on it.

It can also mean that you need to pack less when you’re getting ready for your next camping trip.

This is a nice deal since it is low cost, but the air mattress can be a little bit undependable at times. This is especially true. You might be able to use this for a couple of trips, but it won’t stand up to tons of repeated use over a short period of time.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”Intex Pillow Rest Raised Airbed” pros=”Built-in pillows;Built-in air pump;Raised air mattress;Great price;Alternative valve for inflating your air mattress;;” cons=”Built-in pump will need to be plugged in to work;Other pumps will be quite a bit slower;;” score=”8.5″ ]

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Intex Dura-Beam Series Review

This Intex air mattress is slightly nicer than some of the other air mattresses out there.

This one might appeal more as a spare bed than as a camping bed, but it can definitely work as a camping bed. You will need to have a nearby power source that you can plug the air mattress into if you want it to work at its optimal setting.

This is another air mattress that will work great for people that have back problems that you can’t get relief from when you’re camping in other places.

You might even like this air mattress so much that you use it regularly in your own home during the nights when your back just hurts too much.

This air mattress will be a little bit tricky to use for traditional camping as it doesn’t have a secondary valve.

This can be a little annoying for some people that want a quality air mattress out when they are going out into the wilderness, but you will have to see what you can do with the objects that you have.

However, because this is one of the more expensive air mattresses that you can get form Intex, you will find that it is much sturdier than others.

You still might get some issues if you use this air mattress all the time or if you put it directly on the ground when you’re outside.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”Intex Dura-Beam Series” pros=”Queen sized air mattress is great for when camping with multiple people;Quickly inflating air mattress;Is a bit taller, so it works well for those that have some back pain;Surface won’t be slippery with a sleeping bag ;” cons=”No warranty on the air mattress beyond the Amazon return policy;Plug needs to be plugged in;” score=”8.5″ ]

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Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump Review

This air mattress is made by Insta-Bed. They specialize in quickly inflating air mattresses, so you can typically expect great quality products from them.

However, you might find that this air mattress, while a great product overall, isn’t the best for camping.

While this air mattress is raised, which makes it perfect for those that have bad backs, but one of the main features of this bed is the fact that it has a never flat pump.

This pump works separately from the main pump to make sure that your air mattress is full of air at all times.

This normally works extremely well, regardless of the pressure inside of the air mattress. However, it does mean that your air mattress has to be plugged in at all times.

This air mattress can be used for camping, but you might want it more for car camping or for camping right near your car. You might be able to bring a generator with you to power this mattress, but it might be a little bit loud.

However, this air mattress is still a great air mattress. You’ll find that the adjustable firmness and the fact that it will stay full of air all night to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible.

If you’re looking to really feel comfortable while you’re out camping, then this is going to be the air mattress for you. It may also be something that you can use in your house as well since that might be where it fits best.

[wpsm_reviewbox title=”Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress” pros=”Comfortable;Lasts for quite a while;Inflates and deflates quickly;Stays inflated thanks to the never flat pump;” cons=”Needs to be plugged in if you want to take full advantage of the air mattress;May not work too far away from a car;Will probably be too tall for some tents and setups for camping;” score=”8.5″ ]

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Conclusion

When it comes to finding the best air mattress for camping, you might find that there’s a lot to consider and a lot of options to look at.

Hopefully, our list will help you understand what you should be looking for.

Your needs will be unique depending on your situation, but there are tons of different air mattresses out there for you to pick from so there will be at least one out there that will fit your needs.

Last update on 2024-09-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API