Air mattresses for camping UK 202: Inflatable beds to feel good

When camping or traveling, a good air mattress or mat is one of the best investments you can make. In addition to a decent sleeping bag, sleeping comfort is relatively easy to achieve.

You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make – rising above the cold ground is vital and helps maintain body heat and comfort.

In this article we look at some of the best air mattresses on the market – inflatable setups that you can use either to add that extra bit of luxury to your camping, or for more everyday use at home or in the guest room.

Airbeds fall broadly into two categories – those that are lightweight, portable and roll up small – perfect for backpacking, for example, and larger beds require a portable pump to inflate and behave more like a traditional bed but still behave like a tent fit.

These are more like what you think of as “air mattresses” and many offer a number of technological improvements over older models to ensure they remain inflated, stiff and comfortable for the duration of their use.

Many airbeds come in single or double sizes – and almost all can be inflated with the pumps or foot pumps that come with them.

Camping mats don’t usually need to be inflated via an external source and you can often inflate them yourself in minutes as they have pretty clever stats to ensure there is no air leakage.

They tend to be a bit more expensive but are aimed at the trekking and backpacking camping market and are well suited to this role.

Here are our suggestions for some air beds and mats that will ensure you get a good night’s sleep.