Best camping air mattress Trying to get to sleep on the cold, hard ground can be a challenge even for the most fervid nature lover. If you have issues like a bad back or joint pain, those can be exacerbated by a too-hard surface. But that doesn't mean you have to give up what you love. For serious backpackers and campers, we recommend the Therm-A-Rest Basecamp (Est. $60 to $80) sleeping pad. This self-inflating air mattress gets a lot of love for its light weight, extreme durability and ease of use. It comes in three sizes, regular, large and extra-large. To inflate, you merely unroll the mattress, open a valve and allow it to self-inflate. Inflation comes courtesy of an expanding foam core. Most say they unroll this sleeping pad as soon as they hit camp because it can take a while to get full inflation, but some say they speed things up by adding a few lungfuls of air. In addition, some users say that the more you use it, the quicker and more consistently the Basecamp works.
You can see a complete list of the Basecamp sleeping pad's specs on the Therm-A-Rest website, but it's notable that despite being only two inches thick, users say it provides a surprisingly cushy level of protection. Back sleepers are particularly pleased; most side sleepers are as well, but some of the latter say that it's not quite thick enough for them. The Basecamp is made from 75-denier (denier is a thickness measurement used for threads and fabrics) polyester and is so durable that the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty. Many users say that the Therm-A-Rest Basecamp is plenty light enough to be used for backpacking, but there are others who prefer to pack lighter and say this sleep pad is best for car camping. For those who are hiking for the long haul, we recommend another Therm-A-Rest sleep pad, the Therm-A-Rest ProLite (Est. $50 and up). This air mattress is also self-inflating and comes in four sizes, extra-small, small, regular and large. All are extremely lightweight at 9 ounces (extra-small), 12 ounces (small), 1.2 pounds (regular) and 1.8 pounds (large).
Users rave about how small and light the ProLite feels in a pack and are surprised that it can be so comfortable, even though it's only one inch thick. However, that thin of a pad is not for everyone; and some say they use it more for insulation than for comfort. Not everyone needs a serious backpacking sleep pad, and for those who just want a basic air mattress for their tent or cabin, the Coleman Quickbed (Est. $35 and up) is a popular, affordable option. It also comes in a twin, full and queen sizes. Coleman air mattresses have been around for many years and are beloved by casual campers who say that these super-inexpensive mattress are an amazing value: comfortable, easy to inflate and deflate, and very good at retaining air. They also like the built-in carrier, which makes it easier to transport the mattress. One major caveat is that this mattress doesn't come with a pump. Coleman offers several compatible models -- including the Coleman QuickPump (Est. $25), but adding one will almost double the cost of the mattress.
The other downside of this mattress is durability; reviews indicate that its typical lifespan is three months to a year. The mattress does have a one-year warranty, but shipping costs aren't covered. Most owners say they just discard it when it stops inflating and that, for the price, it's not a big deal to just buy a new one. Another popular Quickbed option is the versatile Coleman 4-in-1 Quickbed (Est. $50). This air mattress can be used as two separate twin beds, zipped together to make one king-size mattress, or stacked and snapped together for one double-high twin mattress. Like the Coleman Queen Quickbed, it comes with a built-in carrying bag but does not include a pump. Users find this mattress comfortable and easy to inflate, and they say it holds its air well. As we see with other Coleman mattress, its chief problem is durability. Many reviews say that one of the two twin mattresses either had a leak when purchased or developed one soon afterward.10% Off or More (40) 25% Off or More (7)
Welcome to the March update of the guide on the best air mattress and their reviews. March finds us on a kind of a high, because we finally have a change in the 3 TOP-rated airbeds. A new exciting (well, exciting for us) arrival to the market is now ranked 3rd behind the undisputed SoundAsleep. The Dream Series by SoundAsleep has been lounging comfortably at the top with a significant gap in ratings over the runner-up for more than a year now. You’ll understand the reasons of our (it might seem) frivolous excitement, as you scan and hopefully read the reviews of the air mattresses. Alas, we don’t see that happening anytime soon, at least not for the title of the best-air mattress and the # 1 spot where the SoundAsleep Dream Series has, as we said, dominating for almost 2 years now. However, after 6 months of calm seas, any change is good. See the rankings just below the introductory video ( which explains who I am and what we do at BestAirMattressGuide).
Make sure you take a minute to watch the video demo below, it’s crucial for understanding the advantages of the currently top-rated airbed. It will also help you understand everything discussed in the reviews. Let’s summarize and see the top choices side by side, along with their basic specs and overall ratings. Below, we’ll just go into some airbeds that were close but didn’t quite make it to the TOP 3 In other words, a few honorary mentions that we didn’t have the heart to leave out. The Serta Raised with the never flat pump is one of the air mattresses that never left the TOP 10. Literally never when it comes to our website – since we started it back in 2012 it was below the place #10. It’s low point was at the very beginning when it was dancing from place 7-10 for about a year. But, to be honest, back then we were still trying to tweak our testing and rating methods to truly reflect the quality of the air mattress. As things settled, this Serta quietly found its way into the TOP 5 and, then, the TOP 3 where it stayed for over 6 months.
Up to this month’s update, that is. Version of the Serta Never Flat with a flocked top * and a TOP CHOICE among EZ airbeds with a frame The Insta EZ is a high-end product with a price tag to match but if you want an airbed that will be the talk of the breakfast table What people who own it say: * and a top budget solution If you need an airbed that will be used often, this budget-friendly blow up bed might be the choice for you. Intex is one of the industry’s most established brands. However, airbeds for home use are not their primary field, it’s stuff like lilos, above-ground pools, inflatable sofa and lunges and inflatable chairs. Among their air mattresses, this one is by far the best choice. Opposed to their outdated models that might be cheap but rightfully so, the Comfort Plus is different. Primary because of the new Fiber-tech technology. It was always our mission to be as precise as possible and that led to diversification of our guides.
I am a brand man and if that makes me shallow so be it, it’s the simple truth that some brands simply make the best air mattress. I buy same brand jackets whole my life, same brand jeans, I simply like the “energy” surrounding certain brands. And I believe that I have now found my brand of air mattresses. I’ll tell you here and now, when it comes to inflatable beds, I like Aerobed. Nowadays, Most of the bigger brands like Intex, Coleman, Serta have similar models and it’s a rat race. And the rat race is good, it results in better products and more attention to what we, the customers, need. And lately, some newbies, like Sound Asleep with their Dream Series have been shaking and baking in the market. These are your top picks when it comes to air bed brands. In the comparison tables we look at some other options because you can never have too much information, but in my honest opinion these brands are top notch, tested over time and passing the tests with flying colors.
each of these brands has some fluke models, but we won’t be talking about those here. We’re interested in the best products. Now we are coming to the “meat” of this page – the top 5 airbed reviews (in no particular order) . Just five inflatable beds that I humbly concluded are the best all things considered. Please read it, I lost my eyesight in front of that screen to compile this info. Here, we wanted to mention the airbed that were at some point among the top 5 or 10 but have since seen a significant decline in ratings. We are trying to keep tabs on all the air mattresses we review here to better understand why quality declines happen so that we can better understand the industry trends and know what blow up beds need re-testing. We do update our guides every two months but we don’t test the beds every two months, the updates are a result of updated reviews from our featured testers. Only when we see a significant decline is when we re-test the airbeds from scratch.
These three have seen such a decline at some point over the last two years but we still can’t out our finger on the reason. All the indicators with these beds (primarily leak development after 1, 3 and 6 months) have gone up, and not by little, hence the drop in ratings. Ratings – 78 / 100 If you are here you are either looking for a guest bed for your house of camping gear like inflatable pads. If you are looking for the later, I’ve got you covered – here is my ultimate guide to sleeping pads. It’s where you’ll find comparison charts, recommended products and reviews of the best rated sleeping pads. But here, we’ll mostly deal with air mattresses, most of them to be used for around the house or for less extreme camping conditions. And it is a big decision, granted. Especially for those who have people over a lot. If you are not going to pamper yourself in these kind of things that determine the quality of your life, where else? I am a perfectionist and at times very indecisive.
My most recent search started with me having the feeling that I’ll go over to Amazon and order an air bed within 10-15 minutes. But this seemingly simple decision turned into hours and days of research, especially when I saw all the options, new brands, types and pros and cons of each of them. And let’s not forget here that I am an aged camper and I can safely brag that I do know a lot about air mattresses. Well, this is not gonna happen to you. Because you found this website. When things got complicated I started making notes and that turned into a notebook with tables and comparisons… OK, you must be thinking, “What a nut…” And you’re probably right. But be nice now, this nut is going to help you find the best air mattress for your money. So, long story short, grab a mug of coffee and dig into this website, it is a shortcut that will save you tons of time and frustration. I have gathered the best of the best in air mattresses here. And don’t worry if you are intrigued, I will tell you which one I got in the end.