10% Off or More (135) 25% Off or More (9) About Best Sellers in Camping Air MattressesHere you can discover the best Camping Air Mattresses in Amazon Best Sellers, and find the top 100 most popular Amazon Camping Air Mattresses.Sleeping kit is one of the most important components of your outdoor equipment, as getting a good night’s rest is essential for your performance in outdoor activities. It is vital to choose the right sleeping system, be that a sleeping bag, a cot, an inflatable mattress or a foam mat, to meet the conditions you expect to face. A camp cot, rather than a mat, is the best option for a base camp area or a camping holiday where you don’t have to carry all your kit. For expeditions in more austere areas where you do, an inflatable mat works best. Foam mats won’t puncture and modern mats can be folded down to a small size but are not as compact as an inflatable mat. Here are three of the camp beds I’ve found most effective. The Thermarest Ultralite Cot is really a bed in a bag that you can carry anywhere.
At 1.25kg (2 ¾ lb) it is lighter than many sleeping bags and its packed size is comparable to a three-quarter-length inflatable mattress. It is formed from an ingenious system of leg pieces that are fixed using lightweight poles in a “bowed frame” construction. It is extremely sturdy and will load to almost 150kg (23st). It is much less bulky than the Helinox (see below) and if you weigh less than 80kg (12 ½ st) you can reduce the leg components to cut the weight to less than 1kg. When I tested on uneven ground, it worked better than the Helinox, providing an even sleeping platform. I carried the cot over a long distance and found it a worthwhile piece of extra kit for wild camping. However, the Helinox is more comfortable and a bit larger, so more suitable for the bigger-framed person. In all other areas, the Ultralite Cot excelled. Verdict (out of 5) Weight 5 Size 5 Comfort 4 Ease of use 4 Overall 5 Light and small enough to be carried as an alternative to a roll mat or an inflatable bed, this top-quality piece of kit gets my vote for almost any type of environment.
This is a truly awesome piece of kit, as comfortable to use as any proper bed. It weighs just 2kg (4.4lb) and can hold up to 150kg (23st). Its sophisticated tensioning system features levers that force its three base legs to stretch out the sleeping surface to keep it rigid and still. If you want to avoid sleeping on damp, wet or uneven surfaces, and avoid contact with insects or other animals, this bed provides the elevation. The biggest drawback is the bulk of the cot when collapsed. It also requires reasonably flat ground to set it up, otherwise the frame twists. As with all cots, the air gap beneath it will allow heat to be lost , so you will need a foam or inflatable mattress over it to reduce the effects of extreme cold. If I were based in a single location, so not having to carry the cot around, this would be a great investment as it provided me with a comfortable night’s sleep. It is ideal for an expedition base camp or a family camping holiday. Helinox has produced an even lighter and smaller cot, the Lite Cot, available from 2015.
It is just as good as the Cot One though more portable at 1.3kg and half the size. It is nearly as light as the Thermarest Cot but bulkier. Weight 4 Size 3 Comfort 5 Ease of use 5 Overall 4 The Cot One is a fantastic family camp cot, or a spare bed for the unexpected guest. It isn’t practical for wild camping, but is great for an expedition where you’re centrally located or on a vehicle-based expedition. Mammut Lahar EMT Mat Price: £60, Amazon.co.uk Details: milletsports.co.uk This is a great mat for the price and a great accompaniment to the Kompact 3 sleeping bag. Weighing only 0.57kg (1lb 40z), it provides good insulation and would be a useful addition to either of the two cots described above in cold conditions. Because of its light weight and small packed size, it is ideal for wild camping. It has no disadvantages when the ground is uneven. When your budget won’t stretch to a camp cot, this can be a good substitute. It is easy to inflate and deflate, and converts into a comfortable chair to use on rocky ground, with a boulder as a back rest.
It has a really useful anti-slip surface to prevent you from sliding off when on uneven ground. Weight 5 Size 5 Comfort 4 Ease of use 5 Overall 5 This versatile and effective sleeping mat isn’t as comfortable as the cots above but, at the price, is a great option when you need to travel quickly with a small pack. See Paul's review of the best sleeping bags How to survive on a desert island Paul Hart offers advice on how to survive should you find yourself stranded on a desert island, including tips on locating food and building a shelter More 'Action Packed' gear reviews The best travel backpacks for men The best trekking trousers for men The best softshell jackets for men The best fleece jackets for men The best warm lightweight jackets The best lightweight walking shoes The best waterproof trousers The best waterproof jackets The best tents The best rucksacks The best hiking boots About Paul Hart Few travellers put more demands on their kit than Paul Hart, a former Royal Navy lieutenant commander.
Having served with the Royal Marines and the Paratroopers and led expeditions in the world’s toughest environments, he has joined Telegraph Travel to bring more than 30 years of adventure experience to bear on everything from boots and backpacks to tents and technology. For more of Paul's gear and kit reviews, click here Win one of 40 holidays worth £800,000 Telegraph Travel Awards 2014: vote for your favourite destinations and travel companies for the chance to win one of 40 luxury breaks worth a total of £800,000. Travel Guides app Download the free Telegraph Travel app, featuring expert guides to destinations including Paris, Rome, New York, Venice and Amsterdam Follow Telegraph Travel on Twitter Follow Telegraph Travel on Facebook Follow Telegraph Travel on Pinterest Follow Telegraph Travel on FourSquareCold Weather's Got Nothing on These Hand Warmers Camping is always a good time, but a bit less so if you're waking up with a stiff back or neck after having slept amongst tree roots and rocks.
Elevate your shut-eye experience in the wilderness by using one of these camping cots. From extra large options, to one that comes with a side table, you're bound to find something you like. Byer of Maine Allagash Plus Camping CotByer of Maine Allagash Plus Camping Cot$55 BUY NOWAffordable yet durable, the double-stitched polyester top of this cot can support up to 250 pounds for a lifetime of use. The legs were made to be gentle on tent floors, too. It's never been so simple to rest easy in the woods. More: Essential Camping Gear for Seasoned Pros to Novices REI Kingdom Camping Cot 3REI Kingdom Camping Cot 3$159 BUY NOWExperience the outdoors in luxury with this glamping cot from REI. The plush padding may just be more comfortable than your bed. Adjust this cot with the twist of a knob, transforming it into an elevated-back chair, perfect for lounging around camp after a hard day on the trail. Men's Winter Jackets You Can Wear All Season Long The Best New Gadgets in 2017