Air Beds

A good air bed can transform a camping trip, turning a night on hard ground into something genuinely comfortable. The right choice depends on how you're travelling, who's sleeping on it, and how much setup time you're willing to spend.

Single or Double — Getting the Size Right

Size is the obvious starting point. A single airbed suits solo campers or children and takes up less space in a tent, making it easier to fit alongside other kit. A double airbed works well for couples or families sharing a larger tent, though it's worth checking the internal floor dimensions of your tent before buying — a double that barely fits leaves little room for anything else.

Height is also worth considering. Lower-profile beds are lighter and pack down smaller, while raised airbeds feel closer to sleeping on a proper mattress and are easier to get in and out of. The trade-off is usually weight and packed size.

Inflation — Built-In Pumps vs Separate

One of the most practical decisions is how the bed inflates. An airbed with a built-in pump is convenient, particularly on campsites with access to electricity. You simply plug in, press a button and the bed inflates in a couple of minutes. Models with an integrated pump do tend to be heavier and bulkier to pack, so they suit car camping more than any trip where weight matters.

Beds without a built-in pump need a separate hand pump, foot pump or electric pump. These options are generally lighter and can work off-grid, though the inflation process takes a little more effort. Some come bundled with a pump, which is worth checking before purchase.

Construction and Comfort

The internal structure of an airbed affects how it sleeps. Beam-constructed designs use horizontal air channels that help distribute weight more evenly, reducing the feeling of rolling towards the edges. Coil or vertical-beam construction can feel more stable underfoot but varies between models.

Flocked surfaces — a soft, velvet-like top layer — are common on camping airbeds and help keep bedding in place. When comparing options at Camping Depot, it's also worth thinking about puncture resistance, particularly if you're camping with children or pets.

• Check packed size and weight against how you're travelling
• Match bed dimensions to your tent's internal floor space
• Consider whether you need mains power for inflation
• Look for a flocked surface if bedding slipping is a concern