In this post we review the top inflatable air mattresses for camping. We looked at the best overall air mattress, the most functional and useful air mattress and lastly the most economical air mattress.
While our blog focuses on camping and the outdoors and our reviews lean on how they will perform as a camping air mattress in the woods and in tents, these mattresses can also be used as air beds in the home.
Best overall air mattress – SoundAsleep Dream Series
Most functional air mattress – Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed, Twin/King
Most economical air mattress – Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Airbed Series
We love to tent camp and therefore don’t experience the luxury of a bed that many RV’s provide. When we first started camping, we purchased two Coleman ComfortSmart Cots. These are great as they have many benefits and I have a review post of them Here.
But now that we are in our 40’s we thought, “hey we deserve to sleep comfortably on a soft air mattress even while camping” and decided to upgrade from our cots. So, we started looking through all sorts of air mattress reviews until we found a few that checked all of our boxes.
And just like us, there are many campers who enjoy having an air mattress to separate them from the cold, hard ground at night. It is especially ideal for those with back and other health issues. Neither my wife or I have back issues but it sure is nice to have a soft air mattress to sleep on after a long day of hiking, kayaking and beer drankin’.
So here are our reviews of the best air mattress in each category.
The Best Overall Air Mattress
SoundAsleep Dream Series
When doing our research, it became apparent that there was a clear leader when it came to what people thought was the best air mattress. While on the more expensive side, the highly rated SoundAsleep Dream Series take the prize as the best queen size air bed on the market.
The SoundAsleep is praised by many reviewers as the most comfortable air mattress due to the 40 internal air coils that provide a great night’s sleep due to the added support.
Like most air mattresses in this price range, it comes with a built-in pump that takes several minutes to be fully inflated.
Durability
With this mattress being in the upper price range, one may be hesitant to pack it up and haul it off into the woods for a camping excursion. However, with it’s multi layer, puncture resistant Eco-Friendly PVC, it is durable enough to handle a tough outdoor outing.
And it’s extra thick, waterproof flocked top will provide a comfortable sleeping experience inside the home as well as under the stars.
Storage
This air mattress comes with a carry bag to easily tote from place to place. While the air mattress is fairly bulky because of it’s raised height, it fits snuggly in it’s carrying bag to be hauled off to your next adventure.
How To Inflate
With a price tag of over $150, one would expect the mattress to come with a high level built in pump. With a patented 1-Click internal pump, this mattress has a quick and easy inflation and deflation cycle. In fact, the Queen size can reach full inflation in just under 4 minutes and is said to stay inflated for days.
Price
While it is one of the more expensive air mattresses on the market at around $150 for a queen size and $175 for a king size, this inflatable mattress shows it’s popularity with over 45,000 customer reviews with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.
Product Features
- Comes with a limited 1-year warranty
- Patented 1-Click internal air pump that inflates the air mattress quickly
- Double Height Raised Air Bed with dual air chambers
- Waterproof Flocked Top made of durable puncture resistant PVC material
- Includes a nylon drawstring carry bag
Dimensions and Weight Capacity
This double high air bed is 18″ tall so you are raised a good bit above the cold ground.
And as you can see below, the SoundAsleep Dream Series offers many different sizes of air beds.
Twin – 73″ x 38″
Twin XL – 80″ x 40″
Full – 76″ x 56″
Queen – 78″ x 58″
King – 82″ x 70″
Made with high quality materials and superior design, the SoundAsleep air mattress is able to handle a weight capacity of around 500 pounds.
Pros and Cons of the SoundAsleep Dream Series
Pros –
- One of the tallest air mattresses on the market. This is especially important in cold weather when the ground is cold.
- Built in electric pump
- 1 Year Warranty
- Durable PVC material resistant to punctures and air leaks
- 500 lb weight capacity when fully inflated
- Comes with an easy packable carry bag
Cons –
- One of the more expensive air mattresses coming in at $150-$175
- Its large size makes it not an ideal camping mattress for car camping or when using in a covered truck bed
- The built-in pump requires electricity which may not always be available in the outdoors
Summary of the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress
The SoundAsleep Dream Series collection takes the prize as one of the best air mattresses on the market. The number of positive reviews on Amazon for this mattress speaks for itself as many campers happily use this air mattress in their tents, campers and even homes. And with the many sizes offered in the series, you will also be able to find one that fits your needs.
You can purchase the SoundAsleep Dream Series HERE.
The Most Functional Air Mattress We Could Find
Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed, Twin/King
While scouring through air mattress reviews to find air mattresses best for our situation, the Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Air Mattress caught our attention on how different it was from the other camping air mattresses. This air bed is easy to use, provides space for multiple people, and has been seen as one of the best air mattresses to be used for camping and other situations because of its versatility.
Versatility
One of the cool things about this air mattress by Coleman is that it can be separated into two different sections and used by one or more people. Once separated they will be the size of two twin beds or about the size of a king bed.
We loved the fact that this air bed could be converted into a king size air mattress because we usually take our two dogs camping with us and they of course love to snuggle with us under the covers. So, the additional room is nice to have when it is me, my wife, and our two spoiled dogs.
But if room only warrants space for a twin bed in a small tent or small room, or when a large king size bed is simply not needed, the two pieces can be stacked to create a twin double bed high off the ground.
The Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed offers so many options that it is no surprise why so many people prefer it over other air mattresses and camping cots.
Durability
The air mattress works great as a camping unit as it is durable enough to be used in the woods because it is made from durable PVC materials which helps prevent holes and tears forming.
Another great feature is the 4-in-1 Quickbed includes Coleman’s air tight system which reinforces prevention of air loss once the mattress has been inflated to the desired firmness.
The Coleman air mattress top is covered with a soft suede material which makes it still comfortable when used without a sheet. On those hot summer nights it will also help soak up any moisture from sweating and can then be wiped down with a wet towel. And on those colder nights, the materials work to insulate body heat to help keep you warm while sleeping.
Storage
Storage is one of the convenient factors of the Coleman 4-in-1 Quickbed. Users can quickly take down the air mattress and have it ready for transport because of it’s Wrap N Roll construction. Just simply remove all of the air, fold it, roll from one end to the other and secure it in the included storage bag. And done!
How to Inflate
The way to inflate the Coleman 4 in 1 quick bed will be considered a pro to some and a con to others. It does not come with a built-in pump to inflate the air mattress. You will need to purchase a separate battery-operated air pump or electric pump to inflate it.
Many would view having to purchase a separate pump a negative, but we feel this is ideal because we sometimes camp where electricity is not readily available. Having a battery-operated pump makes inflating the camping air mattress still possible when there is no access to electricity.
Some people also have used a manual hand pump…but I would recommend purchasing a separate battery powered pump or electric pump as they speed up the process.
You can find some great battery powered air pumps HERE.
And if you are wanting an electric pump, you can find them HERE.
Price
The Coleman EasyStay air mattress is a great deal coming in at just $60 on Amazon. This price is a steal as you are virtually getting two quality air mattresses for the price of one.
Product Features
- Soft suede top for comfort
- Each mattress measures 73″L x 38″W x 8″T inches
- 4-in-1 inflatable bed ideal for accommodating overnight guests
- Works as 2 twin beds, single king-sized bed, or twin double-high bed
- Coleman’s AirTight system guarantees leak-proof performance
- Heavy-duty Puncture Resistant PVC formula
- Time-saving Wrap ‘n’ Roll construction
From our research many customers stated that compared to other air mattresses in the same price range, the quality and design of the Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Airbed surpassed other air mattresses that were reviewed.
In fact, from another Coleman 4 in 1 Quick Bed Review another family mentioned that they didn’t only use it for camping but used it in the home whenever they had additional guests that needed to stay the night.
Dimensions and Weight Capacity
Each mattress separately comes in at 73″L x 38″W x 8″T.
When not stacked on each other, they spread out to the size of a King Bed.
The weight capacity is around 300 pounds.
Pros and Cons of the Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed, Twin/King
Pros –
- Very versatile as it can be used as 2 twins, a king or a double high twin
- The Airtight system and double lock valve help prevent air leaks
- Comfort strong air coils provide support for a comfortable sleeping surface
- Fits both king and twin sheets
- Designed for both indoor and outdoor use
- Doesn’t rely on an electric built in pump in case of power outages or lack of electricity
Cons –
- When units are zipped together to make a king size, there is a gap between the air mattresses
- Doesn’t come with a built-in air pump and must purchase one separately
- Weight capacity of just 300 pounds
- When separated, each twin is a thin mattress at only 8″ tall
Summary of the Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed, Twin/King
The Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 air mattress was our choice when picking a camping air mattress. We loved the versatility of it and how it could be used differently as the situation changed.
The price range was good considering the number of positive reviews and compared to other quality air mattresses.
This air mattress does not come with a built in electric pump so if you do not already have an electric or battery powered pump you will need to find one.
We already have a battery operated pump as well as an electric pump so this was not a feature that we were necessarily looking for when choosing our air mattress for camping.
The Most Economical Air Mattress
Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Airbed Series
The old saying, “You get what you pay for” is relevant most of the time. In this case, that same logic doesn’t necessarily apply.
The Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Airbed Series might be cheap in price, but with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating with over 17,500 reviews, many consumers find this cheap air mattress to be a great purchase.
While the Amazon description mentions this bed for home use, it can be used in a tent or as a camping air mattress.
Durability
This bed boasts its durability on its patent Fiber-Tech Construction which is composed of thousands of poly fibers. These high strength polyester fibers don’t stretch overtime providing durability for years.
Storage
Weighing in at only 3 pounds this camping air mattress rolls up to a very manageable size. However, it does not come with a carrying bag so you will need to find your own way to pack and store it.
How to Inflate
The Intex Dura-Beam comes with a 2-in-1 extra wide valve that enables a fast and easy inflating and deflating process. Like you would expect with the cheap price tag though, it does not come with a built in pump. There is an option to purchase it with a built in battery pump or a built in foot pump with an increased cost of course.
Price
The cheap price tag of this mattress is what caught our eye. If you already have a pump to inflate it with, you can get by with an extremely affordable air mattress if you choose one of the options without a pump.
The twin, full and queen size air mattress are all only around $20!
Add in a built in battery or foot pump and you are still able to get a good quality camping mattress for under $40.
Product Features
- Lightweight at only 3 pounds
- Soft velvety sleeping surface
- Durable Fiber-Tech Construction
- Available in twin, full and queen size
- Available as a mattress only or with a built in battery or foot pump
Dimensions and Weight Capacity
The Intex Dura-Beam Series offers three sizes; a twin, full and queen size.
Twin Size – 75″L x 39″W x 10″T with a weight capacity of 300 pounds
Full Size – 75″L x 54″W x 10″T with a weight capacity of 600 pounds
Queen Size – 80″L x 60″W x 10″T with a weight capacity of 600 pounds
One of the positives of this air mattress is that the full and queen size mattress boasts a 600 pound weight capacity.
Pros and Cons of the Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Airbed Series
Pros –
- You can have a decent quality mattress for only $20
- Comes in three sizes to choose from, twin, fully and queen
- Available with or without a built in air pump
- The full and queen have a weight capacity of 600 pounds
- Lightweight and easy to pack for your next camping trip
Cons –
- Does not come with its own carrying bag
- Fairly low to the ground at only 10 inches tall
- The air valve is non-locking so it can accidently be unplugged
Summary of the Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Airbed Series
At first glance, the cheap price tag of the Intex Dura-Beam had us believing that this was an extremely low-quality camping mattress. After reviewing it we found that it is a no-thrills get the job done type of air mattress at an extremely affordable price tag.
While there are some negative reviews of the mattress not holding air, these seem to be few and far between compared to the number of positive reviews of the camping air mattress and a strong option to investigate when planning your next camping trip.
Coleman ComfortSmart Cot
Although not an inflatable air mattress, I thought I would throw in this quick bonus and tell you about the Coleman ComfortSmart Cots.
Like I mentioned earlier, we started out our camping adventures with two Coleman ComfortSmart Cots. Before the wife and I upgraded to the Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Single High Airbed we would push our ComfortSmart Cots together and layout a large sleeping bag as our sleeping surface and throw a comforter on top and we would have a great nights sleep. The cots pushed together were a little smaller than a queen size which was large enough for us both.
The only issue was that with the cots pushed together there was the space in between that could be quite uncomfortable if you found yourself towards the center of the cots. This can all be remedied with the purchase of a sleeping pad to go over the cots.
While the cots were not as comfortable as the many air mattresses on the market, the quickness and ease that you could set them up was hard to beat. It is convenient to not having to deal with an air pump especially with no access to electricity or to make sure that you brought good batteries to power your battery powered pump. You just unfolded them, and you were good to go! And you were guaranteed to not wake up on a mattress that unexpectedly lost air during the night.
One downside to the cots is that they are kind of bulky and take up a lot of room when packing. They are harder to pack and don’t fold up nicely into a storage bag like a good air mattress will.
One final positive with the Coleman Cots is that they have a weight capacity of around 275 pounds and they will never need to be inflated halfway through the night because of a leak.
Pros and Cons of the Coleman ComfortSmart Cot
Pros –
- They never deflate during the night
- You just unfold and they are ready to go, no having to worry about inflating them
- They are higher off the ground which an a plus on cold nights
Cons –
- They are extremely bulky to pack and carry
- Since there is just a thin sleeping pad on the cot they are not as comfortable as an air mattress
- Only available as a twin size
Summary of Our Camping Air Mattresses Review
Just because you are camping and doing without the luxuries of your home for a weekend doesn’t mean that you must completely rough it and have an uncomfortable night’s sleep.
There are all sorts of air mattresses on the market that work great in the home as well as out in nature. With a little research you can find a camping mattress that checks all your boxes. Hope this review of best air mattress helped in that search.
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