Nothing takes the edge off a long day’s hike more than falling into a comfy bed at the end of the day. Obviously, since you will be carrying your bedroom on your back during that day, portability is the key to a happy camping trip. Back in the day, campers had no choice but to either sleep on the floor of their tent or lug along a heavy wood and canvas cot that was about as comfortable as a mortuary slab (and almost as heavy). Today, modern lightweight inflatable mattresses have added a new dimension of comfort and convenience to the camping experience.
While twin and full air mattresses are widely available, nothing adds a touch of luxury like breaking out a queen mattress when the sun starts to set. A Coleman queen air mattress is, of course, the gold standard in camping gear, but many brands are available at many different quality levels and price points to accommodate any budget.
Any queen air mattress will be a standard 60 inches wide by 78 inches long, which will accommodate your existing queen-size sheets and bedding, but thickness and features can vary widely after that. Some economy air mattresses are little more than glorified pool toys that are as uncomfortable as they are poorly made. Avoid the kind that incorporates round inflatable tubes, as the irregular surface will quickly become uncomfortable, resulting in a poor night’s sleep and sore back the next morning.
If you go camping during the cooler months then you will feel the insulating properties of this blow up mattress. Using this will keep you warmer during the night because you will have a thick layer of air between you and the cold ground. Just make sure you have a great sleeping bag and some warm underwear for the night.
A good quality air mattress will feature a flat, mattress-like top and be thick enough so that you do not bottom out and make contact with the ground when you plop down hard on it. Some high-end models feature an extra platform on the bottom that raises your bed to standard height. While this will definitely make for an excellent sleeping experience, it is important to consider the extra weight and size involved if you will be backpacking. Most decent quality air mattresses will feature some type of inflation system, either manual or electric. Electric pumps are only practical if you will have a convenient 12v or 120v power supply at your camp site. They also make battery operated air pumps to blow up your bed.
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