Introduction
A good camping mattress—or airbed or sleeping pad, depending on who you’re talking to—can make the difference between waking up well-rested and sore. A quality airbed will last for years without issues, while a bad one can be a thorn in your side (and your back) all night long. Of course, there are tons of different options out there: foam mats, inflatable beds with built-in pumps, self-inflating cushions that work with just your breath… the list goes on! So how do you pick the right camping mattress? Read on to find out!
Comfort
What makes a camping mattress comfortable?
There are two main factors that affect how comfortable an airbed is: firmness and weight.
Firmness refers to how much give you get when you lie down on your airbed – the higher the number, the firmer it will feel. In general, firmer mattresses last longer and are more durable than softer ones.
Weight is another important factor because heavier mattresses tend to be less portable than lighter ones. Portable models are also often easier for kids to blow up with their own lungs if there’s no electricity around (which can happen in nature). Since many camping trips take place in areas where electricity isn’t readily available for charging phones/laptops etc., portability becomes even more important!
Compression
Compressibility is the ability of an airbed to be compressed. The more compressible your mattress, the less space it takes up. This is especially important if you’re traveling by car or airplane, as this can significantly reduce how much room your supplies take up in your luggage.
When choosing an air mattress for camping trips or other excursions that involve transportation, choose one with high compressibility so that it takes up less space and allows for more packing options.
Insulation
While it’s true that some airbeds are made of such thick material that they’re practically as comfortable as a traditional mattress, most campers find they need an extra layer of insulation under their sheets.
A camping mattress should be able to keep you warm and dry during the night. If you get cold easily or struggle with staying warm when sleeping on an airbed (or any inflatable object), consider bringing an extra blanket or two along with you on your trip. You might also want to invest in waterproof bedding so there will be no chance of moisture ruining your sleep experience while camping.
It’s important not just for comfort but also for safety reasons: if someone falls asleep under their tent and doesn’t wake up—or worse yet, if someone falls asleep inside the tent and doesn’t wake up—they could be at risk of hypothermia due to being overheated by their body heat trapped beneath them all night long!
Warmth
In addition to the comfort, campers need to pay attention to insulation when choosing a mattress. Insulation is critical for keeping you warm at night. But what kind of insulation should you choose?
Down vs Synthetic
The most common type of insulation used in air mattresses is down feathers that come from ducks or geese. They’re soft and fluffy, but they have one major flaw: they lose their fluffiness after being compressed repeatedly over time. As such, if your airbed gets punctured or leaks somewhere along the way (and who hasn’t had this happen at least once?), your sleeping bag will be useless until you get home and can use it again unzipped on top of your bed at home.
Synthetic insulations tend to hold up better than down ones—they don’t compress as easily, so even if there’s a leaky spot on your mattress, the rest will still be usable until you fix it with duct tape or whatever else works for fixing things outdoors!
Support
The mattress should be firm and feel like a regular bed. You want to avoid airbeds that are too soft, so you will get little support from them. It will be hard to sleep on an airbed if it is too soft for your body type and weight.
Another thing to consider is whether or not the airbed can support your weight. Many people often wonder if their weight will damage their favorite camping mattress when they go camping, but this doesn’t have to be the case at all! As long as you choose one with high gauge polyurethane construction, then there shouldn’t be any problems with carrying extra pounds while sleeping on an airbed during camping trips!
Choosing the right airbed can make or break your camping experience.
Choosing the right airbed for your next trip is important. If you choose a bad one, it can make or break your camping experience.
The most common mistake made is buying an airbed that’s too small. Many people will buy an 18″ sleeping pad and think that it’ll be enough space to sleep on while they’re camping. But when they get back home after their weekend stay in the woods, they realize that this was not true at all: they were uncomfortably curled up on their sides throughout the night! The solution? Buy a larger mattress!
Conclusion
You have a variety of options when it comes to airbeds and mattresses, but your choice is obviously influenced by what you want in an air mattress. Just like other camping equipment, the more you pay for it, the better quality you’re going to get. If you’re looking for something lightweight to take on a long trip, maybe a cheaper option with less insulation is best. Or if comfort is what matters most then getting something made from quality materials will be worth every penny!