Are Air Mattresses Good For Camping?
While hiking and camping, most people I’ve seen carry and use sleeping pads, to create a comfortable sleeping environment in their tents. But there are other options for campers. So, are air mattresses suitable for camping?
Air mattresses are appropriate for use when camping and are a popular choice among car campers. Although they are quite comfortable, they are heavier than alternatives, vulnerable to leaks, and do not insulate well.
Read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of air mattresses, how they compare to sleeping pads, and how to choose an air mattress for camping.
Should you get an air mattress for camping?
There are a few pros and cons to using an air mattress for camping. Whether you should get one, and which one, is up to how you’re eventually going to the air mattress.
Advantages of an air mattress for camping
The main advantage of an air mattress for camping is that it’s comfortable. Though a bit less comfortable than standard mattresses, sleeping on an air mattress you’ll feel the ground, rocks, and sticks a lot less.
Campers who sleep on a sleeping pad sometimes complain that they’re not comfortable, and older people sometimes even throw their backs if they don’t align right in their sleep. Sleeping on an air mattress, you’ll have a much more even surface to sleep on.
Disadvantages of an air mattress for camping
But air mattresses do have some disadvantages. The first is that an air mattress is heavy a bulky. Even though they are inflatable, the total size and weight of an uninflated air mattress don’t compare to a sleeping pad. They’re usually at least three times in weight than alternatives((based on an analysis performed on public information from multiple online retailers.)).
Besides being heavy, air mattresses require additional equipment to be used. I mean, you’re probably not going to blow and inflate them with your lungs. They require a pump and access to electricity to be inflated. They can be inflated with a hand or leg pump, but it takes longer.
The weight and equipment requirements are why you’ll almost even see a backpacker using an air mattress for camping. They just can’t afford all the additional weight and equipment. But for car campers, it’s still an option.
Surprisingly, air mattresses don’t insulate very well, which can be a major downside. The air inside the mattress transfers heat, cooling down when the ground is cold, and heating up when the ground is hot.
It’s a very common problem when camping in a cold climate, where the mattress can feel as cold as the ground. Insulating the mattress is possible, but it does require some additional gear and work.
Many manufacturers rate mattress insulations with R-Value. It’s a standard way to test the thermal resistance of many objects, including camping mattresses((Test Method for Thermal Resistance of Camping Mattresses Using a Guarded Hot Plate Apparatus. ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/f3340-22)). The higher R-value is, the better the thermal insulation of the mattress:
| R-Value | Environment Fit For Mattress((What is R-Value? by Thermarest)) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Summer |
| 2 | 3-Season |
| 4 | All Seasons |
| 6 | Extremely Cold |
Generally, most air mattresses have low R-values, meaning they are mainly fit for hot weather. There are exceptions.
The last downside of air mattresses is that they can leak air, or even pop. These leaks can be very slow, where is air escapes from a small hole in the mattress. These can be very hard to find and plug.
This means that you might be taking a risk of finding yourself flat on the ground in the middle of the night if too much air leaks out.
Now that we covered the main advantages and disadvantages of air mattresses for camping, let’s see how they compare with sleeping pads.
Air mattress vs. sleeping pad for camping
Sleeping pads come in a variety of shapes and materials. Some are even inflatable, though much thinner than an air mattress.
While air mattresses are more comfortable, sleeping pads are usually lighter and easier to use. Unlike inflatable mattresses, a foam sleeping pad can’t leak, and it insulates better.
We should consider the different advantages and disadvantages of sleeping pads and air mattresses. This way, you’ll be able to compare them and decide which one is better for you.
The first factor to consider the weight. Relative to sleeping pads, air mattresses are heavy and bulky. An average air mattress is between 2 lbs and 4 lbs, while a sleeping pad is only 1 lb((ref:1)). Shape and size are major factors for backpackers.
Another important consideration is the equipment needed for setup. While a sleeping pad can be inflatable, one is usually able to inflate it with their lungs. Inflating an air mattress this way would take an eternity, so an electric pump or a foot pump must be used. These pumps are heavy and they take up a lot of space. Some of them also require electricity to be used.
With that in mind, an air mattress will be more comfortable than a sleeping bag almost every time. They’re thick and bulky, so you’ll barely feel any rocks on the ground. Sleeping pads are very thin, so while they are more comfortable than sleeping directly on the ground, they don’t provide the same level of comfort as an air mattress.
With insulation and leakage, an air mattress isn’t much different from an inflatable sleeping pad. Both can leak and pop, and both provide little to no insulation from the temperature of the ground (though some inflatable sleeping pads are warmer and do have higher R-values). Both come in a variety of materials that try to combat these issues.
Foam sleeping pads are a bit different, as they insulate much better than inflatable alternatives, and they obviously can’t leak. They’re usually a bit less comfortable, and less portable than inflatable sleeping pads, but they’re still great for backpacking (I actually use a foam pad).
Do campers prefer an air mattress or a sleeping pad?
I polled 32 people on a camping Facebook group on what they prefer for sleep when camping. The results are organized in the table below:
| Item | Number Of Respondents (#) | Percentage Of Respondents (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Air Mattress | 15 | 47% |
| Sleeping Pad | 4 | 13% |
| Other | 13 | 40% |
It seems that air mattresses are preferred by most campers. Some respondents choose to sleep on a memory foam mattress, others sleep on the ground with blankets and a sleeping bag, and some sleep on a cot.
How to choose an air mattress for camping?
When you choose an air mattress for camping, the most important thing to consider is the conditions you’re planning to camp in. Consider the number of people, the weather, and the type of environment.
As an air mattress is heavy and bulky, you’re probably not going to use it when hiking. In that case, weight isn’t a major consideration.
The size of the mattress should be considered, though. Think about how big your tent is and how many people are going to sleep on the mattress. Choose a mattress that will fit in your tent, and optimally leave enough space for your bags.
Some mattresses come with a built-in electric pump. Others need to be inflated with an external pump, whether electric or manual. An electric pump is easier to use but limits your camping to places with electricity.
Some air mattresses do have a high R-value. These can be good for camping outside, especially if you’re going to camp in cold weather.
If the air mattress is made of thick material or integrated with some anti-leakage solution, it can be good for limiting the frequency of leaks in the mattress.
Are air mattresses good for winter camping?
Air mattresses are good for winter camping, as long as you make sure to insulate them. Use blankets or a foam sleeping pad to insulate the bottom of the mattress, and blankets or a sleeping bag to cover yourself up.
As mentioned before, air mattresses don’t insulate very well. If you use them for camping in cold weather without addressing that, you’ll feel like you’re sleeping in a fridge, which isn’t very fun.
The way heat transfer works in that situation is that your body heat transfers to the mattress, and from there to the ground. Insulation blocks this process.
f you have a mattress with a high R-value, your job will be easier, but I’d still take some preventative measures, especially when it’s very cold.
First, you should insulate yourself and warm yourself up. Thick blankets between you and the mattress will work, but I think sleeping inside a sleeping bag is best – it’s designed it keep your body heat inside. Plus, it’ll feel more like camping. I
The bottom of your mattress should be insulated as well. You can use any material that insulates well and place it under your mattress. Thick blankets or a foam sleeping pad will work well.
If you do these things properly, you’ll have a much nicer time camping with your air mattress, even in cold temperatures.
Conclusions
While air mattresses are a great solution for camping for many people, they might not be the best for you. In this post, we’ve covered the main things to consider: comfort, insulation, leakages, weight, and additional equipment.
We also compared sleeping pads to air mattresses on a variety of criteria, so you can make an informed decision on which one fits you best.
Have fun camping!
