Air mattresses can be a convenient option for sleeping in the great outdoors and are much more comfortable than roughing it on the ground. They may even be the trick to finally getting your wilderness-shy friend out into nature with you. But which Air Mattress is right for you? You'll probably want something more lightweight if you're hiking a few miles to your campsite. A queen mattress might be better for duos camping together instead of two separate mattresses. Meanwhile, car campers can use heavier, electric-powered air mattresses. To figure out the best air mattresses for every kind of camper, we lugged several models into our testing lab and spent two days testing them for comfort, portability, and more.
This mattress took just 2 minutes and 41 seconds to blow up; however, ours only came with a USB cable. (Its listing claims to include both a car and wall charger.) The mattress was very comfortable and stable, even with two people. Its polyvinyl material seemed durable, and the mattress also comes with a patch kit for leaks. It passed our sustained inflation test with almost perfect marks; there was some air leakage overnight, but the mattress remained super comfortable. Deflating and packing up took even less time than setting up at only 2 minutes and 34 seconds.
This air mattress from Etekcity has everything you could want—it's comfortable and easy to set up, all at a great price. Our only (mild) complaint is its weight. At just over 10 pounds, the weight is enough to make this firmly a car camping mattress.
The mattress was comfortable with a raised ridge for our heads. Because of its size, it can be a tight squeeze for two people, so be aware of that when purchasing. We noticed that it lost air in our sustained inflation test, so much so that our hands sunk right in when we pressed on it. It was, however, straightforward to pack up and put away. For the price, we think it's a good value.
The airbed comes with a drawstring bag, and it's effortless to carry around at 5.7 pounds. It has a D-battery-powered pump, but it still took around 6 minutes to inflate fully.
The Sierra Designs 2-Person Queen Airbed is light, flexible, and comfortable. It's smaller than your average queen mattress at 77 x 54.5 inches; however, it is a nice size to slide perfectly into a larger two-person tent.
We spoke to a representative at Coleman who clarified that Coleman prioritized "comfort in a camp setting...without sacrificing quality" when designing this product.
This combo is hefty—you won't be able to get far from the car with this set. Packing it away took nearly 7 minutes and is more physically demanding than with your average air mattress. The process would be much more efficient with two people working together, as it can be difficult to close up the cot.
Setting up the cot took less than 5 minutes and it was relatively sturdy with two people on it, perfect for couples. It comes with two pull-out side tables with cup holders, which was popular among testers. Coleman's cot fared well overnight; however, there was a noticeable dip when tested the following day.
Some people prefer to have a little distance between them and the ground, and that's where Coleman's camping cot comes in. This cot sits almost 24 inches off the ground and comes with an air mattress, cot, carrying case (with wheels, which is necessary), and a pump. It's important to note that the pump requires D batteries; ensure you have them before leaving on your camping trip.
The pad is also super comfortable and passed our sustained inflation test with flying colors. Packing up this particular mat did take a bit of time—it took almost 4 minutes to get it deflated. The air doesn't come out by itself, so it has to be sat on or rolled out to get all the air out. Its carry case was also small, so getting it back in was a bit of a challenge.
Since the pump is sold separately, you can either opt for a hand pump or blow it up orally. We blew it up orally, which took approximately 2 minutes. Bonus: It comes with an adjustable shoulder strap, making it easy to carry to and from the campsite.
The Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D impressed in all categories—it's packable, lightweight, and durable. Coming in at only 5.39 pounds, it's the perfect choice when weight is a concern. But don't be fooled by its lightness; it's still thick and insulated enough to keep your body off the ground and comfortable when you sleep.
The pad sustained its inflation during our overnight test, although a slight dip was observed in the center. However, the pad might not have been in its optimal condition because it was not left to sit out for 24 hours beforehand.
One of the reasons we loved this mat was the high quality of the material. We spoke to a representative at Exped who told us that material choice was critical when bringing their products to life. "In choosing fabrics and materials for the MegaMat collection, this tinkering began with the dual requirements of high quality and sustainability," the Exped rep said. "All fabrics are Oeko-Tex 100 certified, and MegaMat Duo is part of Exped's carbon-neutral sleeping mat line." This pad comes in different sizes to suit every individual's needs.
The Exped Mega Mat Duo 10 tops our list when it comes to single-person use. Even though it's a little smaller than a regular twin mattress at 32 x 73 inches, it doesn't feel like it when you're lying on the inflatable air pad. The pad comes with an adjustable shoulder strap and is pretty light, making it portable, while deflation and rolling it back up took less than 5 minutes. However, it's important to note that the company advises you to wait at least an hour before blowing it up the first time and letting it sit out for up to 24 hours for the best experience. We could not consider that as we didn't open up the mat until the testing day.
However, it would be hard to take this particular air mattress camping anywhere without facilities. It is pretty heavy and slightly bulky and cannot be inflated without an outlet. This presents a problem if you plan to camp overnight in the wilderness. EnerPlex recommends a 1.7 amp power convertor or car outlet adapter to take this mattress on the road.
It's almost exactly the same size as a regular queen mattress at 79 inches long and 59.5 inches wide, and it sits relatively high off the ground at 16 inches. It was the tallest mattress that we tested. It comes with a nylon case to keep it dry in any weather, two repair patches, and a velvet-like topper, helping make it the most comfortable mattress tested.
The EnerPlex Queen Air Mattress checked all our boxes. It's easy to set up and put away (it took 1.5 minutes for each), comfortable for two people, and sustained most of its inflation during our overnight test. (The company does put a label on the side that explains that some deflation is expected due to fabric stretching.)
It comes with a manual pump, and after 5 minutes our arms definitely hurt from all the pumping. After 15 minutes, we were exhausted. It also does not come with a carrying case, making it awkward and heavy to travel with. However, deflation and packing up only took 2 minutes and 45 seconds, and it fits back into its box pretty easily. It also has a low price tag, making it ideal for camping on a budget .
Our budget pick is the Intex Classic Downy Airbed Set. It comes with two inflatable pillows, a patch kit, and a manual pump. We loved how comfortable it was; we couldn't feel the floor underneath us, and the soft exterior fabric was a nice touch. We also liked that it remained inflated all night; there were barely any dips in the morning. However, it took us 15 minutes to get this mattress inflated and ready for use, not including blowing up the pillows (which have the same valve as pool toys do).
While the mattress is excellent, the pump seals the deal on this purchase. Alps' versatile pump has three power options: via a wall outlet, a car outlet, or its own rechargeable battery. If there's one mattress that gets added to your camping essentials list , let it be the Vertex.
With a tested inflation time of just 2 minutes and 49 seconds, it's perfect for those who need to be ready at a moment's notice (or who are just impatient). Made with polyester, it appears to be pretty durable. However, it does not come with a patch kit, so be careful where you roll it out. It's comfortable to lay on and stayed inflated over an entire night with about 100 pounds on it.
The Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed impressed our lab with its quick inflation and deflation, its comfort, and its powerful pump. The air bed is light and maneuverable when packed, weighing just over 6 pounds. It comes with a drawstring bag, making packing up simple and practical.
Final Verdict
If you're looking for a camping mattress that's easy to carry, comes with a burly pump for quick inflation, and keeps you comfortable through the night, there's no beating the Alps Mountaineering Vertex Air Bed. For reliable comfort on a budget, we recommend the Intex Classic Downy Airbed.
Other Air Mattresses We Tested
SoundAsleep Camping Series Air Mattress: While this mattress performed well in our setup, durability, and comfort tests, it fell flat in our sustained inflation test. It almost completely deflated after spending the night with about 100 pounds of weight on it. Earlier in testing this product, we noted that the valve inside the pump area was giving us issues, but we cannot be sure that that caused the deflation. Based on this round of testing, we could not include it in our list.
TripSavvy / Conor Ralph.
Lightspeed Warmth 3.0: Expert reviewer Justin Park field-tested the Lightspeed Warmth 3.0.
From Justin: "The Lightspeed Warmth 3.0 is a self-inflating pad, which means you twist the two knobs at the foot of the pad to open them and the pad starts taking in air. However, the first time you do this, the directions recommend leaving the pad's valves open for several hours, ideally overnight, for your first inflation. The first time I inflated the pad, it didn't appear full after a few minutes, but it looked much better after leaving it open overnight. Subsequent uses were straightforward, and the pad came to total inflation after a minute at most.
"I generally keep a sleeping pad and sleeping bag in my truck in case of emergency, and this pad is an excellent fit for that role since it doesn't take up a lot of space but provides plenty of warmth and comfort for the size. Because this pad is too heavy for backpacking, it has a somewhat narrow application for car camping, overnight raft trips, or other scenarios where you don't have to carry it on your back and don't want the bulk of a full air mattress. The other reason to look at the Lightspeed is the lower cost compared to most other options."
TripSavvy / Conor Ralph.
Product Selection
Our editorial staff selected air mattresses based on previous knowledge of the brands and products in this roundup as well as extensive internet research. We prioritized offering a full range of prices, styles, and uses.
TripSavvy / Conor Ralph.
How We Tested
All air mattresses were tested in Dotdash Meredith's Brooklyn lab. We tested for six attributes: portability, setup, durability, comfort, sustained inflation, and overall value. Mattresses were unboxed, rolled out, and inflated to observe the length and difficulty of setup as well as their exact measurements. Next, testers spent time on the mattresses to gauge comfort. They moved them around to test their durability, then timed how long it took to deflate them and pack them away.
We weighed the packed air mattresses and walked around with them to test portability. After that, they were inflated again, and we placed about 100 pounds of weight on them (in the shape of a human body, with heavier weights at typical human body pressure points) and left them overnight. The following day, they were checked over for sustained inflation and durability and then packed away. Finally, we considered mattress prices in terms of our experience with them to gauge the value of each product.
TripSavvy / Conor Ralph.
What to Look For in a Camping Air Mattress
Size
Are you camping solo or with a partner? What is the size of your tent? What about the size of your sleeping bag? The answers should all be considered when purchasing an air mattress. You'll want to buy the one that best fits your needs—a twin-sized air mattress should fit cozily in a single-person tent. If you have a partner, you might want to opt for a queen-sized mattress to share so there'll be less to carry.
Pump Type
Camping often means you're in an area with no electricity. So what would you be able to do with an electric air pump? It's essential to make sure your air mattress fits the needs of whatever type of trip you're planning. If it has an electric pump, make sure you're going somewhere with accessible outlets or where you can be close to your car for a car-charged pump. If you're camping in the middle of nowhere, choosing an air mattress with a manual air pump is an obvious solution, even if it is more work. Or, consider a battery-operated pump for either occasion; just make sure you have extra batteries on hand.
Durability
When purchasing an air mattress, especially one of the more expensive options, you want to make sure it will last a long time. The most durable air mattresses are made with high-quality materials including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or textile-reinforced urethane plastic or rubber. You'll want to ensure that your mattress's material can survive different temperatures and rough terrain.
Price
How often you get out into the woods—or have someone crashing on your living room floor—can (and should!) impact the price you're willing to spend on an air mattress. If you camp most weekends every summer, it might be good to invest in an air mattress that ensures a good night's sleep. If you only go a couple of times a year, it's worth looking into a less expensive air mattress that will keep you off the ground but allow your budget to remain intact.
Thickness
Mattress thickness translates directly to how much distance you have between yourself and the ground beneath you. If you’re heading out in winter or a cold climate, a thinner mattress might encourage the cold to sink into your bones a little deeper. Some air mattresses are close to 1.5 feet off the ground—if you’re easily chilled or can feel even a pea under thinner mattresses, you might want to invest in one that’s quite thick.
Portability
Note: None of the mattresses on this list would be considered backpacking mattresses, and we don't recommend using them on backpacking trips or extended hikes. That said, some of these mattresses are more portable than others. Check the weights listed in the key specs and see what sort of carrying bag is included. It's essential to pick your gear around the type of experience you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size air mattress should you get?
The best way to guarantee your mattress will fit inside your tent is to measure twice and buy once. Be sure to measure your tent’s interior dimensions so you don’t get one that will be too long—or, in the case of single tents, too broad.
How do you clean an air mattress?
Most air mattresses are meant to be rugged and easy to clean since most are designed for outdoor purposes. Usually, the vinyl or plastic-feeling portions of the mattress can simply be wiped clean, while you might want to check the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning velvet tops. That said, if there’s a s’mores spill and there are some crumbs or sticky bits, those should be easy enough to vacuum or wipe clean when you’re back home.
What kind of pump should you look for?
If you have electricity handy, an electric pump inevitably makes your life much easier. But if you’re heading out into the woods, you might need to look for one with a manual pump and put a bit of old-fashioned sweat into inflating your bed for the night.
How do you patch an air mattress?
Most air mattresses come with a patch kit. We recommend inflating the mattress, then applying a little pressure and listening carefully for the sound of escaping air in order to locate the leak. Once you've found it, make sure the surrounding area is clean before following the directions provided with your air mattress to seal the hole or tear correctly.
What size air mattress will fit in my truck bed?
Most truck beds will support twin or full-sized air mattresses.
Why Trust TripSavvy
Jalyn Robinson is an editorial assistant at TripSavvy, and while she doesn't have much camping experience, she has encountered her fair share of air mattresses—the good and the bad. She participated in air mattress testing in the lab.
Laura Ratliff is the senior editorial director at TripSavvy. She knows a thing or two about air mattresses—her parents now live exclusively in an RV, and she and her husband take many hiking trips together. She participated in air mattress testing in the lab.