Looking At Air Beds?
What To Consider...

The advantages and disadvantages of air beds.

Bring a little home comfort on your next camping trip...

Air beds (or air mattresses) are the most comfortable thing I've found to sleep on while camping.

Overall if you're camping with someone you know rather well, the large two-person types are great for car camping, campground camping, or any time you don't have to carry hiking gear or equipment used for camping for long distances.

I wasn't happy with my self-inflating sleeping pad I had before the air bed because I always got cold and stiff. If this is a problem for you too, you'll probably notice it in bony areas like your hips, elbows, and knees. Of course we all have different tolerances, so it may not be an issue for you and you might want to go with something different and that's OK. The rule-of-thumb is to get something that will make you happy down the road.

Camping/hiking/backpacking isn't about 5 star luxury, but you do want to make your trip enjoyable, so just keep this in mind when you're choosing sleeping gear ( air mattresses, camping cots, sleeping bags, or sleeping pads ).

One of the advantages of air beds is that they get you off the hard ground so you can sleep comfortably and enjoy hiking and camping the next day, instead of being reminded of the restless night you had the night before every time you bump a tender knee or elbow.

Although not great insulators they do trap air and provide a buffer between you and the cold ground. Since the trapped air is a big pocket of air, unlike the many tiny pockets that sleeping pads have, it moves around taking your body heat with it. If you're camping in the summer when the temperature is warm this won't be a big deal. If you camp in cooler weather you may want to put additional blankets on top of your air bed to keep you warm or sleep in a sweatshirt/sweatpants. Or take a look at insulated air mattresses.

When you're hiking or backpacking over-night or for extended periods obviously a twin or queen size air bed isn't going to work because of the bulk and weight. In this case I'd go with a one person inflatable air mattress and again make sure it's insulated if you're planning to be out in cold weather.

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As you probably can imagine they do have another downside... they can puncture if you don't take care of them. Keeping a patch kit handy is a lot easier than trying to find one when you need it, so keep one on hand even though you may never need it (mine has been fine for over two years). Also remember that anything under pressure will seek to equalize with the air around it and air beds are no exception. So expect to have to firm it up as need be or if the temperature drops.

Another small downside to is that they can be a little bulky, so you'll want to stick to using them for car and campground camping or for day hikes when you'll return to your campsite.

Air Pumps

Unless you have the lungs of a rockstar, and even if you do, you'll probably want to get an air pump. Otherwise you'll quickly find yourself light-headed and wishing you had a pump, especially with large air beds.

There are a few varieties ranging from battery operated (have a spare set of batteries handy), to standard electrical plug-ins, and auto cigarette lighter plug-ins. Consider which type of camping you'll be doing most and decide which air pump is right for you.

Another thing to look at is whether you want an attached or separate pump. The nice thing about an attached pump is that it stays together with the bed so that you won't leave it at home as easily as a separate pump.

Also get an air bed with "flocking" or the 'velvet-ish' surface on the top. It's a little more comfortable and stops sleeping bags or sheets from sliding around as much. Beds that are sized for sheets can be handy as can included carry duffles.

One more thing... Don't get an air bed if you're planning to use it constantly or if you're a little hard on your equipment because it might let you down. Although they're good for occasional use, anything made of vinyl isn't going to last forever. If that's the case take a look at the air mattresses, they're stronger because they're made from denier or nylon laminates and can take more abuse. That being said I think the Aerobed and Aero Minute are probably the best air beds available, but they're not perfect.

If you're still interested I found Aero Minute air beds at REI, but I couldn't find them at Altrec or Backcountry Store.

I hope this has been helpful.