Going camping?  If so, you might want to think about how you are going to sleep.  Do you plan on roughing it in a sleeping bag or are you planning on making use of camping air beds?   If you're anything like me, a good night sleep is crucial to being able to function properly the next day.  The best way to get a good night sleep in a tent is to have a good air mattress.   In this article, I will look at how you can go about choosing the best camping air beds for your next trip into the wilderness.

Before purchasing a camping air bed, you should ask yourself four questions:

1.  How large is the tent you will be sleeping in?

There are many styles and models of camping air beds.  They come in sizes similar to regular mattresses from twin to king.  You can also choose from elevated camping air beds that can rise to 20" or more from the ground.   The model and size you choose will depend on the size of your tent.  You want to choose a model that will easily fit in the space you have while still allowing you room for your other items and space for you to move around.

2.  How many people will be using the mattress at one time?

Space is usually at a premium both in your tent and during to the trip to camp.   This might be obvious, but ff you are going to be using the air bed by yourself, there is usually no reason to pay for the extra cost of a queen sized mattress.  On the other hand, if you are sharing an air mattress, then purchasing a queen sized camping air bed makes more sense than trying to fit two singles into your tent.

3.  How do you inflate and deflate the air bed?

Nowadays camping air beds come with a few options for inflation and deflation.    Most come with some type of pump whether it's hand, foot, battery, or electric powered.  For camping air beds, you want to find a mattress that be inflated by hand or by battery power.   If you have a pump that requires a plug and electricity, you're going to have a hard time blowing it up in the middle of the woods.  Many models come with pumps that will run directly from the cigarette lighter of your car.

Another consideration is how easily the mattress deflates.  When you get up in the morning, you are going to want to quickly be able to deflate your camping air bed clear up space in the tent.   Some models collapse better and more compactly than others.

4.  How much are you willing to spend?

With camping air beds, you are usually not looking for the best air bed on the market but you would like something that is durable enough for a tent and will hold it's air completely.  The more you spend, the more likely you are to find a mattress that meets both criteria.  But by doing some research and checking out reviews, you can find some high quality, inexpensive camping air beds that are perfect for temporary bed solutions for next trip into the great outdoors.

For more information on Camping Air Beds, check out Air Mattress Reviews where you can find independent reviews of air mattresses and air beds from the top manufacturers.