10 best air beds for cosy camping and sleepovers

The shangri-la is possibly the poshest camping mat on the market. Yes, it costs an arm and a leg, but Vango’s quality mattress delivers sleep quality worthy of its paradisiacal namesake. This mat looks rather slim but delivers a really comfortable sleep akin to a proper bed mattress, and we especially like the lovely soft integrated mattress topper. This mat is also self-inflating, which means you can let it sort itself out whilst you get on with relaxing. Look after it and it should look after you for decades. A good choice for glampers who don’t want to rough it.

Watching the pennies? This cheap and cheerful air bed is super-affordable but still ticks all the boxes – it’s easy and quick to inflate using its own integrated foot pump, is comfortable and roomy emough for two people to share for a night or two and packs away easily. The flocked outer material of the deluxe double is comfortable to sleep on, and we like the slightly raised pillow (although you’ll still want to bring your own sheet and extra pillows as well). The rubber bottom of this mat feels strong and sturdy and we didn’t encounter any slow leaks on test. A good cheap choice for having guests over as well as for camping.

Need something light and portable that still offers a decent night’s sleep? Quechua’s air mattress is a great choice for weekend camping, backpacking and cycle tours where space is an issue but you fancy something a cut above a basic camping mat.

This single air bed weighs just 2.2kg and packs down to the size of a large loaf of bread, so it’ll suit smaller tents and work well if you have limited storage at home. Good things come in small packages – this single mat is comfy to sleep on and feels surprisingly supportive and soft, although it is rather narrow. It’s the work of minutes to get the mattress inflated even with a foot pump. A double version is also available.

We’re big fans of the Coleman extra durable double bed. Although it weighs only 3.5kg and is easy to pack down, it inflates to a considerably lofty height of almost 50cm, meaning it’s perfect for those who find camping beds and mats that are too close to the ground uncomfortable.

This air bed is available in single or regular double sizes, but we liked the raised double the best – it offers one or two campers or overnight guests excellent padding when fully inflated, and if you’re sharing, you’ll have plenty of space. This would usually be one of the more expensive beds in our round-up, but at the time of writing just £69.90 buys you a robust design that won’t disappoint.

Little ones are guaranteed sweet dreams with this rather adorable camping bed setup. Bundle Beds aren’t cheap, but they are clever – a compact bag contains a self-inflating mattress which we found inflated fully in just a minute or two on test, plus a soft, cosy duvet, a pillow and bed linen. In short, there’s everything you need ready to get your child snug and ready for a warm night in a tent, or for them to take along to their first sleepover or whip out when friends come to stay.

We like that the filling for the bed and duvet is fully recycled, although at 5kg the whole bundle is quite heavy, so smaller kids may not be able to cart it about alone.

Designed for use everywhere from camping trips and campervan holidays to sleepovers at grandma’s, this simple and affordable bed for little ones is fuss-free to get kids comfy. We like the raised sides, which stop children rolling off the air bed in the middle of the night, and you can still pop a sheet on top of this mat before you add a pillow and sleeping bag. Mountain Warehouse’s portable mat is quick to inflate even if the little one wants to help you work the foot pump. It’s a pity a carry case isn’t included, and that the only colours are pink and blue.

Elevate your glamping game with this delightfully comfortable mattress from bell tent makers Boutique Camping. Designed for decking out your canvas yurt or tipi, this wide double mat is stuffed with a thick foam that feels very luxurious to lie on and only takes a few minutes to self-inflate despite its generous size.

The soft fabric cover of this mattress is a cut above most plastic-y air mats and feels more like a real bed than most. It’s also easy to squash air out of the mat and store it away in its carry bag. Choose from a single or a double mattress to suit the size of your glamping palace.

If you were eyeing up the Bundle Bed all-in-one mattress for kids (£300, Bundlebeds.com) and wishing there was a camping sleeping system especially for adults – you’re in luck. Open the ReadyBed carry case and you’ve got a near-on instant bed, with an air bed that sports a built-in sleeping bag and pillow, so you’ll never forget the camping kit you need.

The sleeping bag is only really warm enough for summer or indoor sleeps but you can add extra duvets on top or add a sleeping bag inside the duvet on chillier nights, and the ReadyBed’s fabric cover is removable and washable. ReadyBed reckon it takes a minute to inflate their design but we’d give it more like 10-15 with a foot pump.

Make your camping setup king-sized with this frankly enormous air bed. Outwell’s excellent king is super roomy, and any tall or plus-size sleepers who find double mats a bit restrictive will love stretching out. With a max load of 340kg, this air bed can also take a lot more weight than most doubles, which are usually designed up to hold up to 200kg.

The soft velour cover of this mat feels comfy to lie on and the bed holds you well off the floor, with no midnight sagging on test. If you share this air bed you’re less likely to feel like you’re going to roll into each other in the middle during the night too. We’d recommend using an electric pump as this is such a large mat and we had it inflated in under three minutes.

This air bed is currently out of stock, but you can submit your email address to be notified when it is back in stock here.