The Best Air Mattresses for Camping, Travel, and Overnight Guests

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Air Mattresses for Camping, Travel, and Overnight Guests and hope the blog can help you.

Find a reliable, comfortable air mattress for hosting friends and family or taking along on outdoor adventures.

Air mattresses enable you to host guests when you don’t have extra beds and make roughing it a little less rough. You still want guests to be comfortable, and you don’t want a sharp object deflating your mattress on a camping trip. That’s why we tested 10 air mattresses for 79 hours.

From themed toddler beds to beds with headboards, we slept on just about every style we could. This lineup of the best air mattresses offers something for any occasion or use, and more importantly, includes options that provide comfort and durability.

1. BEST OVERALL: EnerPlex Air Mattress With Built-in Pump
2. RUNNER-UP: Coleman SupportRest Elite Double-High Air Mattress
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort-Plush Air Mattress
4. BEST FOR GUEST ROOMS: Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress With Frame
5. BEST FOR CAMPING: Coleman Airbed Cot
6. BEST FOR KIDS: Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed With Bumpers
7. BEST WITH HEADBOARD: Intex Dura-Beam Ultra Plush Headboard Air Mattress
8. BEST WITH PILLOW: Intex Dura-Beam Plus Deluxe Pillow Rest Air Mattress
9. BEST DURABILITY: Intex Dura-Beam Plus Pillow Rest Air Mattress
10. ALSO CONSIDER: King Koil Luxury Air Mattress With Built-in Pump

How We Tested the Best Air Mattresses

To help guide our decision-making, we reached out to a spokesperson from the American Chiropractic Association for some insight into the best features to look for in an air mattress. Robert Hayden, a chiropractor who owns a practice in Griffin, Georgia, says a selection of firmness levels, as well as self-inflating options, are must-haves. “As you are selecting an air mattress according to your level of comfort, make sure you feel supported in your back, neck, and extremities.”

We kept this advice in mind before testing began, and we researched more than 20 products from eight brands. We scoured product features and user reviews to find the most comfortable, durable, portable, and easiest-to-use inflatable beds for testing. We also wanted to include a group of mattresses that served a variety of budgets, households, and uses. To do that, we looked at products with extra features, such as headboards, cots, and even fun-shaped mattresses for kids.

After extensive research, we landed on 10 beds for our five-person team to test. We assessed comfort, durability, portability, and overall ease of use over 10 days of testing. We inflated and deflated them several times, slept on them, jumped on them, and carried them around our homes. Then we scored each mattress on each of these considerations and awarded them based on their best uses and features. There isn’t a product on this list that we wouldn’t use again.

Testing Stats

Products tested: 10

Hours spent testing: 79

Tests performed: 5

Individual testers: 5

Our Top Picks

The best air mattress models are comfortable, reliable, and convenient. With a supportive air mattress, you can bring a good night’s sleep to any overnight event, from a camping trip to hosting weekend guests. Get some quality shut-eye with one of our favorite air mattresses.

Best Overall

EnerPlex Air Mattress With Built-in Pump

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Our Ratings: Setup 5/5; Comfort 5/5; Durability 5/5; Deflation and Storage 5/5; Portability 4/5

Product Specs

• Available sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
• Mattress height: 13, 16, and 18 inches (all sizes available in all heights)
• Pump included: Yes
• Inflation time: Less than 2 minutes

Pros

• Cushioned coil beams are very supportive, especially with 2 people
• Built-in pump makes inflation and deflation super easy
• Includes a convenient carry bag with handle for easy storage and greater portability
• Barely loses any air after a long night’s sleep

Cons

• Quite a strong plastic smell on first use; takes time to dissipate
• Can be a challenge to fold it properly to get back into the storage bag

EnerPlex offers flexible purchase options, with three thicknesses for all four of the standard mattress sizes. We tested the 18-inch queen model and couldn’t find much to dislike about it. The built-in pump was very simple to operate (plug it in, twist the knob, flip the switch), and it inflated fully in just 1 minute 30 seconds. Deflation was just as simple and took the same amount of time. We especially liked the large twist knobs, which let the air fly out of there quickly.

The EnerPlex includes a drawstring carry bag, but users may need to take a course in origami to learn how to fold the mattress for it to fit back into the bag properly. It’s certainly snug in there, and if not folded correctly, it’s nearly impossible to get it back inside. Storage aside, once inflated, this bed was among the most comfortable that we tested. The plush quilted top and cushioned supporting coil beams made this feel more like a real mattress.

There was little movement transfer when two people were on the bed—quite impressive for an air mattress. Most importantly, the 18-inch-thick mattress also provided a stable and comfortable night’s sleep, maintaining its firmness even overnight.

Get the EnerPlex air mattress at Amazon or Walmart.

Runner-Up

Coleman SupportRest Elite Double-High Air Mattress

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Our Ratings: Setup 5/5; Comfort 4/5; Durability: 5/5; Deflation and Storage 5/5; Portability 5/5

Product Specs

• Available sizes: Queen
• Mattress height: 18 inches
• Pump included: Yes
• Inflation time: 3 minutes

Pros

• Lightning fast to set up and deflate, taking less than the advertised 3 minutes for each
• Thoughtful design with comfortable velvet-feel top and raised edge to keeps pillows in place
• Pliable material makes it easy to roll up and store in the enclosed bag
• Surprisingly comfortable for an air mattress

Cons

• Strong chemical smell at first, but this dissipates pretty quickly

Only slightly less comfortable than our best overall pick, the Coleman deserved all the high marks we gave it. It was a cinch to set up, inflating in less than the advertised 3 minutes. Once it was set up, we really appreciated its velvetlike top, not only for its softness, but because it appeared to add to the durability of this mattress, even as one of our large dogs jumped on and off a few times. Our canine friend didn’t inflict any damage to the puncture-resistant top.

We also liked the raised edges, which prevented any pillow slippage during overnight testing, and we appreciated the ease of adjusting firmness, which was simply a matter of adding or releasing air. Better still, this durable mattress didn’t lose any air overnight, providing greater comfort.

Deflating it was a breeze as well. Once again we plugged it in, opened the Double-Lock valve to allow for the air to escape, turned it on, and within 3 minutes, it was completely deflated and ready for storage. We rolled it up tightly and were able to easily work it back into its storage bag. The only downside to this mattress we could find was the slight odor after unpacking. However, it dissipated after only a few minutes.

Overall, we give this air mattress high marks for durability, comfort, and especially ease of use.

Get the Coleman SupportRest air mattress at Amazon.

Best Bang for the Buck

Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort-Plush Air Mattress

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Our Ratings: Setup 5/5; Comfort 4/5; Durability 5/5; Deflation and Storage 4.5/5; Portability 5/5

Product Specs

• Available sizes: Twin, full, queen
• Mattress height: 13, 18, and 22 inches
• Pump included: Yes
• Inflation time: 2 to 3 minutes

Pros

• Offers supportive, cradling comfort that’s neither too firm nor too soft
• Durable flocked top provides some puncture resistance for busy households
• Full size inflates in less than 3 minutes; deflates in less than 3 minutes
• Includes valve for manual pump when electric inflation is not an option

Cons

• Included carry bag is slightly undersized for the mattress, making it less convenient to pack up

The Intex Durabeam Deluxe Comfort-Plush is a lightweight, fast-inflating air mattress that offers cozy, comfortable support in mere minutes at a great price. This durable bed is available in twin, full, and queen sizes and can support up to 300 pounds for the single bed, and up to 600 pounds for the full and queen. It includes a built-in pump as well as a valve for manual pumps if needed.

This mattress is a step up from the Plus series (see product 9) and in testing, we noticed the difference. While both of these Intex product lines offered incredibly easy setup and great inflation and deflation times, durability, and stability, the Deluxe line was noticeably more comfortable. It provided more cushioned support than the Plus series bed that we tested, and we found it easier to find that sweet spot than we did with the Plus series.

Like the Plus series, the Deluxe was simple to set up. With clear markings on the inflation dial, we barely glanced at the printed directions because it was all so intuitive. It also easily withstood our durability and stability tests, though it did move a bit more than the Plus model during our “leap tests.” It felt so durable, in fact, that we even walked on it a few times and dropped a 30-pound hand weight made of metal and hard plastic on it.

We couldn’t find much to dislike about this comfy air mattress except for the slightly small carry bag. We had to squeeze the Dura-Beam Deluxe in, but this is a minor quibble for such an overall great product at a very reasonable price.

Get the Intex Deluxe Comfort-Plush air mattress at Amazon, The Home Depot (twin, full), Wayfair, or Intex (full, queen).

Best for Guest Rooms

Ivation EZ-Bed Air Mattress With Frame

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Our Ratings: Setup 5/5; Comfort 5/5; Durability 5/5; Deflation and Storage 5/5; Portability 5/5

Product Specs

• Available sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
• Mattress height: 9 inches; 22 (twin) and 24 (full, queen, and king) inches tall on frame
• Pump included: Yes
• Inflation time: 1 minute 20 seconds for tested queen

Pros

• Automatically stops inflating once it reaches desired firmness
• Users can move the dial to their preferred firmness level
• Very easy setup; mattress unfolds itself during inflation
• Mattress is on frame, making it great for more of a real-bed feel and for rougher surfaces
• Folds down into a very small and mobile unit on wheels; great for storage

Cons

• Highest firmness setting feels softer than expected
• Inflated sides tend to curl up when not in use, allowing legs to raise from floor

The EZ-Bed is an all-around impressive option for anyone looking for more of an elevated version of an air mattress (literally). With a 24-inch height for the larger sizes, this bed offers more of the look and feel of a real bed, making it ideal for outfitting with complete linens in a cozy guest room. It also comes in a very smart-looking and compact roller case, which unzips smoothly to reveal the folded metal legs and mattress with its own built-in pump with auto inflation and deflation.

During testing, we found the setup to be super easy. Once rolled into place and unzipped, we simply plugged it in and set the dial to a preferred firmness level, then watched it auto inflate and unfold itself to reveal a raised air mattress, with the pump shutting off automatically. It took just 1 minute 20 seconds to reach the maximum “extra-firm” setting, and watching it unfold and expand its legs on its own certainly added to the wow factor. After giving it around 6 hours to stretch, we noticed a slight change in the firmness with around a 1-inch loss of the original 9-inch height. We turned on the auto pump and brought it back to the desired level in just a few seconds, readying it for sleeping, but in the morning we did notice another 1-inch loss to the thickness.

That said, the EZ-Bed’s built-in metal legs felt sturdy during sleep and provided more of a real-bed experience compared to standard air mattresses. We did find, however, that the inflated mattress had a sort of U shape to it, with the sides slightly turned up and its metal legs not touching the ground when not in use. As soon as we lay down, though, the legs went back down to provide a flat surface that didn’t move at all when rolling or shifting around.

For its comfort, excellent portability, compact size, and automated features, this option makes a notable upgrade for those looking to offer their guests a more impressive air mattress experience, provided they are willing to pay the elevated price tag.

Get the Ivation air mattress at Amazon, Lowe’s (full), The Home Depot (full), Walmart (full), or Target.

Best for Camping

Coleman Airbed Cot

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Our Ratings: Setup 4/5; Comfort 4/5; Durability 4/5; Deflation and Storage 4/5; Portability 5/5

Product Specs

• Available sizes: Twin, queen
• Mattress height: 8 inches
• Pump included: Yes
• Inflation time: 3 minutes

Pros

• Total assembly time is just 5 minutes
• Air mattress zips into a soft attached cover to create 1 cohesive unit
• Included carry bag has plenty of space for the frame, mattress, side table, and pump
• Steel-frame construction supports up to 300 to 600 pounds yet can’t be felt through the 8-inch mattress

Cons

• Does not come with the 4 required D batteries for pump operation
• Frame legs don’t lock, and cot collapses if legs aren’t fully open when setting up

While the Coleman air mattress is only 8 inches high when fully inflated, its included portable cot raises the full height of the bed to just over 22 inches—keeping sleepers comfortably off the ground and making it easier for those with mobility issues to get in and out of bed. The mattress zips securely into an attached cover to create a barrier between the user and the plastic Airbed as well as prevent the mattress from sliding off the cot during sleep. The included pump makes for super-quick inflation and helps speed deflation for speedier campsite breakdowns—just remember to bring four D batteries for its operation before heading out into nature.

At 74 inches, this cot isn’t long enough for users over 6 feet, but its width of 40 inches and weight capacity of 300 pounds (twin) or 600 pounds (queen) can accommodate many. The frame and table collapse for easy portability and storage, and with the mattress, bag, and pump, the entire setup weighs just under 30 pounds. The carry bag has a reinforced molded base, which allows it to stand vertically without effort—a unique feature for bagged camping-type equipment.

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