Air chambers: Air beds with vertical air chambers are more comfortable because they work to distribute the weight. It’s worth noting that while air chambers that run side to side look more comfortable, they can sag when you lie down. Any extras: While most air beds come with the inflatable mattress and the inflatable mattress alone, there are others that offer extras. They might include pillows, sleeping bags, and more. Of course, these air beds will normally be more expensive, so you need to work out whether those extras are worth the extra pennies.

Our range includes battery powered pumps, and 12V electric pumps that can plug either into the mains or your car. Or, if you want an easy life, choose a self-inflating airbed and let science and the environment do the work for you. Self inflating mattresses According to the Sleep Foundation, it’s completely natural for air beds to lose some inflation over time. However, if this happens regularly, it’s probably due to a puncture of some kind. If this sounds like a problem you’re dealing with, fear not, as DIY repairs are very common within the air bed community.Thinner than a conventional air bed, self inflating mattresses take up less space and, as the name suggests, inflate themselves. They also provide consistent, firm support across the mattress making for an ultra comfortable night’s sleep. Improve your camping experience with Halfords Size: You can buy an air bed in various sizes, from a smaller single to a much larger queen. So, when choosing the best air bed for your needs, it’s important to understand who the air bed is for. If you like to have one lying around the house for unexpected guests, it’s always a good idea to go bigger. But if you’re buying an air bed for your camping trips, you should always measure your tent before buying the biggest one on offer. Most good air beds come with their own fixing kit. Each kit’s instructions may vary so be sure to read them carefully. If your air mattress doesn’t come with a repair kit, there are many available online, or you can repair the hole in the same way as you would with a bike puncture. How we select Of course, a SIM isn't the only alternative. We'd also recommend the best sofa beds and the best chair beds for something more permanent and stylish. How easy is it to inflate and deflate an air mattress?

The average air bed can easily last up to 15 years. Often, if you opt for an air bed that has a built-in pump, the pump will fail before the bed will. How to choose the best air bed for you What makes air beds worth it is the far better quality of sleep they offer by elevating you properly off the ground. They also allow you to eschew sleeping bags in favour of proper sheets, pillows and duvets to make camping far comfier. A good air bed is also a great investment for putting guests up in comfort at home. Some air beds come with a patch kit, which typically includes an adhesive, applicator and patches that match your air bed material. However if you don’t have this kit to hand, you can either buy one (taking into consideration the colour and material of your mattress) or fashion something yourself. Substitutes for a patch include some kind of thin, plastic material, such as part of a shower curtain liner – and you’ll want to use a strong glue as your adhesive, so your DIY work dries tight.

If you're off camping, you'll need some camping equipment to help you along the way - read our buyer's guide to find out more. Inflation: There are two kinds of air beds: those that have a built-in pump and those that require an external pump. This is something you need to consider when choosing an air bed, as you need to figure out what you’d rather. As you can imagine, a self-inflating air bed is much easier to use on a regular basis - but it’ll also be more expensive. One of the most common worries for would-be campers is whether they’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep in a tent – after all, a family holiday or a festival weekend isn’t much fun if you’re not getting proper rest. And the best way to make sure you sleep well in the great outdoors is on a decent air bed. div>