Why not explore our range of all-in-one air beds which feature an air mattress, a pillow and a sleeping bag? You'll still need to make sure you've brought an air pump. Go for a foot pump or an ultra-efficient electric air pump, the choice is yours. And if you're looking for separate sleeping bags, then we’ve got a great variety of those too. According to Lauren Fountain from the Sleep Foundation, to fix the leak, you’ll need to locate the hole and then clean the area. She goes on to say you then need to “use an adhesive and some plastic or vinyl patches to cover the leak” and “after letting the patch set for several hours, you can test the patch to ensure the mattress is no longer leaking”. 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. They roll up small, similar to your average yoga mat and are extremely light. Some people might find them too thin and firm. However, note that they can also be used with a camp bed base for an off-the-ground set-up. Air beds follow the same sizing rules as regular mattresses, but they can feel a bit smaller based on their level of inflation. If the leak is too small, it might be hard to hear so another popular method is to gently wipe over the mattress with a soapy sponge and look out for small bubbles. Washing up liquid is good for this.

Like anything filled with pressurised air, these mattresses are susceptible to springing a leak . Air beds do tend to lose air naturally and gradually anyway. If you notice a rapid loss, there could be a hole somewhere. But where? Follow these steps to help detect the source of the problem: 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.

The verdict: Air beds

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. As for us, we wanted to make sure that we put together a varied selection of the best air beds that cover all of the above bases. While you might spot a few from the same manufacturer, they'll be in different sizes to suit a variety of needs. Choose how to inflate: Air beds have a variety of ways to inflate - from self-inflating and built-in pumps to manual inflation, which can require some physical effort with either a foot pump, hand pump or electric pump. When purchasing the bed, this is something to bear in mind, particularly if you need to buy an air pump alongside it. Blow up the air bed fully and then examine the entire sleeping surface and listen out for a thin hissing sound. An inflated mattress makes it easier to identify defects.

There’s a good selection of choices online when it comes to choosing the right air bed for a good night’s sleep. “At Decathlon, we’ve seen a 190 per cent increase in demand for airbeds compared to last year,” reports Chris Allen, Outdoor expert at Decathlon. “Our ultimate comfort one-person mattress saw a four-fold increase in popularity, which perhaps highlights the fact that we’re craving more stress-free, maximum-comfort holidays.” Once you find the hole, circle it gently with a permanent marker so you don’t lose it and then deflate it. 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. This depends on how much your budget will stretch. There are three main types of pumps: a foot pump, an integrated pump or an electric pump. The majority of the top of the range airbeds come with a rechargeable or mains-operated integrated pump. They will also have a remote control that can inflate and deflate the mattress within a matter of seconds.Most good air beds come with their own fixing kit. Each kit’s instructions may vary so be sure to read them carefully.