Which one's for you?

Taking the time to select the mattress that's right for you is essential in ensuring a good nights sleep. We've helped to speed up the process by providing you with the following information

Download this advice sheet

Light Camping

This category represents those campers who are hiking, biking or kayaking and need the mattress to be compact and lightweight as they will be physically carrying it. The price will increase with the extremity of the camping as the bed will need to be lighter, more compact and an efficient insulator.

Indoor Use

Air beds provide you with an inexpensive and convenient temporary bedding solution. They generally take up very little space when stored and are very quick to set up, making them ideal for children's sleepovers and use at the holiday house or on your boat. This type of use allows for the greatest variety of beds to be used as transport is a minimal issue.

Car Camping

This form of camping is the most varied in destination and frequency, which means users have the most varying needs. With the extra carrying capacity, car campers are able to use a big variety of beds from self-inflating mattresses that weigh less than 1kg to big queen size mattresses weighing well over 10kg.

Velour

Velour air beds are usually a thick, single-chamber mattress with sizes varying between single, twin
(a larger version of a single), double and queen. Some models come with a steel frame to keep them off the ground. This reduces the opportunity for punctures as well as eliminating the need to bend down to the ground to use the mat, making it ideal for those with back problems. The bed is constructed of PVC and has a velour coating on top. They have a large inflation valve, assisting in quick inflation/deflation. Of the various types of camping beds, they are low in cost and among the smallest in pack-away size, making them versatile for car camping and indoor use.

Nylon

Nylon inflatable air beds are designed for the size and weight conscious camper. This is because nylon is the lightest of all three materials used for inflatable air beds, and is also the least bulky, making it ideal for those backpacking, biking, or kayaking. As they use a series of individual tubes stuck together the mattress is highly useful when there is a puncture as those tubes not punctured will still retain air. Their valves are designed for inflation by mouth to save the need for a separate inflator. Separate tubes also allow the user to control the levels of support offered in various areas of the mattress.

Rubberised Cotton

These mattresses have the strongest material of all the three types of inflatable air beds, as they are made from a cotton material that has been impregnated with rubber. This makes the mattress very reliable when used on rough terrain. They are generally a single chamber and have a very small inflation point, making them slow to inflate and deflate. Rubberised cotton mattresses are similar in size to velour air beds when packed away, although heavier.