Camping Beds in Review

Spending a night in the woods no longer means a long night and sore back the next morning. Today's camping beds come in a wide range of sizes and comfort levels to work for everyone, from the ultra-light backpacker to the creature-comfort car camper.

Backpackers have been using rolled foam camping beds for years on the trail. They're light and warm, and they pack down reasonably well. They're also cheap and durable enough to be used as seats for cooking in camp or for a table to keep your cookware out of the dirt and sand.

Sleep Off the Ground in a Camping Bed

Self-inflating camping beds like the Thermarest line provide more warmth than the foam mats while staying just about as light. They pull a layer of air in between two layers of insulation, and the warm air trapped inside keeps you off of the cold ground. Self-inflating beds also are easier on your back, giving you a little extra cushion on top of the rocks and sticks beneath your tent. When you're ready to break camp these beds can be compressed in order to squeeze all of the air out, making them easy and compact to pack back into your backpack.

Full inflatable beds offer even more warmth and protection, though their weight and bulk usually restrict their use to groups who are car camping. For those who can get this luxury to their campsite, their nights under the stars will be as comfortable as staying in their beds at home. Since, when inflated, inflatable camp beds take up as much space as a standard mattress, they take quite a bit of air to fill. They're also susceptible to punctures, which can mean a night on the cold, hard ground if you are unfortunate enough to get a puncture.

The classic cot is another alternative to the inflatable camping bed, though they're also usually too heavy to be of any use to backpackers. They're nice for car camping or base camps though, since they're comfortable, set up quickly, and keep you well above the cold ground. Since they take up so much space they are sometimes problematic to use in smaller tents, though they're perfect for family-sized or wall tents.

Hammocks are another alternative to camp beds, and with the right rain fly a good hammock can even replace your entire tent. They pack small and light so they're great for backpackers, and an effective rain fly can be made of a small tarp and a few pieces of rope. Be aware though, since the hammock allows all escaping heat to be absorbed by the surrounding air hammocks are not a good choice for cold-weather camping.

Camping beds in any shape and form are designed to keep you off the cold, hard ground. The kind of camping bed that you will need (or want) will depend on the kind of camping you do. All in all they are designed to make your sleep that much more pleasant and reduce the sore neck or back that you may have from sleeping on the ground, so that you can wake up refreshed and with enough energy to face the great outdoors.