June 07 2011
Camping Mattress – A Bed for Everyone
A modern camping mattress makes the idea of a family camping trip an exciting option even for less than enthusiastic campers in your family. If you are one who enjoys time in the great outdoors, camping may be a passion for you.
One of the biggest benefits in the camping experience is the multitude of options available as accommodations. State parks across the country have small rustic cabins you can rent. These may be one room enclosures or may be one or even two bedroom styles with a small kitchen and living area. Almost always such a cabin will have a screened porch or a deck looking out over the trees or the water.
Long time campers have their own version of a cabin in rolling trailers and vehicles with every comfort of home. It’s a great way to travel. Campgrounds have a reputation for friendliness that you won’t find when staying in a motel. People are always willing to give directions or help you out, your kids will have other children to meet and play with. Campgrounds are well know for their friendly neighborhood atmosphere.
Pros
Renting a cabin is often an option for parents of very young children or for retirees who make infrequent camping trips. The price is usually about the same as a standard motel room and there is plenty of outdoor space you won’t find with a commercial lodging.
In the larger parks, the cabin area is usually supplied with a limited access entry which adds to the safety factor and keeps the traffic down in the area. The beds will have mattresses in place but some travelers prefer to also bring their own inflatable mattress or foam pad to increase the comfort of a cabin bed. Others use their own camping pad to avoid sleeping on a mattress that may have been used by many other people.
Whether staying in a cabin in a state park or driving your own luxury camper, you will have a better trip with a good mattress to sleep on.
If you like roughing it you may choose a simple tent for shelter when camping. This is the choice most likely to generate complaints from other family members. For a wife or teen who enjoy their comfort, sleeping on the ground holds little appeal.
A camping mattress can convince your family to try a weekend campout they might otherwise avoid. Knowing they can have a comfortable bed removes one big objection to tent camping. For backpack campers, some type of padding is almost a necessity after a long day of hiking and carrying a heavy pack.
Cons
The type of camping mattress you choose must suit the type of camping you plan to do. If you have a van or truck that can be loaded down with your tent and other supplies, you can choose from a wide choice of mattress types.
If you are planning a trip backpacking through the wilderness, the size and weight of your camping mattress are of the utmost concern. Every item added to the backpack increases the weight you must carry. This dictates an inflatable mattress as the best choice for backpackers. A thin, lightweight foam pad is another option as this can be rolled with the backpack and tied to the top of the pack frame.
Price is not a huge consideration when choose camp bedding. Unless you are looking for a specialized or luxury product, prices are reasonable and competitive.
Features
An inflatable camping mattress is always a good choice. Today’s air mattresses often have a built-in air pump to both inflate and deflate the mattress. You can unfold your air mattress and have it ready to use in just a few minutes. In the morning you can be folding it up again seconds after you wake up.
The quality of the air pump for these mattresses is critical. If this is your choice you should buy the best quality you can afford and pay special attention to the manufacturer’s reputation for reliability.
Of course, the big problem with an inflatable is the likelihood of punctures to the surface of the product. There are patches available to fix small leaks and use of a ground cloth will help avoid punctures as well.
For smaller children, there is an inflatable air mattress designed to help them stay in the bed and reduce the risk of rolling off the surface. In this product, there is a separate air chamber about 6-8” wide around all sides of the mattress. This area inflates slightly higher than the sleeping surface in the center and provides a soft rail to help keep children safe. This mattress is also a good option when staying in a rustic cabin as often beds in the cabins are bunk sized which might pose a risk of small children falling off during the night.
Camping mattresses fall under several categories in consumer products. They may be listed as sleeping pads or air beds or foam pads. If you have a pickup truck or a long van you use for family trips you can find a mattress specifically designed to fill the cargo space and turn it into a large bed. The more detailed your requirements are for features you need, the higher the price will go.
A camping mattress can be used for more than simple camping trips. If you travel for long hours on car trips you can find small mattresses that will make it easier for children to sleep in the back seat of your car. If your dog goes everywhere with you a travel mattress made of foam with a sturdy cover will provide a soft place for your pup to sleep in the back of your SUV.
Summary
A camping mattress may be anything from a 1” thick memory foam pad to an air bed. It can also be a more standard mattress of about 4” thick if you have the space to carry it to a camping spot. Your mattress may do double duty if you choose one that will cushion the back seat of a car of the cargo bay in your van.
These products are easy to find in camping stores and online. Consider durability, easy of use, weight and cost – and sleep well when camping.
