Versatile, portable and quite possibly comfier than you’d expect, a quality camping bed could give you and yours a better night’s sleep – whether that’s while you’re out camping or when guests are staying over.
Join us as we review ten excellent camping beds that will provide comfort and convenience, at home or under canvas.
Deciding on which camping bed to buy is just as much a personal matter as choosing the best mattress for you. The dimensions for all our featured camp beds are available via the “Buy it now” links accompanying each review.
Key factors affecting comfort include the material used in the bed surface. How does it feel, and is there much give? Another factor is size so try to ensure the sleeping area is sufficiently long and wide with enough room left over for the odd toss and turn.
It’s also important to ensure the weight and packed-down dimensions of the bed are right for you. A big, heavy bed would not be the best bet for a camping holiday on which you’re planning to get around on foot; nor would it be a great choice if storage space in your home is at a premium. Also, if you’re going to use it while camping, make sure it fits inside your tent!
Finally, it’s worth giving a thought to how easy the bed will be to put up and take down. None of the models featured here require much effort, but some take more than others.
All the products reviewed in this article can be used either at home or under canvas – though factors such as comfort, size, weight and style will affect their suitability for each situation.
Regatta – Ramona
Best for: comfort and convenience
This was hands down our favourite camp bed of the bunch. Tipping the scales at just 3.5kg, it is supremely portable, and could easily be taken trekking in its neat carry bag. Its steel poles and black-and-seal-grey cover look sleek enough to grace a guest room, too.
For such a simple, affordable product, the Ramona is brilliantly comfortable, with a soft polyester surface and more bounce than most other camp beds. It takes a bit of effort to fit the poles – but that’s a small price to pay for the sheer comfort and space-efficiency of the design.
£28.29 | Regatta | Buy it now *Currently on sale
Kampa – Together Double Camp Bed
Best for: couples seeking a good (outdoor) night’s sleep
Sleeping on a camp bad needn’t mean sleeping apart from you partner – thanks to the Kampa Together double camp bed. Ingeniously, it folds out just as easily as a single camp bed of similar design to create a sleeping space built for two.
The structure of the Together – with a bar running in-between the sleepers – effectively splits the bed into two parts, which helps prevent one person’s movements from disturbing the other’s sleep.
It’s very easy to put up, though it is heavier than some other models. That shouldn’t be a problem for campers with cars, or those using the Together as a guest bed.
£59.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Grand Canyon – Extra Strong Camping Bed (Long)
Best for: space and support
An extra big, extra strong camping bed in the All-American mould, made by Danish manufacturer Grand Canyon.
At 210cm, its exceptionally long – which will be great for tall people, but not for small tents. The sleeping surface is a full 42cm off the ground, which will be a help for those who struggle with mobility.
Despite its size and toughness, Grand Canyon’s bed is light, comfortable and very easy to put up – a balancing act made possible by its reinforced aluminium frame. With so much space and support for so little time, storage space and effort, this is one of the best beds of the bunch.
£74.16 | Amazon | Buy it now
Kid-O-Bunk – Kids Bunk Set
Best for: a real treat for the kids
After careful consultation with our inner child, we’re going to come straight out and say the parents amongst you absolutely *must* buy the Kids Bunk Set from Kid-O-Bunk.
Kid-O-Bunk’s fabulous creation can be configured as a bunk bed, a pair of single beds, or a couch – ample variety to keep your little campers entertained. The option to use the set as a pair of single beds will be invaluable if someone finds themselves needing some space.
This bed doesn’t come cheap, and with a set-up time of 10-15 minutes, it is harder work than most. However, the fun it can provide should be well worth it.
£249.99 | Argos | Buy it now
Campart Travel – BE-0641 Field Bed
Best for: a quality mid-range option
We’re big fans of this smart, foldable camp bed from Dutch manufacturer Campart. Its navy and grey design makes it quite possibly the most stylish looking of all our featured camp beds.
This camp bed gets the thumbs up for ease-of-use and comfort, too, thanks to its familiar, fold-out mechanism and 600D polyester surface. The bed’s steel frame is powder coated to prevent rusting, which will come in very handy if you plan on using it to sleep under the stars in dewy conditions.
Holds up to 120kg and is 190cm long when folded out – so a sound choice for taller campers.
£52.50 | Amazon | Buy it now
Coleman – Extra Durable Raised Airbed
Best for: air mattress aficionados
Some campers will always insist an airbed provides a comfier night’s sleep – and the Coleman Extra Durable Raised Airbed may well prove their point. Rising a full 47cm off the ground, it provides plenty of support and is perfectly easy to get onto and up from.
A common quibble about double air mattresses is how one person’s movements can affect the other. Coleman have covered that eventuality, by fitting the bed with 32 “air springs” that provide support zonally.
As efficient as it is outstandingly comfortable, the Extra Durable Raised Airbed can be rolled up and packed away manageably when not in-use.
£110 | Cotswold Outdoor | Buy it now
Mountain Warehouse – Camping Bed
Best for: bargain hunters
This simple, navy camping bed from Mountain Warehouse offers unbeatable value-for-money. 180cm long and 60cm wide, it can comfortably accommodate most builds – and once you’ve finished using it, it packs down fantastically small.
Along with the Regatta Ramona, this model is one of the best options to take on a multi-day trek. It’s exceptionally light, weighing in at just 3kg, and can be carried individually in its bag or in a rucksack. If you’re looking to make your next walking holiday more comfortable without breaking the bank, this would be an excellent choice.
£14.99 | Mountain Warehouse | Buy it now
Enkeeo – Rainbow Striped Portable Hammock
Best for: tree hanging comfort
Enkeeo’s portable hammock has a totally different look and feel to other beds we’ve reviewed – but for the right person, it could play a similar role in a more appealing way. Slung between tree limbs on a campsite, or between poles in a guest room, it provides comparable comfort to even the best of camp beds (this is a subjective point, but we think it might be the most restful of all).
Despite weighing barely over a kilogram itself, Enkeeo’s hammock can support up to 210kg – enough for a holidaying couple or a gaggle of kids. The only downside? You almost certainly can’t hang it from your tent poles.
£39.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
KingCamp – Ultralite compact folding camp cot
Best for: taking on a trek
Here’s a serious piece of kit from Californian maker KingCamp.
The ultralite camping cot is the most efficient model we’ve encountered. It’s easy to pitch, it packs down small, and can take a surprisingly high load of up to 120kg.
All this is not to say the Ultralite is all about raw efficiency. With standout features including anti-slip elastic straps and a pillow bag that can be stuffed with the carry bag to form a pillow, it goes further than others to cater for your comfort.
If you’re a serious trekker and are willing to spend a little extra to shave some weight off your inventory, look no further.
£79.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
JRC – Defender Levelbed Bedchair
Best for: maximum support
Looking for something sturdier and more spacious? This is the one. Essex-based brand JRC specialises in building equipment for anglers – and the fact they cater for people who need to stay still for a very long time does seem to shine through in this highly comfortable bedchair.
The Defender’s stout, steel frame supports up to 9.4kg, with a sleeping surface 212cm long and 90cm wide. Use it as a flatbed, a chair, or a very pleasant halfway house. Thanks to its fold-flat mudfeet, it’s especially well-suited for outdoor use.
£102 | Amazon | Buy it now
Verdict:
We’re sticking to our guns and naming the Regatta Ramona our ES Best pick. It’s nimble enough to take trekking, smart-looking enough to impress your guests, and to top it off, it’s tremendously good value-for-money.
