Advantages of Using an Air Mattress on Your Next Camping Trip

Camping is generally viewed by many people to be a difficult, hard and rough endeavour. From hiking on foot for kilometres over rugged terrain, through vegetation that is often difficult to traverse, at the mercy of unpredictable weather and with the possibility of encountering the local fauna, all while having to carry your own food and other supplies.

Although, many people would love to leave the urban jungle and their busy lives far behind and head into a real jungle to connect with nature, the thought ofstruggling and straining through an arduous camping expedition deters most prospective campers. However, this blog post hopes to assuage the fears of exactly those people. 

There is constant research, development and innovation happening in the camping gear manufacturing industry with constant improvements being made in camping gear designs with usability and campers’ comfort taking centre stage.If you are an ardent camper who loves going on frequent escapades in nature or if you are a newcomer to this recreational activity, someone who wants to experience the wonders of the natural world in New Zealand, then purchasing an air bed in New Zealand, also known as an air mattress in NZ, should be at the top of your list. 

The Benefits of Investing in an Air Mattress

 

• Comfort:

  The feel of an air bed in NZ or an air mattress in NZ will remind you of your own bed at home. Air mattresses are soft and often have a velvet-like flocked surface which makes sleeping on them feel very comforting, eliminating the need for any sort of bedding. Also, compared to sleeping bags, which generally have very little space to move around in and have to be placed on the ground, air beds come in various sizes such that even a single size air bed allows the camper to move or roll around quite freely.
  Additionally, air beds are inflated mattresses and therefore keep the camper off the cold, hard ground, away from insects and reptiles that might potentiallysting or bite. Also, when the temperature plummets, because the air bed keeps one off the ground, it helps to insulate the sleeper from the cold earth. 

• Adjustable:

  The firmness of an air mattress in NZ can be adjusted according to your preference. If you want a very firm air bed in NZ, you can inflate it to capacity or if you want the air bed to be softer, you can let out some of the air or inflate it to the firmness of your liking. Most good quality air beds in NZ are also designed to provide great spinal support. 

• Simple and easy to use and maintain:

  Air mattresses are very straightforward to pack, inflate, deflate, clean and put away, such that first-time campers and even small children find them to be effortless. Unlike a camping bed, which has a metal frame and needs to be set up or a hammock which needs to be tied using strong ropes at a suitable place, air beds do not really require any setup.
  They just need to be inflated, using a manual air pump or the built-in self-inflate button. They can also be easily deflated by opening the valves and then rolled-up and packed away. Cleaning air mattresses are also a breeze because most air beds are made from polyvinyl chloride plastic and can be wiped with a wet cloth and then air-dried before putting them away. 

• Does not require much storage space:

  A deflated air mattress does not require a lot of space. It can be rolled from one end to the other and then packed into its carry bag. At home, the deflated air mattress should be washed and air-dried occasionally when needed and then rolled up and put into the bag or box that it comes in. 

• Does not weigh very much:

  Air beds that need to be inflated using external manual pumps weight around 2kg to 3 kg, whereas air mattresses with built-in pumps tend to weigh a lot more at about 9kg to 12kg.Camping beds in NZ, due to their metal parts, generally weigh more than a self-inflating air mattress in NZ. Also, weighty air beds often come with their own built-in pillows. So, if one wants to travel light, or if one is hiking, then an air bed that inflates manually will be the ideal choice. Whereas, if weight is not really a major concern or if the camper has a car or a recreational vehicle, then one can always opt for the self-inflating variety to make one’s life easier. 

• Available in very many sizes:

  Sleeping bags, hammocks and camping beds in NZ are generally designed to accommodate a single person. Therefore, if one likes to go camping in large groups with a lot of friends or family members, then a lot of individual sleeping bags or camping beds need to be carried along which will take up more space and will require longer to setup. Air beds, on the other hand, come in various sizes to satisfy any camper’s needs. They are available in the NZ market in single, double, twin, queen and king sizes and depending on the number of people in a group and the size of their tents, campers can choose whichever size is appropriate for them. 

• Made of sturdy and long-lasting materials:

  Most air beds in NZ are made of strong and durable PVC. No matter how many times they are inflated, deflated, rolled and unrolled, the material does not permanently crease or develop weak points that can tear. Also, a lot of high-quality air beds are made with reinforced material such that they don’t get punctured even after coming in contact with particularly sharp rocks or twigs. Some slightly cheaper air mattresses in NZ generally come with a repair kit, which allows a camper to easily patch up his or her air bed in case it gets punctured. Additionally, air beds do not get deformed like foam mattresses, even if used for a very long time. 

• Affordable:

  There are very many designs of air beds in the New Zealand market, to fit every budget. From the high-end, plush, flocked self-inflating air mattresses with built-in pillows to the simple yet functional manually inflatable air beds, there is something for everyone at various price points. 

Final take:

 

Your camp sleeping gear can make or break your camping trip. The quality of your camp bed will determine whether you wake up the next day, well rested, refreshed and ready to face a new day of adventures or whether you will be low on energy,cranky and grumpy. There is no better feeling than crashing on a soft and comfortable bed in camp after a long and tiring day of partaking in numerous strenuous activities in nature. An air bed in NZ or an air mattress in NZ would be your best bet if you value a good night’s sleep while roughing it out in the wilderness.

At Dwight’s, we understand our customers’ needs and pain points and our staff are trained to carefully listen to our patrons and help them pick the perfect gear. We are a hands-on, family-run business, going strong since 1979. We are big on camping gear innovation and quality manufacturing under our direct supervision and every single product on sale at our store is meticulously tested out by us to ensure 100% customer satisfaction. Come, visit us at one of our stores or visit our online shop and we promise we will make sure you find the best air bed in New Zealand that ticks off all criteria on your checklist. 

Frequently Asked Questions  

What are the advantages of an air mattress? 

An air mattress in NZ is a comfortable, insulating, durable, easy to use, easy to maintain and portable piece of camp gear and is available at various price points depending on the features that it offers. It is an essential item if a camper deems superior quality sleep while camping to be a high priority. 

Is an air mattress necessary for camping? 

There are various types of camping gear that one can consider for sleeping purposes, such as hammocks, camping beds in NZ, sleeping mats, air beds and so on. However, if one prefers gear that is comfortable, affordable, portable, easy to maintain, long-lasting, easy to setup, use and pack, then an air mattress in NZ becomes an absolute necessity. 

What are the benefits of camp beds? 

Camp beds generally consist of a sturdy metal frame with a piece of canvas stretched over it. They are foldable and portable and can be a very comfortable option especially if combined with an air bed on top. If you do not prefer sleeping on the ground or if you have mobility issues, then a camp bed is an ideal choice as it keeps one off the cold, hard ground and away from insects and reptiles. Another advantage of using a camp bed is that one can store other camp gear or belongings in the space under thebed leading to the efficient use of camp or tent space.