An air mattress is a sleeping device that consists of a person-sized air-bladder that can be inflated or deflated at the need of its user. If you are preparing to go on a camping trip, than these useful items should be one of the first things you should look into. While there are a lot of different things that can be useful on your trip, due to the fact that it is lightweight and portable, an air mattress has a range of advantages over other kinds of sleeping materials like sleeping bags  or thin mats. Furthermore there are a range of different types, makes, brands, models, and prices which means that finding the one that suits your particular need should not be too difficult.

Types of Air Mattresses

Air Mattresses come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and uses. While permanent air mattresses that are designed as regular beds do exist, most kinds of air mattresses are highly portable. In fact, even a queen size permanent air mattress may only way 30-35 pounds when fully deflated. Among portable kinds of air mattresses that are suitedfor camping, these can range in size from child-size to extra-long adult mattresses. They can also vary in thickness from full-sized models that can fit into the bed of a truck to 2 inch thick air pads that can be carried in a back-pack and are meant for sleeping on the ground.

What to Look for in Air Mattresses

When you are shopping around for an air mattress, there are a myriad of things you should keep in mind. The first thing you must decide is whether you want one that inflates automatically and/or has an internal pump or whether you would prefer one with an external and/or manual pump. While internal and automatic pumps may be the easiest and most convenient to use, they also tend to be the hardest to deal with if the pump breaks. For this reason, if you do decide to go with a auto-filling model or one with an internal pump, it is in your best interest to get one that is from an established brand that has a solid warranty period. For these models trying to replace the broken pump can be exceedingly difficult if you go with an off-brand. Manual Pumps and external pumps on the other hand may be more work to use, but they are also easily and readily replaceable if they break down.

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An air mattress is a great investment if you planning a camping trip as they are lightweight and portable. Additionally, compared to other kinds of portable sleeping devices, such as sleeping bags or thin mats, their ability to inflate or deflate to your exact need makes them more adaptable as well. Air mattresses are also easy to find and readily available at most camping stores. Websites such as http://www.thecampingdepot.com also offer a wide selection to choose from.