10 Best Camping Beds UK 2023 (An Expert Buyer’s Guide)

Finding the best camping bed can be hard. There are loads to choose from and a lot of them seem almost the exact same.

So I’ve put together this guide to cut through the noise and give you exactly what you need to know so you can find the best camp bed for you. Where you need one for a tent, the house or a camp bed with a little extra back support.

Check out the table below for a quick rundown of what’s been reviewed and just click the name to go to Amazon and order yours.

Top 5 Best Camping Beds Reviewed

1. Best Camp Bed For A Tent – King Camp Ultralight Folding Cot Bed

For a tent or any sort of camping, you’re going to want a lightweight, easy to pack away camp bed, but you also don’t want it to be too tall so it fits comfortably inside your tent.

The King Camp is just that and more. It packs down to an easy to manage 36 x 13 x 13 cm so will pack away nicely and only weight 2.2 kg so you won’t be weighed down even if you have to walk for your camp spot.

It doesn’t have any thermal insulation so you might want to get a roll mat to put on top, but if you don’t tend to get cold or you’re camping in the warmer summer months you’ll be fine. It’s certainly comfortable enough without a roll mat if you don’t want to take one, you’re sure to get a good night’s sleep.

It sits nice and low so will fit comfortably inside of a tent. And for the price, it’s an absolute steal!

Available in a range of colours too if you don’t like the black.

Overall a fantastic camp bed.

2. Best Camping Bed For Bad Back – TF Gear Fully Padded Giant Bed Chair

This camping bed provides excellent support for your back and will be the comfiest camp bed you’ve ever slept on. It’s extra wide and padded with adjustable feet, actually meant for fishing but the fully sprung nature of the bed makes it perfect for people with a bad back.

It isn’t much good if you’re heading out on long-distance camping trips or backpacking because it’s about 12 kg and only folds up into a rectangle. But it’ll still fit into a tent on a campsite or it’d make a comfortable guest bed in the house.

It’s got four pairs of legs for maximum support and it holds up to 25 stone in weight, about 160 kg, so pretty much everyone will be comfortable.

Whether you’re fishing, fitting out an extra bed at home, or you’re driving out to a campsite this is an excellent choice of camping bed for a bad back.

3. Best Double Camping Bed – Outwell Folding Double Camp Bed

Now the biggest downside to this bed is the bar that runs down the middle. Necessary for support if you have a raised bed but does prevent anybody contact if there’s two of you in there.

It’s just what you have to deal with in a raised double camp bed like this one. So if you’re looking for something more intimate check out the one below.

That said, it’s a great raised and foldable camp bed, 100 kg each side is plenty to sleep soundly knowing it won’t explode out from under you and the 9 legs keep the whole thing stable.

It’s a sturdy build to keep your camping trip going smoothly, it weighs 13.5 kg but for a double camp bed that’s really light. Simple to put up and comfy to sleep on. If you were using it at home you could throw a memory foam mattress topper on it and it’d be even more luxurious.

Overall, a good double camp bed but the bar down the middle is something to be aware of.

4. Best Camping Bed For Couples – Self-Inflating Double Air Bed Sleeping Mat

The mat self-inflates by taking off the valve and it draws air into it, but to get it fully firm you’ll need to top it up manually, just a couple of extra big puffs should do the trick no need for a foot pump or a heavy electric pump.

It’s 3 cm thick which is enough to keep you up without feeling the ground underneath but does leave it with a really firm feel.

When it’s deflated it rolls up nicely and fits into a carry bag, it weighs around 2.3 kg so it’s nice and light if you were going to take it backpacking.

Mainly, it’s ideal for couples because there’s no middle barrier and no weight limit so could hold up even with two people on one side.

Overall, the best camping bed for couples, loads of space to move and strong enough for two while being a comfortable sleep surface.

5. Best Camping Bed For Guests – Jay-Be Single Folding Bed

This is probably the comfiest camping bed on the list, but it is also the least useful for camping! Irony at work.

But if you need a camp bed to use as a spare guest bed then it’s ideal. It folds up with the mattress onto a set of four wheels so you can roll it into the cupboard.

8 legs keep it very balanced and the slats are nice and wide which keeps the mattress propped up so you can stay comfortable. Plus it’s got a headboard to keep your pillow on the bed and to make it feel even less like a camping mattress and more like a regular mattress.

Overall, a great single bed to have in the house, comfortable and practical.

Click here to read the full Jay-Be Folding Bed Review

Camping Bed FAQ

Here’s a little something you should consider before buying a camping bed.

CAMP BED VS AIR MATTRESS

Which do you think would be better for you?

Air mattresses are great. After all, they tend to be lighter because they don’t have legs and are a lot more compact.

The problem is some can deflate through the night, you also need to faff about with a pump and possibly even need electricity.

Now camp beds, on the other hand, tend to have a little more support, they’re warmer if you’re in a tent because heat can go straight through an air bed and into the ground. But some of them are heavier and can be a lot bulkier if you’re going camping.

I just talk about camping beds in this article but for those interested, I have a separate article on the Best Air Beds worth checking out. Some even have legs for the best of both worlds!

HOW HEAVY IS IT

If your looking for the best camp bed for a tent then the weight is more of an issue that if you’re looking for one for a guest bed.

You might not be walking far with it but you’ll still have to carry it some distance even if it’s just from your car to the campsite. Now if you’re wheeling it out the cupboard it’s not as much of an issue.

The only time where heavier could be better is if you have a bad back. You’ll want a camp bed with lots of back support and that normally involves some sort of mattress and a hefty frame. Luckily I’ve found one of the few exceptions to that! It’s in a review further down.

HOW EASILY DOES IT PACK AWAY

Whether you’re camping or just using it at home a camp bed has to be super easy to put up and down. You don’t want to have spent all your time fiddling with stiff latches you can’t see under torchlight.

Other Camp Beds Reviewed

Kid-O-Bunk Children’s Portable Mobile Camping Bed Review

These are the perfect kids camping beds, you can use them as bunk beds or two single beds depending on what your kids need and what sort of space you have available.

Ideal for taking to grandparents houses or away camping, although they’re on the heavy side to carry a long distance, if you’re car camping you’ll be fine, however.

They are comfortable without a mattress and they’re low enough that you don’t need a ladder to get to the top bunk, but they’re strong made that there’s zero chance of collapsing.

A really fun way to get your kids excited about camping, you’ll just need to alternate who gets the top bunk to avoid any fights!

iNeibo Self Inflating Sleeping Mat Review

This camping pad is made with a foam that self inflates which you top up with a few deep breaths to firm it up, no air pump needed. Keeps you up off the ground for a really warm layer in cold weather and stops you feeling any rocks or uneven terrain underneath you.

It rolls up into a small bag like a sleeping bag, so of course like a sleeping bag it never quite goes in the same again but it does get there. Fits inside a mummy-style sleeping bag and it’s ultralightweight weighing just under 1 kg perfect for hiking or wild camping.

I know when you’re heading out you don’t want to take too much camping gear so this is a perfect addition to your arsenal whether you’re a seasoned camper or just starting out and building up your camping supplies.

One tip if you decide this is the best camping bed for you is to keep it unrolled while you’re storing it, this stops it getting smelly and keeps it working great year after year.

AllRight Single Folding Camping Bed

This is a military-style camping cot, it’s got 6 legs and isn’t the sturdiest but it’s cheap, cheerful, not too heavy at 5.5 kg and folds up into a travel bag like a camping chair.

You can fold it up and down quickly for quick set up if it’s raining and it’s waterproof in case it gets a little wet while you’re setting up. I wouldn’t recommend using it outside the tent in the rain though!

It’s just a simple to use cot, it’s sturdy and works well enough, so if you need a cheap camping chair then this is an excellent choice.

JÖKEL Sleeping Mat Ultralight Inflatable Camping Mattress

This is really easy to use, you just unroll it from its stuff sack, lay it out, and blow it up manually with 10-15 breathes and you’ve got a warm supportive sleeping pad.

I like this one because it’s been developed in the harsh Swedish winters for maximum effectivity and it comes with a repair kit just in case you should get stuck and end up with a hole in it. It’s made with durable ripstop nylon so a hole is unlikely but if you pack it wrong with your knife it’s good to have the peace of mind.

You also get a free sleep mask to help you sleep in those long summer days, I’m fairly far north in Scotland so the hours of actual dark in the height of summer are minimal, a sleep mask is ideal.

Plus you can get your money back if you don’t like it!

FE Active Compact Folding Cot

This is another great camping bed for a tent, it’s got a very low profile being only 17 cm tall and it’s 190 cm long so will fit pretty much anybody on it.

It’s got 5 pairs of legs for maximum support across your whole body so no sagging hips or shoulders that can lead you to having a sore back.

Ideal for backpackers, a high-quality camping bed that will fit comfortably inside a tend and keep you up off the ground for a better night’s sleep.

Conclusion – The best camping bed!

And there you have it! I bet you didn’t know you could find out so much about a camping bed, but now you do!

I’ve tried to include a range of camping beds so everyone can find the one they need but if you didn’t please let me know in the comments below what you’re looking for and I can try and help.

It’s with your help that I keep these guides up to date and useful so feedback is always appreciated!

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