READ NEXT: The best inflatable tents to buy The best air mattresses and sleeping pads you can buy in 2023 1. Snugpak Air Mat with Built-in Foot Pump: Best lightweight easy inflation air mattress Price – as you’d expect the price of a product can be an instantly recognisable factor on what sort of quality you can expect. Whoever came up with the phrase “you get what you pay for” pretty much hit the nail on the head. Whilst it’s not always the case and there are many bargains to be had, you can as a general rule, expect the higher priced products to offer better quality than a the cheapest option. We’ll dive into the price of Hi-Gear Dream 5 Double Self-Inflating Mattress in more detail in a moment.

When buying Self Inflating Mats, the quality of the product is going to be one of the factors that you really scrutinise before you commit to buying. Some air beds come with a patch kit, which typically includes an adhesive, applicator and patches that match your air bed material. However if you don’t have this kit to hand, you can either buy one (taking into consideration the colour and material of your mattress) or fashion something yourself. Substitutes for a patch include some kind of thin, plastic material, such as part of a shower curtain liner – and you’ll want to use a strong glue as your adhesive, so your DIY work dries tight.

How to repair a punctured air bed

The Touchxel seemed a little noisier than the average air bed I tested, but this may be down to the fact that at the time of inflation it was late and I was tired. It’s constructed with 42 air coils for comfort, but I found the grooves on the top layer a little less inviting than some of the more streamlined designs. These grooves do provide grip, however, and kept me securely in place during the night. Give the mat a good hose down and leave in the sunshine to completely dry. The sun should naturally bleach out any stains. That got us thinking though, that we’re looking at every possible item from Hi-Gear so it would be good to narrow our search down even further and only look at Hi-Gear branded products within the Self Inflating Mats category. The cost of Hi-Gear Self Inflating Mats The best air mattress will make sure you sleep well outdoors, and if you’re planning on camping regularly, it’s the single most important piece of kit, aside from your tent. After all, a holiday isn’t much fun if you’re not getting proper rest, especially if you’re spending a week running around with free-ranging kids. I may not have my priorities right, but the first thing I wanted to do when inflating the Intex was to give it a stroke. Its top layer of wonderfully smooth fabric feels good to touch. Team that with the vertical lines spanning the bed’s length, and the Intex looks and feels very enticing to sleep on.

Air chambers: Air beds with vertical air chambers are more comfortable because they work to distribute the weight. It’s worth noting that while air chambers that run side to side look more comfortable, they can sag when you lie down.What makes air beds worth it is the far better quality of sleep they offer by elevating you properly off the ground. They also allow you to eschew sleeping bags in favour of proper sheets, pillows and duvets to make camping far comfier. A good air bed is also a great investment for putting guests up in comfort at home. The downside to buying online is that you can’t actually get hold of the product to try it out first. If you find it hard to get in and out of bed, look for a high raised air bed design. The self-inflating air beds we tried go up to 48cm in height at the pillow end, compared to thinner camping-focused designs that can be just 16cm in height. Do air beds feel cold to sleep on? There are however some methods that you can use to determine a product’s quality without needing to physically have it. Most manufacturers advise that children under eight should not sleep on an air bed. Each design will also have a maximum weight capacity for the user. The Bestway Fortech design has a total weight capacity of 350kg (55 stone), for example.

We’re really pleased to have scored Hi-Gear Dream 5 Double Self-Inflating Mattress so highly, givimg it 8.1 out of 10, making it well above the average for all Self Inflating Mats. Then unroll the mattress and repeat option 2, which will allow any air left in the mattress to leave it. Luxurious comfort for two. You need a double 12cm or 10cm self inflating sleep mat. Great for family holidays, romantic getaways, touring holidays. There’s so much information available online when we’re shopping now, that it’s easy to find lots of detail about products like Hi-Gear Dream 5 Double Self-Inflating Mattress. This is of course really helpful, but there’s almost too much information available, so it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for.Use a 50:50 white vinegar and water mix to safely disinfect your self inflating sleeping mattress. Then sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda and leave for a few days to remove the smell. Need help finding the perfect self inflating air camping mat? Or want to know more about how they work? This handy guide covers everything from what’s on offer to how to repair them. As with all ‘self-inflating’ designs, you will need to give it a couple of top-up blows to fully inflate it, even if you have left for a while to expand, but it’s not a big issue. The valves appear well made, the seams all feel secure, and the plush brushed-top finish is quiet and comfortable with a nice amount of grip for your sleeping bag. We’d be happy to use it as a put-me-up bed at home too. How to choose the best air mattress or sleeping pad for you What key features should I look out for? Much like the Dreamboat Double from Outwell, this mattress is not compact or lightweight, but what you lose in portability, you gain in plush, 10cm-deep foam padding and a generous layer of air.