How to Keep Air Mattress Warm When Camping (9 Easy Ways)

An air mattress is a popular mattress for camping or traveling which is lightweight and easy to carry.

Air mattress gives comfort from bumpy grounds while you are in camp.

But there is a problem, air mattresses are not well insulated and can leave you very cold in the middle of the night.

If you are using an air mattress in winter then get ready to be frozen.

So is there any way to warm your air mattress during the cold night? Yes, there are lots of ways to keep air mattresses warm when you are on camp.

But the simplest answer would be if you place something under an air mattress then it can be a lifesaver for you.

It also helps you to stay warm at night and also protects you from hard & bumpy ground while you are camping.

Lots of people want to keep something under an air mattress to keep it from dirt, sand, and all types of debris.

sleeping in Sleeping Bag is the easiest and best way to keep warm when campaign.

Coolzon Lightweight Backpacking Sleeping Bag (Popular & Highly Rated)

First upon we need to discuss why you are freezing all night on an air mattress. Then we will talk about how to keep air mattresses warm when camping.

Why are air mattresses are called air mattresses? Because they are filled with air. 

The air comes in a contact with your body and the air from the mattress absorbs heat from your body and the air starts getting hotter.

Because most of the air mattresses are made from plastic materials so they don’t have insulation but because of that heat exchange makes the air hotter but the heat makes the air inside the mattress move and gives you freezing cold air.

And air mattresses are not designed to sleep in cold weather, they are portable, easy to carry, easy to set up & pack similar to a cot.

However, sleeping pads are a type of insulated air mattress and they are specially designed for camping and backpacking use.

Let’s get to the point of how to keep an air mattress warm when camping, so there are lots of tricks and hacks to warm your air mattress and sleep comfortably.

How to keep air mattress warm when camping (9 ways to keep air mattress warm)

The main idea behind how to warm your air mattress is simple you need to separate your body from being in contact with a cold air mattress.

Here are some ways to make your air mattress warm and comfortable to sleep in.

These all are proven ways to make your air bed warmer you can combine at least 2 or 3 of them.

Layering blankets and sheets between you and your air mattress is an effective solution to make your air bed warmer.

Sheets/ blankets can keep your body away from the cold air mattress, the thicker the blankets or sheets the better for you to sleep warm.

This trick is simple and you can implement this trick right now without buying anything, but it is a temporary fix.

The best solution to this problem is to get a well-insulated sleeping pad, 

In this way, you can get the comfort of a regular air mattress and the isolation of a sleeping pad and you can put this on top of your air mattress.

And they are also called foam mattress toppers.

You get the highest R-value rating from a foam topper/sleeping pad, 

Not all Sleeping bags are the same, if you buy a normal sleeping bag then you feel like you are sleeping on the floor.

But some sleeping bags are specially designed for cold weather and winter camping.

They are great for your body heat so you can simply sleep in the sleeping bag on top of your air mattress and you have solved your problem so you can sleep warm now.

This is a very cheap and easy solution, it’s a great trick if you are going to camp and don’t want to bring sheets with you.

These things can be a lifesaver if you do camp regularly, you can just place them on top of your air mattress and can turn them into a serviceable bed.

There are various types of toppers you can use for keeping air mattress warm.

If you are a camper then you must need a mattress topper I wonder why you have an air mattress if you don’t have a mattress topper.

As I mentioned before you can use a memory foam topper but another option could be a thermal topper or a mattress pad.

The reflective metallic insulation is designed to capture your body heat and keep you warm naturally.

Another simplest and logical solution to keep you warm is to wear some extra layers of clothes, this will help you to insulate from your cold air mattress.

But this trick has its flaws too for some people who can’t sleep until they sleep naked.

Another issue is outside temperature might not be cold enough to justify wearing extra clothes, but if the outside temperature is cold then, 

Be sure you use gloves and socks because these are the areas your body losses lots of heat.

If you Love memory foam mattresses then See Memory Foam Mattress for Camping

A heater is the best way to get your tent nice and cozy before you sleep, just turn on the heater and wait for heating up then you are ready for comfortable sleep.

This trick is best if you are sleeping inside of a tent.

The heater can be the best option for camping in cold but this method is not simple heater can be one more add up when you are going to camp.

you can also fill up a bottle with hot water they will keep you warm in cold.

Or you can check this heating pad.

If you prefer to add more heat to your blankets or cover rather than underneath your mattress then an electric blanket is the best way to do this.

They are made for keeping you warm in cold weather. They are warm, compact and very useful if you are sleeping in cold weather.

but like a heating pad, this also needs electric hookups to plugin also you need to be careful while using this in wetter weather situations.

there is also a battery-powered electric blanket like this one in amazon.

eating warm meals can be difficult for you to eat in cold weather but it’s worth it because nutrients and calories can help you to keep your body warm.

If you are spending time in the cold weather then try to increase your calorie intake and your dinner meal should be high in calorie and includes fat because this will keep your bodies metabolism active for a longer duration.

If you want to sleep in cold weather then you need to keep your body warm as soon as possible, these tips and tricks help you to stay warm in cold weather.

but if you want some additional heat or warmth then the camp fire would be the best idea for extra heat and temperature and I am sure you will get an amazing experience by doing this.

but you may say campfire in cold weather is not possible without hard work but you don’t have to hustle because this product saves your energy and hustle.

How to Stop Slipping off an Air Mattress Camping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsU02Wno2MQ

How To Insulate An Air Mattress For Cold-Weather Camping (4 Steps)

if you are going for cold-weather camping then your air mattress can become cold in that weather so you have to do whatever it takes to make your air matters warmer.

Step1: Insulate the bottom of the mattress

Your first step is to insulate your air mattress from the ground because an air mattress can absorb cold from the ground itself.

and this is what you can easily do with closed-cell foam mat.

Step2: Insulate the rest of the mattress

so now it’s time to insulate the rest of the mattress, if you have fitted sheets then it is the best option and this will help to keep the air inside the air mattress from cooling.

Step 3: Insulate yourself

if you are planning to sleep in cold weather on an air mattress then you also have to insulate yourself by wearing thick and warm clothes before going to sleep.

you can use thermal underwear, warm wool socks, sweatpants as well as a sweatshirt.

Step 4: Use a sleeping Bag

before you go to the camp, you need to determine first how cold it’s going to get while you camp in that weather, according to that you can choose your sleeping bag.

look for a sleeping bag that should be rated for 20 degrees and more.

in other words, let’s say if you are camping in 20-degree weather then you should go at least a +5 Fahrenheit degree bag

How NOT To Insulate An Air Mattress?

Experts suggest don’t waste your time and efforts putting something between the air mattress and the floor for insulation because the air mattress’s internal temperature still reaches that temperature that closely resembles the ambient temperature and you will be no better off

Staying warm on the air mattress and maintaining your body heat need to be your first priority.

and if you keep your body from being contacted by cold surfaces can maintain your body heat so you can’t get cold while you sleep.

and one of the best ways to keep your body warm in cold weather is to use a sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

How Not to Freeze on an Air Mat While Camping in the Cold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rj7GWWR70c

Are air mattresses good for camping in the cold?

There is no question air mattresses are easy to carry, lightweight, and portable, but air mattresses are not designed for sleeping in cold weather.

But insulation by the above methods you can use your air mattress in cold weather camping, again the idea here is to add some layers between you and your mattress to keep you warm.

The best way to keep your air mattress warm is to get an isolating sleeping pad, which you can also call a foam mattress topper.

You need to buy a topper with an R-value of 5 and also a cold-weather sleeping bag if you buy two of these then you don’t have to carry extra sheets and clothes.

Conclusion 

Sleeping on the air mattress alone in cold weather can feel like torture so you must need to use 2 or more tricks combined to keep your body warm during cold weather.

And it doesn’t matter if you are trying to improve the outdoor camping experience or if anything sleep is so important for us.

If we don’t get proper sleep then it can ruin your whole camping experience so you need to make your air mattress more comfortable.

FAQs: (frequently Asked Questions)

1. Do air mattresses make you cold camping?

yes, you can use air matters for cold camping as long as you use some smart strategies to keep your air mattress warm while you camp. Air mattresses are can be cooler than other types of mattresses but with proper insulation, you can keep air mattresses warm while camping.