YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress Review: The Unvarnished Truth About Its Comfort and Convenience

There’s a universal moment of dread every camper knows. It’s that 3 AM feeling when you wake up, not to the gentle sounds of nature, but to the cold, hard ground pressing into your hip. Your once-lofty air mattress has betrayed you, slowly deflating through the night and leaving you in a lumpy, taco-like fold of PVC. We’ve been there more times than we care to admit. This nocturnal disappointment can turn a refreshing outdoor adventure into a groggy, back-breaking ordeal. A reliable, comfortable, and easy-to-use air bed isn’t just a luxury; it’s the foundational piece of gear that dictates whether you wake up ready to hike a mountain or ready to pack up and go home. The search for a mattress that eliminates this common camping pitfall is what led us to test the YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress, a product that promises effortless setup and a restful night’s sleep.

What to Consider Before Buying an Air Bed

An air bed is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for a comfortable night’s sleep away from your own bed. Whether you’re hosting unexpected guests, heading to a festival, or embarking on a family camping trip, an inflatable mattress provides a portable and comfortable sleeping surface. Its main benefit lies in its ability to transform any space—a tent floor, a living room, a caravan awning—into a temporary bedroom. It elevates you from the cold, uneven ground, providing crucial insulation and cushioning that a simple sleeping mat can’t match. A good air bed should be a reliable tool that inflates quickly, holds its pressure throughout the night, and packs away neatly when not in use.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who values convenience and comfort in temporary sleeping situations. This includes car campers who have the space to transport it, families who need an extra bed for sleepovers or guests, and festival-goers looking for an upgrade from a roll mat. However, it might not be suitable for those who are extreme minimalists or ultralight backpackers, as even the most compact air bed will be heavier and bulkier than a foam sleeping pad. Similarly, individuals who need a permanent bedding solution would be better served by a traditional mattress. For those needing something more robust and taller for home use, high-rise air mattresses with mains-powered pumps are a worthy alternative to consider.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: First, measure the space where you intend to use the mattress. For campers, this means checking your tent’s internal footprint. The YAWN AIR measures 187 cm x 135 cm, which is a comfortable size for a standard two-person tent, but might be a tight squeeze in smaller “2-man” dome tents. Always account for some breathing room around the mattress.
• Inflation Method & Power Source: How does the bed inflate? Manual pumps are laborious, mains-powered electric pumps are fast but require a power outlet, and battery-powered pumps offer the best of both worlds for off-grid use. The YAWN AIR’s battery-operated pump is its headline feature, promising true portability, but it’s crucial to verify its performance and battery requirements.
• Materials & Durability: Most air beds are made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), which is durable and relatively puncture-resistant. Look for models with a flocked top surface, as this provides a soft, velvety feel and, more importantly, prevents your sleeping bag or sheets from sliding off during the night. The inclusion of repair patches is also a significant plus, acknowledging that accidents can happen in the great outdoors.
• Comfort & Support Structure: What’s inside the mattress is just as important as the material. Basic models are just bags of air, which can feel unstable. Better models, like this one, use an internal coil or pillar structure. This creates a more stable and supportive surface that mimics a traditional mattress and, crucially, minimises motion transfer—so you won’t wake your partner every time you roll over.

Choosing the right air bed can be a complex decision with many factors to weigh, from pump type to internal structure. It’s a crowded market with a wide range of options tailored for different needs.

While the YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress is an excellent choice for a specific type of user, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the YAWN AIR Experience

Upon arrival, the YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress is neatly packed in a branded box. Inside, the mattress is rolled tightly within its own storage and carry bag—a thoughtful inclusion that we always appreciate for keeping things organised in the car or garage. Pulling it out, the first thing we noticed was the material. The main body is a thick-feeling PVC, while the top has that signature soft, flocked finish that feels pleasant to the touch. The integrated pillow is a distinct, raised section at one end, and the built-in pump is a compact, plastic housing on the side. At just under 3kg, it feels substantial enough to be durable, yet light enough to be genuinely portable for its intended use in car camping or as a spare bed at home.

The overall impression is one of thoughtful design focused on convenience. The promise is clear: a bed that not only inflates itself without a power cord but also saves you from packing separate pillows. Compared to more basic air beds that require a separate, cumbersome pump, the integrated system here presents a far more elegant solution. The challenge, as we would soon discover, lies in whether the execution lives up to the concept. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a complete picture before diving into our detailed analysis.

Performance Under Pressure: A Deep Dive into the YAWN AIR Mattress

An air mattress’s worth is proven not on a spec sheet, but in the middle of the night on a chilly campsite. We put the YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress through its paces, focusing on the three pillars of a great temporary bed: ease of inflation, overnight comfort and support, and real-world durability and practicality. Our findings were a mix of pleasant surprises and one significant, unmissable caveat.

The Self-Inflation Promise: A Closer Look at the Battery-Operated Pump

The headline feature of the YAWN AIR mattress is its built-in, battery-operated pump. The concept is brilliant for campers: no more manual foot-pumping until you’re out of breath, and no need to find a mains power source in the middle of a field. The instructions state it requires 8 AA batteries. Eager to test it, we opened the battery compartment and were immediately met with confusion. The compartment itself seemed to have slots for only 6 batteries, with two additional spaces that didn’t appear to have the necessary metal contacts. We tried inserting the batteries in various configurations, but the pump remained lifeless.

This was a puzzling and frustrating discovery. It renders the primary selling point—effortless self-inflation—completely moot. We found our experience was not unique; we noted a user review that perfectly mirrored our issue, stating, “The battery compartment only seems to take 6 batteries not 8 so the pump doesn’t work.” This points to a potential batch-wide manufacturing defect or a serious design flaw. It’s a critical failure. Thankfully, the mattress includes a standard valve, so we were able to inflate it using a separate electric pump we had on hand. Once connected, it inflated to a firm state in about 3-4 minutes. While the mattress itself is functional, having to rely on an external pump defeats the entire purpose of this model’s integrated system. Prospective buyers must be aware of this significant risk. It’s a feature that looks great on paper but, in our testing, failed at the first hurdle. We sincerely hope this is a quality control issue that the manufacturer addresses, as the core idea remains excellent for campers. You can check the latest price and availability, but we strongly advise factoring in the cost of a separate pump.

Comfort in the Wild: Analysing the Internal Structure and Surface

Once inflated (by alternative means), the comfort level of the YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress was genuinely impressive. The manufacturer describes the firmness as “Plush,” which we found to be an accurate description. It’s not rock-hard, providing a pleasant give that cushions the body’s pressure points, particularly at the shoulders and hips. The magic here is the internal coil structure. Unlike cheaper “bubble” mattresses that can feel like sleeping on a wobbly raft, the independent internal pillars create a much more stable and uniform surface. We tested it with two people, and the motion transfer was noticeably minimal. When one person shifted or got up, the other wasn’t bounced around, which is a massive plus for light sleepers sharing the bed.

The flocked surface is another standout feature. It’s soft and almost velvety, preventing that sticky, cold feeling of bare PVC against the skin. More practically, it provides excellent grip for bedding. We used both a double sleeping bag and a standard duvet with a fitted sheet, and neither slipped or bunched up during the night. The integrated pillow is a clever touch. While it won’t replace a luxurious memory foam pillow from home, it’s perfectly adequate for camping, offering enough elevation to be comfortable without being too firm. It also means one less bulky item to pack. Throughout a full night’s test, the mattress held its air remarkably well, with only a very minor loss of pressure that is common to all air beds as the material stretches and the air inside cools. In terms of pure sleeping comfort, it punches well above its weight. It’s a shame the inflation system lets down what is otherwise a very comfortable platform; this level of comfort is a feature that really sets it apart from more basic models.

Built for the Real World? Durability, Portability, and Practical Features

Beyond comfort, a camping mattress needs to be practical. The YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress scores well in this department. The Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material feels thick and robust, suggesting it can withstand the rigours of being used on tent groundsheets and other less-than-perfect surfaces. The inclusion of two repair patches is a simple but vital addition, providing peace of mind that a small puncture won’t spell the end of your trip. The packed size is reasonable; when deflated and rolled up tightly, it fits back into its included carry bag without a Herculean struggle. At 2.98kg and measuring 187 x 135 x 22 cm when inflated, it strikes a good balance. It’s too heavy for backpacking but perfectly suited for car camping, festivals, or as a convenient guest bed at home. The 22cm thickness is a sweet spot—high enough to keep you well clear of the cold ground, but not so high that it feels unstable or takes up excessive vertical space in a tent.

The maximum weight capacity of 200kg (or 31.5 stone) is ample for two adults, and we found it supported this weight without any signs of strain. Deflation is straightforward: you open the valve and the air rushes out. Folding and rolling it to expel the remaining air is a quick process. The product care instructions are simple—wipe with a dry cloth—which is easy enough for post-trip clean-up. All in all, the physical design, materials, and included accessories make for a very practical and user-friendly package, which only makes the failure of the built-in pump more frustrating. This mattress has a solid foundation, let down by one critical component. If you’re prepared to overlook the pump issue, the practical design offers a great deal of value.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings on the integrated pump were, unfortunately, not an isolated incident. The user feedback we analysed highlights this as a potentially critical flaw. One user articulated the exact problem we encountered with stark clarity, stating: “The battery compartment only seems to take 6 batteries not 8 so the pump doesn’t work.” This comment is incredibly telling, as it confirms a fundamental issue with the product’s core feature right out of the box. They go on to express their immediate need for the bed, forcing them to use an alternative pump and simply hope for the best regarding air retention. This feedback is vital for any prospective buyer, as it underscores the risk that the “self-inflating” aspect of the mattress may not be functional, transforming it into a standard, manually inflated bed and diminishing its overall value proposition significantly.

How Does the YAWN AIR Compare to the Alternatives?

The YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress operates in a competitive market. Its unique selling point is battery-powered inflation for off-grid convenience. But how does it stack up when you consider other options, particularly those with more reliable, mains-powered pumps?

1. Silentnight Single Air Bed with Built-in Pump

The Silentnight offering is a different beast entirely. As a single, high-rise bed from a household name in sleep, its focus is clearly on home comfort for a solo guest. Its main advantage is the powerful, built-in mains electric pump, which provides rapid and reliable inflation and deflation. The added height makes it easier to get in and out of, mimicking a real bed frame. However, these features make it unsuitable for camping. It’s heavier, bulkier, and completely dependent on a 240v power source. The Silentnight is the superior choice for a comfortable spare bed at home, but for anyone heading to a campsite, the YAWN AIR (assuming you use a separate pump) is the far more practical and portable option.

2. Airefina Double Airbed with Built-in Pump

The Airefina Double is a direct competitor in size but targets a more luxurious, home-use scenario. Like the Silentnight, it boasts a powerful built-in electric pump that inflates the mattress in just three minutes, a speed the battery-powered YAWN AIR could never match. At 46cm, it’s more than double the height of the YAWN AIR, offering a premium “real bed” feel. This height and reliance on mains power make it an excellent choice for hosting guests who value comfort above all else. However, for camping, its size is a major drawback. It would consume a massive amount of space inside a standard tent and is much heavier to transport. The YAWN AIR is the clear winner for outdoor use due to its lower profile and portability.

3. Dreamcatcher Premium Double Inflatable Mattress with Pump

The Dreamcatcher Premium mattress is very similar to the Airefina, positioning itself as a high-rise, comfortable solution for guests. It also features a 46cm height and a fast, integrated mains-powered electric pump. Its strengths are in providing a stable, elevated sleeping surface that’s easy for people of all ages to use. The comparison with the YAWN AIR highlights the fundamental trade-off: home comfort versus outdoor portability. The Dreamcatcher excels as a temporary bed within the home. The YAWN AIR’s lower profile, lighter weight, and (theoretically) battery-powered operation make it purpose-built for the campsite. If the YAWN AIR’s pump worked as advertised, it would occupy a valuable niche that these mains-powered alternatives simply cannot fill.

Final Verdict: A Great Bed Hindered by a Critical Flaw

The YAWN AIR Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress is a product of two halves. On one hand, its design, comfort, and practical features are excellent. The internal pillar structure provides fantastic support, the flocked top is a premium touch, the integrated pillow saves space, and it holds air exceptionally well overnight. It’s a genuinely comfortable sleeping surface that could dramatically improve a camping trip. On the other hand, its star feature—the battery-operated self-inflation system—was completely non-functional in our testing due to what appears to be a major design or manufacturing flaw with the battery compartment. This is not a minor inconvenience; it’s a failure of the product’s core promise.

So, who should buy it? We can only recommend this mattress to someone who loves its comfort features and low-profile design and is fully prepared to purchase and use a separate pump for inflation. If you accept that you are essentially buying a very comfortable manual-inflate mattress, then it represents decent value. However, if you are buying it specifically for the promise of effortless, battery-powered inflation, we must advise you to look elsewhere, as the risk of disappointment is simply too high. It’s a classic case of a great idea hampered by poor execution. If you’re willing to take the gamble or bring your own pump, you can explore the product and make your own decision.