Ditch the air mattress and get a good nights sleep camping on a stretcher!
Gone of the days of an old vinyl air mattress being the only sleep option when camping. Today there are lots of great gear to choose from to help get a good night’s sleep when ‘roughing’ it.
Camping stretchers have come leaps and bounds the last decade. What used to be a heavy piece of equipment that took up far too much room is now quite the opposite. With advances in materials, you can now pick up a camping stretcher that is both lightweight, easily folded up for transport and most importantly comfortable!!
Anyway that’s enough jibber jabber, let’s get straight into our camping stretcher reviews. In our opinion, the best stretchers for Australia are:
- Coleman Stretcher Big Sky – Best comfortable camping stretcher bed
- Oztrail Large Camp Stretcher Bed – Best Stretcher Bed
- Camping Bed Folding Stretcher Light Weight – Best Carry Bag Camp
- MARCHWAY Ultralight Folding Tent Camping Cot Bed – Best Portable Compact Outdoor Travel
- Thermarest Luxurylite Ultralite Cot Sleep Mat – Best Luxurylite Ultralite Cot Sleep Mat
Buying Guide to Choose a Perfect Camping Stretcher Bed
If you want to buy the right camping stretcher bed for yourself, then you need to keep the following factors in mind.
How to select a camping stretcher bed
Portability
The first and foremost factor which needs consideration is the portability of the stretcher bed. A stretcher bed has to be portable enough to move easily from one place to another without any hassle. When you are planning to go camping, you have to prepare yourself for a lot of walking and at the same time hiking as well. You should select a stretcher bed keeping in mind how much you have to walk and carry it. It should be light-weight and compact in the packed form so that you can carry it easily and can store it afterward.
Size of the Bed
The size of the stretcher bed makes a lot of difference in your experience. You want a bed according to your size on which you can sleep easily and comfortably. You don’t want to invest in a stretcher bed, which is too small in size, and you keep on trying to maintain the balance to prevent falling off it. The bed should be in accordance with your height and width. A stretcher bed, which is too sleek, will not be suitable for a person who has a broad built.
Easy Assembling
A stretcher bed takes some time in assembling. But nowadays there are stretcher beds available in the market which can be assembled easily without taking much time. You don’t purchase anything with takes an hour to assemble. You want something which can be folded and unfolded effortlessly within minutes. Camping can be tiring, and after walking for a long way, you want a stretcher bed that can be unfolded within no time, and you can have some rest on it.
Durability
The durability of the product you are purchasing matters a lot. No one will want anything which is of poor quality. Your investment in a durable stretcher bed will stay for a long time, and you will keep on benefiting from it. There are many types of stretcher beds, and not every material is durable. You have to look for a stretcher bed which can support your weight easily.
Weight of the bed
As you will be carrying the stretcher bed, so you have to make sure that the weight of the bed is not too heavy. There are various types of stretcher beds available in the market, and all of them a different weight according to the material used in it. Steel is the heaviest of all, but it’s the most durable one as well. If you think you can manage to carry a heavy bed to the campsite, then you can buy a steel one without any second thoughts.
Weight capacity
It is the most crucial factor which has to be kept in mind while selecting a stretcher bed. Most of the stretcher beds available in the market claim to handle weight up to 300 lbs, but some of them claim to handle up to 600 lbs as well. You should select a stretcher bed that is sturdy enough to handle your weight and does not collapse or wiggle while you are lying on it.
Price
You want a budget-friendly product which does not cost an arm and a leg in purchasing it. It should be cost-effective. Spending too much on a stretcher bed is not a good idea anyway. But depending on its usage, if you think spending a little more on a stretcher bed is going to get you a worthwhile experience, then you should definitely go ahead with it.
Warranty
Some manufacturers do not offer a warranty and don’t take the responsibility of the manufacturer’s defects. While some not only provide a warranty, but they also offer return and exchange of the products purchased. Don’t fall for products which don’t offer a warranty. You should find a brand that offers a warranty of at least one year and has a flexible return and exchange policy.
Comfort
Comfort is what matters the most. You must look into options that are according to your budget, but you should not compromise on your comfort. You will not be able to enjoy your time at the campsite if you don’t wake up fresh due to being uncomfortable. Your stretcher bed should be wide to give you enough space to sleep comfortably.
