Air Bed Care and Storage — Making Your Bed Last for Years

A quality camping air bed can last five to ten years — or it can fall apart in two seasons. The difference nearly always comes down to how you care for and store the bed between trips. Here is a practical guide to keeping your air bed in top condition through summer 2026 and many seasons beyond.

After Every Trip — Basic Maintenance

Clean the Surface

Wipe down the entire bed with a damp cloth and mild soapy water. Camping air beds collect dirt, sweat, sun cream and spilled drinks over a weekend. If left uncleaned, these can degrade the PVC or TPU over time. Pay attention to the flocked top — a soft brush helps remove ground-in dirt from the velvet-like surface. Vango, Coleman, Outwell, Hi-Gear and Kampa all recommend this simple step.

Dry It Completely

This is the single most important step. A bed stored with any moisture will develop mould, mildew and unpleasant odours. After cleaning, inflate the bed slightly and leave it in a well-ventilated area — ideally outdoors in sunshine — until every surface is bone dry. This includes the underside, which often retains condensation from the tent floor.

Inspect for Damage

While the bed is inflated for drying, run your hands over the surface and listen for hissing. A small puncture caught early is a simple patch job. Left unrepaired, the hole can grow as the material flexes during storage. Check the valve seals too — a quick twist to confirm they are tight and clean.

Deflation and Folding

• Open all valves fully and let the bed deflate naturally for a few minutes.
• Starting from the end opposite the valve, roll the bed tightly to push remaining air out through the valve.
• Once flat, fold or roll to match the original storage size. Some campers prefer to fold rather than roll to distribute crease stress evenly.
• Do not sit or stand on the bed to force air out — this stresses seams and the material around the valve.

Long-Term Storage

Store Loosely

Here is where most people go wrong. Tight packing is fine for transport, but for long-term storage between seasons, the bed should be stored as loosely as possible. Ideally, lay it flat under a bed at home or drape it loosely over a shelf. If space is limited, roll it loosely rather than compressing it into its stuff sack.

Tight storage for months creates permanent creases and weakens the PVC or TPU at fold points. These weakened areas are where future punctures and seam failures originate.

Leave Valves Open

Store the bed with valves open. This prevents pressure building up inside if the storage area warms up, and it allows the material to breathe. If the bed has a built-in pump, leave the deflate valve open.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

A hot attic in summer or an unheated garage in winter accelerates PVC degradation. Room temperature or a cool, dry cupboard is ideal. Keep the bed away from direct sunlight during storage — UV breaks down PVC over time.

Keep Away From Sharp Objects

Do not store your air bed in a bag with tent pegs, cooking utensils or anything pointed. A dedicated storage bag or even a clean bin liner keeps it safe.

Seasonal Pre-Trip Check

Before your first trip of summer 2026, inflate the bed at home and leave it for 24 hours. Check firmness the next day. A bed that holds air at home will hold air at the campsite. If it has softened significantly, locate and patch the leak before you leave. It is far easier to do this in your living room than in a tent at midnight.

When to Replace

• Multiple patches: If the bed has been patched three or more times, the material is weakening and more failures are likely.
• Seam delamination: Peeling seams cannot be reliably repaired.
• Permanent odour: Mould that has penetrated the material will not wash out.
• Valve failure: Some valves can be replaced, but if the housing is cracked, the bed is done.

When it is time for a replacement, browse our air beds collection for the latest from Vango, Outwell, Coleman, Hi-Gear and Kampa. Match it with a reliable pump, a warm sleeping bag and consider a camp bed if you want a change of approach.