Picking a folding camping bed is not all that difficult once you get a grasp on your personal comfort level. There are numerous companies out there making folding camping beds, and some are better than others, but I'm not telling you this to sway you toward a certain company or to coax you into buying more than you need. I am hoping to help you along a little bit with some of the most popular questions about one of the most intimidating pieces of camping gear to buy.
Folding camping bed sizes
A folding camping bed needs to fit you. When you refer to size, you are simply referring to length and not girth, but that can be an issue too. I'll address that later. As far as length is concerned there are regular, long, and children's folding camping beds. The regular size can typically be used for someone up to 6 feet tall.
Anyone 6 feet or taller should go with a long. If you get a folding camping bed that's too short, you won't have adequate coverage and you'll be too cramped. You need a bit of open air in the folding camping bed to circulate heat. A folding camping bed that's too long puts too much empty space at your feet, making it harder to warm the void space and keep your feet warm. So take one off of the rack and get in it, in the store. They don't mind, I assure you.
What shape folding camping bed should I think about getting?
This is more of a preference question. A mummy-style bag is much more form fitting when you get in it. This fit makes it tough for larger users with wide shoulders to get comfortable. If you toss and turn in your sleep, maybe a mummy bag isn't the way to go since you won't be able to turn in the folding camping bed. The folding camping bed turns with you. A mummy bag is typically a warmer folding camping bed even with the same rating because it heats up faster due to less dead space, and those pesky cold spots are almost non-existent.
A rectangular bag is just that, a rectangle. These are very comfortable but usually have a bunch of dead space around your legs and feet. They take longer to warm up and cold spots happen frequently. If you are a bigger user this option can be the ticket — there's a ton of shoulder space and you can easily toss and turn within the folding camping bed.
They also make what I refer to as a hybrid bag. These sit somewhere in the middle, with a wider shoulder than a mummy and a narrower foot than a full rectangle.
Are there women-specific bags?
Yes, some companies do make them. A woman's bag has a bit more room in the hips and extra insulation in key areas like the feet. For example, women's feet tend to have poorer circulation than men, so designers accommodate for that. Women's folding camping beds are typically just one length, which can pose a problem for taller ladies. If ladies need a bag and don't want to use one that's ladies specific, refer to the regular and tall fit of a unisex bag.
Do I buy a left or a right zip?
This is a simple preference, really. Some say a left-handed person likes a right zip so they can reach across their body to work the zipper better, and vice versa. Just try it out. Also, keep the next question in mind while you are deciding.
My wife and I like to camp together, and we miss being close to one another. what can we do?
First off, body heat is amazing, and nothing will heat up a folding camping bed better than two people. Many folding camping beds come with a left or right zip option. This option is not only a preference or a dexterity thing, but it can also be for mating the folding camping beds. A left and a right zip will often zip together, forming one large folding camping bed for two. Not all zippers will accommodate this feature, so check for compatibility before you buy. Even with a cold spot in the center where they zip together, it's a great feature.
There are also companies that make a two-person folding camping bed, which is nice for car camping, but you don't want to have to carry these beasts into the backcountry. https://www.realgroupchina.com