One of the best feelings when we are out camping, is crawling into our sleeping bags and curling up to go to sleep at the end of a long or exciting day. Whether you are sleeping under the stars, a small tent or a larger tent – one issue that can take some of the joy out of sleeping, is having to sleep on rough ground or a bad stretcher.
In this article, we are reviewing some of the best camping stretcher beds in Australia, for adults, kids and couples so you can take some of the guesswork out when buying your next camp stretcher.
| OZtrail Easy Fold Single Stretcher | OZtrail Deluxe Double Bunk Bed | Wanderer Folding Mattress Stretcher | Darche XL 100 Stretcher | Zempire W Leg Stretcher Bed V2 | Wanderer Tourer Extra Wide Queen Stretcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Value  |  | Our Pick  |  |  |  | |
200 x 80 x 42 cm | 182 x 73 x 90/107 cm | 188 x 66 x 38 cm | 216 x 100 x 50 cm | 194 x 65.5 x 19 cm | 216 x 150 x 50 cm | |
Polyester, steel | Polyester, steel | Polyester, foam mattress, steel | Polyester, steel and alloy | Polyester, steel | Polyester, steel | |
150 kg | 100 kg top | 110 kg | 150 kg | 100 kg | 200 kg | |
10.2 kg | 17.6 kg | 9.5 kg | 10 kg | 5.5 kg | 22.6 kg | |
1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years | 1 year |
Best Camping Stretcher Beds Australia
OZtrail Easy Fold Single Stretcher
Best No Mattress Stretcher
The OZtrail Easy Fold Single Stretcher is an almost perfect camping bed. It comes in a carry case for ease of movement and when you need to sleep, it can be set up in 10-20 seconds making it a very simple and easy bed to use.
It comes with a side hanging pocket that can store your phone or anything else you may want in the night without having to get out of bed.
The online reviews and customer feedback are all very high as this camping stretcher bed has been giving out a good night's sleep and making people happy and comfortable almost anywhere. If you like to sleep with your significant other, there is a Queen sized bed version too.
The only negative is the frame doesn't fully lock into place, but provided you are not jumping up and down, this is not an issue. For a quality night's sleep, the OZtrail Easy Fold is a solid option.
OZtrail Deluxe Double Bunk Bed
Best For Kids
Here is a set of camping stretcher beds that are perfect for kids or adults alike – bunk beds for your tent. Now obviously these beds won't fit into a small tent, but for mid-sized or large multi-room tents, they are perfect as a kid's camp stretcher, especially when you have more than one.
Additionally, if you have two adults who don’t particularly like or want to sleep above each other, they can be separated into two beds with one a little stronger than the other.
There are very few negative comments and reviews online from customers regarding these beds as they are well made, easy to assemble, and both can take over 100 kg each (the bottom can take even more).
The only real issues here are the same with any bunk beds – they are high so won't fit into a smaller tent and they do not include a ladder, making it a little difficult for small children or adults who have sat around the campfire sipping sherry for too long to get into.
The OZtrail Deluxe Double is a great buy for kids or adults due to their ability to be separated and the flexibility and versatility this provides.
Wanderer Spring Folding Mattress Stretcher Single
Most Comfortable
When your top priority is comfort in a bed, then features like a spring suspension system and a comfortable foam camping mattress are the way to go.
The spring suspension allows the canvas to create a more comfortable platform as it will sag where you need it to like the hips and shoulders and stay tight while supporting your legs. Add to this the mattress which is included for extra comfort, it’s easy to fall asleep and stay that way.
Customer reviews online are very positive with this camping stretcher. Many people claim that they sleep better with this than their beds at home or that it gets used in the home all the time due to how comfortable it is.
The only real negative is that there are reports of the clips that hold the bed together while folded sometimes break and it won’t stay folded properly making transport an issue. This can be remedied easily however and we feel the Wanderer is the best camping bed for a comfortable night's sleep.
Darche XL 100 Stretcher
Best For Heavier People
Darche makes quite a lot of camping equipment and their signature stretcher – the XL 100 is strong and easy to use. The XL 100 is designed with larger people in mind and can take up to 150 kg as well as having plenty of width and length to work with.
It is also lower to the ground than many other camping beds and can be used inside smaller tents as a result.
When it comes to a good night's sleep, however - the Darche XL 100 does not always hit the mark, with there being many reviews and reports of the bed not being stable and therefore moving around when you shift in your sleep.
For a stretcher bed aimed at larger people, this is not ideal and apart from being lower to the ground, you will have a better night's sleep on the OZtrail Easy Fold Stretcher that also can support 150 kg and is a tad wider.
Zempire W Leg Stretcher Bed V2
Most Lightweight
The Zempire W Leg stretcher is the lightest bed in this review, weighing almost half of the next lightest.
It is also the most budget-friendly, being the only one on this list coming in at under $100, as well as being the weakest with a max capacity of just 100kg. 100 kg is still pretty decent, however, so this is not too much of an issue.
It's built to be very low to the ground and folds down smaller than any other bed here so it takes up less room in your car.
It is smaller, lighter and is made to lock into place when opened, which provides tension which aids stability - the only real downside is that the canvas is very stiff and doesn’t stretch very much. This can be overcome with a decent mattress on top, but it is still an issue to be aware of.
Chances are they may become more comfortable over time when they stretch a little from use. Best for those on a budget or those who like to pack light and move around a lot.
Wanderer Tourer Extra Wide Queen Stretcher
Best Double Option
Do you and your partner want to sleep together at the campsite just like you do at home? If so, then a double or queen-sized camping stretcher is the way to go.
The Wanderer Tourer Extra Wide Queen Stretcher aims to provide you with the same level of comfort and intimacy you enjoy in your own bed and it largely succeeds.
Any camping stretcher that comes in this size is always going to have a pole or part of the frame in the middle to ensure it can support two adults. This frame, however, makes it feel more like two singles pushed together than a true double.
Customer reviews reflect this with a sizable number of people not liking it because of this, while others who use a decent external mattress appear to be less bothered.
Apart from this issue which is common across these larger styles, the Wanderer is a solid performer for you and your partner to sleep close and enjoy each other’s company while out in the bush.
What To Look For When Buying Camping Stretcher Beds
Some of the things to look for when buying a camping stretcher include:
Weight Rating
Can it hold my weight or the weight I intend to put on it? The last thing you want is to fall through your stretcher bed on the first night!
Frame
Many frames come in different configurations and they are not all equal. Some provide more stability than others which is key to a good night’s sleep.
A frame with many legs like the Zempire W Leg, that have a larger surface area will always be more stable than those with just one leg at each corner.
Size and Weight
These are important as these beds can take up quite a lot of room in your vehicle or trailer and then subsequently your tent.
Think about whether you will be using them with a swag, tent, or just on their own out in the open.
Keep in mind that you can also buy stretcher tents, which are stretcher beds with a tent already attached to them. This can make setup even easier and make it an all-in-one shelter.
Extras
Accessories like an included mattress (as with the Wanderer Spring) or a side pocket (like the OZtrail Easy Fold) can make life much easier for you but are not always needed.
Single or Double
Couples will be enticed by the double or queen-sized beds, however, you may be just as well off buying two decent singles and having them side by side and spending less money and having more versatility in the process.
Price and Usage
Like anything, if you plan to use your camping stretcher a lot, then investing in a higher quality one is a good idea.
Conversely, if you will only use it sporadically, a camping bed like the Zempire W leg that comes in at $80 or so may be a better idea.
Camping Stretcher Beds FAQ
Are camp stretchers comfortable?
They should be or you wouldn’t get to sleep! If you are lying directly on the canvas with just a sleeping bag, they will not be as comfortable as your bed at home, but still good enough to get a decent night’s sleep on.
If you do have a mattress then that increases the comfort significantly.
Do you put a mattress on a stretcher bed?
You don't have to use a mattress to get a good night's sleep, however, it will help.
Camp stretcher vs self-inflating mattress - which is better?
An inflatable mattress can be very comfortable to sleep on if it's inflated correctly and nothing goes wrong. Some have separate isolated compartments that can go flat at different rates leading to an uncomfortable sleep.
They are also intended to sleep on the ground where creepy crawlies are more likely to exist. For our money, a camp stretcher with a foam mattress will provide the best night's sleep
Final Thoughts
A good night's sleep is important for our health and wellbeing and when we are camping it should be no different.
For the best night's sleep, it's hard to go past the Wanderer Spring Folding Mattress Stretcher or if you have kids the OZtrail Deluxe Double Bunks are great and versatile. Whichever you choose, a camping stretcher will certainly beat sleeping directly on the ground!
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
