The Hi-Gear Deluxe Double Airbed with Pump is a low-cost double airbed aimed at campers and festival goers who want something more comfortable than a roll mat without spending much. Hi-Gear is known for wallet-friendly camping kit, and this mattress sits firmly in the budget end of the airbed market.
It builds in a foot pump, has a soft flocked top and a raised pillow section, all designed to make basic camping sleep a little more civilised. However, the user rating is disappointing at around 2.4 out of 5 from over a hundred reviews, which suggests there are recurring issues that buyers should take seriously.
This is very much a price-led product, and the review below looks at whether the compromises are worth it or if you are better off spending a bit more.
This double airbed best suits occasional campers, festival goers and spare-room emergencies where budget is the main priority and long-term durability is less important. If you want something cheap that you will only use once or twice a year, this could appeal.
It is also an option for couples or solo campers who like a wider sleeping surface and do not mind a bit of manual effort to inflate it using the built-in foot pump. The raised pillow area may suit those who prefer to travel light and leave their regular pillows at home.
Families on a tight budget might use it as an extra sleeping platform for children, guests or sleepovers. However, the relatively low user rating means it is harder to recommend for longer camping holidays where reliable, leak-free comfort really matters.
If you are an experienced camper, heading off on multi-night trips or you know you will use an airbed regularly, you are likely to be better served by a more robust, better-reviewed model even if it costs more.
The standout advantage of this Hi-Gear airbed is price. It delivers a full-size double sleeping surface with some comfort touches for much less than many rivals. For occasional use, that low outlay will be tempting.
The flocked upper surface feels softer and warmer than bare PVC, and it helps stop your sleeping bag sliding around during the night. The built-in raised pillow section also gives a more familiar bed-like shape, meaning you can get away without carrying separate pillows if you prefer to travel light.
The integrated foot pump is convenient if you do not own an electric or 12V pump. You can get the bed inflated in a few minutes without extra kit, and once deflated it folds down into a reasonably compact package and comes with a storage bag, which helps keep it tidy in the car or cupboard.
The biggest concern with this airbed is reliability. A user score of around 2.4 from over a hundred reviews strongly suggests many owners have experienced problems, likely including air loss or punctures over a short period. For a product whose entire job is to hold air overnight, that is a serious drawback.
At 3.8 kg it is not especially light for a basic double airbed and the packed size is modest rather than truly compact, so it is more suited to car camping than anything where space and weight really matter. The built-in foot pump is handy in theory, but it does mean inflation is slower and more physical than with a decent separate pump.
There is no mention of additional chambers or extra reinforcement, so support and comfort may be fairly basic. Combined with the poor review score, this suggests some users will find it saggy or uneven, especially under heavier loads or repeated use.
Living with the Hi-Gear Deluxe Double Airbed is straightforward but a bit basic. You roll it out, open the integrated foot pump section and then work the pump with your foot until it reaches a comfortable firmness. Expect a few minutes of steady pumping; fine for a weekend trip but a chore if you are inflating several beds.
Once inflated, the 191 x 137 cm footprint is similar to a standard double, and the 28 cm height gives a decent lift off the ground compared to thinner mats, which makes getting in and out easier. The flocked top feels pleasant against the skin and adds a bit of grip so your bedding stays in place.
Deflation is simple once the valve is opened, though as with most budget airbeds you may need to press or roll the mattress to push the last of the air out before folding. The included storage bag is useful, but you will still need a bit of space in the car or cupboard to store it given its 35 x 11 x 33 cm pack size.
Day to day, the main frustration is likely to be consistency. When new and fully inflated it can feel comfortable enough, but reports reflected in the low rating indicate some users experience gradual deflation overnight, which is uncomfortable and annoying on a camping trip.
In terms of performance, the Hi-Gear Deluxe Double Airbed offers reasonable comfort at first thanks to its double width, 28 cm depth and flocked surface. The raised pillow zone shapes the top of the mattress so that your head and shoulders sit slightly higher, making it feel closer to a regular bed than a completely flat airbed.
The mattress is made from PVC with welded seams, which in theory should keep air in securely and cope with the usual scuffs and scrapes of campsite use. It is also described as phthalate-free, which is reassuring for those who are concerned about certain plasticisers.
The integrated foot pump is perhaps the headline feature. For campers without access to mains power or a separate pump, having inflation built in is convenient. You simply pump with your foot until it reaches the firmness you want. It is slower than using an electric or high-capacity manual pump, but you do not need any extra accessories.
Load capacity is quoted at up to 300 kg, which is generous for a budget airbed and indicates it is designed to cope with two adults without issue. However, the relatively low review score suggests that while the stated maximum load is high, long-term performance in real-world use may fall short, particularly when it comes to holding air night after night.
Overall, the feature set is decent for the price, but there is nothing here that stands out as exceptional compared with other double airbeds, and the apparent lack of enhanced construction or multiple air chambers may contribute to the durability concerns seen in owner feedback.
At around sixteen pounds, this airbed is firmly in the bargain basement of double camping mattresses. On paper, that makes it very good value: you get a full-size double, a flocked top, a raised pillow area and a built-in pump for less than many single airbeds cost.
However, value for money is not just about price, it is about how long the product lasts and how well it does its job. The low average rating, drawn from a substantial number of reviews, suggests that a fair proportion of buyers have had problems. If you have to replace a cheap airbed after a couple of trips, it quickly stops feeling like a saving.
For campers who truly only need something for one or two nights a year and are content to take the risk, the low cost may still be attractive. For anyone planning several trips or wanting reliable comfort, it is arguably better value to spend more upfront on a sturdier, better-reviewed model.
The Hi-Gear Deluxe Double Airbed with Pump is an undeniably cheap way to get off the ground on a camping trip. The built-in foot pump, flocked top and raised pillow area are all welcome touches that make it more comfortable and convenient than a bare-bones inflatable.
Unfortunately, the weak user rating backed by a high number of reviews is difficult to ignore. When so many owners report issues, the odds of getting a troublesome mattress are higher than they should be, even at this price point.
If you are shopping on a strict budget for a one-off festival or an emergency spare bed, this airbed might do the job for a short time. But for regular campers or anyone who values a reliably firm, leak-free night’s sleep, it makes more sense to view this as a stepping stone and invest a little more in a more robust alternative.
