If you’re spending a night out under the stars, there’s no reason to be uncomfortable.
Getting a good night’s sleep is critical to fully enjoying all that the great outdoors have to offer and an easy way to guarantee night after night of deep, glorious slumber is to invest in a good quality camping stretcher.
Unlike foam sleeping pads or inflatable mattresses, camping stretchers elevate you off the ground, making it easier to get in and out of and making it less likely that your night will be disturbed by any rocks, stones, or uncomfortable surfaces below.
After the reviews below, we discuss what to look out for when choosing a camping stretcher so you can select the best one for your needs.
Our top pick: Oztent Gecko Stretcher Series II
This is the latest version of Oztent’s very popular Gecko Stretcher. It has all the same great features that made it so popular in its previous iterations, but with some great updates that make this a must-have for any camper who wants to be comfortable while away from home.
This stretcher is sturdy with an X-leg design, 150kg weight rating, and steel construction for added strength. It has a heavy-duty steel frame with fully padded two-tone polyester fabric that makes it easy to clean after use
It’s fully padded for warmth and comfort and ensures you get to sleep on a flat comfortable surface, no matter what the ground is like under your tent.
It also features a mesh bag, drink holders, and a phone holder so you can keep all your belongings close at hand without worrying about them getting lost or dirty during the night.
Runner up: Wanderer Premium Ultra Comfort Folding Stretcher
This stretcher is for those people who like to take a bit of comfort with them when they’re away from home.
It’s built from a very durable polyester over thick foam, so it’s soft and supportive in just the right places.
The heavy-duty steel frame ensures that this stretcher can support a significant amount of weight (up to 150kg) and will last for years to come.
The adjustable locking legs make it easy to set up on uneven terrain, while the adjustable back allows you to sit up or lay flat.
On the downside, it’s much more expensive than some of the other stretchers on our list.
It’s also the heaviest product in our review and does not come with a carry case for transport. We think the extra hassle is worth it, though, especially for a great night’s sleep.
Best value: OZSTOCK Camping Stretcher
If you’re looking for an affordable, lightweight, and portable camping bed, this is a great choice.
It’s made from sturdy steel and has an easy-to-fold design that makes it super simple to set up and pack down.
The OZSTOCK Camping Stretcher also comes with a carry bag that makes it easy to store or transport.
All in all, this is a comfortable and affordable bed that’s perfect for camping trips, sleepovers, or even short-term visitors who need a place to sleep.
Also great: OZtrail Easy Fold Stretcher Bed
The OZtrail Easy Fold Stretcher is high quality and reasonably priced option.
Setup takes only 10 seconds, and once it’s up you’ll have a fully flat sleeping surface.
It has no head or foot crossbars, making it great for taller people who need to maximise the full sleeping surface.
The bed is made from hard-wearing 600 denier polyester soft-touch fabric. The steel frame is high tensile 25mm steel and can support up to 150 kilograms.
Plus, it has a convenient zippered carry bag so you can take it with you wherever you need to go.
Best double stretcher: Spinifex Queen Camp Stretcher
This extra-large camping stretcher is ideal for camping with a partner.
The hard-wearing 600D fabric and powder-coated corrosion-resistant frame will keep you comfortable and safe, while the side organiser pocket and under-bed storage will help keep your gear organised.
One thing we love about this product is that it doesn’t have any head or foot bars, allowing you to use the full length of the bed.
The convenient zippered carry bag with a reinforced carry handle makes it easy to take this stretcher on all your adventures.
Best swag stretcher: Adventure Kings Camping Stretcher
If you love camping but hate having rough surfaces under your swag, then the Adventure Kings Camping Stretcher is for you.
The Adventure Kings Stretcher is a camping stretcher designed to keep your swag off the ground.
It means you can set your swag up on rough surfaces and be confident you’ll have a comfortable night’s sleep.
The large 1m width means there’s plenty of room, and the 600D woven polyester material is very strong and durable (it’s weight rated to over 200Kg).
Also great: Wanderer Spring Folding Mattress Stretcher
With a simple, foldaway design, the Wander Spring Folding Mattress Stretcher involves perhaps the least assembly out of all the options on this list.
This stretcher’s best feature is its super comfortable mattress with spring suspension. With an integrated 45mm foam top mattress, you’re sure to get a good night’s sleep on this stretcher.
Our biggest concerns with this stretcher are its design (the foldaway isn’t nearly as sturdy as the cross-leg design) and its low maximum holding weight. At 110kg, it has the lowest weight rating of any mattress in our review.
However, it’s a great option for kids and smaller adults as the full set-up tips the scales at only 9.95kg and it’s easy to set up and use.
Camping Stretcher Buying Guide
While camping stretchers are a great investment, it’s important to fully consider the different features that each stretcher has to offer so you’re sure that you’ve chosen one that’s right for your needs.
Here are the key things to keep in mind:
Size
Size matters when it comes to camp stretchers. Stretchers come in all different sizes from singles through queen-sized and even bunks.
Whatever you do, make sure the stretcher you choose is long enough for you so your feet don’t hang off the end and get cold during the night.
But don’t just choose the biggest size you can find. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a stretcher that takes up more space than necessary, and doesn’t fit inside your tent properly.
Height
As you’re deciding which camping stretcher to buy, you’ll want to consider the height of the frame.
If you have mobility issues, a taller stretcher may be easier for you to get in and out of.
However, a low-rise model is going to have less frame material, so will be smaller and lighter, and will leave you with more headroom in your tent.
Durability
You want to avoid a flimsy, lightweight stretcher that will bend and break after a few uses.
Look for a model with a sturdy steel frame. You should also get one rated for the weight of users who intend to use it.
If you’re looking at lightweight models, look for one with a strong alloy frame.
Stability
A camping stretcher’s stability is important because it affects the quality of sleep you get while using it.
A stable camping stretcher will make fewer noises as you roll around on it, which means that you and anyone around you won’t be disturbed by your movements.
Comfort
If you’ll be spending a lot of time on your camping stretcher, it’s important that you’re comfortable.
Padding makes sleeping on one more comfortable and insulates you from the cold.
Some models feature elastic to keep your mattress in place, so you won’t have to worry about waking up with half of your bedding hanging off the side.
Packed size and portability
If you’re short on space, you want your stretcher to be compact when folded away.
The best camping stretchers are easy to store, pack and carry around so you can take them on any trip without issue.
Camping stretchers will usually weigh around 10kg but can be more or less depending don’t the size and materials. Some people may opt for a lighter-weight model if a traditional stretcher is too heavy and cumbersome.
Ease of use
The best camping stretchers are easy to set up, pack, use, carry and store.
How it’s packed away makes a difference. If your camping stretcher doesn’t come with its own bag then you’ll need to buy one separately.