Following their introduction around two decades ago, air or inflatable awnings quickly caught on. This is mainly due to them being lighter to carry and quicker to erect, saving you from worrying about where the poles go, or having to tighten them. Instead, all you need is a pump. In our best air awning for a motorhome guide, we’re running through our favourite options on the market, so you can find the one that’s right for you and your ‘van.
Awnings are nowhere near as useful an accessory for motorhomers as they are for caravanners. After all, motorcaravanning is supposed to be about getting up and going, and having to deal with something large that you have attached to your vehicle somehow goes against that.
But sometimes a motorhome air awning can be a useful addition to take with you, if there is room when you’re loading a motorhome. Especially if it is the drive away variety, which you can detach and leave standing on its own to mark out your pitch if you drive away for the day.
Here is our choice of the best motorhome air awnings you can currently buy online. You can also take a look at our best motorhome awning guide, if you’ve not decided on the type for you yet.
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What is the best air awning for a motorhome?
Dometic Club AIR Pro Inflatable Caravan and Motorhome Awning
Kampa Cross AIR Driveaway Awning
Westfield Vega Caravan/Motorhome Porch Awning
Kampa Touring AIR TC LH Driveaway Awning
Vango Faros Air III Low
Kampa Kielder AIR Driveaway Awning
Outdoor Revolution Cayman Air Driveaway Awning
Vango Hexaway Pro Mid Air
Olpro Cocoon Breeze Inflatable Campervan Awning
Outwell Newburg 160 Air
The best motorhome air awnings:
Dometic Club AIR Pro Inflatable Caravan and Motorhome Awning
Reason to buy:
- Flexible, not too bulky
Reason to avoid:
- Probably not robust enough for a seasonal pitch
No, your eyes do not deceive you: this is an inflatable awning, made of double coated polyester and with single point inflation.
Dometic’s Club range is designed to look more like a traditional awning, with a dual pitched roof and integrated front canopy to help water run off. The design means you can either leave the two front panels as two doors, or take the whole front panel off to turn the awning into more of a verandah. Other useful features include vents in the apex to let condensation out.
Kampa Cross AIR Driveaway Awning
Reason to buy:
- Practical extra room for a campervan
Reason to avoid:
Orientation means it may not fit on small pitches
Designed for campervans, the Cross Air runs out at a right angle from your vehicle, although the “tunnel” includes a side door. The main entrance door can be fully opened or half opened to create a verandah effect. The air awning is single point inflation, includes a clip-in groundsheet, and has mesh panels if you want to open the side windows.
Weighing just 17.65kg and rolling back up into a pack that is only 76cm long, it shouldn’t take up too much payload or room in your van.
Westfield Vega Caravan/Motorhome Porch Awning
Reason to buy:
- Great single point inflation system
Reason to avoid:
- Possibly not quite as weatherproof as some
Westfield is a German brand of awning imported into this country by Quest Leisure. This model is made of waterproof cotton, so the inside should stay cool even if you venture into hotter more Mediterranean climates.
It has Westfield’s Advanced Air System, which is not only single point inflation but is also split into separate sections. So if you have a puncture on site you can easily repair just one section without having to take the whole awning down.
Available in two widths – 330 and 375 – this awning has front and side panels that can be completely removed, and has storm straps that can be put away in their own pockets in the awning so they don’t get lost. And it has dual beading – both 4mm and 6mm.
Kampa Touring AIR TC LH Driveaway Awning
Reason to buy:
- Flexible arrangement
Reason to avoid:
- Only for campervans with door on Continental side
A campervan air awning that runs parallel to the vehicle, this version is designed for Continental vehicles where the sliding door opens on the right side of the vehicle facing forwards. The single point inflation awning is made of breathable polycotton and includes mesh front doors to allow condensation to escape. It also has an integrated front canopy for those balmier evenings outside.
Vango Faros Air III Low
Reason to buy:
- Compact, easy to stow in a small van.
Reason to avoid:
- You only get a small amount of extra area.
The Faros III Air Low is currently the smallest awning Vango produces. But that means it should be ideal as an extension to your campervan, either providing an extra bedroom or somewhere to store muddy boots and bicycles that you would rather not have to bring into the van itself. As it packs away tightly, it shouldn’t take up too much room on the move, and the bag it comes in is deliberately oversized so packing should not be a struggle.
Even if it is small it is still made with the same Sentinel Active 150D fabric that graces many of Vango’s larger models, and should only take a few moments to pitch thanks to Vango’s Air Beam technology. It comes with a tension band system to keep it steady in more adverse weather conditions, and there are a variety of ways you can attach it to your van.
Kampa Kielder Air Drive Away Awning
Reason to buy:
- Flexible with attachments and groundsheet
Reason to avoid:
- Not single point inflation
Made of 150D Weathershield material, this campervan driveaway awning has multiple point inflation. While that usually means it takes longer to put up, it could take less time to take down again because with multiple inflation there are obviously many points the air can escape through.
This awning also comes with a flat entrance door – so you don’t have anything to trip over, and wheelchairs can get through easily. And it has a clip-on groundsheet, which can be quickly removed if the site you are staying on doesn’t allow them. You also get large windows, a canopy over the entrance, and a multiple range of ways to attach it to your van.
Outdoor Revolution Cayman Air Driveaway Awning
Reason to buy:
- Multiple attachment points, popular model
Reason to avoid:
- Sewn in groundsheet could cause problems on sites where they are not permitted
A good mid-price option for anyone with a campervan and a smaller campervan, this popular model has single point inflation and a sewn in groundsheet.
It’s made of material with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm (technically, the height of water there needs to be weighing down in it before it stops being waterproof), which, while not the best in the market, should be more than adequate for the shorter stays you often make in a motorhome. You get mesh panels on both doors, while the rear door can be removed so that you can fit an optional annex. There are also multiple attachment points.
Vango Hexaway Pro Mid Air
Reason to buy:
- A great little way to make your campervan a party venue.
Reason to avoid:
- It may not fit on all pitches.
This unusually shaped awning provides the perfect extra dining and living space for your campervan, and could even provide a place to host a party on the campsite if the weather isn’t perfect. It’s much easier to assemble than it looks, as it comes with single point inflation, and the connecting tunnel can easily be rolled away if you want to spend the day off site, so you can leave the awning on your pitch. The main section of the awning has two doors for easy access. It’s made with Vango’s Sentinel ECO Pro fabric, which is made using recycled materials, so you get extra brownie points.
Olpro Cocoon Breeze Inflatable Campervan Awning
Reason to buy:
- Excellent waterproofing, great size
Reason to avoid:
- At 30kg, a bit on the heavy side
This large awning could more than double your living space if you have a campervan. It should keep you nice and dry too, as the 150D material it is made from has a 5,000mm hydrostatic head. It comes with an inner tent as standard for an extra bedroom, as well as a fitted groundsheet (with optional footprint groundsheet underneath) and a cable entry point. Its striking orange and black colour scheme, unusual among today’s muted greys and neutrals, should make your outfit easy to spot at your campervan campsite too.
Check the latest price at Olpro.
Outwell Newburg 160 Air
Reason to buy:
- Well-made awning with lots of extras
Reason to avoid:
- It’s not single point inflation.
This air awning from Danish brand Outwell comes with a built in living room, so you get plenty of extra living space. It’s made of Outtex 4000 Select fabric, a polyester and cotton mix which is highly waterproof and comes with seals to prevent leaks. It’s fire-retardant, too, and comes with UPF30+ UV protection.
A feature we like is that the tinted windows should also give you protection from the sun too. The awning comes ready made with fittings for Outwell’s Nightlight System, which gives you discreet lighting both inside and outside the awning. And you get dual beading, so it should be able to fit all motorhome rails.
Check the latest price on Decathlon now.
How to choose the best air awning for a motorhome
The best motorhome air awnings are quick to erect, simple to store and lighter to manoeuvre than a traditional pole awning. Considering a few points will ensure you get the right one for your needs.
Firstly, settle on the size you want for it. When you’re picking an awning, it’s not always better to go for a larger size – after all, this is something you’re going to have to get to your chosen campsite before you even think about putting it up. While an air awning is lighter than a traditional awning, they’re still fairly weighty items.
Consider what it’s made from as well – you’ll want a durable, water-resistant option. The best single-coated material will be polyester and polyvinyl when you’re looking for an awning wall material. We’d recommend looking for a hydrostatic head of 3000-5000mm at the minimum too.
Think about how much light you want in your ‘van as well – a brighter and airier feeling can be achieved by opting for one with more window panels. This also raises the point of making sure it will fit the position of your motorhome’s windows, vents and door.
If you think you might be heading back to your pitch in the dark, one with luminous guy ropes could also be worth looking out for.
If you’re considering a pre-owned option instead, we talk you through the process of buying a pre-owned awning too.
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