camping opinion

[Ming the Merciless]

I bought a Thermarest in 1995. It was more than £50 and I wondered at the time whether I was buying over-priced tat. However, it is still in use today and shows every sign of being the last camping mattress I will ever buy. A good product.

Note that the fairer sex may want the deep mattress comfort of a conventional inflatable, though!

[Kernow]

We buy cheap and nasty kids beach inflatables for about 2 squid a time, sometimes they last a season, sometimes not, but they're comfortable enough, fold up very small and not too heavy. We've got a little foot pump that works well and is smaller and lighter than the compressor that works off the battery, and just as quick. Two up on one bike means the smaller and lighter the better, they've worked well for the past 10 years or so and are easily replaceable at seaside resorts.
Cheers

[BaZa ®]

Club member Foxy sell them at a discount:

Fox's Outdoor Airbeds

[Steppenwulf]

The main difference between a lilo type inflatable mattress and a thermarest self inflating type is the different thermal insulating properties they possess.

Thermarest types are much more efficient at protecting the sleeper, but with low level altitude camping in Summertime it ain't going to be critical to survival.

[llew]

Originally Posted by Steppenwulf

The main difference between a lilo type inflatable mattress and a thermarest self inflating type is the different thermal insulating properties they possess.

Thermarest types are much more efficient at protecting the sleeper, but with low level altitude camping in Summertime it ain't going to be critical to survival.

The air in an air bed is a poor insulator, the air takes heat away from the body and transfers cold from the ground. Where as pads and self inflating mats prevent this to a more or lesser degree.

One of the main problems is if you sleep on your side, your hips need somewhere to go, which can be why an air bed can offer a lot of comfort. And then there is always the camp bed, which irons out all the bumps and dips.

[Kernow]

Originally Posted by llew

The air in an air bed is a poor insulator, the air takes heat away from the body and transfers cold from the ground. Where as pads and self inflating mats prevent this to a more or lesser degree.

One of the main problems is if you sleep on your side, your hips need somewhere to go, which can be why an air bed can offer a lot of comfort. And then there is always the camp bed, which irons out all the bumps and dips.

I try to keep my body heat inside my sleeping bag, therefore the heat transfer is not so much of a problem. I must plead to being a summertime camper these days so extreme cold or high altitude is not a problem. We also place a blanket between the air bed and ground sheet which tends to retain the heat better and act as a barrier to cold from the ground. Over the years, various experiments lead to better conditions.
Cheers

[Wow]

I'm hoping to go to my second rally next weekend. Last year we had a bit of drizzle and it was quite cold (end of June) when I went to my first rally. I had an air bed and was wearing 6 layers of clothing and still freezing. I have today received my order from best-buys.co.uk consisting of a 3-season sleeping bag (Vango summit 3000 up to -11C) and a Gelert Xpedition self-inflatable mat. It was explained to me on the phone when I was trying to find out what to get that an airbed circulates cold air as mentioned by others here. So I'm hoping this will keep me warm now. The sleeping bag is a mummy style one so a minimum number of air pockets can be formed and turned into cold air. I just hate the fact you can't move in them. The blanket or foam mat between air bed and sleeping bag was also mentioned. But I'm going to try sleeping on just the inflatable mat, nice and small as well for on the bike and no pumping required. Also got some fleecy socks and regular campers say a hat is essential.

The sleeping bag was on offer for £44.99
The mat was £21.50

HTH

[Simon_Y]

I used self inflating mats for the last 5 years I was in the UK. While expensive they are very good quality and despite the apparent thinness very comfortable. I used to use mine with my bivvy bag when hard coring it without a tent. ( try that with a flock mattress and it'll weigh 30 Lbs after a good downpour/heavy dew)


Simon

[willy_warmer]

Why anyone would want to sleep in a cold damp tent and muddy field is beyond me,FFS get a B&B.

[Mrs T]

Originally Posted by willy_warmer

Why anyone would want to sleep in a cold damp tent and muddy field is beyond me,FFS get a B&B.

oh yes brandy & babycham, guarantee to keep one warm