What brand/style of mattress do you use while camping?
For years now we have used our Thermarests which have served us well. One now has been repaired multiple times and is on its last puffs of air, so I am in the market for new bedding. We are actually thinking of going more luxurious :sunshine for Telluride and getting a real air mattress. I want to minimize inflating issues and deflating (punctures) issues as much as possible so I am seeking some advise.
What brands do you recommend?
What should I stay away from?
Do you have any set up advise? Do you put anything special underneath the mattress (besides the tent)?
anything else I should consider in this area?
We’ve been using Colemans since I had back surgery and the thermarest just wouldn’t cut it anymore. We use them pretty intensively and are usually travelling with dog as well as small boy. Ours do leak and we’ve replaced them a couple times over the years, but with some pump attention each day they do the trick. I’ve seen some new ones that come with a cot thingy attached to get them off the ground which seems like an interesting upgrade if you’ve got the room and probably lengthens the life of the mattress if the connections are good. Do plan to put something warm between you and the mattress though, all that air gets really cold at night.
I’ve got an elevated queen sized air bed I got at Wal-mart and it’s served me well. :thumbsup
It’s so much easier to get in and out of bed since it’s off the ground, and I put a couple packing blankets on it to separate my sleeping bag from the cold air of the mattress. :flower
I do bring along a spare air mattress just in case the old one goes flat. :eek
P.S. When I’m doing the ABGAT I use a smaller tent, so I use my “Big 'Ol Cot” I got at Sportsman’s Warehouse.
yeah Kym we have the elavated Stand pulls out like an acordian
Makes it easier for the Older Folks to get outta bed in the morning
and I dont fall down so far when being poured into it
:lol :cheers :lol
If your tent is tall enough then go the luxury route like me:
Get a fairly cheap (but long enough for your body) cot then put a thermarest on top of the cot and use a sleeping bag on that setup. I swear it’s more comfortable than my bed at home. Also the Thermarests insulate better so you don’t have the cold creeping up from underneath. The downside is that it’s a single-wide bed (no room for luvin) but it also gives you storage space under the cot.
I’m so glad you started this topic. I have been thinking about what Hope said in a previous post. She had said something about her air bed picking up the cold from the ground…do you think you stay warmer on the ground or off?? I have seen those elevated stands Jerry, are they pretty stable?? The cots look squeeky :lol :huh You say comfy hua Hooch… humm…I have to say the air beds look comfy but if there cold thats not good.
I’m gonna camp solo for the first time this summer…no warm honey… but thats ok cause I’m a strong Colorado woman :cheers But Being cold seems to suck all the energy from me… I hate to be cold… :flower
It dropped pretty low last year, maybe 25 degrees, prior to the fest, and the first few nights I was woken by the cold. He’s what I did to solve the problem.
Air mattress
Plastic Sheeting
Down Comforter
Sleeping Bag
Silk Sleeping Bag Liner
The plastic sheeting encased everything on top of the air mattress by folding it in half and the down comforter was wrapped around the sleeping bag.
Please keep in mind, I am originally from FLORIDA and I don’t have a lot of meat on my bones, so I get cold easier/faster than most. Another thing, the cacoon is great… until you have to pee really bad! :lol
Paco Pads are a little out of our price range at this time, otherwise they would be our first choice. Only sent me wishing again and looking online to see if the price has ever come down on them, but no
Thanks for the other suggestions and keep them coming if you have additional ones.
Try Big Agnes, especially if you can afford a Sleeping Giant memory foam kit from them. I use that with an Insulated Air Core pad for Telluride and I wake up every morning feeling like I slept at home in bed!
yeh memory foam pads are the best
compact, light weight, and really comfortable, as much so as some air mattresses that ive used. and one plus with memory foam is that they dont lose air in the middle of the night. ive certainly gotten some cricks in my neck from a partially deflated air mattress…
and, if ya check target, walmart, or even some medical supply stores, you can find some generic brands of memory foam for half the price :thumbsup
