Such a thing these days as an airbed that isn't s**t?

[gazzarose]

Just got back from our annual family/friends camping weekend down west wales. Apart form the annoyance of packing up in the pi$$ing down rain, the main problem, as always was an uncomfortable nights sleep with my ar$e on the floor due to a flat airbed. I've tried cheap ones and my curdent one, a Gellert double thickness built in electric pump one rrp £80, has managed 3 years service, which would be fine if we went camping more that once a year! When I was a kit things were proper. We had a canvass tent with proper poles (although the Vango airbeam 600xl we borrowed from my brother was huge and brilliant and definitely considering getting one!) and my parents airbed (as kids we had to manage with mats!) was a red and blue rubbet/fabric one that they bought before they were married and lasted until I was about 15 and only died because the strings that keep the box shape started to rot resulting in huge balloon shape lumps. All the airbeds now seem to be made from the same material as modern black bags (yet another thing that was better back in the day). The camp site resonated yesterday morning with the sound of pumps topping up flat air beds and I'm determined to find one that will do a weekend without airloss. I probably won't go again this year so I can afford so wait for the off season and get a bargain. But everything I find at every price range just seems to be made of the same flocked plastic. Oh and a tip, don't get excited by a half price built in pump airbed like I did and realise when it arrived that its powered by mains so have to take an inverter with us just to pump the bed up!

Any pointers will be great. If i knew what to search for would help but my parents can't remember what brand their old one was.

Cheers

[Mr Pointy]

Apparently the modern answer is self-inflating mats like these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=sr_aj?node=30766390...

Thermarest are best, followed by Outwell & Vango. Buy as thick as you can afford.

[LeadFarmer]

I use an Aerobed when we go on holiday. Although we caravan, I always sleep in the awning as I prefer it. I use an Aerobed 'Active' model, though it seems to be discontinued now.

[4Q]

We have a couple of these http://www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-DreamTime.htm... in xl and they're miles better than an air bed

[gazzarose]

Thanks for the replies. There's a few things I can keep an eye out for.

With the self inflating ones, is a 100mm thick one about where I'd want to be in a cost vs comfort trade off? I would say would it compare to my double thickness airbed but that was about as comfortable as being shot.

Cheers

[Steve Kimberley]

We always use a 100mm Vango SIM. Best thing since our own bed. Comfortable, and very warm due to the insulating properties vs the air (or not!) in one of those horrible pump-up abominations. Airbeds are the devil's testicles and must be avoided at all costs.
(We're currently on our way back from five nights camping in Snowdonia. Never slept better (but the cider may have helped)).

[Rich135]

Even though they aren't that thick, they are really comfortable. You only need enough air to ensure your ribs aren't poking into the ground! They also don't move around when you roll over.

[designforlife]

Those self inflating mats are fantastic, i've had a couple and they are really deceptively comfortable.

miles better than a traditional air mattress and a lot less mucking about to set up.

I can comfortably sleep on my side on mine, and it's only about an inch thick.

[gazzarose]

Thanks for the suggestions.

The SIMs seem like the best solution. The only thing that I'm slightly concerned about is the size when rolled up. Anyone tried the different thickness Vangos? They do a 5, 7.5 and 10 so some money, and space, could be saved it I went for a 7.5 or even 5. I guess the thicker they are the more room them need when rolled, and this weekend WITHOUT the tent (my brother took it in his pickup) and just the Mrs, Me, our 2 yr old and our Jack Russel (who was in the back seat in top of our bedding) my Accord Tourer was packed to the gils including the roof box! There were a few things that could be left out, like the fold up chairs the inlaws asked us to take, but I think some sacrifices could have been made with some thinking and care. I'm thinking of the future when there might be anouther mini me and then things will get even worse. I've got no idea how 4 of us used to go away for 2 weeks when we were kids with a proper canvas tent with proper poles and a 2 ring camping stove all packed into my dads Carlton!

Can they be vacuumed to make them a bit smaller. Has anyone got a pic of a double SIM rolled up? All the pics and videos seem to be of singles, do the doubles make a ~120cm long roll?

[Steve Kimberley]

And there you've hit upon the snag.
They're big.
I'll upload a pic tomorrow, but suffice to say that if you are very restricted in cargo space you may struggle.
I sometimes wonder how we get all our kit in our Golf estate tbf, but somehow we do. Icarus 500, plus extension, carpet, footprint, kitchen, gas bottle, hob, tables, stools, chairs, bedding, cooler, large-ish dog, etc etc. I'm constantly shocked how it all goes in (even with the folding roofbox on top).

[Steve Kimberley]

To give you an idea of the pack size of the 100mm Vango double (pen for comparison...).

[designforlife]

if you want something smaller and lower profile but still comfortable, the 25mm self inflating camping mats roll down to about 700mm wide (single) and 200mm diameter.

they also come in double flavour IIRC.

this is similar to mine-

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/oex-traverse-self-infl...

[gazzarose]

Steve Kimberley said:

To give you an idea of the pack size of the 100mm Vango double (pen for comparison...).

So the double fold up then rolls up like a double thickness single so it's not as long?

[seyre1972]

Just had same dilemma - solved it by having 2 x double airbeds on top of each other - slept like a log (nothing to do with been up for 42 hrs, and quite a bit of alcohol drunk)

Also took my own pillow (one of those hard foam things which is meant to keep your neck open so you don't snore as much .....)

Job Jobbed

[Steve Kimberley]

gazzarose said:

So the double fold up then rolls up like a double thickness single so it's not as long?

Correct

[poo at Paul's]

We use good quality fold up camp beds, outwell and vango. Pack up smaller than a SIM, off the floor so warmer, plus room for clothes bags underneath. Great on their own for a few nights.
BUT, when we go for a week or so, it is the camp beds, then SIMs on top, THEN a memory matress topper too! Blimey, they are comfy, more so than the Tempur bed at home tbh!

[poo at Paul's]

We use good quality fold up camp beds, outwell and vango. Pack up smaller than a SIM, off the floor so warmer, plus room for clothes bags underneath. Great on their own for a few nights.
BUT, when we go for a week or so, it is the camp beds, then SIMs on top, THEN a memory matress topper too! Blimey, they are comfy, more so than the Tempur bed at home tbh!

[Simes205]

Self inflating ones, are great but take up more space when packed up. Space is at a premium even with an e91 so the self inflating mattress stays at home.
After years of ‘good’ PVC ones which deflate often we’ve got one of these.

https://www.outdooraction.co.uk/camping-camping-be...

Rubbery old school style and very comfortable.

Edited by Simes205 on Saturday 23 June 08:30

[carinatauk]

I have had the same problems as the OP with inflatable mats. So I have started to look at these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MJ148FG/ref...

Comfy, and off the floor

[Chrisgr31]

poo at Paul's said:

We use good quality fold up camp beds, outwell and vango. Pack up smaller than a SIM, off the floor so warmer, plus room for clothes bags underneath. Great on their own for a few nights.
BUT, when we go for a week or so, it is the camp beds, then SIMs on top, THEN a memory matress topper too! Blimey, they are comfy, more so than the Tempur bed at home tbh!

I used a camp bed at Le Mans last year. Pain in the ass getting it in to a small tent but surprisingly comfy, and better than airbeds I have used previously. Had I gone this year I would have taken a camp bed again.