well, i've done them all. I really need my sleep or i'm a terrible grump!! Have gone for the intex queenair bed - beautifully comfortable - but did go down a bit. SIM were like sleeping on the floor and camp beds not warm or cosy.
Being something of a Scrooge I've worked my way gradually up from a standard camping roll, through a self-inflating mat and a cheap inflatable, to a nice flocked airbed. I haven't used a camp bed since we had one at home as a put-you-up when I was a kid, so my memories probably aren't a fair reflection of camp beds today.
have to agree with Keely on the self inflating mats. I have back problems which started shortly after a weeks camping last year where I slept on a Coleman Comfort and woke with back ache every day. I garden camped last night with my new SI mat and used it for a weekend a couple of weeks ago, both times I slept really well and more importantly my backs fine.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
So far have only used air beds, mostly sleep OK but have had problems.
1. We've had problems with them going down, with varying degress of seriousness. From waking up in the morning with the bed on the soft side to complete failure - Last year I awoke only 1 hour after going to bed on the floor with the bed utterly deflated. That was the beginning of an interesting night, but that's a long story which I might post in a thread of its own.
2. I sometimes find the lack of breathability of the airbed leads to discomfort - you find yourself getting damp on the bottom of the sleeping bag.
3. I find that I sometimes wake up with stiff and aching joints - my hips mostly. I'm not that old and never wake up like that at home.
Still, airbeds are what we have and what we know, so it would be a bit of a leap of faith to spend a load of money on some other kind of bed and find them worse!
We upgraded from airbeds to those low army style camp beds (comfy but hard to put together) then the higher metal frame camp beds. I am fairly small and find the camp beds really comfy (and you can store stuff underneath). The downside is that they are big, heavy and bulky when folded up.
We then bought a smaller tent for overnight stops and had to go back to airbeds again. I was surprised at how warm and comfy they are so we are now wondering whether to take the camp beds this year.
Airbeds are fairly cheap so I think I would start with those and see how you get on.
We have just bought and used a Vango self inflating high rise air bed with built in electric pump we only had to top it up twice during the week and found it as comfortable as our bed at home and with the extra hight (47cm) found it easier for getting up, also found it warmer as cold ground does not penetrate, we also use a fitted under blanket and fitted sheet with duvet so was just like sleeping at home.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Air beds or camp beds?
