Hi all,
I am in the process of buying everything from scratch and need some advice in regards to bedding. Is the most popular choice a sleeping bag and a SIM? I shall be camping solo.
The simple answer is probably yes.
What sort of camping are you planing on doing though? A lot of people like a cot plus SIM (Though you need to be sure there's enough room for you to do this without the bed/you touching the walls.) If you're travelling by car you could take your duvet and pillows fron home if you prefer.
I have bought a Coleman Coastline 3 and I'll be camping solo. I'll probably stick with a single Sim. My first time out I'll stick with a local campsite (bit of a dry run before venturing further out). When you say cot you mean....?
A camp bed of some sort. Decathlon do an excellent inflatable one. There are various makes of traditional folding ones. Helinox make a super-duper light weight one but it's super-expensive.
We're moving to using a SIM on top of an inflatable mattress for a little bit of extra height while still getting the insulation from the SIM.
For simplicity and compactness of kit, difficult to beat sleeping bag and SIM/Airbed, DON'T forget a pillow or two.
I've always favoured airbeds, but has to be said most modern ones are pretty rubbish, and often don't last more than a night or two! I've got Ye Olde rubberised canvas LiLo that dates back to the 60s/70s and has stood the test of time.
Some people hate airbeds, but I've always found the trick to comfort is not to inflate too hard, just enough to ensure that you are kept off the ground, with a bit of 'give' still in it, not rock hard.
Cots/camp beds can be OK, BUT, most tent walls taper inwards, and that raising off the ground by the bed means your head and feet are closer to the walls, and on less generous sized tents permanently in contact with the walls, which usually flap in and out with tent movement caused by even a breeze, let alone a wind - doesn't make for the best night sleep! Check that a cot/bed can fit without contacting walls.
Always pays to have a bit of extra insulation for those extra cold nights, so a cheap and cheerful synthetic fleecy type throw/blanket that you can put on top of sleeping bag is a worthwhile addition, you can also use to wrap around shoulders/legs 'granny style' when sitting around before bed if it gets chilly!
Thing to remember with tents and bedding is that there is always a bit of 'damp' to contend with, if only from your body sweat/breath, so synthetics or wool are generally best, pure cotton tends to get damp quickly and stay damp.
We use a tent 'carpet' then good SIM. Unless you struggle to get up off the floor, why take a camp bed as well?
Just consider the width and thickness of your self-inflating mat, especially of you're on the large side or if you turn a lot in your sleep. We've now got 76cm wide SIMs (Exped Megamat LXW)and wouldn't want any less wide.
Does anyone use mattress toppers ( or memory foam toppers ) on top of campbeds, we don't like airbeds now were knocking on abit were finding them difficult to get up off in the morning and were looking at alternatives
I sleep on SIM on the floor, and am fine. Personally I would rather have a slightly thicker SIM than take and set up extra kit like camp beds / blow up beds etc.
You can always add stuff.
I use a 7.5Cm SIM. And take a single sheet to put on top.
And a 3 season ‘envelope’ style sleeping bag. I.e the rectangular shape with a square end as I don’t like being squashed in.
If you do decide to just take your normal duvet, put a couple of fleece blankets or another duvet under your bottom sheet for softness and to protect from the nylony feel of the SIM.
I camp solo quite a bit and doing the set up and pack up alone encouraged me to keep ‘stuff’ to a minimum.
Quote: Originally posted by Biscuit61 on 07/4/2022
Does anyone use mattress toppers ( or memory foam toppers ) on top of campbeds, we don't like airbeds now were knocking on abit were finding them difficult to get up off in the morning and were looking at alternatives
Expensive but I use an Exped synmat 7 LW
( I think they have been replaced by a different model now ? ) always get a good nights sleep and they pack up really small. The only caveat is they are really noisy when moving about on them , this is cured by slipping them into a silk sleeping bag liner. Late to this thread I know but look up Exped.
I use a 5cm and 3 season sleeping bag (hooded envelope type with a cord to close the top) and a small fleece blanket. I also use a reflective backed picnic blanket as a carpet in the bedroom. This kept me cosy when it was frosty overnight.
Cant stand sleeping bags -we take sheets and our duvet and pillows - yes it takes up space. Only thing to watch out for is throws - if you are putting a throw over make sure it's not one that will sweat and youll get wet under.
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Topic: Noobie Question - bedding
via mobile 04/4/2022 at 6:26pm
when sitting around before bed if it gets chilly!
