If sleeping in a tent do you sleep on the ground, on foam or a stretcher? Many years ago when in the services we simply slept on the ground when out of patrol, but things have moved on a lot since those days. Which is best taking into consideration that the ground is normally damp. Thanks.
Many years ago we slept on an Argos double lilo over a foam camping mat, but things have moved on a lot since those days.
Damp is not an issue with sewn in tent groundsheets. Cold might be, however.
Don't think the Army is terribly concerned about your creature comforts! If not either hankering for past days of 'roughing it', or a plain masochist, pamper yourself a little!
Often the biggest problem I've found with sleeping on or near (foam mat) the ground, is lumps and bumps that are very uncomfortable! .... even had mole hills appear under the bed after being pitched for few days on couple of occasions!!!!
Anything that removes direct contact with the ground, typically air bed or camp bed, potentially makes for more comfort. Being raised off the ground is also inevitably warmer.
Be cautious with camp beds and check sizing. Most tents/bedrooms have sloping walls, and the adequate footprint dimensions will be at ground level, at camp bed height a foot or so above ground you often find you are in hard contact with (often condensation soaked!) walls where the slope has reduced the effective space available (been there, done that!).
Personally, I've been very comfortable with a SIG to both tent and bedroom, if in UK or cooler climes, a foam 'carpet' (those jigsaw clip together foam mats) to provide both insulation and comfort under bare feet, and an airbed. Be warned, modern airbeds seem to be pretty rubbish these days, rare to find one that doesn't go soft overnight, or just springs a terminal leak! Cynic that I am, I always pack a spare, and been justified in doing so, if only when loaned to a camping pal!
To digress, and I hope to give you all a laugh, I once went to great lengths to patch a punctured airbed. It flew off the roof rack somewhere on the M5 and was never seen again...
At the time of the Falklands War soldiers used closed cell foam mats and they are still available for lightweight camping.
The next technology and weight level up is the self inflating mat, when you unroll it and pull out the plug it sucks air in and self inflates.
Airbeds are still around but really have had their day.
Big bulky rolls of foam mattress aren't practical to transport.
People with tents they can stand up in seem to like camp beds but they are not practical in smaller lower tents.
Someone who puts a foam mattress or air bed on top of a camp bed is sure to show up and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about and to keep my opinions to myself.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Started off with a blow up airbed, tried cheapo SIM, and when the trusted double airbed developed a puncture over Christmas in 2011, I switched to camp bed + SIM and had not look back until I switched unit in 2020 and gone to the dark side with a PVC.
I had lots of space in my Dutch pyramid tents, being 4 berths for just me and the dog, to be able to have a camp bed + SIM width way across the inner tent without touching the sides of the canvas.
I camped with another person just once, and we slept on 2 SIMs (Therm-a-rest Luxury Mat XL) joined together on the ground with some foam mats for addition comfort and it was fine except for having to crawl to get up and down.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
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I have no idea what a "SIM" is in this context? The issue is not an actual tent, but our grandson sleeping in the caravan awning on occasions so do not want to be spending too much. We do have a breathable groundsheet laid down in the awning. Thanks for the very informative replies as learning something new all the time.
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
In big tent and with car then the decathlon set up same as idetika...
That is like sleeping on a bed at home.
Backpacking or moto camping then an insulated exped inflatable down mat. Comfy enough and very light and compact. Don't use anything that doesn't have insulation though.
If you use a camp bed with a SIM on top, and there should be sufficient height in your caravan awning for that, the SIM does not need to be a very good one.
I would recommend Coleman Posadas or equivalent for its ease of opening and closing.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 20/3/2023
If you use a camp bed with a SIM on top, and there should be sufficient height in your caravan awning for that, the SIM does not need to be a very good one.
I would recommend Coleman Posadas or equivalent for its ease of opening and closing.
DK
That Coleman seems about right. He is 15 so unsure of how long he will want to come camping with his grandparents so don't want to spend a fortune. Previously when camping mostly he has slept on a stretcher and seldom used a sleeping bag due to high night time temperatures. This will be his first camping experience in the UK and also a first for us. LOL!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Sleeping in a tent - what do you sleep on
via mobile 18/3/2023 at 9:13am
If not either hankering for past days of 'roughing it', or a plain masochist, pamper yourself a little!
