Can anyone recommend a blowup bed that stays up? We've tried all sorts from expensive self-inflating to a tenner from Go Outdoors but have spent more than one night lying on the hard ground on our last few trips. Grateful for any tips in advance of our next trip in early September.
I don't think it's the inflatable beds that's the problem as that's too much of a coincidence for all to deflate prematurely. It's possible that someone is puncturing the material especially if they have shoes with buckles for instance. A puncture outfit seems to be the best solution and a lot cheaper.
I have just purchased and tested the OUTWELL FLOCK CLASSIC DOUBLE AIRBED and can report that it remained inflated overnight.
I discovered a long time ago that if the air mattress is lying on the groundsheet only, it will loose air as the temperature changes and can also draw the moisture from your body leaving wet bedding. A cheap supermarket picnic mat with waterproof backing on material proved invaluable and never a flat damp bed again.
Quote: Originally posted by starcraft on 05/8/2022
I have just purchased and tested the OUTWELL FLOCK CLASSIC DOUBLE AIRBED and can report that it remained inflated overnight.
I discovered a long time ago that if the air mattress is lying on the groundsheet only, it will loose air as the temperature changes and can also draw the moisture from your body leaving wet bedding. A cheap supermarket picnic mat with waterproof backing on material proved invaluable and never a flat damp bed again.
That is really interesting and I'm going to try it. Thank you 🙂
Plastics allow air to permeate, something called water vapour transfer rate (WVTR), and some allow air to permeate quicker than others over time.
PVC has a higher WVTR than say Polypropylene (PP) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), especially at higher temperatures.
Hence airbeds or blow up chairs go soft over time, same reason why tyres need to be pump up from time to time.
The better quality airbeds with thicker plastic may deflate slower than the thinner ones, however, they will still deflate.
DK
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Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 06/8/2022
Plastics allow air to permeate, something called water vapour transfer rate (WVTR), and some allow air to permeate quicker than others over time.
PVC has a higher WVTR than say Polypropylene (PP) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), especially at higher temperatures.
Hence airbeds or blow up chairs go soft over time, same reason why tyres need to be pump up from time to time.
The better quality airbeds with thicker plastic may deflate slower than the thinner ones, however, they will still deflate.
DK
BLIMEY! Someone with some material tech knowledge! I'd all but lost the will to live, and certainly given up on explaining to various folks over the years, that a slowly deflating airbed (or whatever) was not necessarily punctured/leaking, but that air actually permeates THROUGH the very material! The blank looks/glassy eyes tell you it's a lost cause and the concept that something without obvious gaping holes in it can lose air is beyond them! When the response is, "but it's plastic", give up, go get a stiff drink, and talk to the dog for a conversation at a higher level!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 06/8/2022
BLIMEY! Someone with some material tech knowledge! I'd all but lost the will to live, and certainly given up on explaining to various folks over the years, that a slowly deflating airbed (or whatever) was not necessarily punctured/leaking, but that air actually permeates THROUGH the very material! The blank looks/glassy eyes tell you it's a lost cause and the concept that something without obvious gaping holes in it can lose air is beyond them! When the response is, "but it's plastic", give up, go get a stiff drink, and talk to the dog for a conversation at a higher level!
I am surprised I have retained the knowledge that I gained over 20 years ago about different types of plastics when I was working for a pharmaceutical company that made and still makes various medicinal products with plastic components.
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!
The latest generation of TPU Nylon sleeping mattresses are very impressive. I find mine (NatureHike, bought direct from China) quite comfortable.
We've just been camping for a month. I inflated my mattress on the 31st June and deflated it on 26th July. Didn't need to top it up once.
On the down side, if they do get a leak they go down quickly, and without air inside, there's no insulation.
Have used the Decathlon inflatable bases with their air mattress on top for several years, now. never had a deflating problem ... over a max period of two weeks use ... and they are the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on, plus gives you storage space underneath ...
Can't recommend them enough!
Bought a £54 pound electric self inflating airbed, went down three times in the first night.
In desperation got a £14 airbed from home bargains never went down for the rest of the holiday. Now using cheap airbed with folding bed.
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Topic: Blow up beds
via mobile 04/8/2022 at 8:34pm
I'd all but lost the will to live, and certainly given up on explaining to various folks over the years, that a slowly deflating airbed (or whatever) was not necessarily punctured/leaking, but that air actually permeates THROUGH the very material! The blank looks/glassy eyes tell you it's a lost cause and the concept that something without obvious gaping holes in it can lose air is beyond them! 
When the response is, "but it's plastic", give up, go get a stiff drink, and talk to the dog for a conversation at a higher level!
Now using cheap airbed with folding bed.
