We recently bought Gelert self inflating mats and found them rather hard and uncomfortable and are now considering buying air mattresses for our summer hols. Never thought about the insulation issue though, but we simply do not have room to take both air mattresses and self inflating mats - so what to do? I can see quite a few people recommend the Fat Airic mats, but we need four of them, which would set us back around £130 - seems a bit expensive to me, but if they really are that comfy I suppose it's worth it. Another reason for considering the air mattresses is that they don't take up as much room in the car as they can be laid out more or less flat, whereas the big fat sausage shaped mats take up a lot of room!
just reading the comments on this thread, and wondering why nobody has mentioned campbeds? are they not a viable alternative here?
our kids started on airbeds, tried those folding campbeds, and loved them. plus youre off the floor. and i imagine folded up theyre not much bulkier than airbeds.
I like mine, (camp bed) the OH hates hers though. Toying with getting a pair of Fat Airics, as I never got on with (cheap) airbeds, even before they punctured, but I do want to camp with the OH!
The camp beds roll as small as an air bed, no insulation worries, and as the sides are supported it's kind of like sleeping in a (narrow) hammock. You can't really fall off one.
This does make it a little awkward to roll over in the night though, but then so does a mummy sleeping bag.
No such thing as a double either - so no zipping the bags together to get more intimate...
I have campbeds and found them seriously uncomfortable. I always wake up with a numb ear!
I also found them really chilly, you can't snuggle up plus I'm only 5ft 3 but find I hang off the end because I burrow down in the bed - OH at 6ft 2 has no chance!
The only bonus IMO is that you can store things underneath the beds.
Quote: Originally posted by mawu on 26/6/2007
Never thought about the insulation issue though, but we simply do not have room to take both air mattresses and self inflating mats - so what to do?
you dont need to take the air matresses with the coleman air bed. it seems to be warmer than our old airbed. dont ask why it just is.we took our old foam mats, they dont take up much room and the kids use them anyway so just packed an extra 2 incase we wanted them under the airbed after last years cold trips.
this trip we put a sheet on the air bed and then unzipped our sleeping bag and used it as a large duvet. very warm.
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Topic: airbeds vs sleeping mats
