When we used airbeds someone always seemed to get a puncture - every trip! Even our Coleman Comfort went flat and needed to be repaired a couple of times. Not good to end up on the cold ground in the middle of the night. The old rubbery ones were better (we've been camping a long time!) but were very narrow and of a tubey construction so you felt like you were lying on a pack of sausages!
Since we've had fat airics (and the kids some smaller, cheaper vango ones as they use them for scouting too) we've had no problems. They are so quick to inflate and you can go off and do something else while they're inflating. Quick also to put away. I know what sadkate means about the hips but the airbed was no better for me - it was either saggy and not supportive or like a rock and not giving enough.
SIM's are great but in order to get a good nights sleep you do want at least a 10cm one. Though as has been said this then has the downside that they are bulkier than airbeds. SIM's can also be quite narrow though you can get wider ones, but again the price goes up!
I recently brought a Kampa camp bed (extra wide with hooped legs so no digging into the ground) and it is my new best sleeping buddy. lol
We currently have a queen size double lair flocked top air bed that is absolutely fantastic! Got it off an ebay shop (brand new i might add) for £24.99 with free postage. Only been camping twice before, the last time being last week and OMG - it was a pleasure to roll into bed every nite. We put a king size fitted sheet over it (only to protect it though) and still use a sleeping bag each but every night was heaven. And it only takes about 5 mins to inflate and even less to deflate. Hope this helps. xxx
P.S- i know a few folk have mentioned their posture problems with air beds but i found mine better for my back than my normal bed at home. Woke up to not one sinlge niggle any of the nights.
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