Quote: Originally posted by coastal~path on 03/7/2014
We have the Coleman comfort airbed, the one with dual valves as hubby is a lot heavier than me. Had it at a bargain price of £19.99 from yeomans a while back.
We've found this very comfortable. Don't have a problem with cold air as camp in the south of France during July.
I am on the look out for some more double airbeds as my teens want them for our next trip but the more recent reviews I've read about the Coleman comfort are not good so it doesn't look like I'll be getting these ones for the kids atm which is a shame cos if the quality was still there I'd have bought two.
I do have a double campbed but my hubby prefers the airbed and with the amount of stuff I take I prefer the airbed as it doesn't weigh as much as the campbed.
We've got the same airbeds, the only problem we've had is when hubby slept in jeans with his keys in the back pocket of his jeans and inserted a little hole in his side of the airbed. That night he was sleeping on the floor and I was fine on my inflated side of the airbed.
I use a fleece blanket and sheet on top of the airbed and a foil blanket underneth. Not had a problem with sqeaking in the night when I roll over & over & over....
I've got a campbed and SIM/roll mat for when I go away with the Cubs & Beavers as its easier to put up and take down.
But it's personal preferances at the end of the day.
Cost is no absolute guarantee, with anything, but our Aerobed Active Raised Double works for us. It replaced an old school rubberised cotton red/blue lilo type which just would NOT die, but became too low for these old bones.
The campbed fans like their kit, but don't usually talk about difficult assembly when new, bulk, metal frames, exposed bolts, feet digging into groundsheets etc etc.
Personal preference at the end of the day. Airbeds and campbeds each have their pluses and minuses:
Airbeds:
Pro's:
1. Take up little room in storage, or transit.
2. Good ones are very comfortable.
3. Double or triple height versions are available.
4. Easy to set up, with re-chargeable/12v pumps etc.
5. Work just like a home mattress, in all respects
Con's:
1. Can leak. A flat airbed in the middle of the night is not funny.
2. Price is no guarantee. Even the expensive ones can leak.
3. Can be cold without under/overbed insulation.
Campbeds:
Pro's:
1. You're off the cold ground.
2. Easier to rise from if you've old bones.
3. Nothing to leak.
4. Create storage space under.
5. Good ones easy to put up.
Con's:
1. Can be bulky, in storage and transit.
2. Bigger ones take up a *lot* of tent space.
3. Good ones are expensive. Good doubles mega so.
4. Cheap ones can break.
5. Unless you're a masochist, you need a SIM on top.
6. Good SIMS are expensive.
7. Two singles ARE. NO. GOOD. NOT. EVER.
8. A double has a metal bar down the middle.
9. Metal bars in the middle of a bed ARE. NO. GOOD. NOT. EVER.
We've carefully looked at each option. Only one solution for us. A double sleeping bag on a double airbed.
Our system:
*Footprint
*Tent ZIG
*Bedroom SIG
*Bedroom carpet
*Fleece throw
*Active Raised Double Aerobed
*Fleece throw
*Double square sleeping bag
Toasty. Comfy. Can cuddle. That's us sorted
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Quote: Originally posted by mikegalagher on 04/7/2014
Personal preference at the end of the day. Airbeds and campbeds each have their pluses and minuses:
Airbeds:
Pro's:
1. Take up little room in storage, or transit.
2. Good ones are very comfortable.
3. Double or triple height versions are available.
4. Easy to set up, with re-chargeable/12v pumps etc.
5. Work just like a home mattress, in all respects
Con's:
1. Can leak. A flat airbed in the middle of the night is not funny.
2. Price is no guarantee. Even the expensive ones can leak.
3. Can be cold without under/overbed insulation.
Campbeds:
Pro's:
1. You're off the cold ground.
2. Easier to rise from if you've old bones.
3. Nothing to leak.
4. Create storage space under.
5. Good ones easy to put up.
Con's:
1. Can be bulky, in storage and transit.
2. Bigger ones take up a *lot* of tent space.
3. Good ones are expensive. Good doubles mega so.
4. Cheap ones can break.
5. Unless you're a masochist, you need a SIM on top.
6. Good SIMS are expensive.
7. Two singles ARE. NO. GOOD. NOT. EVER.
8. A double has a metal bar down the middle.
9. Metal bars in the middle of a bed ARE. NO. GOOD. NOT. EVER.
We've carefully looked at each option. Only one solution for us. A double sleeping bag on a double airbed.
Our system:
*Footprint
*Tent ZIG
*Bedroom SIG
*Bedroom carpet
*Fleece throw
*Active Raised Double Aerobed
*Fleece throw
*Double square sleeping bag
Toasty. Comfy. Can cuddle. That's us sorted
OK Mike from my perspective you've got a few wrong:
Campbeds:
Pro's:
1. You're off the cold ground.
2. Easier to rise from if you've old bones.
3. Nothing to leak.
4. Create storage space under - just don't pile too high or you'll feel lumps underneath you.
5. Good ones easy to put up - cheap ones are finger pinchers but good arm exercise.
Con's:
1. Can be bulky, in storage and transit - cheap 4 leg ones not too bad.
2. Bigger ones take up a *lot* of tent space - obviously but same with 'queen size' airbeds.
3. Good ones are expensive. Good doubles mega so - luckily if you are of a slight build cheap ones are fine.
4. Cheap ones can break - so can expensive ones if you weigh too much!
5. Unless you're a masochist, you need a SIM on top - agreed.
6. Good SIMS are expensive - but doesn't need to be on a camp bed.
7. Two singles ARE. NO. GOOD. NOT. EVER - your opinion not mine.
8. A double has a metal bar down the middle - again and the problem is?
9. Metal bars in the middle of a bed ARE. NO. GOOD. NOT. EVER - surely this is just emphasising no 8? I enjoy my personal space when camping it's the only time I'm allowed a fair amount of bed.
so our system:
*Footprint
*Tent ZIG
*Bedroom SIG
*picnic rug
*Cheap 4 leg camp bed (adults have Kampa Slumber plus - larger cheapies)
*Aldi SIM (I actually have a thicker Costco one now)
*Double square sleeping bag & pillows
We can still cuddle as the bar isn't a wall but keeps trespassers on their own bed! Now I'm looking forward to our next holiday as it guarantees me 70cm of sleeping space
Well, I said it boiled down to personal choice, and the differences you highlight seem to point to a preference for more personal space.
We don't approach it from that angle
The original question posed by the OP was "is anyone pleased with their airbed and glad that they made that choice?" and my answer to that would be "Yes".
If ours goes down in the middle of the night in 3 weeks time, I might well think differently about Aerobed as a brand, but I still won't be rushing out to buy campbeds
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Wow, a lot of responses! Interesting to hear everyone's views, overall quite encouraging.
I think quite a few people missed the fact that I am only going for the double height air bed on a temporary basis until my knee and foot are better, so quite honestly it does not need to be a long term solution, we only paid about £40 for the air bed, so if it does us at a minimum this summer, it will have served its purpose.
I feel less concerned now, hopefully the bed will be comfortable and only need a top up of air a few times.
Thanks to all who replied,
Jane.
------------- Enjoying life beyond kids, new love, living on a boat and a new lease of life in my mid 50s! Never too old to reinvent yourself.....
Mum to five - 4 girls, 31,28,25 and 22 and one boy, 20
Engaged! Wedding June 2020!
We've had airbeds and have now moved onto SIMs.
We also have a 'posh' aerobed for at home.
I've never had an issue with being cold. If anything, I have the opposite problem and I'm always, always too hot at night.
I find they go saggy worst on warm days. You pump them up when it's warm, at night the air is cooler, and therefore smaller (can air be smaller? You know what I mean), so the bed is saggier. So I generally have to add a bit of air to mine as late on as possible (bearing in mind the pump is noisy!).
My son can't be trusted with them because he bounces on them, and then they pop. So he now has a sim too, although my daughter is still very attached to her pink air bed.
We use an Aerobed Raised Platinum (double)...we've actually had it for about 8 years...it was/is our emergency guest bed once we downsized to a smaller house.
We having recently started camping again, but being a lot less supple than we were in our youth didn't fancy mats etc. On the other hand, we still needed to be able to 'cuddle up'and as we camp for 3-4 weeks at a time we like to be comfortable.
We always have EHU so we just tip the Aerobed out of it's bag, roll it out, plug it in and within 5 mins we have the bed up and our 'leccy blanket on top. Combine that with a kingsize duvet, pillows etc and we are very happy.
It is fairly heavy and takes up quite a bit of room in the car...but for us definately worth it.
Quote: Originally posted by alpiner on 03/7/2014
very comfortable,new style ones raised of the ground, ext but very short lifespan.
its not just punctures to look out for, what happens you get tiny splits and thats it, its in the bin
gave up after 3 expensive models
The other big problem is your sweat collects on the surface of the bed because its got nowhere to go so you have to strip it and air it out daily
Expected lifespan 1 week to 1 season.
I am now confused! Don't most people air their beds daily anyway? And where does the sweat go when you use a camp bed with a SIM on top that is so different to an airbed?
On your last point, any reputable airbed would still be within it's guarantee period during your "expected lifespan". Mine lasted 4 years (used almost every weekend and holiday from March to October) so, for the £30 I paid for it, I am well satisfied!
Reporting back now after our first camp with the Intex queen size raised air bed, actually very pleased, only one or two top ups of air needed in a ten night stay, and the bed was very comfortable for us both. It certainly solved the problem that I had with getting up off the floor with my foot and knee issues.
I used a quilted mattress protector and sheet over the air bed, and picnic blankets underneath it, and we were really cosy and cushioned, and no aching backs at all.
We are off again in a bit less than four weeks, this time to the West coast of Scotland, and feel a lot more confident that we will get a great night's sleep on this bed.
Jane.
------------- Enjoying life beyond kids, new love, living on a boat and a new lease of life in my mid 50s! Never too old to reinvent yourself.....
Mum to five - 4 girls, 31,28,25 and 22 and one boy, 20
Engaged! Wedding June 2020!
Hi, we too changed to the Intex queen sized airbed.
Have had great nights sleep.
Also for us so much easier than ....rolling off the bed,then to knees to then stand up .
We have tent carpet under ours & we use a mattress protector then a valance sheet & we have a single quilt each ...so no moans of ...who has nicked the quilt !!
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Topic: Airbeds - are they that bad?
. Combine that with a kingsize duvet, pillows etc and we are very happy.
