depends howlong your goingforand if you want comfort, i would say airbeds everytime have a tendancy to go soggy. when you normally arrive its middle of the day and the air is warm etc so when you inflate your bed to hard its great, by nighttime the temp has dropped this in turn lowers pressure and your bed feels soft.persevere air beds are great self inflating mattress isbasically a piece of foam ina bag you have a good feel of one and see wether you agree, after all how can something that needs air 'inflate itself 'physics dont work like that. happy camping
Self-inflating mattress every time! Unless you want to spend big bucks and get an air mattress with some built-in stability (double layere, separate air pockets inside). Basically, the problem with airbeds is that they want to balance the air pressure all the way around themselves. If you've got a big lump like me on one side and a little lump (like the wife) on the other side, she's going to be up in the air or rolling down into my side...or, as usually happens, a bit of both on and off throughout the night. And that's before you take account of arry's discussion of the deflating effects of cooling temperatures. Furthermore, the heaviest parts of your body sink into the air mattress, while the lighter parts are pushed out and up by the trapped air - leading to some uncomfortable positions. (Think backside and pelvis lower vs. upper chest & neck higher.)
As the SIM has a foam structure throughout, there is far more support for weight at each individual point (it's this foam, that allows it to self inflate btw - when released by opening the valve, the foam expands and fills its spaces with the air it sucks in; conversely, when you squash it to roll up and put away, the air is forced out, allowing a nice tight pack). The SIM insulates you from losing too much body heat into the ground and provides enough support to keep the body in an anatomically correct position. It also provides sufficient cushioning to prevent loss of circulation around hips / shoulders, unless you really are a big lump like me. I find I sleep like a log on my back with a very slim cushion supporting the curve in my lower spine.
Quote: Originally posted by arryp0tter on 19/6/2011
depends howlong your goingforand if you want comfort, i would say airbeds everytime have a tendancy to go soggy. when you normally arrive its middle of the day and the air is warm etc so when you inflate your bed to hard its great, by nighttime the temp has dropped this in turn lowers pressure and your bed feels soft.persevere air beds are great self inflating mattress isbasically a piece of foam ina bag you have a good feel of one and see wether you agree, after all how can something that needs air 'inflate itself 'physics dont work like that. happy camping
Agreed, when air beds are inflated to optimum pressure they are comfy.....but they do deflate and by nature are cold......you're laying on a bag of air. Physics of a SIM is that when the valve is opened the compressed foam is allowed to expand....drawing in air at the same time....self inflating....differance is, the majority of the SIM is foam.....a very good insulator. I've used both and now combine a 7.5mm SIM with a camp bed....off the ground, insulated from below and held in place by a fitted fleece sheet......IMHO ya can't beat it. Each to their own
Quote: Originally posted by Fintbeast on 19/6/2011
As the SIM has a foam structure throughout, there is far more support for weight at each individual point (it's this foam, that allows it to self inflate btw - when released by opening the valve, the foam expands and fills its spaces with the air it sucks in; conversely, when you squash it to roll up and put away, the air is forced out, allowing a nice tight pack). The SIM insulates you from losing too much body heat into the ground and provides enough support to keep the body in an anatomically correct position. It also provides sufficient cushioning to prevent loss of circulation around hips / shoulders, unless you really are a big lump like me. I find I sleep like a log on my back with a very slim cushion supporting the curve in my lower spine.
I would have to agree with the vote for a SIM. We tried one last year for the first time after using airbeds for many years and had the best nights sleep ever while camping. We've got a 7.5cm I think and although it takes up more space in the car than an airbed, it's definitely worth it. We find it more comfortable and warmer and have even slept better on it than on our own bed!
Hi - we started camping again last year and bought a huge queen sized airbed which had coils for stability, was large enough for both of us (and the dogs) and was really, really comfy when inflated well. We used it for a total of 14 nights (6 of those at home!) and when we took it with us last month after the first night woke up very very early nearly on the floor! We spent ages trying to find a leak, not easy with such a huge lump, inflated it for the following two nights, in the wee small hours and finally gave up! We decided NOT to go home, found a local camping shop and spent a fortune on two camp beds and two 10cm self inflating mats, XL so they go edge to edge over the bed frame. We found that we were much warmer (wish we'd had them in April in the Lakes) and I was just as comfy, if not more so as I don't bounce around when OH gets up during the night..............I can sit on the edge to put on socks, shoes etc (old and bit stiff jointed now) and overall I'm much happier with them - AND the bonus is they can only go down a very little if disaster strikes. I just wish I'd not HAD to buy them in a rush - I'm sure I'd have found the kit much cheaper via the net.
But as others have said it's personal preference, although for insulation, even on top of a camp bed, SIM's are warmer.
Airbeds for me as space in the car is limited and a double sim is much bigger than a double airbed, maybe when I have a bigger roof box and a puncture I'll change my mind.
I am a new camper and went with airbed and believe i have made the wrong choice! there ok for the first night but then they basically need pumping back up every night. Ill definitely be investing in self inflating mats after reading reviews. Hope this helps!
We started off with Camp beds but due to a change of tent we moved on to Aerobeds, never had a problem with them deflating in the night but we did find that early or late season we did feel the cold despite our best efforts to insulate below and above the Aerobeds.
We have now moved on to 10cm SIMS and wish we had saved money on Aerobeds and went straight for the Sims as they are much warmer and we don't have to cart along extra duvets or blamkets
For us it's SIM every time We use Alpkits Fat Airics (purchased a few years ago) but think they are now called Dozers.
We used airbeds when we first started out but they are so uncomfortable and its like sleeping on a lump of cold concrete
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Topic: airbed or self inflate mat????
We use Alpkits Fat Airics (purchased a few years ago) but think they are now called Dozers.
