Our son had a couple of nights at the end of our last camp on the deflating half of a Coleman double, which was patched with layers of tape to slow a leak from an expanding split around one of the ring supports in the bed. It has done us a fair few years and we were happy with it (apart from the really difficult valves and having to top it up very regularly in later years), but I am also happy to leave it behind...
Fortunately, we bought 3 compact 3cm Vango Trek self inflating mats earlier in the year so we could do weekend camps in the new Mini without the trailer. Having tried them for a few weekends now and having bought an Exped velcro strap kit to join two together to make a double (without the bulk of a double) we have decided to use these for all camping in future. They take up less space, can be adjusted for comfort (different numbers of additional puffs), don't need extra layers to keep you from the cold unlike airbeds and inflate in a couple of minutes without the need for a pump or topping up every evening on a hot day(yippee!!). As the person who had to struggle with the valves on the airbeds daily and to make them up when getting to the campsite I am VERY happy to have gone over the SIMs. Certainly made my life easier, setting up quicker and they're comfortable too!
3 singles easily store on top of the spare bed under my son's bed, so no issue with storing them expanded either. Doubles would be a bigger issue to store expanded, unless you went for one that has the crease or seam along the middle, which means that they could be stored folded. Would stand up behind a wardrobe though if you have no other storage options.
Definitely SIM converts...
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
My Coleman DC is still going strong after about six or seven years of regular use. I actually bought a second one when I saw them in a sale (£10!!) three years ago, thinking I'd need a replacement at some point. Not so far. Maybe mine is "old generation material"?
I do find mine needs topped up every second day or so, we are a heavy couple though. I don't blow it up rock hard to start with, they work better with a modest amount of give. I don't store it in the box either come to think of it, I hang it up over the top of the sleeping bags over the pulley in the utility room and roll it into an old pillow case for transport. Maybe they don't like being stored folded? Oh, and I don't deflate it using the reverse pump function, I just pull the stoppers out and let it deflate on its own.
I too read all the good feed back on Coleman air beds. So bought whatI thought would be a bed to last! first one split on its second outing> As they had given a guarantee with it, I returned it and received a 2nd one. this is even worse than the first. It only stays inflated for about an hour then goes down, can't find where its leaking, so its now for the bin, Total Waste of money, they are really just cheap plastic, Am thinking of memory form mats next, but am open to options at the moment.
Quote: Originally posted by Whinney on 18/4/2014
I too read all the good feed back on Coleman air beds. So bought whatI thought would be a bed to last! first one split on its second outing> As they had given a guarantee with it, I returned it and received a 2nd one. this is even worse than the first. It only stays inflated for about an hour then goes down, can't find where its leaking, so its now for the bin, Total Waste of money, they are really just cheap plastic, Am thinking of memory form mats next, but am open to options at the moment.
SIMS are very comfortable and at least warm to sleep, not as much faffing about. See
this thread for whats is a briliant deal on 10cm ones. That's about the thickest you'll find.
------------- Christine
2014
April -
BunRoy Fort William 3 sleeps
April / May
Invercaimbe Arisaig 4 sleeps
Bleatarn Brampton tbc July
Unfortunately the Gelert 10cm SIMs mentioned in that thread are no longer listed either on Sports Direct or Gelert's own site (now a Sports Direct operated Gelert/Karrimor shop site). They were on per-order for four months, then in stock for six days.
The Amazon.co.uk Ultrasport SIMs also mentioned in the thread are still available, but the price has increased to £35 - still a good price.
Maybe Aldi/Lidl will have some good priced SIMs on sale soon.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Coleman Double airbed, not a happy camper
