We have bought camp beds for this years camping, not sure what to use as a mattress so it's a choice of Self inflating , blow up or use a quilt to make sleeping more comfortable.
Would like to know people's thoughts.
Alison
We have a double campbed which we use a double sim on, it's very comfortable, but its heavy and is a pain to roll up. This year we are going to try a double bed mattress topper snd see how that goes
I had a SIM on top of my camp bed, a Therm-a-rest Luxury Map, and the two together was an excellent combination.
I opted for a very good SIM in case I needed to use it directly on the floor. So good that I bought another one so that I could strap them together to form a double if and when I needed to (just the once).
A less expensive SIM would be fine if one were to use it with a camp bed all the time.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Yes Alison, that is one if the problems we have, it takes a little of effort to get it to deflate and rolled up, as it is a double it is very cumbersome and even when I have managed to get it under control, it is still quite large and heavy, BTW it was not cheap, it was almost a hundred pounds. Maybe 2 singles would have been a better choice for our double camp bed.
Cazone
I did not have any issue with deflating the SIMs in order to return them to the bags they came in.
Rolled them once with the valves fully opened, put weight on it before closing the valves.
Unrolled with the valves closed, rolled up again as tightly as possible with the valves closed, put weight on it towards the end, opened the valves to let the air out while putting weight on it, closed them again, job done.
Compression straps would also help, however, I found them not needed.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Cazone on 13/1/2023
I find that as soon as I take the weight off the mattress it starts to inflate again! Maybe it's just me
Should not happen if you take your weight off when the valves are closed as air can't get in then.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Exped have two valves... in and out, so it can't re-inflate during the deflation roll-up.
The Exped SIM Comfort 10(cm) is also an excellent fit on a bog standard camp bed...
(SIM positioned for the photo... the SIM is actually about 2" or 3" longer than the campbed, from memory)
We've since learned not to overinflate them (As this one is, in the pic). They can be "too firm" for some. (Personal choice).
We've also become accustomed to using them on the floor. Still fantastically comfortable. Not used the campbeds for a good couple of years now.
And... you can also get an Exped Schnozzle, which is basically a dry bag that doubles as an air/inflation bag (with Exped valve) to inflate the SIM without the need to add moist breath to the innards of the SIM!
All highly recommended.
Ours must be at least 7/8 years old now... used regularly and often, as per my signature below... and still literally "As good as new".
Oh... and twice rolled (Thrice absolute maximum), as per DK's post above, is enough to get them back in their storage bags without any hassle.
2 single SIMs are definitely easier to deflate than a double and the more expensive brands tend to be less bulky when deflated, in my experience.
Like Mucker, we find then comfortable on the floor (and less bulk to carry without bed bases). I guess it depends on whether you struggle to get up from and down to the floor.
Quote: Originally posted by alison46 on 22/1/2023
Thanks for your info .
Will definitely have to use a camp bed.
They certainly have their pluses, in all fairness.
Apart from the ease of getting in/out of bed, they’re a plus for sitting on, donning socks etc if a little less agile, and fantastic for helping to keep the tent tidy, as clothes boxes/bags just slide underneath out of sight, but remain easily accessible. We even had a fitted valance for ours! 🤣
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Topic: Mattress for camp beds
via mobile 12/1/2023 at 8:11pm
