The search for a more comfortable sleeping solution is on! We’ve recently returned to camping after a break and are now looking for something that can accommodate middle-aged bad backs
We bought the Vango double-flocked airbed as a topper on a double camp bed as good friends swore by it and we’re both unconvinced! It’s not uncomfortable per se, it’s just not that comfortable either.
I think we’re somewhere between an inflatable air bed of the Vango Blissful double (or similar) or the Berghaus double SIM.
Having been camping for much of my 4 score years and ten, and been a member of this forum for 10 years and seen countless post on the subject of camping bedding, I've come to the conclusion that when it comes to 'comfort and what suits an individual' is pretty much an individual thing, and other people's opinions are of little value in making any judgement on what will suit 'you'!
People's opinions can be of great value in terms of durability and ease of use of air beds, fold up beds etc., but comfort is another matter!
My old bones (and sometimes dodgy back) find getting up and down from a ground dwelling air bed somewhat more challenging these days, but I find airbeds perfectly comfortable and never noticed all the other negatives some seem to hold against them, even if somewhat unreliable in terms of staying inflated which I can't argue with, but I've slept soundly literally many hundreds of times.
Recently bought a fold up camp bed which not used on a camping trip yet (it got cancelled) but tried at home for a 'nap', and seems pretty comfortable to me, with just a thin foam bedroll to pad it. A friend borrowed it for 10 days and said he found it pretty good, despite having injured his back prior to using it. Only negative was the fight to fit the end bars that hold the canvas to the frame, I will be 'inventing' a tool to aid with that issue!
Never used a SIM in anger, but my view of them is it's only a thin foam filled airbed! If it springs a leak, and they do, it doesn't work any better than an airbed would. Some advantages over an airbed in terms of size and inflation, but never enough to persuade me to buy one.
Now I get an excellent nights sleep in my caravan on the convertible bench seat single beds/double bed, but others whinge about those sorts of beds as 'unusable', and go to 'extreme' lengths with additional toppers etc. to make them 'acceptable' (not sure I've heard anyone say perfect!), but then even the vans with fixed beds and 'proper' mattresses seem unacceptable to some.
Conclusion. People have valuable insight into different types of bedding, bearing in mind that some have limited capacity for size and weight and not all options are going to suit all, but 'comfort' is very much an individual thing. Personally, I can only conclude that I am far more tolerant than some, but then I go camping with a mindset that is "I'm camping, there will be compromises", whilst others seem to have fixed views and expectations that are transporting their 'domestic' arrangements to a camping situation 'lock stock and barrel' with little compromise! Maybe it's my preference for firm bedding, we once hired a cottage with a foam mattress, which I hated with a vengeance, that sensation of sinking into a marshmallow just did not suit me at all and I never became comfortable with it during our stay.
Unfortunately suggestions are just that and everyone has different needs. For me a well inflated cheap as chips airbed does exactly what I need. Others need systems costing hundreds of pounds.
Also consider other options, beds used for night fishing always look well built and comfortable.
SIM + camp bed for me when I was a tenter, with the SIM secured in place using a fitted flannel sheet and additional clips to tighten the sheet.
SIM = Therm-a-rest Luxury Map XL at 7.5mm deep. I chose this in case I need to use it directly on the floor and it worked for me.
Camp bed = Outwell Laguna Hills Large (old design) to accommodate the SIM.
If I were to make a change, I would get the Outwell Posadas for ease of setting up, as the Laguna Hills was a bit of a pain due to the need to tighten the fabric using the end bars - the last bar was a struggle when I was tired after setting up the tent and emptying out the leisure trailer of gears. I addressed this issue by making up the bed before I emptied out the trailer.
I was able to use a camp bed + SIM as I camped on my own with the dog, and was able to put the bed across the 4-berth inner tent. Otherwise it would not have worked length-way due to the slopes of my last 2 tents which were 4-berth cotton canvas Dutch pyramids.
All based on my own preferences and experience when I was a tenter.
DK
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Thanks for all of the advice! Very helpful and good to put into the thinking mix. Fingers crossed we’ll get a good solution, the SIMs did seem more comfortable than the airbeds, we’ll try more airbeds at the weekend just to make sure I reckon!
Ah, I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the Decaathlon inflatable bed base, with a SIM on top...(I'm singin 'Out in the Surrey with the fringe on top' from Oklahoma after typing that).It's a game changer (that comes from my OH who's gone off camping but is tempted by this set up which means he doesn't have to get oof the floor).We use Exped Megamats (individual ones as a double isn't 'us' these days...) at 10cm depth, on top. They're a teensy bit wider than the base but not excessively. I put a fitted sheet on top, then the opened sleeping bag and pillow and it is really comfortable.
Outwell and I'm sure other companies, provide similar SIMs to the Exped Megamat. Basically, box sided beds with an insulated construction, and ours are so very comfortable (if the valves a bit recalcitant to inflate - use a shnozzel - or deflate - patiennce is required. I've had mine for over 10 years and although an investment as not cheap, it's been worth it. Other varieties are available. The Decathlon bed base folds up really small, about the size of their micro-chair, although you do need a pump too.
I''m a side-sleeper with a dodgy hip/lower back, and this set-up does not impact on pain, unlike my usual home bed...
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Go to your local camping shop wearing thin shorts with keys in you pocket, try the various SIMs until you find one where you no longer feel the keys pressing against the floor. Lie on it in all positions is your back ok?
People used to use 1-2" open cell mats, they became unpopular because they were so bulky, take a look at memory foam mattress toppers they might work for you.
We have the Vango Shangri-la - 15cm SIM. I balked at the price, but it was totally worth it for comfy, pain-free sleeping. It's more comfortable for me that our mattress at home, even with it on the tent floor.
The Quechua bed frames look great for using with a thinner SIM, but we don't feel like we need to add those... yet!
Firstly I’d avoid a double sim and get a pair that can be joined together. I had a double sim and it was a right royal pain to pack away and has huge even when deflated.
I have a 10cm thick exped Megamat and find it amazing, more comfortable than many beds. I have it just on the tent floor as I go camping with my two boys and we all want to sleep together.
My kids were sleeping on a thin Lidl SIM but it meant that they often climbed on top of the Exped and it was a squash!
This summer I upgraded the kids SIMS to the decathlon comfort model which is 8.5cm so no significant difference in thickness so the tent floor is effectively one very wide bed. They are half the price of the megamat but really quite good.
But, if anything happened to the megamat I would replace it with another without hesitation. I did have a problem with it leaking but Exped replaced it directly despite being about three years old.
Thanks for all of your advice and set-ups, we’ve found the combination that works for us! Decathlon Camp Bed Airs topped with the Ultim Comfort SIM. It’s spot on! I
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Topic: Self-Inflating Mattresses
via mobile 28/6/2025 at 8:48pm
