Best beds for camping

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Discussion

Jer_1974

Original Poster:

1,562 posts

200 months

Monday 5th August 2013
quotequote all
Went camping at the weekend for the first time in a few years. The beds I have are the rubber blue and red beds but over the course of the night they deflate a bit and are not very comfy. What's the best beds to buy for camping? My wife has some mad phobia and can't touch flocked velvet type material.

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

216 months

Monday 5th August 2013
quotequote all
You'll always find that the first day you have an airbed inflated, it will stretch a bit. Top it up the next morning and it'll stay topped up, mostly.

This does assume that your valve isn't leaking (they all do, a little bit) and you've got a decent pump.


Watchman

6,391 posts

252 months

Monday 5th August 2013
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People pump up their beds with 12volt pumps which can't achieve enough pressure. I top mine up with my inflatable canoe stirrup pump which makes it quite comfy (hard).

However for my next camping trip I'm buying a Nash fisherman's bed. Expensive but worth it for a good night's sleep. Or 7.

myvision

1,989 posts

143 months

Tuesday 6th August 2013
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V8mate

45,899 posts

196 months

Tuesday 6th August 2013
quotequote all
Don't buy one of the big inflatable beds. Your body isn't able to heat the volume of air you're laying on, so the body of air takes on the (cooler) temperature of the ground. This will leave you feeling cold and can cause condensation on your chosen bedding.

The thinner self-inflating mattresses (usually 5mm for budget ones; 7mm for 'luxury' ones) are thin enough to take on your body temperature but get firm enough to support you.

I was very doubtful, especially at 17+ stone, but had perfect nights' sleep for a week in the German forests earlier this year. The self-inflater does all the hard work and then you just top it off with a couple of puffs to firm it right up. (ooer, missus)

You get what you pay for though!

tenohfive

6,276 posts

189 months

Wednesday 7th August 2013
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I agree about the self inflating mats. I've got a lightweight/backpacking style Alpkit self inflating mat which I find perfectly comfortable, so I'd go for one of their luxury mats in a heartbeat - if they ever had any sodding stock rolleyes

Fitz666

657 posts

149 months

Thursday 8th August 2013
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I use an aluminium framed folding camp bed.

Best thing I have ever bouhgt for camping with...

Watchman

6,391 posts

252 months

Thursday 8th August 2013
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Fitz666 said:
I use an aluminium framed folding camp bed.

Best thing I have ever bouhgt for camping with...
Which one?

Sarkmeister

1,678 posts

225 months

Thursday 8th August 2013
quotequote all
V8mate said:
Don't buy one of the big inflatable beds. Your body isn't able to heat the volume of air you're laying on, so the body of air takes on the (cooler) temperature of the ground. This will leave you feeling cold and can cause condensation on your chosen bedding.

The thinner self-inflating mattresses (usually 5mm for budget ones; 7mm for 'luxury' ones) are thin enough to take on your body temperature but get firm enough to support you.

I was very doubtful, especially at 17+ stone, but had perfect nights' sleep for a week in the German forests earlier this year. The self-inflater does all the hard work and then you just top it off with a couple of puffs to firm it right up. (ooer, missus)

You get what you pay for though!
Surely they are 5cm and 7cm?

V8mate

45,899 posts

196 months

Thursday 8th August 2013
quotequote all
Sarkmeister said:
V8mate said:
Don't buy one of the big inflatable beds. Your body isn't able to heat the volume of air you're laying on, so the body of air takes on the (cooler) temperature of the ground. This will leave you feeling cold and can cause condensation on your chosen bedding.

The thinner self-inflating mattresses (usually 5mm for budget ones; 7mm for 'luxury' ones) are thin enough to take on your body temperature but get firm enough to support you.

I was very doubtful, especially at 17+ stone, but had perfect nights' sleep for a week in the German forests earlier this year. The self-inflater does all the hard work and then you just top it off with a couple of puffs to firm it right up. (ooer, missus)

You get what you pay for though!
Surely they are 5cm and 7cm?
Nope. Unfeasibly comfortable solution, eh?!

ETA: Actually, you're dead right! They don't seem that thick! confused

I stand corrected though! smile

Edited by V8mate on Thursday 8th August 11:15

Fitz666

657 posts

149 months

Friday 9th August 2013
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Watchman said:
Which one?
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-aluminum-camping-bed-p143627

Bearing in mind I am 6ft and around 20st this copes with me fine....

Vladimir

6,917 posts

165 months

Friday 9th August 2013
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Vango do cheap inflatable mats; they work very well and we have a few.

Our Coleman double air bed is great too; we used to use it as a spare guest bed; never went down at all and it's two chambers so each side is separate. Sadly for you though, it does have a flock style top to it!

We use a Zonesleep mattress topper in the California; the standard lower bed is a bit lumpy. Great bit of kit but around £300 with the bag.

Watchman

6,391 posts

252 months

Friday 9th August 2013
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Fitz666 said:
Watchman said:
Which one?
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-aluminum-camping-bed-p143627

Bearing in mind I am 6ft and around 20st this copes with me fine....
That's exactly the sort of info I was after. I'm a lot shorter and a little lighter. I've not found these type of beds to be very comfy in the past, and not very stable at all (when getting out of bed). What's your thoughts on the stability?

If this is good, it'll stop me spending a stupid ~£400 on a Nash fisherman's bed.

sugerbear

4,532 posts

165 months

Saturday 10th August 2013
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I have been using the outwell XL camp bed for the past 6-7 years. Still rock solid and comfortable. I have never woken up with a bed back / cramp etc which isn't something I can say for inflatable mattresses that I have used in the past.

Just put a thick sheet down first and then I use a duvet over the top.

dirty_dog

676 posts

183 months

Saturday 10th August 2013
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We like our aerobed and the pump is great!

Fitz666

657 posts

149 months

Sunday 11th August 2013
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Watchman said:
That's exactly the sort of info I was after. I'm a lot shorter and a little lighter. I've not found these type of beds to be very comfy in the past, and not very stable at all (when getting out of bed). What's your thoughts on the stability?

If this is good, it'll stop me spending a stupid ~£400 on a Nash fisherman's bed.
Chuck a self inflating airbed on it and you are sorted, I find it very stable and use the are underneath it to store everything, that stops the cold air from getting to you...

smifffymoto

4,771 posts

212 months

Sunday 11th August 2013
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Therma-rest is the only one you need to buy,excellent product.