Good camp bed for crotchety non-camping DH?

[FaintlyBaffled]

Having checked the prices for holidays in France next year, I have concluded that I will either need to sell a kidney or we will have to rethink if we want to do more than a longish weekend.
So I've suggested to DH that we bite the bullet and camp as the cost is a fraction and we're hardly ever in the super duper expensive mobile home anyway. The money we will save means that we can upgrade those bits of camping equipment that need it
He's in almost agreement (I'll wait till he's had a beer on Friday and his defences are down, then corner him again ) on the proviso that we furnish him with a decent bed.
I'm therefore after recommendations for camp beds that are almost normal bed height and will not render him immobile by the first morning. Within reason cost isn't an issue as I feel the bed will be the make or break of our adventure

[DermotTheSprog]

I think you can't beat a decent air bed. I have had the best nights sleep on camping holidays on my air bed and I am not usually a happy camper!

[TheoriginalLEM]

A self inflating matress!! blisss

[FaintlyBaffled]

I have had bad experiences with air beds in the past What do you mean by a decent air bed dermot? Surely I haven't been buying substandard air beds all this time?!
And I totally agree with a SIM lem, though it's still so far to the floor. Getting down would be fine but I can see me being called on for hoisting duties in the wee small hours

[akkakk]

never found SIMs comfortable - and air beds can be good but even the most expensive seem to have a habit of deflating...

on the basis that you won't be taking a 4-poster bed with you the most comfortable I have found are just normal camp beds - but part of the secret is two duvets - one underneath and one on top - snug as a bug

alternatively could you glamp where there is a proper bed?

[Shockers]

Double camp bed with a mattress protector, or two, a sheet and a summer duvet.

[sheepwitch]

A fishing bedchair is the answer.

www.anglingdirect.co.uk/carp-fishing-tackle/bedchairs

[4yoniD]

I saw this posted on here. It's a base for an air bed or SIM. Not tried it but it looks good!
www.decathlon.co.uk/air-inflatable-camp-bed-70-cm-id_8352099.html

[artiface]

Those bed chair things are great...we have a similar one and people who have stayed on it say its more comfortable than their usual bed - take a pillow though!
this type of thing
www.gooutdoors.co.uk/qiuck-comfort-cot-p152316

[PantPlot]

I just have a bog standard, purchased off Amazon, camp bed but I take a single duvet to lie ON and a double sleeping bag to lie IN.

My husband pines for me alongside, on our expensive posh air bed

I just can't stand being so low down near the ground though. It was camp bed or no more camping for me I'm afraid.

[FaintlyBaffled]

I doubt DH would ever get up if I bought him one of those fishing chairs

[Highalert]

Double air bed

[stargirl1701]

This is more comfortable than my mattress at home:

www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-NeoAir-Dream.html

[FaintlyBaffled]

The other potential problem is that we will be camping in July/ August. Would airbeds become unbearably hot in the same way that they absorb the cold and then freeze you rigid?

[Ditsy79]

We use an Outwell Posada double campbed with a sim on top - expensive option but loads more comfortable than an airbed. You can store bags etc underneath it too.

[Milliways]

Agree with the fishing chair/bed.
However, some years back we were in the same situation and then discovered Matthews Holidays. Went in their tiniest van (still bigger than a tent but has real bed, shower and loo), never saw a rep but had a great time and the next year got it even cheaper as a previous customer.
Cheapest time to visit France in the hols is late August as their kids have gone back to school, prices drop considerably.
Have a look here

Ps, we now take a camper van to France :)

[TestTubeTeen]

People are talking very highly of the Decathlon inflatable base with a thick SIM on top.

And others like the double height air beds.

But comfort is very personal. What sort of thing does he prefer?

[FaintlyBaffled]

testtube four posts, memory foam mattress, unicorn hair pillows, you get the idea

[TestTubeTeen]

Oh, I do!
My DH seriously wants to take our folding guest Z-bed. It won't fit, even if we omit both kids.

I have said no.

[FairfaxAikman]

It's not bed height, but a Vango Comfort 10 is easily the most comfortable camp bed I've used.
Self inflating and has foam inside so you are insulated from the ground

[MissWimpyDimple]

I have the decathlon base thing with a vango comfort grande SIM on top and it is amazing.

Genuinely more comfortable than my bed at home

All purchased at decathlon. Think in total about £100 but worth it!

The slatted base makes all the difference.

[Flyingprettycretonnecurtains]

We got to exactly the same stage as you. Agreed that I would camp if I had a decent campbed. So we went to look and saw a folding camper. Anyway, we bought a second hand one for the same price as two week holiday in swanky mobile home on campsite. Used it now for four years and recouped our money. Wish we'd bought one years ago and the beds are very comfy.


Other than that, what about a campbed with a memory foam mattress topper on top. With a campbed, you can put stuff underneath it.

[FaintlyBaffled]

We have flirted with the idea of a folding camper or even a caravan flying
Sadly we don't have anywhere to store it so
storage fees would be involved, bumping the cost up considerably. I also worry that the heat in Southern France and a caravan/ trailer tent would be totally incompatible and we would be gently fried alive

[Flyingprettycretonnecurtains]

Storage doesn't cost too much per year but you are right, there are xtra costs with insurance and the ferry costs more. But, it has electric so you take fans for hot weather... The canvas bit has stuff that you can zip off so when very hot we zip down the front of the awning and then the front bit of the living room. All the windows open. It's cooler than tents I've been in and we don't use the indoor cooker at all. Also means you can have a loo and a running tap...

[FaintlyBaffled]

It sounds very tempting flying
The other problem is both DH and I are involved in Scouting so need decent camping gear. Trailer tents unequivocally do not count as decent camping gear

[ojalele]

We have the Decathlon base with a SiM on top. Very comfy