airbeds or self inflating mattresses

[IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowIt]

Going camping with two teens and just discovered that I can only find one old single airbed with no pump.
So the two teens will share a room and then there's me. What's best do you think? Could invest in a double inflating mattress and a single one but seems expensive. Are airbeds not really recommended any more?

We have a couple of air beds, and a lovely new Dozer from Alpkit (self inflating).

The Dozer is so much more comfortable than the air beds - highly recommended! You don't get that wobbly drunken feeling when you move around at night, and I don't wake up feeling achy any more after a night in the tent.

The kids don't really seem to care, so they use the old air beds at the moment, but if I was replacing them I would definitely go for more self inflating mats.

Thanks I do think the self inflating ones look good, its just the cost really if I need to buy more than one.

Do you know whether the quality varies a lot - in other words would it ve a mistake to buy cheaper ones than the Alpkit ones?

Airbeds are a bit annoying really with all that blowing up.

Don't know I'm afraid, as I've only tried our ones. I think it's likely though that you get what you pay for. I've looked at some cheaper ones in various camping shops, and thought they didn't seem as comfy. (although to be fair, I didn't lie on them) Also, the dozer is wider than most others I've seen.

You can get more expensive ones too. People on here swear by thermarests, but they were a bit out of my league!

You could always just get one to try, and then get a couple of really cheap air beds for the boys, just to tide you over. You can usually pick them up in supermarkets etc for £5 or so at this time of year...

oh, and yes you'll need some kind pump too with their beds (unless you have lungs of steel!), so factor that in as well...