SIMs - better than air beds???

[jobnockey]

Ds has grown out of his readybed and i can't be bothered to fix the puncture so we're going to have to get him a new camping bed. Was just going to get a single airbed but have been reading about self inflating mattresses... do they really keep you warmer than airbeds??? and if so, should i get a double one for me and DP? (we need a new bed too)

No - they are much less comfy. DS might be OK on one (but probably just as happy on a simple roll mat) but I wouldn't use one myself. They are much flatter than air beds, so not as comfortable. They kind of self-inflate a bit, but then you have to blow them up yourself to get them properly full.

To keep warm, use a thin thermal mat underneath your lilo, or a spare blanket on top of it, that works much better :)

If you get a really good quality one, like an Alpkit Dozer, it will be more comfy by FAR than an airbed. Feels really "matressy", and you don't get the sea sick thing like you do with airbeds. The cheap thin ones are rubbish though. So, it depends how much you're thinking of paying really...

I second what MrsMellowDrummer said.

We swapped out last year ( Dh had 2 burst air beds in 1 trip ) :o wasnt pretty. We bought good ones, I was very skeptical but I slept sooo much better and my back didint bother me at all and that is huge as it bothers me nearly all the time even when not camping

Thinking about ditching the queen sized bed at home and sleeping on my camping mat :o

I much prefer our SIM to the blow up mattress we used to have. Much warmer and I alway give the SIMs an extra blow up to make them as deep as possible.

I'm just about sold on getting one, posters on here generally rave about them.

I am trying to choose between an Alpkit Dozer (£60, 7cm thick) with a Gelert Adventure XL (£45, 10 cm thick). I assume thicker = more comfortable, or is there other sciency stuff that justifies the extra £15 for the Dozer, does anyone know?

TIA

Way more comfy and warmer too, I have slept on an Aldi 5cm one and it was fine, no backache. I then treated myself to a Gelert adventurer 10cm one, it is actually more comfy than my bed.

Am seriously considering moving in to the tent in the garden.

Only draw back so far I have found is that they take up more space in the car, so if things are already a squash you might have to stick with an airbed.

Sorry to throw a spanner in the worls but I bought all 4 of us 10cm SIM and while the DS's and DH slept fine on them I found the really uncomfy.I dont know if its the fact I sleep on my side but it felt like my hips were about to dop off in the morning.So Im now looking at which airbeds are best.

hmmm... food for thought. Don't think i'll be able to persuade DP to send £60 on a camping mattress... or £45 for that matter... and i sleep o my side... Maybe i should borrow one for a trip and see. perhaps i'll get DS one to begin with he slept like a log on his punctured airbed last time we used it so he'll obviously sleep anywhere...
airbeds only seem to last 5 minutes especially with crazy 3 year old jumping around, thats the problem...

We have the SIMs from Costco. They cost about £15 each and are so comfortable.
I am a side sleeper but sleep fine on it.

We bought the 7.5cm ones that Aldi had in last summer and they're fab! Great for when the children have friends for a sleepover too.

I'd go for singles rather than doubles as they take a bit of pressure to roll back up and for packing they will be easier too.

Yes definitely. I've got an Alpkit Dozer. Last August we went camping for 2 nights. I was 7 months pregnant and has SPD but determined to camp at least once that year. I slept better than I did at home. Walking on sand nearly crippled me, but sleeping wasn't a problem.

I have decided to get DS a cheap one and then try it out myself before i commit to getting all of us one...

we bought a cheapy double which was 5cms deep and then put 2 Dozers side by side on top. was the the most comfortable sleep I have ever had