What to sleep on?

[hellymelly]

Tried inflatable mattresses, but I think the PVC makes me wheezy. I felt so strange that we had to give up and go home! Am keen to camp again, but have a really bad back and need a bit of padding, the self inflating mats are not PVC I don't think, but they look very thin. Is there any alternative?

[didldidi]

Don't even need to close the valve - just need to stick your finger in it to deflate a bit.

[fruitpastille]

I used to be freezing and uncomfortable on a double air bed (too much air to warm up and heavy dh). Now use 5cm SIM from Aldi with a foam roll mat underneath and it is so much better!

[MinimalistMommi]

did that's great to know! mine has just arrived and it's unfurling in my bedroom right now! I feel a bit nervous about it because they are expensive. Apparently to get the correct softness/firmness once it's inflated you're meant to lie like a starfish on it and then close the valve?

[didldidi]

Minimalist - I have just used my exped megamats for their first weekend trip and they were great! Will probably need a bit of extra inflation the first time and I probably had ours a bit too hard but that's easy to sort.

[HexBramble]

jessabell - I'm intrigued with your fleece blanket topper. I love my skandika SIMS but the external layer is polyester and not very cozy. Sleeping bags sort this somewhat but I was thinking of taking duvets this year - we are all leg out the bed type sleepers!
I'm trying to sort something ASAP as we're off next week!

[MinimalistMommi]

I think there would be danger of rolling of?

[hellymelly]

Can you layer SIMs? To get 20 cm of cushioning?

[MinimalistMommi]

Good quality SIMs are much more comfy and warm then airbeds, I've had my Thermarest Basecamp for approx four years but just wanted to go up another level again in comfort.its best to get the thickest SIM possible.

[mousmous]

I find sims mre comfy than airbeds because your arse doesn't hang down (I get backache from the dell) and doesn't get as cold.

[rockybalboa]

I am intrigued by the SIMs! We have a bog standard cheapo double air bed and although it has a flocked top it gets kind of sweaty and strange if the tent is warm. We just take our duvets rather than use sleeping bags because we are both the stick-your-leg-out type of sleepers. Are SIMs actually comfy? I have memories of camping mats from my Girl Guide days and they were not especially comfy. I assume a SIM takes up less room in the car than an air bed?

[MinimalistMommi]

Just bought it from here: www.trekitt.co.uk/advancedsearch.aspx?Term=Mega%20mat and payed £5 extra for next day delivery.

Can't wait to try it out now! Bit nervous about inflating/deflating it first time!

[MinimalistMommi]

The reviews are great for it, I'm seriously considering buying it today. It would be that or the comfort cover for the Thermarest Basecamp I already have but to be honest, I'm leaning towards the Exped Mega Mat 10 LXW. Getting a good nights sleep is important for me, I'm in remission from cancer and suffer from fatigue. With two children that's not good!

[hellymelly]

That does sound really good, must be amazing to have something in a tent that feels as comfortable as a proper bed.

[MinimalistMommi]

Goodness, now I'm thinking about getting the Exped Mega Mat 10 LXW Camping Mat (Megamat) on next day delivery, the reviews are AMAZING. it's right thrown a spanner in the works!
www.alloutdoor.co.uk/sleeping-gear/mats-airbeds/exped/exped-mega-mat-10-lxw-camping-mat.htm?gclid=CJeC08bS3b8CFTMftAodPS4A8Q

[onaroll]

My 10cm ones are the Costco ones - had them about 5yrs now.
Well used and still like new.

[hellymelly]

Yes I did post about it at the time, I was so annoyed with the Soulpad response! I would buy an alternative groundsheet like a shot if there was one available. In fact I think I will email them about it again, suggesting they produce one. I am going to get a couple of the mats suggested here, then if we also leave the sides rolled up at night (there are mesh panels), hopefully it won't be too fumey. I am allergic to all sorts of stuff, ( have chronic hives), and something in the tent made me wheeze and feel sick and faint, have assumed it was likely to be the PVC, as there was so much of it (we had two double airbeds). Then I looked online for info on PVC and it was so horrifying that I wouldn't have wanted the girls sleeping on it even if I had felt fine!

[jessabell]

We sleep with fleece blanket on top of self inflating mattress.

[MinimalistMommi]

I think I remember you doing a thread about it on mumsnet? Probably where I had heard about it from!

[hellymelly]

Yes, I would buy a PU sheet if they made one. I complained to SoulPad as at the time it didn't say on the website what the groundsheet was made of, just that it was high quality. I stupidly assumed that it wouldn't be PVC as it is so horribly toxic and environmentally unfriendly, (it is normally used because it is so cheap) and they make a big deal of caring about the environment. Anyway they were really rude about it, and really patronising. My dds were very small at the time, and even if I hadn't felt so strange in the tent , i didn't really want them inhaling toxic fumes all night long.

[MinimalistMommi]

I think I might buy a topper for my Basecamp tomorrow!

[MinimalistMommi]

I have read that about bell tent groundsheets, I have one too. I figure I'm not camping all year round though. I wish they did an alternative groundsheet though as I would buy it.

[mousmous]

we have 3 thermarest (or the decathlon equivalent) per berth so that the whole ground is covered.

[MinimalistMommi]

Apparently the neo air is a little noisy when you turn though. The basecamps are silent.

[hellymelly]

That does sound very comfy! It is so expensive though, as it looks like a single. I suppose I wouldn't mind shelling out if I knew we would use it a lot, but the groundsheet in our bell tent is also PVC (wouldn't have bought it if I had known that, I assumed it was PU ) so it might have been the combined fumes I suppose. PVC off gasses for the whole of its life so it isn't going to get less fumey. I will give it another go but it might still be an issue.

[MinimalistMommi]

Of this might suit you: www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-NeoAir-Dream.html?gclid=CNuM_Jib3L8CFWT4wgodjnAAhg