What is most comfortable for sleeping?

[Valkarie]

I have recently been camping with the kids for the first time and it has inspired me to go again. I have a tent that will be big enough for now, but nothing to sleep on. I find I always get very cold at night camping and get hip pain on hard ground. What is the most comfortable sleeping solution?

I am only planning to camp at campsites, so won't need to carry a bunch of gear anywhere. Car is not big, but can fit things in foot wells etc too.

Watching with interest. If I could get this bit right I’d LOVE camping.

Memory foam sleeping mats. They look very thin and uncomfortable but they’re great.

A campbed with a nice thick SIM on top. I have an outwell posadas bed with a vango 7.5cm SIM on top - very comfy indeed!

Inflatable mattresses. We have Coleman ones.

The Thermarest NeoAir XLite comes with very few compromises for what it offers: a warm, comfy night’s sleep that rolls up compactly. If you’re careful to sweep the ground before you roll it out, punctures shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re anticipating thorns, shells or sharp stones –or just can’t be bothered –a foam mat to slip underneath will do the job. The heat radiation is genuinely amazing –it feels like an electric blanket. The women’s version comes with even more insulation (women are often colder sleepers), but is otherwise identical.
It’s somewhat noisy - it makes a rustling sound if you move about on it thanks to the ‘thermal capture layer’. But we got used to that over time, and found it a small price to pay for a great night’s sleep.

I love my blow up airbed. I have ones that don't go down over night. They pack up small and we have one each.

I'd happily set DH and kids up in a tent and then sneak off to the nearest 5* hotel [totally missing the point here ]

Some good options to look into here, thank you

You need to insulate yourself from the ground to keep warm and a Thermorest is great. Different widths and lengths depending on how light you want it to be.
You may also need to think about your sleeping bag if you're cold, or do you use a duvet?

What is being described here are various versions of a Self-Inflating Mat, or SIM.

Some people prefer traditional blow up beds, some people prefer SIMs.

SIMs are much warmer to sleep on because they are well insulate with a layer of memory foam, with additional air inflation, so you do not get the cold from the ground. Blow Up Beds simply conduct the cold from the ground, and your body heat back into the ground.

SIMs are more omfortable the thicker they are and also generally ore expensive with each Cm of thickness.

Aldi currently have 5Cms which many people find fine - and they are more than fine for kids, who are lighter. Otherwise you could look at 7.5Cm or even 10Cm, but 10 Cm is getting pretty costly.

Look at places like Millets online for good deals.

You can try SIMs at a places like Decathlon or GoOutdoors.

If you prefer sleeping on a blow up mattress, you can add insulation by putting fleece blankets under your sleeping bag, or putting interlocking foam mats on the floor of your tent, for example.

Some people put SIMs on top of camp beds, but for me that is just extra stuff to take, extra expense and the non-rigidity of camp beds gives me back ache.

I couldn't find my old sleeping bag, so used a double duvet with half underneath me this time. That did keep me warmer, so might need to look into warmer sleeping bag. The baby got too cold, so ended up with me. Older kid was fine with duvet. They were both on air mattresses.

I have a folding camp bed & sim - still not comfy enough for my bad back. Was thinking of getting memory foam too-or just foam if that would be better. A good nights sleep would be worth yet more money. Think I'd be better off in my comfy camping chair.