Opinions on beds please

[milkymill]

We're hoping to start collecting all of our camping bits and pieces soon, but as a virtual novice, need some advice 'beds' please. Which are more comfortable; air beds or those self inflating sleep mat thingys? I have heard that the air beds do get colder, but I really want to know which is actually the most comfy. Thanks

I prefer the self inflating mattress. I end up sleeping with my baby and 3 year old and it is better for the baby as flatter and more padded/insulated. I do think the s/i mattress is more comfy as firmer, not so spongey, no chance of leamking in the night etc etc.

we use a blow up double bed for us and use an odd kind of hairdryer thing off the car cigarete lighter to inflate it. lasts about 3 nights. i think it's very good but you do tend to rock a bit until settled down (and never had sex on it to be honst!). the kids use roll up futons

Thank you, trying to get as many opinions as possible,I take my comfort very seriously!

Wehave doe the blow up double andI liked it until this year we invested in one of those thinner self inflate jobbies!! OMG They are so much more comfy, no rocking around when your dh turns over, you sleep so much better and it is really comfy.

We have three double air beds, (there are 5 of us)and we take them to the nearest garage and blow them up there. (We go camping with a van) They are fairly comfy but they sometimes go down during the night - they seem to get leaks quite easily.

I've tried double airbed and sleeping bags with dh...too seasick, camp beds..too narrow, self inflating mattresses...too thin and slippery. Tried very warm sleeping bag with hood thing....couldn't turn over.

My main dislike is cold shoulders and not being able to turn over without taking the whole bag with me.

This year I tried an airbed with sleeping bag attached with my young daughter..worked well but still that rocking sensation going on. I've now bought 2x3' airbeds with sleeping bags attached,so we can sleep seperate with lots of room. I find airbeds are warm as long as you put something like a blanket underneath them. And I like to have a blanket over the top as well.

It seems as though there's a lot of personal taste involved. I find airbeds more comfy than the self inflating mattresses. However our airbed went down the first night and I was not able to sleep at all on it and had to buy a new one the next day. I always take my usual pillow as I find that helps me sleep. It's been a long battle for me and hopefully it'll be alright next time as I seem to have exhausted all options now!

I always go to this site for advice. A lot of people seem to like the Coleman double airbed which inflates seperately on each side, so there's less rocking going on.

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/

SK

Hi,

It's definitely a matter of taste.
I've tried single sleeping bags, duvets (double and single), roll mats and single airbeds - hated them - we now have a double sleeping bag and a double airbed (self-inflating) - lovely! Bit cosy with a three-yr old in too, though .