Is this a good idea?

[Fire19]

We went camping last year and really enjoyed it except that I found the sleeping so uncomfortable I got so little sleep the day felt like a bit of an endurance test.

We are hoping to go again this year I have looked at better sim mats/air beds etc but they are so expensive. I have come up with the idea of vacuum packing one of my dc's single mattresses as I would only need to buy the vacuum pack bag and a hand held vacuum to use at the campsite to repack it. I proper mattress sounds like a luxury but my dh thinks it is a crazy idea......is this a good idea or am I missing something?

How do you 'vacuum pack' a mattress? Surely it just wouldn't work .

I'm with your DH, it's a crazy idea.

Camping is meant to be semi-uncomfortable. You get used to it.

We have these. They are definitely worth the cost (and the cost of the pump) if you can stretch to it. Along with a pillow, this means I actually sleep while camping and I'm a rubbish sleeper.

Milestone Camping Airbed https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051OLNAG/ref=cmswwrawdoonavTaa_1QAMMNNYD8TRJCNE7QGZ

Yes it is a bad idea Get a raised bed and a foil mat for underneath

@SimpleHoardOfTruth

We have these. They are definitely worth the cost (and the cost of the pump) if you can stretch to it. Along with a pillow, this means I actually sleep while camping and I'm a rubbish sleeper.

Milestone Camping Airbed [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051OLNAG/ref=cm]]swwrawdoonavTaa_1QAMMNNYD8TRJCNE7QGZ

We have a similar double airbed. I usually take a normal sheet, duvet and pillows. It's pretty comfortable. I'm not sure squeezing two adults onto a single mattress would be comfy.

It's a bit crazy.. what if you can't repack it small enough!
I spent quite a lot of money on a really thick Thermarest SIM a few years ago. Still quite a big chunky mat when not inflated! Well worth it. It's deep enough to not feel the ground through it and I don't get cold either.

I use an airbed like the PP posted. Really comfy yet still pack small enough to fit in the car.
(Also a few g&t's at night help) I also use a large very warm sleeping bag so I don't get cold in the night but can still turn over.

I have tried sleeping on an airbed that was even worse than the sim as you can just never inflate it enough to get enough support.

The single mattress would be just for me I am not sharing it with dh!

Seems crazy to me to spend £250 on a sim that I don't know is going to be any better than the sim I already have for what would be a couple of nights camping a year.

We have 3 like these - I know they are pricey but honestly, if you are going to camp regularly (we do at least twice a year) they are worth their weight in gold!

Denny Shop Inflatable High Raised Air Bed Mattress With Built in Electric Pump in Single/Double/Queen Size Airbeds by Crystals® (Single Air Bed) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MQTZPVG/ref=cmswwrcppapigltti1KT4RN3E1G8AEYWCY0DQ

I think the mattress getting damp issues would be a concern.

Stay in a hotel?

@FrangipaniBlue

We have 3 like these - I know they are pricey but honestly, if you are going to camp regularly (we do at least twice a year) they are worth their weight in gold!

Denny Shop Inflatable High Raised Air Bed Mattress With Built in Electric Pump in Single/Double/Queen Size Airbeds by Crystals® (Single Air Bed) [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MQTZPVG/ref=cm]]swwrcppapigltti1KT4RN3E1G8AEYWCY0DQ

I would pay this amount for something that worked, but then when you read the reviews the most recent ones have a high number of 1 star reviews which is off putting. I don't want to spend a load of money and find it is a waste.

@Fire19

We went camping last year and really enjoyed it except that I found the sleeping so uncomfortable I got so little sleep the day felt like a bit of an endurance test.

We are hoping to go again this year I have looked at better sim mats/air beds etc but they are so expensive. I have come up with the idea of vacuum packing one of my dc's single mattresses as I would only need to buy the vacuum pack bag and a hand held vacuum to use at the campsite to repack it. I proper mattress sounds like a luxury but my dh thinks it is a crazy idea......is this a good idea or am I missing something?

Camping is always a terrible idea.

As a wise woman once said 'camping is holidaying in conditions you wouldn't tolerate at home'.

I use 2 normal thin foam mats (like a yoga mat) with a self inflating mat on top which was less than £50 from Go Outdoors

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/camping/sleeping-mats/self-inflating-mats/

We use a thick air mattress, then put a double duvet on the bottom, and have a double duvet on top. Takes up a lot fo space but my gosh is it worth it!

Don't get anything that inflates if you feel the cold, the air inside gets freezing. Something like this www.decathlon.co.uk/p/camp-bed-for-camping-camp-bed-second-65-cm-1-person/_/R-p-311152

is very comfortable.

@Fire19 that one was just the first that came up on Amazon that was similar style when I did a quick search for a link to show you.

I think ours are intex and trespass ones from Argos (can't fully remember we've had them so long!)

But they definitely do work, as I say ours get used at least twice a year for a week at a time and one of them is at least 10 years old!

We have a great SiM, think it’s called Dreamcatcher or something like that. Put a foil backed picnic blanket underneath. Plus a thick sleeping bag, pillows from home, hat, socks, eye mask, ear plugs…
Yeah it is crazy
But tends to work for me. Very comfy.
I never sleep well the first night but then so knackered by all the fresh air I sleep well the rest of the time.
Basically never go camping for less than 3 days because it isn’t worth all the packing and crap sleep at the start. You pack the same amount whether going for 2 nights or 20!

I've switched to a high air bed with built in pump. It's as comfortable as my bed at home.

Other tips for a good night's sleep include eye mask, ear plugs and more wine in the evening.

I take a memory foam topper for on top of the air bed 😂

Ikea sell mattresses rolled up so I would think its best rolled up.
Why not buy a cheap caravan?

@Fire19

I have tried sleeping on an airbed that was even worse than the sim as you can just never inflate it enough to get enough support.

The single mattress would be just for me I am not sharing it with dh!

Other bed options have been shown, but the main reason for a partially inflated bed are not properly using the valve and hot air

The valve needs to seal properly - otherwise you’re just losing the air you pumped in
An inflatable beds plug should have 3 states:
Closed, open & open with valve seal

There should be two parts of the plug, pull out the thinner end plug, and fully press in the larger end.
Inflate the mattress with this valve, so that it self seals when you stop pumping to stop air loss as you press in the final sealing centre plug - but don’t necessarily plug it in staring after filling

While inflating the pump warms the air and it expands, Then the air cools and appears to deflate.
Wait a short while then top up some more

If the mattress has a fitted manual pump then first inflate with an electric pump then top up with the manual pump after cooling (some heat will still be generated by manual pumping)
Check the instructions for how to open & close the manual valve

If you're going to continue with it, buy the comfy and pricey sim/air bed.

A good nights sleep when camping is vital. It makes all the other faff worthwhile. It's not meant to be semi-uncomfortable!

Agree - get the absolute comfiest SIM and sleeping bag you can afford. You won’t regret it, and hopefully once you’ve got those then you will enjoy and camp more.
I’m sure you can get second hand barely used ones on eBay etc. Loads of people buy expensive camping stuff then stop using it!!