Sim or airbed

[Silverbirch2]

We have an air bed but I'm considering a sim instead? Dont want to spend much more than we have already so is it worth it or just use the airbed?

I think so. It’s much warmer. Are you thinking of a cot with a SIM on top?

We have the decathlon air bases with 10cm SIM on top. It is the best ever camping investment we made after years of varying airbeds.

SIM every time.

Thanks all, so stupid question- do you need a bed/cot/ base ?

I've got one of these and really like it:

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/mountain-equipment-glacier-5-0-sleeping-mat-D2424155.html?colour=105

I haven't worked out whether I need something underneath it or not yet, but at most it will be a foam mat or a blanket.

Every year these threads inspire me to swap out our air beds for SIMs, and then I go to a camping shop and look at the sims and they’re so huge, when compacted and packed away, compared to airbeds, and so heavy, that I just balk at it. Our boot is stuffed with all the equipment and I genuinely don’t think we could fit them in. Packed away, they’re more like the size of our folding chairs, whereas the packed airbeds are the size of a few paperbacks.

So yet to be converted. But we don’t really mind the airbeds.

Lots of people use them on their own but I have a few medical conditions that make getting up off the ground difficult so the bases make it a lot easier for us and more bed like.

I was like this until our air beds went flat once time and we weren’t really near anywhere to replace them. We swapped out for the SIMs and honestly now I’d leave anything else at home before my SIM.

Sorry to jump on- we've just bought the berghaus air 10 SIM. Tried googling, do they need to be stored unrolled? Not sure where we can do this! At 10 cm thick and two of them it won't be easy

SIM every time. Our airbeds have rarely lasted more than a couple of trips before developing a leak, they’re just rubbish. SIM is honestly more comfortable than my actual bed. Wouldn’t go back.

SIM - we shelled out for the Vango comfort 10. Very comfortable indeed.

I store rolled.

If you're happy to spend a bit more £, you can also get SIMs that pack much smaller - I also have a Thermarest one for backpacking etc.

Ah really interesting. Having a look now. Hmm!

We store ours rolled but I believe they ‘advise’ to keep them flat where possible. Like you it’s just not possible for us.

Just to mention that R values can be a useful way of comparing different SIMs and how warm they should be - I'm not an expert at all though, but most online shops will have a description of roughly what they mean.

Sim but they take up a lot of room.

SIMs are definitely comfy (if you get a thick enough one), but they're so big, and really pricey. I'd like one, but we have a super-good air bed (that pumps up using a mains plug, so it's easy peasy) that I can't really justify the expense, when we have a perfectly good option at the moment. Always have something underneath it for insulation and have never been cold (which seems to be most people's bugbear with airbeds).

Keep an eye if deals at Go Outdoors. I bought two Berghaus air 10 sims last year for £75 each.

We paid £75 each for fishing beds, reduced from £150ea. Best thing we ever did. They do take up a lot of space in the car but I'd leave everything else at home, before I'd leave my fishing bed.
Unbelievably comfy.

We have an outwell dreamboat double 15cm. It's as comfortable as our home mattress. Treat it well and don't keep it rolled up all year.
It's an investment piece: we are getting older and our joints are increasingly stiff so a good night's sleep on a a comfortable bed is a must. With a good SIM we hope to continue camping into our dotage 🙂.
Our DC snd their partners have various combos of SIMS snd airbeds, but those who are regular campers choose SIMS.