Anyone used a thermarest or an airic? ie aself inflating mattress for camping?

[miljee]

We've used airbeds to date but the traditional puncture necessitating a trawl to find a shop to get a new one EVERY trip drove us to campbeds (the 12 quid ones) for the DSs. Anyway, they've just started doing camps and 'sleepovers' with Beavers and Cubs who don't 'allow' campbeds due to their size which is fair enough, so we're considering a pair of Fat Airics so we (DH and I) can use them when we camp in the summer (pleeeze!) and the DSs can use them at scout camp. What do you think?

My brother has a thermarest and he thinks it is great, if expensive.

Not sure if it would be padded enough for me

I had a thermarest and loved it and then one day it got a puncture in the seam and i never replaced it (have hardly done any camping since). I only had the 3/4 length one, but would have loved the longer one.

Never seen a Fat airic...so can't comment.

We all use thermarests (2 adults and the DC, 2 and 4). DW found the standard Thermarest a bit uncomfortable, but a wider, thicker one (mat, not wife) fixed that! They really work for us; would highly recommend them.

My DH has a Thermarest, I have a much cheaper copy (can't remember what make) and tbh there is no difference between them. they are good though, make the whole lying on the ground thing much more bearable and warm.

Watch out in ALDI as well. We also got some in there for about £10, which we use underneath our thermarest types. They are bigger and bulkier, but much much warmer and good for the kids.

We have used Fat Airics the last couple of times we have been camping - NY Eve and this weekend. They were very comfortable and definitely good insulators. This weekend, for example, we had no problem with cold coming up from below us and my brother, who was using a regular inflatable mattress, found it got so cold he had to get up and put extra clothes on during the night.

They do take a bit of extra blowing up though - if your children are using them it would be a good idea to inflate and deflate them a couple of times for them before leaving them to deal with them themselves. Also, being thicker than most self-inflating mattresses, they are also bulkier to carry. You wouldn't want to hike with them but if they are just carrying them from a car to campsite it shouldn't be an issue.

We would certainly recommend them.

I think that's a good idea. After getting fed up with leaking beds and being frozen I gave in and got
www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=108&cID=2

Went for that model mainly because it packed down tiny and I like to travel light as poss for short trips 'cos it's usually just me and the kids. It's perfectly comfy and havn't been cold at night with it. Heaven Thinking of getting one of the Fat A's or larger comfort ones for my H.

Never used a Fat A but heard good things about them.

Loooove my Thermarest - think I have the same one as Blueblob. After many years of no-frills camping with a Karrimat, it's like a feather bed. Coupled with a good snuggly sleeping bag I sleep as well as I do at home.

It's great having camping equipment that packs downs small, not that I'm going backpacking but it will lighten the strain on the car boot. Bear in mind your DC's may be progress onto Duke of Edinburgh one day and thank you for decent lightweight kit.

I was thinking of getting some cheap-brand self inflating mats for the DC's even though they are only 2 and 3, for camping this summer, should last them for years I hope.

OK, have bitten the bullet and ordered 2 Fat Airics. Will let you all know how we get on! Sadly for us we do actually own a couple of proper, backpacking Thermarests but they're tucked away somewhere or other in a storage shed in Australia. Handy. We'd barely used them as our camping rapidly went from 'hike up a mountain and pitch camp' to 'drive the car into a site and unload the boot'- so we used to take the foam mattress off the sofabed- all pre-DCs, of course!

And they finally arrived today! DH is currently blowing one up (they're new so they advise you to add some puff in the first instance to inflate all the cells). Will let you know what we think! DS1 will be the first tester as he has Cub (indoor) camp next weekend. They're longer than I anticipated but DH and I are both 5' 6"...