'Old fashioned' Camp Beds or sleepmats which are better?.....

[twofishes]

found our airbeds too bulky and cold feeling on our recent 'Summer' trip....wanting to convert to a different option for our October Half Term trip, but which is better a camp bed that is raised off the floor or a mat ....have 3 kids 6yrs, 3 yrs and 20 months?

What about the traditional army type camp beds with a self-inflating roll matt(not mattress) on it.

Camp beds although off the floor will be freezing too, you need a layer of something, silver/ watrproof backed picnic rugs are a good layer to have under matts or mattreses.

personally i would stick a picnic rug under the air bed and a foam roll under too

then put a fleece throw on the airbed, and a sheet on that and then sleep

you will be much warmer then

i would imagine just an army type camp bed or just a foam mat wouldbe freezing too

We just got Fat Airics for whole fam. They were £££ and god, so so so worth it. Warm, comfy, proper sleep. Even at Mudfest Bestival.

from Alpkit online only

Second Fat Airics. So good! I have graduated from a lightweight camper to being a mother and in need of more comfort so my thermarest is languishing in the back of the cupboard in favour of an airic. They are fab, very much worth it and pretty much all my Guidey/Scouty friends have them for non-lightweight events.

I also love my fat airic.

have tried them all

Airbed, too cold and too defalting.

Campbeds good, but very bulky and a reall faff to put up and get down, plus you need a foam mat on top to help to indulate you.

Fat airic is great warm cozy and comfy

Thanks am putting a Fat Airic on my Xmas List.....heres hoping!!

DS1(7) needs a rollmat for Beavers sleepover(in a hut). As he has ambitions to be Chief Scout someday, and will therefore be doing a lot of camping over the next decade , is it worth investing in an airic of some sort? He's only little and does feel the cold.

How easy are they to handle, and pack away?

they are brilliant to unpack and put away - you just unscrew the caps and inflate / deflate and roll. Our fat airics are the best camping purchase we have made.

Just refreshing this thread

Do you fat airic lovers use them for your DCs too? I've just bought a couple for me & DH, but have no idea what to put DD 4.6yrs and DS 1.10yrs on.

DD had a readybed when she last camped (was 2.3) but she's too big for it now and we had to re-inflate it every day. Is it too indulgent to buy her a fat airic? DH thinks she should have an old Thermarest but I think that's a bit cruel for 2wks?

No idea what to do about DS the wriggle monster...