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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

Those Airic things...

12 replies

MrsMellowdrummer · 02/04/2010 11:47

I'm a fairly novice camper - planning a trip next week with my son and some friends.

Anyway, we have managed to lose one of our airbeds (don't ask me how!), and I have been pondering whether to get another one, or to invest in one of the airic mats instead. Last time we went we used the airbeds and were nice and comfy. They're quite bulky though, and a bit of a pain to inflate.

I was wondering what people's opinions are regarding how comfortable they are (as opposed to an airbed)? Also, does anybody know if there is much difference between an airic and a more generic brand? We have a Millets close to us, and they just have their own brand. They're quite pricey aren't they, so I don't want to get the wrong thing!

I'm quite keen to make the inside of our tent as comfy as possible - looking at the weather we might be spending quite lot of time undercover!

OP posts:

MisSalLaneous · 02/04/2010 12:02

From all the reviews I've read (hours and hours!), the Fat Airics (which is what you should get if you want comfort) is considerably better than generic brands and also lasts longer.

Thermarests might be even better than FAs, but also about twice the price for comparable thickness and comfort, so it depends how much you want to spend.

We recently bought two Fat Airics to replace our air bed as I wanted better insulation against the cold, and although I've only used it indoors, I'm very very impressed.

Do a search on here and UK Campsite too, loads of people swear by them.

troutpout · 02/04/2010 13:13

Oh my god... They ( we have fat airics) are So much better than an airbed ( and we had coleman comfort airbeds before). You know how airbeds make your hips hurt if you lie on your side? Well these don't ... Buy em..You won't regret it.
thermarests are also very good btw

ChippyMinton · 02/04/2010 13:19

DH bought himself a thermarest for a biking/camping trip last year. He said it was the most comfortable week he's ever spent in a tent, and worth every penny.

faddle · 02/04/2010 20:17

oooo I've just been looking at these and wondering if they are as good as an airbed I have awful arthritis in my hips, and laying on an airbed I find awfully cold and painful after about 5 minutes - do they fold up or roll up or what? We are very limited on boot space!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 02/04/2010 20:23

you can lie them flat across stuff. when we are short on space the sleeping bags are unrolled and laid across the boot. tent and stuff goes on top and sleeping mats lay across the top. normally they are rolled.
we have ordinary airics and find them pretty comfy.

Wiggletastic · 03/04/2010 09:29

We love our fat airics! Bought after reading lots of reviews (many on here!) and they are worth every penny.

They do seem to limit how many they make and we had to go on a waiting list to get them so check this out on the alpkit website just in case you can't get them in time for next week. Good luck.

Original poster

MrsMellowdrummer · 04/04/2010 10:56

Thank you everybody - it sounds as if an airic is the way to go.

Guess what though, I found the missing airbed (rolled up inside the other one, doh!), so panic over! I've decided that this time we'll use the airbeds, and then I'm going to order one of the fat airics for next time we go. I'm sure my son will be comfy on it, even if I'm not - he sleeps on the floor at home half the time anyway, so it's got to be better than that! Then we might get another at a later date if successful.

I agree with you troutpout about the hips thing. However comfy an airbed seems when you sink into it at night, by morning you do feel achy.

Looking forward to our first camp of the year - we're trying out Wowo after seeing people talking about it on here.

OP posts:

Abundantia · 04/04/2010 11:00

Get fat airics, they are bloody wonderful. You won't regret it. There is no comparison to normal air beds.

MisSalLaneous · 04/04/2010 11:04

MrsMellow, it's worth taking into account that you get £15 discount on the second one if you buy both together.

MisSalLaneous · 04/04/2010 11:06

Ooh, just seen you're going to Wowo. Please update here as to how you found it - we're going there for a weekend in August.

Original poster

MrsMellowdrummer · 04/04/2010 11:14

Oh, that's worth taking into consideration! Maybe I'll just bit the bullet and go for it then...

Will certainly let you know how we get on MisSalLaneous - it looks fab doesn't it! Looking forward to a real camp fire, weather allowing!

OP posts:

MisSalLaneous · 04/04/2010 11:40

Yes, and I reckoned if dh didn't like it that much, I could always sell the second one again once they're out of stock (which seems to happen every year) as I only paid £35 for it after discount. He liked it though, so it worked out well.

Re Wowo - it does! Our first camp of the season is still a month off, and I'm itching to go already.

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