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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.

Original poster

Home from first camping trip - best bed for DHs dodgy back?

28 replies

jodee · 13/06/2010 20:18

Newbie happy campers just returned from a (very) local 2 night trial run with new tent, had a great time, but need to make a few tweaks:-

When we got the tent we hurriedly bought an Outwell double airbed which I thought would be OK for us both (already had a single knocking about for DS). There was too much bouncing about whenever either of us moved, and then we ended up rolling into the middle. DH had a terrible first night (maybe the airbed was inflated too much?), second night not as bad but he thought any more than 2 nights would kill his back completely.

So - recommendations please, having searched camping forums/here people have been going for a Coleman Double Comfort airbed or the self-inflating jobbies, but I really need something that suits DH the most.

Also, DS didn't sleep well as he kept rolling off the airbed, falling out of the sleeping bag and struggling in the dark to get back in again. Would a ReadyBed be better?

We are off again in 2 weeks time!

OP posts:
AttillaTheHan · 13/06/2010 20:22

We have a double airbed which is actually two singles with a foam wall to divide them, when it has a sheet/sleepingbag on it it looks no different to a normal double but it really solves the sleep problems that me and dh used to have. Lets say Dh is significantly smaller in the body frame department and he spent the whole night clinging desperately on to the side to stop him rolling onto me. Once we bought this bed we both have a fab nights sleep.

Anyway we got it from Decathlon a year or so ago. Definately worth a search.

supersalstrawberry · 13/06/2010 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lucycat · 13/06/2010 20:43

I'd suggest a self inflatiing mat for yur ds - my dd2 rolls off her Ready bed and ends up underneath it, still in sleeping bag! We now give her a self inflating mat and she loves it - still ends up in a heap in the end of the tent but never wakes up.

I'd second the Coleman if you want to stick with an airbed - ours is fab.

MilaMae · 13/06/2010 21:08

We've got the Coleman and I had the worst nights sleep I'd ever had on an airbed. I'm presuming we hadn't inflated both sides equally as I kept rolling off(dps side was maybe higher). We inflated my side more and switched sides,I slept better but dp slept less well although not as bad as my 1st night.

Hoping it was just getting used to it or the very slight incline on the ground(I've slept on far worse) as we'll be sleeping on it for 2 weeks in Aug .

kitbit · 13/06/2010 21:33

Ds and I sleep on the double -obviously ds rolls towards me but he's happy lolling half over you anyway, and dh sleeps in a single on the other side of ds. Works so far, about to test it again next weekend!

Original poster
jodee · 13/06/2010 23:27

thanks everyone, had thought about DS sharing with me on the airbed but the tent had 2 'bedrooms' (sleeps 4 + 2) and DS likes his little bedroom pod and doesn't want DH in it!

Does anyone know where I can try out a self-inflating bed?

OP posts:
poppyboo · 14/06/2010 11:37

I've just bought an Exped down mat from here:

www.facewest.co.uk/Exped-Downmat-7-Pump.html
which is meant to be very comfortable. haven't tried it yet though!This I am told will be a medium firmness and is great for side sleepers. 7 cmm thick

The other mat i was considering and I know comes highly rated on mumsnet is the Dozer from Alpkit (well the older version was called Fat airic and they have bought out the dozer this year)This is also 7 cm thick.
www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16534&category_id=289 This will be a firmer sleeping surface but you can adjust it to how you like it by not adding a few puffs of breath once it has self-inflated by itself.

poppyboo · 14/06/2010 12:09

I've just bought an Exped down mat from here:

www.facewest.co.uk/Exped-Downmat-7-Pump.html
which is meant to be very comfortable. haven't tried it yet though!This I am told will be a medium firmness and is great for side sleepers. 7 cmm thick

The other mat i was considering and I know comes highly rated on mumsnet is the Dozer from Alpkit (well the older version was called Fat airic and they have bought out the dozer this year)This is also 7 cm thick.
www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16534&category_id=289 This will be a firmer sleeping surface but you can adjust it to how you like it by not adding a few puffs of breath once it has self-inflated by itself.

poppyboo · 14/06/2010 12:09

looks like I'm double posting again, I seem to have a habit of that

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/06/2010 20:46

at down mat.

Original poster
jodee · 14/06/2010 22:23

Poppyboo, when are you trying out down mat? DH and I are both side sleepers, bit pricey though!

OP posts:
Smithagain · 15/06/2010 08:21

jodee - I tried out self-inflating mattresses - and sleeping bags - on the floor in our local camping showroom. Yes, I felt like a bit of a berk, but once I'd had the nerve to get down and have a lie down, all the other people that had been hovering by the sleeping bags gave it a go as well. Was like a great big, grown up sleepover .

You've got to try them out - it's the only way you'll know!

poppyboo · 15/06/2010 09:53

BadBadKitten sorry for making you but you never know it might be rubbish, I hope not though because that would make me

poppyboo · 15/06/2010 09:56

Jodee, I am sleeping on it tonight on my bedroom floor! It is arriving today by parcelforce and I feel a bit nervous about it arriving incase I don't like it. My brother reckons I should love it though (he does trekking in different country for days at a time so he knows quite alot about stuff like this!) I will get back to you tomorrow about how it goes, either with a smile or an sore back

poppyboo · 15/06/2010 09:59

I wanted to say that if i don't get on with the Exped tonight my DH said he'd have it and I can get the Dozer from Alpkit. I really couldn't decide between the two you see and he doesn't care what he sleeps on but I am fussy fussy fussy!

poppyboo · 15/06/2010 10:03

Jodee I just wanted to say that if you do go for a self inflating mat then make sure you get one that is thick enough (probably 7cm) otherwise I have read your hip bone can stick through and give you a sore back in the morning. Can you tell I have done alot of reading about this?! LOL

The Thermarest Basecamps are meant to be nice too, but more expensive then The Dozer and less expensive then the Exped Down 7. I'm not sure how thick they are though...

poppyboo · 15/06/2010 12:52

OMG my Exped DownMat 7 pump DLX is here and it is inflated on the living room floor right now. It took about 5 mins to do the first inflation (with the internal pump) It took longer the first time b/c it is the first time its been inflated. Usually it should take one minute to inflate it. I lay down on it on my side and it is so so so super comfy! I'm really looking forward to testing it out tonight! I could have drifted off there and then...after laying on it for a few minutes I noticed how warm I felt so I think I will have to have to buy a lighter sleeping bag b/c these mats are meant to be 3x warmer then your average sleeping mat! I'm pretty excited about my mat!

Original poster
jodee · 15/06/2010 16:23

thanks smithagain, will have to look around locally to see where I can slip unnoticed into a sleeping bag on a SI mat!

Poppyboo, you sound far too excited to be able to sleep tonight, like being a kid at christmas all over again, eh! Report in the morning please LOL

OP posts:
poppyboo · 15/06/2010 17:49

jodee I shall report to you tomorrow on how it goes...I'm a bit nervous and keep thinking 'what if i don't like it!' LOL

maktaitai · 15/06/2010 17:52

We've had exactly this problem and switched to Thermarest self-inflating mattresses with sheets over them, with our own duvets and pillows. Just managed 2 nights without trashing dh's back. HTH.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 15/06/2010 21:27

It sounds lovely I might put it on my christmas wish list!

poppyboo · 16/06/2010 19:51

OK so I feel ultra sheepish now i never did actually sleep on it last night...when DH got home last night he had a look at it and wasn't very impressed. He didn't think it was comfy at all so then I looked at at again and decided actually it was too much like a regular air bed (which i hate) so I would probably end up not liking it in the end...so to cut a long story short I packed it back up and returned it for a refund! So now it will probably be Alpkit Dozer So thumbs down to the Exped!

Original poster
jodee · 16/06/2010 23:17

Oh well, looks like it's probably a Dozer for DH and I then - I bought a 12.99 5cm one from ALDI yesterday for 10 yo DS to try out and he thinks it will be OK for him.

Thanks poppyboo, shame about the Exped after all that excitement!!

OP posts:
poppyboo · 17/06/2010 12:30

here's one that might be worth a look....the 2010 model has a memory foam topper but you pay for it though!
www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-Dreamtime.html

it looks so lush

Original poster
jodee · 18/06/2010 11:24

Decided: ordered 2 x Dozers late last night, hoping they will be delivered to work today!

That does look nice tho poppyboo, I sleep on a Tempur topper at home, mmm.

OP posts: