SELF INFLATING MATTRESS

[cabbage67]

Could anyone please give their opinion on self inflating mattresses. My 4 and 6 year old slept on an airbed on our first camping trip last year and it was a bit of a nightmare. Always rolling off in the night and waking up against the side of the tent wet.

I was considering a ready bed for them but have today just discovered self inflating mattresses. They look great and reviews are quite positive but am concerned about keeping warm being closer to the ground.

Cabbage

Wonderful things - we have one for camping and sleep on it when we have guests and need extra space

Great nights sleep!

We recently converted after using air beds, readybeds, camp beds...

wonderfult hings. Took a bit of time getting used to being so close to the ground but we're pleased with our chpocies.

We have aVango doucble; ds's ahve outwell dinosaur mats.

I want to buy a double one for very occassional use, once or twice a year. What are the price ranges. Sorry to hijack, sounds like a thumbs up.

We have airics and they are great. I have a fat airic - it's amazing. I'm no skinny minny but it was so comfy. The boys have wee airics and they were plenty warm enough.

They have some in Lidl at the minute, I just got the specials email (although not sure 110cm wide can be classed as a double!). They are much warmer than airbeds because they are insulating. Quite comfortable enough for children IYSWIM.

My kids (same age) sleep on roll mats TBH, fleecy pyjama's keep them warm.

Decathlon, Go Outdoors all have decent sub £20 mats if packup size isn't an issue (i.e. you aren't a backpacker )

The lidl one is 110cm x 188cm x 5cm and comes in next Monday 21st BTW.

Much better than airbeds. They feel warm underneath you (ours do, anyway - Outwell ones) and you don't roll off. Neither child has ever complained about being closer to the ground and they feel quite comfortable to me.

loooooooads better than airbeds- much comfier lighter- and don't spring leaks in the middle of the night

Also get your kids warm sleeping bags (eg Vango) if they don't already have them, think of all those years of Scout Camp ahead of them.

I've got a similar thread going because of DH and his bad back, we are both side sleepers, are they suitable or too hard (thinking of the Airic replacement, Dozer?).

also, would you still put insulation (picnic blanket type of thing) underneath a SI bed as you would an airbed?

I sleep on my side and don't find a SI mattress too hard. Have had no need for extra insulation underneath - the foam inside provides insulation. It's heaps warmer than an airbed.

I would second the advice to get decent, warm sleeping bags. I was always the only person that was warm when we went on Guide camp, because my parents had bought me a proper, three season sleeping bag. They are not that expensive and save you carting half the bedroom with you in an effort to pad out a cheaper one!

Cabbage

Ours was about £60!

I was about to start the same thread cabbage but because I got the email from lidl and our airbed died in the night last time we went camping.

They are £25 in lidl which seems worth investing. I didn't know they were warmer than airbeds - that's very interesting. I always thought they were designed to save space, didn't realised they were insulated too

They had 5cm thick singles in aldi last week for 12.99. I went a bit mad and bought 4! Not sure yet whether I will stack them two high or have a big wide bed in case the boys end up in with us.

I've just bought a Dozer - see my thread a bit lower down, and it's great. I've not tried it actually camping yet, but have slept on it in the lounge, and I still can't get over the magical comfiness of something that doesn't really look overly puffy!

Cost was £60. You can get cheaper ones, and also more expensive alternatives. I think it really is one of those things where you get what you pay for. And you need to consider comfort against how small/light you need it to be.

mellowdrummer i almost bought a Dozer but then went for an exped, would have loved to try them first but i guess that is the problem with buying online...i know i will lay on the exped thinking 'i wonder what the dozer would have been like' or if i had bought the dozer i would have layed there thinking' what would the exped have been like....!'

Happened to be passing ALDI today and picked up the 12.99 single for DS to try out later ...

I've bought a Dozer too, we do loads of camping and I had backache after the last week on my old mat. It seems OK after one trial night on bedroom floor but you do need a good high pillow too if you are sleeping on your side.

SI mats are designed to be used alone, pointless adding picnic blankets, foil, newspaper etc. Airbeds have zero insulation.

Honestly, hardnuts like my DH bivouac out on mountains with just a 4 season sleeping bag and thin selfinflating mat. I can't understand all this "I'm fine camping with my airbed, 2 duvets, 3 fleece blankets, foil sheet, duffle coat and woolly hat" - it must be like the princess and the pea.

I have thermarest as had for few years before had heard of airics wouldn't say its the most comfy thing in the world but is miles better than an airbed..

got ds this for last trip..£29.99 rather than the lidl £25 thing but it was really good and as is more like a twin so 2 single linked together was much easier to pack than a double we borrowed last year...

www.towsure.com/product/14672-Self-Inflating_Double_Mat_with_Pillow
he loved it and I loved the fact he wasn't bouncy castling all over the tent like he did on an airbed