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Hi,

I hope someone can help!

when we went camping for the first time the kids slept on air beds, cheap ones from go-outdoors.  Ever morning the underside of their sleeping bags and the top of the air bed was wet, initially i was concerned something had gone amiss but not so.

Can anyone tell me why this was happening and how can it be prevented?

Thanks,

I'll give it a go

Another question...

would the same thing happen with a Fat Airic or a Thermarest?

Quote: Originally posted by nigel16 on 09/9/2007

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No the airbed is full of air and it draws the cold from the ground underneath you hence the need to insulate in order to keep warm. The "good" self inflation mats are made from cut foam which when the valves are opened are designed to draw air into the mat. The mat is probably 60% foam and 40% air although this is a guess.

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More like 10% foam and 90% air, otherwise it would be huge when packed.  The foam simply aids inflation, it doesn't provide any great degree of insulation.

If you put roll up foam camping mats underneath the airbeds and then a plastic backed picnic mat( as suggested) or fleece blanket over the airbed you wont get as much cooling and condensation.

Also should your airbed fail you will have an alternative, you can sleep on the foam mat, not as comfortable but you wont be without a bed!

Hi

You also have to remember that a certain degree of dampness is natural as you sweat when you sleep.  We got silver foiled bubble wrap stuff from lidl/aldi before the summer.  Kinda like the stuff you put on the car windscreen but rectabgular shaped - they work a treat.

Fiona

Quote: Originally posted by lorrnev on 09/9/2007

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hi, its condensation caused by warm bodies meeting the cold air in the airbed. Put a picnic mat under the airbed and a fleece blanket on top to lie on. This should solve the problem.

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