I love our Self inflating mattresses but they are a real hassle to get packed up again. for speed I would go with airbeds as they basically collapse themselves and with a sucky thing job is done!
I have a footpump which has lasted for years. Last year my friends bullied me into getting a 12v cigarette lighter type job. Takes as long to fit all the fiddly bits together and hold it securely into the airbed as it does to do it the old fashioned way with the footpump (212 pumps if my memory serves me right, but great for toning your calf muscles).
Ah the sound of a campsite at dusk c1972, foot pumps going nineteen to the dozen, sounding like asthmatics making love...Great exercise ensuring you a good night's sleep too!
12v works fine: they take a while and the noise might give you a headache but, you can sip a beer whilst waiting for them to inflate to off-set the pain.
Quote: Originally posted by bridgeywidge on 06/8/2012
Ah the sound of a campsite at dusk c1972, foot pumps going nineteen to the dozen, sounding like asthmatics making love...
This made me spit tea at the screen. Fab mental image there, thanks!
Our double has a battery pump and our boys single is a foot pump. Never even knew there was another way to do it!
------------- June - Park Farm nr Bodiam, Sussex
July - family site, Hereford
August - Red Shoot, New Forest
Camping with a 7 year old boy and a 6 month old beagle pup = chaos!
Quote: Originally posted by mind that guyrope on 06/8/2012
Throw the airbeds in the bin, Most of the major manufacturers are selling 7cm self-inflating double mats now. Go and lie on one in your local camping shop - you will never look back. It's like a Tempur mattress for your tent - best thing we ever bought. Seriously.
I agree. We've found SIMS warmer, comfier, and because they aren't so deep the tent feels roomier. Couldn't go back now.
------------- If it doesn't fit inside the cars it's more than your family needs :-)
Quote: Originally posted by peggypoo on 05/8/2012
Foot Pump...Keeps the kids busy for ten minutes
The Beavers and Cubs love helping Tic-Tac(me) pump up her air bed at sleepovers and camp. When we go on family holidays it gives our 2 kids something to do whilst we pitch the tent.
We've got one of these as we always go non-electric camping.
Quote: Originally posted by Safeway56 on 06/8/2012
I've never had a problem inflating airbeds in the old fashioned way...with my mouth but only when there's no alternative.
Ditto.
a simple task, get the tent up, get everything else sorted, sit on fold up concertina deckchair with the handy hole in the are (handy for what?, Whsitle-less, whistling kettle boiling madly to make the coffee.. coffee balanced either on the grass or on the trusty green foldaway table, get the airbed out and puff.... and puff... and puff. surprisingly it doesn't take a great deal of time.
------------- 47 and only just learned how to work a sleeping bag
Quote: Originally posted by mind that guyrope on 06/8/2012
Throw the airbeds in the bin, Most of the major manufacturers are selling 7cm self-inflating double mats now. Go and lie on one in your local camping shop - you will never look back. It's like a Tempur mattress for your tent - best thing we ever bought. Seriously.
I agree. We've found SIMS warmer, comfier, and because they aren't so deep the tent feels roomier. Couldn't go back now.
What they both said! I totally agree. SIMs are brilliant. Really comfy and even the 3cm ones feel a lot more comfortable than the airbeds we've put up with over the years. Just back from camping in york and we used SIMs for the first time in a few years and we're not going back to folding beds,airbeds or otherwise.
They are also a lot easier to deflate and roll up than getting the air out of an inflatable mattress. You roll up from the opposite end of the valve and kneel on the mat every time you turn it. When you get to the end with the valve, you kneel on the mat, shut the valve and put it in the bag. Simples!
------------- FyneFest -1st June - Fantastic!
Pillaton Hall Farm - 5th July
Woolacombe Bay 7th July