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Hi all,

I've been camping for about 3 years now and have never quite got the sleeping arrangements right in our tent.

I recognise warmth is important and that is not our issue so much as general uncomfortable nights sleep, cricks in the neck, aches and pains etc.

We started on cheap "Argos" airbeds, then moved onto one of those 18" deep Intex Queen size airbeds and now are using a double "Coleman Comfort" airbed designed to reduce the "boucny castle" effect when one gets in or out.

We use cheap roll mats underneath the airbed for insulation and actually tried sleeping on just those one night but that was worse still.

I was thinking of trying the army style frame and canvas folding beds but i am concerned that the slope in the bedrooms of our Hartford XL would be too restrictive for two of them placed together due to their height. Im also unsure about the comfort of the inevitable "trough" that will form in the middle of the canvas.

My other thought was to invest in a good quality double self inflating matt but in either case i need to spend quite a bit to find out because a quick test in the shop isnt much of an indicator, unless you were testing a bed of nails of course.

We currently have 2 fat airics and find them the most comfortable we have had.  I always have a lovely warm and comfortable sleep now.  We used to have the large camp beds but they wouldnt fit in our new tent, hence the change - but I'm really pleased we did as can't praise them enough.

You seem to have tried all the best options. I now have an Outwell Flocked Excellent airbed which I find very comfortable but mine does seem to lose some air in 24 hours (not a big problem). These are slightly longer and wider than the average airbed which gives plenty of room. Mine is a single but they do double ones. Check that they will fit your pod if you buy one though.

Some people use a memory foam topper on top of their airbeds. I have not tried this but it sounds very comfortable.

Also, I used to have awful nights until I started using my ordinary pillows from home. I tried several different sorts of camping pillows/cushions but only proper pillows worked and solved my restless nights and aching back.

Byngo, are you blowing the airbeds up to high? The first time we used an airbed my hubby pumped it up fully - it was sooooo hard that we woke up all aches & pains. Then I read a tip on this forum about pumping it up till you could press one hand on it & just feel the ground, so we tried this, and we've had perfectly comfortable nights ever since - in fact it's as comfortable, if not more so, than our bed at home

Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 10/8/2010

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Hi Byngo1.
          For the second year running we have used ThermaRest DreamTime XL's, two of them fastened together with there embedded joining straps, to form a QueenSize bed,....

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