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Hi everyone, i'm totally new to camping, i'm buying our equipment and need loads of advice.  I've been looking at the sims and airbeds - shop sales assistants have said that the sims are more comfortable aswell as warmer than the airbeds, so if this is true i'm going to get sims.  So which sims should i get?  I've of course looked at the thermarest ones as they are mentioned on a few posts here, i tried out a multimat at a tent show but i just don't know what the comparisions are apart from the prices, multimat seems to be cheaper than thermarest - then i also so some in blacks that were alot cheaper - is it a case of you pay more for the comfort or are these more about brands?  I need fairly comfortable ones for myself and dp as we have bad backs, i will be sleeping next to my 2year old so i guess i'll need a double for us, and then 2 singles for dp and my 8yr old daughter.  I would also like to get another sim as a spare for when we have other family members camping with us - but i'd prefer to buy as cheap as possible for the spare as it won't be used so often (although will still have to be comfortable if its for my mum!!).  So any suggestions as to what and where i can get these from - are there any online shops that have great deals on sims?  Although i'd like to keep the costs low - i can't compromise on comfort because of our back problems - and dp is coming camping very unwillingly so i don't want to put him off with an uncomfortable bed! 

Quote: Originally posted by Former Scout on 26/4/2011

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Totally new to camping and yet a member for four years!! If I were Jose Mourinio I’d accuse you of being a voyeur!!


In theory a SIM will be warmer than an airbed, but it's not difficult to counteract this by using a fleece fitted sheet (I got mine from Dunelm) and the such. I had limited success with a SIM (cost about £50) so I switched to an Aerobed Active. Not cheap but VERY comfortable.

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