Before I go out and spend MORE money on stuff for our tent, can someone shed some light on which is warmer to sleep on - Camp bed, an airbed or a SIM with a thickness of about 7cm?
Costco have a 7.5cm SIM for £18, but don't want to go spending more cash if it's colder to lie on than our current airbed.
My vote goes to camp bed + SIM combination, which was what I used over Easter weekend when it was cold, wet and windy.
However, I slept very soundly in my camp bed + SIM combo, with a sheet with added ties to keep the SIM in place on the camp bed.
I did not need to use an electric under-blanket, which was what I needed to use in winter on the airbed in order to stay warm.
DK
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I've been trying out a few bedding varieties recently due to a back injury and I've found that even though an air bed seems comfortable it's darn cold! The air does not keep any heat during the night. The camp bed on the other hand is lifted away from the ground and works much better. Personally though I find the sleeping bag/clothes that I sleep in make more of a difference than the bed I lie on. Let me know if you find something that works for you.
My friend has a fishing bed/chair which is absolutely fantastic, but it's not the smallest of sizes and can be quite bulky to carry, plus cost a fair penny!
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To be honest we have only used airbeds, but, we are always comfortable and warm. I agree with pokeystick, thinks its the bedding and insulation etc that matters. I dont fancy an campbed or SIM. Sister sleeps on a campbed and shes always cold, no insulation underneath? and I like bit more width to move about when sleeping, which my airbed gives me.
We have those waterproofed backed picnic rugs on the floor acting as carpet, then foam roll up mats under airbed, good sleeping bags, pillows from home and large blanket tucked around, and we are fine.
Those fishing bed/chairs look comfy but are expensive.
I have tried low air beds and high airbeds, and SIM's, and for warmth I think I would have to say a SIM. However, the SIM I bought was only about 5cm and not very comfortable so I went back to airbeds. I gather the thicker ones are much better.
I now find life much easier if I have a bed which is 'high' but have found the double height airbeds seem to leak and, after a very cold couple of days recently despite lots of insulation, I have given up on them and bought a camp bed upon which I will place my 5cm SIM as a mattress. I have not tried it camping yet but if feels comfy at home.
I use a fan heater if it gets cold at night but it doesn't seem to warm up a large airbed. The heat from a fan heater should circulate underneath a camp bed so logically this should keep it warm...the test is yet to come!
I have tried SIMs (OH got back pain) and then moved to an Aerobed with foam camping mats underneath, and a thermal mattress topper on top, slept on this over Easter when it was a little chilly to say the least and was comfortable and warm all night. Aerobed only needed topping up once in the week also. I wouldnt go for a cheap airbed though
Have only just gone from airbeds to SIMs. I always found airbeds to be very cold. We did the insulation under and over but still suffered if the weather was really cold. Also, the wretched things seemed to go down too quickly and needed constant topping up. Last weekend we went away with SIMs for the first time. DGS and I both had 5cm SIMs and DD had 7cm. We were all warm and comfortable. The mats are thin but very supported and no column of cold air underneath. Also, they stayed inflated. I've never tried a camp bed but I do tend to move about in my sleep and would be scared of falling off the edge
Just gone from airbeds to SIM. My vote goes with the SIM every time. I was always cold with airbeds and they kept deflating. With the same layering, I was warm and comfortable on the SIM last weekend when the temp went down to 0 degrees on Saturday night. I've never tried a camp bed as I tend to move about when sleeping and am frightened of falling off the edge!
Used all 3 - airbeds are definitely cold to sleep on as others have said but insulation helps a great deal. Campbeds are great for added height and are warmer. Sims are really warm (huge difference between the warmth factor of a sim and an airbed) but some find thenm not as comfy. My favourite combination is a sim on top of a campbed for warmth & comfort but I have found that you have to be sure the length fits in your bedroom pod (it's too long for some of my canvas tents.)
Recently I bought a raised single aerobed and tried it out in the living room - I was cold!!!! So my next plan is to test a sim on top of the aerobed and hopefully will get the warmth AND the comfort!!
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