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Topic: Airbeds or Self inflating mats?

DPELEC

19/8/2012 at 11:48pm
Location: Skipton N Yorkshire
Outfit: Swift Challenger 470 se & Trout lake 4

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Hi all we are just upgrading our camping equipment and wondered if the new multimats are as comfy as airbeds.
Yeomans say they are comfy but please could you give me and good points.We are sick of pumping airbeds up!!

Bernie47

20/8/2012 at 12:06am
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It is purely a matter of personal choice.

If you are constantly pumping up your airbeds then you are either pumping them up too hard or you are using plastic airbeds instead of rubberised cotton airbeds.

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Bernie

heath63

20/8/2012 at 6:45am
Location: wirral
Outfit: Outwell Nevada m Vango sigma 300

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I think you are a bit unfortunate with your airbed. I did 5 nights and the beds did not need re-pumping.

I like my airbed soft where I just sink into it; rather than hard. Therefore I find SI mats too uncomfortable. For you why don't you try out the thickest.

I have done that myself, tested them out, in the shop, try before you buy sort of thing.

Thus airbeds for me.

heath63

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martinjp65

20/8/2012 at 8:45am
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It really does come down to your definition of personal comfort. Our bed at home is quite firm when we started out using airbeds (including "quality" ones)I was waking up feeling my back had been subject to a hangmans drop and we got fed up with untraceable leaks. We now use an Outwell posadas double folding bed topped with a 5CM double Outwell comfort SIM and would never go back.

HAP50

20/8/2012 at 9:20am
Location: East Midlands
Outfit: Vango Icarus 600 Tigris 800 Quechua3

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We have SIMS and find them warmer than airbeds and as they are thinner the bedrooms of the tent actually fit in the stated number of people and the tent feels more spacious. I find it very comfortable indeed but I do sleep on my front. I have heard that some side-sleepers find their hip unsupported by thinner SIMS.

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arsenaldes

20/8/2012 at 1:24pm
Location: Aston Clinton
Outfit: Kampa Holkham + Outwell Yukon River*

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Again all a matter of personal comfort we started off with airbeds then tried SIMs then went back to airbeds. We also find air beds are better when under inflated and also with some form of insulation underneath them

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Fotogen

20/8/2012 at 1:30pm
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In those long ago days when I could get down to floor level I went from rollmat to airbed to Thermarest SIM. Rubberised cotton airbed was brilliant and comfy. Modern airbeds don't seem to have that quality. I used a Thermarest 3cms and changed from side sleeping - I rolled off narrow beds - to front or back sleeping which was better. Now I need full height so after using high airbed which deflated got Kampa camp bed. Tried it for a week and have decided to invest in a SIM to go on top for even more comfort.

If I were physically able I would only use a 7cms thick SIM and buy the best I could afford.

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Rivvy

20/8/2012 at 3:58pm
Location: Lancashire
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My wife and I use Alpkit Dozer SIMs (7.5cm thick) and we both find them vastly more comfortable and warmer than an airbed.

They're not cheap but are excellent quality.

We have two thinner High Gear SIMs for our young boys (4 and 6) and they sleep like logs.

SIMs all the way for us.

krazykamper

20/8/2012 at 5:37pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Rivvy on 20/8/2012

My wife and I use Alpkit Dozer SIMs (7.5cm thick) and we both find them vastly more comfortable and warmer than an airbed.
They're not cheap but are excellent quality.
We have two thinner High Gear SIMs for our young boys (4 and 6) and they sleep like logs.
SIMs all the way for us.

I have to agree with you on this one Rivvy. We also use the Alpkit SIMs and have done for for a while now. For us they are far more comfortable and warmer than blow up air beds. If you choose the air bed remember to insulate both underneath and on top otherwise they are just like big cold slabs of concrete!

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CornwallSavvy

20/8/2012 at 6:55pm
Location: England
Outfit: Between units

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We've never tried SIMs but are really happy with our 6' wide Intex airbed. It's more comfortable than what we have at home. We have a carpet underneath and a very thin duvet under the flannelette sheet. We have never felt cold. With a battery powered pump to inflate, its no trouble at all.

KewGardener

20/8/2012 at 7:32pm
Location: London
Outfit: Tent

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We have Coleman Comfort airbeds and good quality sims.
I find the airbed more comfortable when I first lie down on it but by the early hours of the morning I usually have a slight back ache. Consequently I always get a better nights sleep on a sim and as has already been said, they provide good insulation so are superior for out of season camps anyway.
Edited to add, I totally agree with the above comment about electric pumps. You don't need EHU, they just plug into the lighter socket of the car and take away all the effort of inflation/deflation.

cllr_gyppo

20/8/2012 at 8:29pm
Location: Wells
Outfit: Vango Euphoria

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When we First started Camping, We used Cheapo Intex Airbeds, which cost a £10/£15 or so, Found they went Flat by the morning, particulary mine, Which I put down to my Weight (23 St)

We then got a Couple of Outwell Avant Garde 10 Cm SIM, Which are absolutely Fab, Can't Fault them. They could take my Weight without any problems. We have a Roll Mat underneath them to protect them.

Then one Night the Wife went Sleep walking, and ended up Standing on My Air mat (with me using it) , in effect Popping it. It goes flat by the morning, but it is still comfy.

We are away next week, and I managed to get hold of an Aerobed "Active Raised" for £29.99, (which went straight back up to £99.99, but I got mine) We are going to try this out and see how it goes.

Gut Reaction would be to get another SIM, but we may have one of each, or get another Aerobed, if the Price is right of course.

My Mind is still open.

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Best Regards
Nathan

dk168

21/8/2012 at 12:16am
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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Based on personal experience, camp bed + SIM beats airbed hands down.

DK

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