I find Self Inflating Mattresses (SIM's) most comfortable personally. SIM's have a foam cutout inside which is supplemented by air, so as well as providing comfort they also insulate you from the ground. I don't get on with airbeds, and I've used cheap camp beds before and not got on with them (but the clue there might be in the 'cheap' bit.)
From what I've seen on these forums most people tend to adopt 1 of 3 approaches:
1. Camp bed with SIM.
2. Thick SIM.
3. Airbed.
From my own experiences and others I've camped with, if you go with either airbeds or camp beds I'd suggest adding something to trap heat with - the ground is very cold and I've camped with some cold and miserable friends on airbeds until I went out and bought them a foam roll mat to add to the airbed to trap the heat.
Hi
Google aerobed......we have a double height kingsize inflatable one with a built in pump....dare say it's where we sleep the best....a tad pricey at £100 ish but well worth it cos if you don't sleep properly, you are more likely to give up on camping!!
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And quite a few local weekenders
Camp bed + SIM on top, kept in place by a fitted flannel sheet; switched to this sleep system after a trusted airbed developed a leak mid trip when I camped over Christmas 2011.
Apart from being more reliable, the camp bed + SIM combo is much cosier than the airbed.
DK
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I would say the most comfortable thing to sleep on are the bedchairs made for over night fishing use, not light weight or particularly compact but very solidly made!
double camp bed which they are on sale around £45.. put your sims on top which u already have.. possibly wrap SIMs in a sleeping bag (sim goes where your body would) then a fitted sheet on top with your quilt!! BLISS
------------- The great outdoors, sunshine, laughter.. a moaning wife and screaming brat!
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I think I'd agree with welsh bob that the fishing beds are the most comfortable. They're fabulous.
But too bulky for us, so we have 10cm sims on the floor.
We've also had airbeds, but for me, the SIMs are comfier. There are two adults, but we have two single sims rather than a double
We use an airbed, the Coleman Comfort one which has dual valves. This is essential for us as my hubby is a much larger build than me and I didn't want to be thrown off the airbed whenever he got into bed or moved in the night.
We only camp in France in warm weather so don't have to worry about cold air.
Also have an Outwell double campbed but don't take that as I prefer the airbed.
Do like those fishing beds, if I was going alone in this country would get myself one of those.
Like coastal path we have the coleman double with dual valves. (At least one of you can have a good nights sleep if you have a hole and end up sleeping on the floor).
Just got back from using ours for a week (2 hrs ago) no bad back for either of us so fine.
5cm SIM straight on the floor. The SIMS are an insulating mat and I don't see anything is added by putting more under or on top of them - it's just more stuff to carry about. Can't say we've ever been cold or uncomfortable like this - and we've no plans to get thicker SIMS or camp beds.