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Topic: air bed Vs sim

Vinn-e

31/7/2014 at 8:03pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: Vango inspire 600 PUMP ACTION BABY !!!

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hi all,

ive been looking at getting something to sleep on in the tent on the cheap just for now untill we have managed to save up for our mega mats,
we have the option of a cheap 5cm double sim on ebay for £30
or a heavy duty old fashioned air bed, the ones that are blue one side and red the other and are made of thick rubber, but we cant make our minds up on what would be best to get as we have never slept on a sim before so any thoughts and comments would be appreciated

just to make things easier ill link the sim and the air bed below for you to look at

Heavy duty air bed

SIM

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1st family camping trip together
1/9/14 - Scratby Hall
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#deb#

31/7/2014 at 11:29pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift [Challenger Sport] Fairway 514

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Started out about 16 years ago with rubberised airbeds of the type you describe. In the airbed category I definitely think they are the best (when compared with flock or PVC types which I don't like). However, we moved on to 3cm SIMs a few years ago which we had doubled up. We have ended up with a few different types including a 5cm Easy Camp one which I won on here at Christmas! As we had just bought a 7.5cm Outwell one at the time, we have let the kids share the 5cm one and I have to say there's not a lot to choose between them. I like them both and indeed slept on both during our recent week+ away. For me the SIMs win out.

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Cheers! Debs

BRYANMITCH

01/8/2014 at 12:09am
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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The way I look at it...both can go down for any one of many reasons..with an airbed you end up on the ground..with a sim you end up with at least an inch of foam under you.
Another valid point...wimmenfolk have smaller "tanks" then men and consequently(scrabble word?)after a sociable night-need a wee every 10 minutes...this means they need to sleep next to the door...and this means the male camper ends up jammed up against the back wall of the inner tent.Should your half of the airbed deflate...you are blocked in until the next morning because she will have rolled over and trapped you!!!At least with a sim-you stand a chance of getting out.
I have been a sim convert for the past 2 seasons after trying every airbed known to man..ended up with a 10cm vango and paying for it was painful!!..but never looked back..worth every penny.Also purchased a couple of cheapies from Lidl just in case...might come in handy.
That last phrase could start a whole new thread.

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Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!

Vinn-e

01/8/2014 at 3:28pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: Vango inspire 600 PUMP ACTION BABY !!!

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thankyou deb and bryanmitch this is great advice, i think were going to go for the sim now, but my misses is is a little concerened about the thickness of the sim, the one we can afford for now is 5cm thick, she is concerend that once you lay on them you touch the hard floor through them in parts with elbow or bum or shoulder ect, or are they quite a strong mattress and this doesnt happen ?
as we have never used one its the main thought before buying one
hope that makes sence

thanks again

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1st family camping trip together
1/9/14 - Scratby Hall
------------------------------

Bigm2

01/8/2014 at 4:53pm
Location: Kent
Outfit: Coachman Vision 580 5

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I used to use air beds and always found a) they were really hot and sweaty because of the rubber and b) they always went down during the night.
We inherited 2 Thermarest mats from my uncle who was giving up camping. I've had these ever since. They must be about 10 or 15 years old and although we now have a caravan, my daughter now uses them when she's in her pup tent next to us. and at scout and guide camps and I use one too at guide camps. I'm not a small person and I find them really comfortable (although not nearly as comfy as my caravan bed!😋). They are not cheap I know but I think the fact they still look as good as new is testament to their quality. You can get cheaper versions. My friend has a great one from Decathlon which is both wider and thicker than mine. Go outdoors have a good range too and it you have a store nearby, you can go and test them out. Hope that helps

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Caravanners do it in comfort!

Discoverystu

01/8/2014 at 11:36pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Own several tents

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I am 15st male and I have a vango 5cm Sim. Under it I use one of the cheap foam roll mats with sliver lining that tescos used to sell mainly for extra insulation. I then drop that all on top of a picnic fold old rug thingy in the tent. I sleep on my side. I must say after a few hours my shoulder does start to feel the ground through it all. This usually then sees me semi consciously turning over onto my other side for a few more hours and rinse and repeat. I would say go for the biggest you can afford. I have tried 2 but found they slid around over night especially if move around a lot whilst asleep. I have tried airbeds but I find airbeds aggravate my back ( I have 2 damaged discs). The Sim gives me no backache at all and I have less back issues whilst camping than I do at home. Hope this helps

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Ex Trailer tenter, Ex VW Campervaner. Currently Rooftop tenter. Owner of several tents and a garage full of camping gear

northcosmos

02/8/2014 at 9:00pm
Location: Lancs
Outfit: Khyam Ridgipod Classic

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I have done a few outings on air beds and end up with backache, bum touching floor, rolling into other half, purchased a 7.5 cm SIM last year and best night sleep camping ever and didnt notice the rock underneath until rolling up. I would probably start with a 5cm (my eldest has one and has given it a thumbs up) that why you havent spent a fortune and you can see if it suits you, also the 7.5 cm packs away quite a bit bigger than a 5cm so you would also have to see how much room you have in car/trailer, I wouldnt got back to an airbed

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Roll on warm weather.

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