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Subject Topic: Sleeping options under canvas Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonPaul-ee
29/8/2014 at 8:57pm
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Hi All, just joined the forum and I have a question regarding sleeping in my new tent. I think I have tried most options over the years, mats, airbeds and camp beds but too long ago to remember how good/bad they were. Also I have been out of the scene for a while and was wondering if any or all of the above have changed or improved to become the best choice. My gut feeling is that 2 single airbeds with double fitted sheet would be comfy and warm. Camp beds would seem to offer good separation from a cold floor, but don't look too comfy. Also, would the feet not wear through or puncture the groundsheet? Lastly, mats. Are they substantial enough?
Anyway, over to you guys. Thanks in advance.
Paul


PersonFrancophile1947
29/8/2014 at 9:18pm
 Location: Norwich
 Outfit: Citroen Relay Campervan View Francophile1947's Profile View Profile   Reply to Francophile1947 Reply   Quote Francophile1947 Quote  
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Camp beds plus SIMS
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/go-outdoors-aluminium-camp-bed-p286579


-------------
Cheers
John


PersonMadamzsazsa
29/8/2014 at 9:43pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Outwell Nevada M Sunncamp Pathfinder View Madamzsazsa's Profile View Profile   Reply to Madamzsazsa Reply   Quote Madamzsazsa Quote  
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We have two sims each, two from aldi, two from Costco. They are actually surprisingly comfortable! We double ours up, one on top of the other. I'm in the process of making a cover for them to stop them slipping apart & the pillows sliding off the back. They were a cheap option that I'm glad we stuck with.


PersonPaul-ee
29/8/2014 at 10:50pm
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Just been googling sims, what a great idea. Looks like I'll be getting a couple of those. I'll be doing some of my camping on 2 wheels, so anything that reduces the volume of kit being carried would be very welcome. Thanks for the input.


Personjelboy53
30/8/2014 at 8:18am
 Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
 Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300 View jelboy53's Profile View Profile   Reply to jelboy53 Reply   Quote jelboy53 Quote  
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For non "Two wheel" camping consider carp fishing six legged campbeds fully padded...Adjustable legs and headrest Round mudfeet at base of legs....

Big and bulky to pack....But you get a level(On any ground) comfy nights sleep on them....

Jelboy.

-------------
Campers of the storm,Into this world are born

Some days are Diamonds...Some days are stone...


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PersonFrancais
30/8/2014 at 9:23am
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Hi Paul and welcome to UKS.

For the last 6 years we have been using 2 ThermaRest DreamTime XL's that fasten together with there embedded straps to make up a large double. And they certainly do what it says on the tin.

ThermaRest have since replaced the DT's with the Neo-Air Dream but still pretty much the same item.

To protect your SiG or ZiG we use 1mm thick Butyl Rubber Pond Liner for under the ZiG and under that goes a cheapy £2 Tarp, to prevent all the gunk sticking to the Rubber, the Tarp often gets binned after each camp if it is a real mess.

For inside the Tent we have fitted Tent carpets both for the living area and in the bedroom pods.

Our Tent is 6 years old now, and both the ZiG and bedroom pod SiG are still in as new pristine condition.


Personsteel
30/8/2014 at 10:08am
 Location: North London
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We didn't get on with SIMs, after trying a few different ones we went down the airbed route.

My current beds are these which have a 2 year guarantee. We use the fitted sheet method to hold 2 of them together.


-------------
all the gear and no idea


PersonLeon08
30/8/2014 at 1:47pm
 Location: North West
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We use a double airbed for ourselves and the kids use these Campbeds that we got for £15 each a few years ago in a Go Outdoors sale:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/folding-campbed-p152314

Ours are slightly different though and have the aluminium square legs.

The kids love them, comfy and gives them extra space under the bed for all their junk.... although they do take up lots of space and the weight adds up but they do come in handy if we go visiting and need more beds as we take these for the kids.



-------------
2016:

Leeds Festival


Person74giggles
30/8/2014 at 5:23pm
 Location: Suffolk
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We've got the Colman's Comfort airbed for family camping trips and the square legged campbed and roll mat for Beaver/Cub camping trips.

My daughter's got an Aldi SIM which she uses on Scout camps and says it ok for that but would rather use my campbed if she was allowed to take it with on Scout camps.

If you use SIMs or airbeds, most people recommend putting something like a silver foil blanket, picnic blanket or simular underneth to help reduce the air cold coming through.


Persondk168
30/8/2014 at 6:44pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
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Camp bed + SIM (7.5cm) also, and I protect the groundsheet by using metal jar lids.

DK

-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
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* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *


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Personpurplebean
30/8/2014 at 9:27pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Karsten 350 CA FW RA :) View purplebean's Profile View Profile   Reply to purplebean Reply   Quote purplebean Quote  
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I have just spent 24 nights in a tent on an Exped Megamat, the only problem I had was getting up in a morning as it was so comfortable.


PersonPaul-ee
31/8/2014 at 9:13pm
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Thanks for all the replies everyone, lots of helpful ideas. Looks like campbeds are fairly popular, and definitely an option if we are in the car, as are airbeds. I guess an airbed would go on the bike too, as long as I can sort out a compact air pump. I've seen some that run on batteries, claiming 1/2 hour run time per set of batts. Fine if the bed goes up in 5 mins. Manual pumps look quite bulky.
Thanks again all.


PersonCampernic
31/8/2014 at 11:09pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua View Campernic's Profile View Profile   Reply to Campernic Reply   Quote Campernic Quote  
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I have a self inflating mat that has a sleeping bag as part of it, it's called the 'Sleep In' bed from Decathlon. There are Airbed and SIM versions, and actually I have both but the airbed version wouldn't be as thick as you would expect of a normal airbed.

Which ever one I'm using, I can put it on top of my camp bed. If I'm travelling light I just use it on it's own. I have two teenagers so having a few options means everyone can choose their own preferred option.


PersonBobvfr
03/9/2014 at 6:50pm
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We camp on a bike so went for a pair of 3/4 length Multimat Camper Compact sims, small and light yet we found them comfortable.

Ok I admit we did go overboard on our sleeping bags so probably could have slept without anything else underneath, but I am happy with these sims as a good compromise between price/comfort/lightness.



Bob


PersonValk_scot
03/9/2014 at 10:05pm
 Location: Scotland.
 Outfit: Conway Camargue Lots of Vangos. . View Valk_scot's Profile View Profile   Reply to Valk_scot Reply   Quote Valk_scot Quote  
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I've used most things over the years, from the old rubberised red and blue airbeds through the Coleman Double Comfort (still the best airbed out there imho), camp beds (too low to get off them easily when you've got a dodgy back) to various mats and layers. Currently my favourite is my 30" wide Aldi SIM, it's about an inch thick and was as cheap as chips but I always get a decent night's sleep on it, dodgy discs notwithstanding. And as a bonus it takes about ten seconds to set up with a sleeping bag on top.



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