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Subject Topic: Air mat/SIM - difference please? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonBinzi
29/8/2018 at 10:55pm
 Location: Wales
 Outfit: Cabanon Andorra View Binzi's Profile View Profile   Reply to Binzi Reply   Quote Binzi Quote  
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Hi - Is there a difference between an air mat and a SIM? Please excuse my ignorance!
Thanks

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Claire


PersonPickled Onion
29/8/2018 at 11:34pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
 Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H View Pickled Onion's Profile View Profile   Reply to Pickled Onion Reply   Quote Pickled Onion Quote  
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Hi Claire, from what I can see the air mat is an air only bed utilising long thin ribs conjoined to form a mat, air is blown in to inflate them, the SIM has cellular foam inside it that expands drawing most of the air into the cavity for you, then it's finally topped up to the desired pressure.

Dave.

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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.


PersonFrazzle-
03/9/2018 at 1:30pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Outwell Montana 6P tent View Frazzle-'s Profile View Profile   Reply to Frazzle- Reply   Quote Frazzle- Quote  
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An air mat can be folded into a rectangle and does not have to be rolled. Have been looking at SIMs but they take up a bit more space than a double air bed as they can only be rolled up (or left fully up & flat).


Personfoggers
03/9/2018 at 1:34pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Cabanon Guadeloupe Zephyros3 View foggers's Profile View Profile   Reply to foggers Reply   Quote foggers Quote  
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SIMs are more bulky but generally offer superb insulation because they contain foam. They were originally invented for adventurous types who dangle off mountains and sleep on snow and ice. Any bed or mat that contains air is going to be much colder because the air will conduct your body heat away and also creating damp where your natural body moisture condenses on the cold mat. So you end up needing more layers under you.

Having worked this out I prefer a SIM because I don't have to pack as much bedding and there are far fewer problems with condensation too.


PersonEwen c
03/9/2018 at 3:27pm
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
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I use air mats that have down or artificial insulation in them. They pack up smaller than a sim, lighter than a sim and have the same R Values. The downside is they offer next to no insulation if punctured. A deflated sim will still insulate.

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