Air matress vs cot

[dianemb]

Not camping at Disney but going for 9 days to Maine with the boy scouts. There are 26 people going in 4 or 5 vans with trailers to tow luggage and tents. Since I will only be allowed to bring a limited amount of things I want them to count. We probably won't have electricity so pumping a bed will require work. What's the best suggestion you can give. By the way I weight about 110 lbs and was in a car accident in January and broke my pelvis in 4 places. I have no problem walking/hiking just afraid sllepping on the grpund will hurt after a few days.

THANKS!!!!!

 

[clkelley]

Even without electricity, it is still possible to use an air mattress. There are many battery operated pumps for air mattresses and also rechargeable pumps.

I use a rechargeable pump. I charge it really well before I leave on Scouting camping trips and it very easily pumps up and deflates 3 air mattresses without any signs of losing power.

 

[dianemb]

I did investigate the rechargable ones and they are only guarenteed to inflate 3 times on a single charge and we will be making 5 stops along the way at national parks without access to electricity.THANKS

 

[va32h]

I have a pump that runs on C batteries - look in the inflatable pool section of Walmart, etc.

Air mattresses are more comfortable than cots, but the thing I like about cots is that you can store stuff underneath them while you camp, which makes the tent neater, etc.

 

[tw1nsmom]

They have pumps that plug into a cars cigarette lighter. Check out LLbean. They have air mattresses, cots and mats that inflate themselves.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I have two pumps...one rechargeable, one that runs on batteries. I had no problem inflating AND Deflating two mattresses plus various flotation devices on my last camping trip using primarily the battery powered one.

I'd get a re-chargeable plus an adaptor so you can charge it while driving...or run other electric devices. They aren't that expensive and some cars come with a plug built in.

Alternatively bring extra batteries making sure they can be used in other devices like a flash light or lantern.

 

[donac]

I would go with the air matress. The cot could be hard to sleep on. I have trouble sleeping on a cot because my knee hangs over the side because of the way I sleep.. It also doesn't give you good back support so with the air matress and the ground you should have better support.