Camping pads VS. air mattresses

[Tickla]

Have any of you tent campers used those camp pads or those roll-up pads that have a little air in them? Last year we lugged 4 new double-high air mattresses with, and we had to pump them up each night we came back to our site--I'm sure our neighbors weren't too happy! So thought maybe pads would be better??

 

[clkelley]

Absolutely air mattresses!!! My hips are much happier since I started using air mattresses. Honestly, the pump is not as loud as it seems to your neighbors in the next campsite. Were they totally flat each night?? If so, then you had some bad air mattresses. I only need to repump mine every couple of days.

 

[Katie Dawn]

I know you're probably going to get lots of pro air mattress votes, so in the interest of sticking up for the little guy we love our sleeping pads!

We tried a friend's air mattress and every time one of us moved at night the other person was getting bounced around all over the place. And there's a good chance a better quality air mattress wouldn't do that...so attention all air mattress lovers; I'm not doggin' your mattress!

We bought 2 Therma-rest XL (32"Wx80"L) inflatable sleeping pads (they expand to 2" thick) and we love 'em! We push them next to each other and share blankets just like we would with an air mattress. Once they are deflated and rolled they probably take up about the same amount of cubic space as a deflated, folded mattress in your gear. The advantage, as you might imagine, is they are very light weight.

One tip if you decide to buy sleeping pads. The manufacturer recommends keeping the pads inflated between camping trips. If they are kept rolled up the foam inside the pad will want to stay "squished" even when you inflate it. I guess foam, like people, resists change.

Whichever way you go, I wish you a good night,
sleep tight
and don't let the bed bugs bite!

 

[scotiacat]

Just tossing this one out as an idea for you but...

How about going to a Wal-Mart, Lowe's or Home Depot and going to where they have their outdoor furniture. Purchase a chaise lounge pad that meets your thickness/softness preference and color. Then there is no more blowing it up before bed or during the night as they deflate. Plus it will help keep you higher off the cold ground in the late fall or early spring as well.

 

[Tickla]

Thanks to all the ideas! Yes, we DEFINATELY had BAD mattresses last time- they had almost no air in them at the end of the day. I agree about sharing a mattress- last time when someone moved, I would fall of my side! I will chek out both the pads & the lounge chair pads--THANK YOU!

 

[bumbershoot]

We've tried both. And it turned out we used the air mattress wrong...we didn't put anything insulating between it and the ground, or between us and the mattress. Which meant that the air in the mattress got COLD, and we got very very cold as well.

Until last year I thought that's just what air mattresses did, was freeze the sleeper. Then I realized (from here) that you should put something under the mattress, or at least put something under YOU (we had our sleeping bags zipped together but not zipped around us, with just a blanket under our bodies).


Last year we rented thermarest pads from REI (not ready for the $90x2 or 3 payment yet) and we were much warmer. I think we'd go for the more plush versions of the thermarests, vs what REI had to rent, but they were fine.