Tent Camping and my aching back! Update: We bought it!

[Katie Dawn]

Hello fellow Campers!
DH, DD (6 years old,) & I will be going on our first camping trip since DD was born. DH and I used to sleep on camping pads that inflate maybe 1", but our backs are 6 years older now and I don't think the camping pads are going to cut it. Do you recommend a cot? Do you recommend an air mattress? Especially if you think an air mattress is the way to go, do you have a particular one you like?

Neither of us are small people, and DH is 6' 3", so there's that to consider also. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Westcoastwild]

There are these foam self inflating car camping pads at REI. They're like 3 inches thick and better than most hotel beds. Wider than most camping pads. They come in long and extra long and your hubby should be able to use the extra long.

I can't do traditional camp pads or cots- cots may even be worse. I'm not a small person either and I can always feel the edges. And air mattresses are harder to sleep on for me. Don't know why.

 

[Katie Dawn]

There are these foam self inflating car camping pads at REI. They're like 3 inches thick and better than most hotel beds. Wider than most camping pads. They come in long and extra long and your hubby should be able to use the extra long.

I can't do traditional camp pads or cots- cots may even be worse. I'm not a small person either and I can always feel the edges. And air mattresses are harder to sleep on for me. Don't know why.

Oooooo.... you mean something like this?
https://www.rei.com/product/896043/therm-a-rest-mondoking-3d-camp-mattress

 

[KalamityJane]

I have the Exped Megamats. They are AMAZING.
https://www.rei.com/product/113719/exped-megamat-10-sleeping-pad

REI has something similar - this one - https://www.rei.com/product/870757/rei-co-op-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-sleeping-pad

I got our Megamats at an REI Garage Sale for under $100 each

 

[Vijoge]

We just take a queen size mattress with us and sleep on that. I'm old, and it works-can't do the sleeping bag on the ground any more, and I never could sleep on an air mattress.

 

[KalamityJane]

We just take a queen size mattress with us and sleep on that. I'm old, and it works-can't do the sleeping bag on the ground any more, and I never could sleep on an air mattress.

I had been taking our memory foam mattress topper with us, which worked ok. I really like the hybrid air/foam mats because they are smaller and you don't get that ship in a sea feeling like you do on an air mattress (I can't do them either).

 

[peg110]

Cots can have an added advantage (depending on the season) of allowing air flow underneath you as well. In the warmer weather, a cot with air blowing over you and under you would be "Cooler" then a mattress alone (which often times "Insulates" you and reflects body heat)

 

[Katie Dawn]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone! GREAT info!

I had been taking our memory foam mattress topper with us, which worked ok. I really like the hybrid air/foam mats because they are smaller and you don't get that ship in a sea feeling like you do on an air mattress (I can't do them either).

Cool! Those look alot like the item I linked to right before your post. Are they basically the same thing?

We just take a queen size mattress with us and sleep on that. I'm old, and it works-can't do the sleeping bag on the ground any more, and I never could sleep on an air mattress.

Wow! Now that's dedication to a good night's sleep! I think by the time I got the mattress in and out of my vehicle and set up I'd be like "we're never going camping again!" Haha!

I had been taking our memory foam mattress topper with us, which worked ok. I really like the hybrid air/foam mats because they are smaller and you don't get that ship in a sea feeling like you do on an air mattress (I can't do them either).

I'll have to see if I can find something like what you're talking about. I've never heard of that before!

 

[KalamityJane]

The hybrid air/foam mats are the ones mentioned above, the REI Camp Bed 3.5, Exped Megamat, etc. Basically it is foam core but air mattress outside. The mostly self inflate but since they have the foam in the middle, it helps iwth the air mattress feeling a lot.

 

[Vijoge]

Wow! Now that's dedication to a good night's sleep! I think by the time I got the mattress in and out of my vehicle and set up I'd be like "we're never going camping again!" Haha!

Nothing to set up. Just plop it on the tent floor and put a sheet on it. We used to have a queen double height air bed-this is much easier and it doesn't go flat during the night.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Nothing to set up. Just plop it on the tent floor and put a sheet on it. We used to have a queen double height air bed-this is much easier and it doesn't go flat during the night.

Yeah, set up wasn't exactly the right word. I'm imagining how much work it is to pull/carry a Queen mattress into our house and into our bedroom... then I'm imagining doing it at a campground. That's what you're talking about right? An honest to goodness mattress like you have in your bedroom? If so, you are way stronger than me Vijoge!

 

[Westcoastwild]

The hybrid air/foam mats are the ones mentioned above, the REI Camp Bed 3.5, Exped Megamat, etc. Basically it is foam core but air mattress outside. The mostly self inflate but since they have the foam in the middle, it helps iwth the air mattress feeling a lot.

Yes the air prevents the sinking feel of straight foam and the foam prevents the feel of the air mattress- makes it more comfortable. I have the REI camp bed- there are a few different ones, I've got the thickest. I did consider exped but I've never seen it on sale that cheap!

The real mattress is a genius idea but I've never had a vehicle large enough to bring that(although perhaps I'd be a bit worried about water leaking into your tent during summer- my tent is pretty water proof but FL rain is pretty serious, and that mattress is never gonna dry out.)

 

[Vijoge]

Yeah, set up wasn't exactly the right word. I'm imagining how much work it is to pull/carry a Queen mattress into our house and into our bedroom... then I'm imagining doing it at a campground. That's what you're talking about right? An honest to goodness mattress like you have in your bedroom? If so, you are way stronger than me Vijoge!

Yes, it's a regular queen mattress. My husband is pretty strong, I guess. He moves it around with no problem.

 

[Vijoge]

The real mattress is a genius idea but I've never had a vehicle large enough to bring that(although perhaps I'd be a bit worried about water leaking into your tent during summer- my tent is pretty water proof but FL rain is pretty serious, and that mattress is never gonna dry out.)

We have a mini van. As far as water, we've only had our tent leak once, during a horrendous thunderstorm. The whole thing wasn't flooded, though, and we were able to move the mattress and it didn't get wet. We have an 8 person Coleman Insta-tent.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Yes, it's a regular queen mattress. My husband is pretty strong, I guess. He moves it around with no problem.

So basically what we have learned here is that your husband is very strong but more importantly I'm pretty sure you're sleeping more comfortably while camping than any of the rest of us!

 

[elaine amj]

I had been taking our memory foam mattress topper with us, which worked ok. I really like the hybrid air/foam mats because they are smaller and you don't get that ship in a sea feeling like you do on an air mattress (I can't do them either).

I thought I was the only crazy person around. I did this for a few years and loved it. Eventually, I upgraded to a foldable twin mattress from Kmart (Costco sells them too) for something like $50. It's about 3.5 inches thick and takes up less space than rolling up my topper used to. I LOVE it even though my friends laugh at us. I have never cared for air mattresses although my kids like them just fine. It's pretty big, but works from a price/comfort perspective.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Yes the air prevents the sinking feel of straight foam and the foam prevents the feel of the air mattress- makes it more comfortable. I have the REI camp bed- there are a few different ones, I've got the thickest. I did consider exped but I've never seen it on sale that cheap!

The real mattress is a genius idea but I've never had a vehicle large enough to bring that(although perhaps I'd be a bit worried about water leaking into your tent during summer- my tent is pretty water proof but FL rain is pretty serious, and that mattress is never gonna dry out.)

Ok, so reading this makes me realize that what we had been using IS one of these, just a thinner version. It has foam inside, you just screw open the cap and let it air up (though we would often blow a little air in it if it didn't seem to fill up all the way.) The difference seems to be that the ones we have expand to 1" maybe 2 or 2.5", but the ones I'm looking at now are 4" which would definitely make a big difference!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

We have old 1" camp mattresses from about 10 years ago, and we finally splurged on new ones (well, the kids get the old ones...) this year. I sort of went NUTS on trying out every camp mattress out there.

The Exped Mega Mats and the Thermorest NeoAir Dream were the most comfortable ones I tried, but we also want to use them for canoe camping, and they're as big as a tent when packed, so we ruled them out. My second choice is the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus mat, which is two sided - you can blow up the bottom nice and firm, and the top squishy, so it's like a comfy pillow top. That one is mine. My next fave is the Thermorest NeoAir Camper, which is 3 inches thick and nice and cushy. I grabbed that one for my girlfriend, figuring she'd prefer that, but she and my husband both ended up preferring the Klymit Static V. Anyway, so now we have two old-style thermarest 1" mats, a Sea to Summit Comfort Plus, and two Klymit Static Vs, for the five of us. Nothing like redundancy.

Anyway, the air mats with the foam toppers are SUPER COMFY. Like, as comfy as our memory foam mattress at home. But they're also expensive and HUGE. If you're looking for smaller and more packable, there are lots of really comfy air options.

 

[bama_ed]

I use a cot when I camp at times (not at the Fort) but when I backpack I use a Thermarest Base Camp which is a dream to sleep on if one has to be on the ground. It's a little heavier but I have moved up from the folding bubble wrap type to the traditional Thermarest and now I carry the Base Camp because it gives me a good night's sleep when I puff that baby up a little bit.

There are fans here of different types (air mattresses, cots, pads, etc.) and it depends on how much space things take up, the cost, and personal preference. So find what works for you.

Bama Ed

 

[KalamityJane]

The Megamats are pretty long rolled in their bag. We are plane camping, and they exceed the linear inches BUT I found out if you unroll them, fold them in half widthwise and then roll them up, they aren't horribly big any more. Still squat but not as ridiculous. I can get the exact measurements if you want. I'm intrigued by the Sea to Summit I will need to look that up!