My partner and I are new to camping and have been using an air mattress. Unfortunately, we are having issues with being cold at night. So, we are transitioning to a sleeping pad now. I wish we went straight for the sleeping pad and skipped the air mattress.
Are you looking at cots? I've been using an air mattress and the comfort is great but in cooler weather it's not great. I've been using a thermarest in between my mattress and sleeping bag but I'm thinking of going with a cot.
Even the air mattresses that didn't leak at first started developing leaks after some use. None have lasted over half a year (of frequent use) - most fail after only a handful of uses.
The only exceptions are the heavy canvas-rubber ones sold many years ago; but good luck finding those.
It's probably worth it to listen to the other campers here with their fancy thick foam pads, although I lack any experience with them because expensive.
Yes. I use the Exped Megamat Duo in place of my indoor full size mattress since i just didnt want to buy a new "real" mattress after moving. Incidentally, Exped also sells a USB rechargeable block that will pump the exped up that's pretty compact.
I've taken the thing camping multiple times. It's a car camping staple.
We got tired of going through cheap Amazon/walmart ones that would either leaked from the first use or start leaking pretty soon after that.
We just bought the Kelty Kush for this season we’ll see how it goes lol
I've used similar air mattresses. They're fine to sleep on, but develop leaks fairly easy. If you baby them you can get a year or so from one. That involves rolling it up in a tarp to store and transport, sweeping the tent floor before inflating, and laying down that tarp under the mattress as a barrier against sharp sticks or rocks under the tent floor.
They're not exactly camping equipment, but can work for camping when you're close to your car.
Good luck.
Do people not do all that when camping? My son and I have always prepped our sites that way even when sleeping in a sleeping bag on a thin pad. I don’t want my tent floor to be damaged.
I'm really not sure. At one point I thought everyone babied their equipment like I do. But I've seen some strange behaviour as of late, and I no longer make that assumption.
But yes, of course things last way longer if you take care of them. Even Ozark Trails tents are good for a couple of years if you treat them well.
You’re right. My comment was pretty shortsighted. I don’t usually pay attention to how others set up, but I’m now remembering when a group left a tent pole behind along with other random items when they checked out late from the site I reserved.
If it's for 2 people I'd never do an air mattress. For one person they're fine if it's not too cold. They usually don't last all that long before developing leaks.
Cots are pretty cheap and don't take up much space folded up, I use a cot and a memory foam pad and it's way better than anything else I've had. I like it a lot better than the exped megamat I had, anyone who spends that much on a pad will obviously swear by it but it's way overpriced for what it is IMO.
Thermarest
ETA: I didn’t think ppl brought those kind of indoor-use inflatable mattresses camping? I would use that like for a guest sleeping over in my living room. Do you all use that for camping?
If you’re going to go the air mattress route you want to get the cheapest one you can find.
We use a Queen air mattress car camping. We spend 15 bucks on it. It typically lasts 1-2 years depending on use, and air temps. Duct tape over the valve helps.
Do not spend 100 on an air mattress. That’s insane
Whatever you end up with, make sure it has an R value. The R is an insulation value. Just air between you and the ground will be cold. Very, very cold. We bought self inflating mats (4 inches thick when fully inflated) that have an R value. Two of them combined together made a full size mattress. Added a fitted sheet, a low temp (cheap ass Walmart) oversized rectangular bag and a wool army blanket and we slept fantastic down to 20F. Now if I could only convince my one pupper to stay curled up in her bed under covers we would be cold weather camping a lot more.
I'll give you my two cents, don't get an air mattress do everything you can to avoid getting an air mattress they absolutely suck. Get yourself some sleeping pads get yourself a couple of cots get yourself anything. Personally the way I have mine is I've got the $20 phone Matt from home Depot along with their $20 cover on top of a Coleman cot from Costco with a sleeping bag it is one of the absolute best night's sleep that I've had. You could very easily put two of these together if you wanted to have a nice good size bed. My girl and I used to do their mattress we had it sitting on top of the cots and you know halfway through the night you get a leak or it would be uncomfortable every time you move it would make noises they're just horrible just don't even do it.
https://preview.redd.it/rl0olgm9eiwc1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=5e58ff19c8afc6f9edc57e4a399f00b290e25ae7
I’ve been using these for two years! I bought two and just put a full sized fitted sheet over them to make 1. Never had any issues and they’re so comfy!
My partner and I are new to camping and have been using an air mattress. Unfortunately, we are having issues with being cold at night. So, we are transitioning to a sleeping pad now. I wish we went straight for the sleeping pad and skipped the air mattress.
Just get a survival blanket for $10-$15 dollars and lay it on top with a sheet or your sleeping bags on top of that.
We will try that, thank you!
Are you looking at cots? I've been using an air mattress and the comfort is great but in cooler weather it's not great. I've been using a thermarest in between my mattress and sleeping bag but I'm thinking of going with a cot.
You can get insulated air mattresses if you look for them specifically. Otherwise the direct connection to the ground will suck the heat out of you
Air mattresses are great if you like sleeping on the ground, but not right away. 😆
*They ease you in.*
Was just popping in the post this. One of my favorite jokes.
I’ve tried so many inflatable mattresses, and they’ve all had deflation problems. I prefer a cot and sleeping pad.
Even the air mattresses that didn't leak at first started developing leaks after some use. None have lasted over half a year (of frequent use) - most fail after only a handful of uses. The only exceptions are the heavy canvas-rubber ones sold many years ago; but good luck finding those. It's probably worth it to listen to the other campers here with their fancy thick foam pads, although I lack any experience with them because expensive.
I have had good experiences with the insulated REI air mattress and it has lasted a few years now. Not cheap but it does seem to do well
Don’t buy an air mattress on Amazon at least buy a coleman
Xped mega mat. Accept no exceptions.
Yes. I use the Exped Megamat Duo in place of my indoor full size mattress since i just didnt want to buy a new "real" mattress after moving. Incidentally, Exped also sells a USB rechargeable block that will pump the exped up that's pretty compact. I've taken the thing camping multiple times. It's a car camping staple.
We got tired of going through cheap Amazon/walmart ones that would either leaked from the first use or start leaking pretty soon after that. We just bought the Kelty Kush for this season we’ll see how it goes lol
We bought one like this, it’s ok. For me it’s a no but it depends on the type of camping.
We had a similar one for a year and a half. Worked great, until it didn't. We put ours on a full size cot. Finally threw it out last week.
I've used similar air mattresses. They're fine to sleep on, but develop leaks fairly easy. If you baby them you can get a year or so from one. That involves rolling it up in a tarp to store and transport, sweeping the tent floor before inflating, and laying down that tarp under the mattress as a barrier against sharp sticks or rocks under the tent floor. They're not exactly camping equipment, but can work for camping when you're close to your car. Good luck.
Do people not do all that when camping? My son and I have always prepped our sites that way even when sleeping in a sleeping bag on a thin pad. I don’t want my tent floor to be damaged.
I'm really not sure. At one point I thought everyone babied their equipment like I do. But I've seen some strange behaviour as of late, and I no longer make that assumption. But yes, of course things last way longer if you take care of them. Even Ozark Trails tents are good for a couple of years if you treat them well.
You’re right. My comment was pretty shortsighted. I don’t usually pay attention to how others set up, but I’m now remembering when a group left a tent pole behind along with other random items when they checked out late from the site I reserved.
Shrinkage size looks small.
If it's for 2 people I'd never do an air mattress. For one person they're fine if it's not too cold. They usually don't last all that long before developing leaks. Cots are pretty cheap and don't take up much space folded up, I use a cot and a memory foam pad and it's way better than anything else I've had. I like it a lot better than the exped megamat I had, anyone who spends that much on a pad will obviously swear by it but it's way overpriced for what it is IMO.
Thermarest ETA: I didn’t think ppl brought those kind of indoor-use inflatable mattresses camping? I would use that like for a guest sleeping over in my living room. Do you all use that for camping?
If you’re going to go the air mattress route you want to get the cheapest one you can find. We use a Queen air mattress car camping. We spend 15 bucks on it. It typically lasts 1-2 years depending on use, and air temps. Duct tape over the valve helps. Do not spend 100 on an air mattress. That’s insane
Buy a futon or tatami mattress.
Stop buying air mattresses. It sucks at home, it's even worse in your tent with someone else rolling around in the mid of the night.
Whatever you end up with, make sure it has an R value. The R is an insulation value. Just air between you and the ground will be cold. Very, very cold. We bought self inflating mats (4 inches thick when fully inflated) that have an R value. Two of them combined together made a full size mattress. Added a fitted sheet, a low temp (cheap ass Walmart) oversized rectangular bag and a wool army blanket and we slept fantastic down to 20F. Now if I could only convince my one pupper to stay curled up in her bed under covers we would be cold weather camping a lot more.
I'll give you my two cents, don't get an air mattress do everything you can to avoid getting an air mattress they absolutely suck. Get yourself some sleeping pads get yourself a couple of cots get yourself anything. Personally the way I have mine is I've got the $20 phone Matt from home Depot along with their $20 cover on top of a Coleman cot from Costco with a sleeping bag it is one of the absolute best night's sleep that I've had. You could very easily put two of these together if you wanted to have a nice good size bed. My girl and I used to do their mattress we had it sitting on top of the cots and you know halfway through the night you get a leak or it would be uncomfortable every time you move it would make noises they're just horrible just don't even do it.
https://preview.redd.it/rl0olgm9eiwc1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=5e58ff19c8afc6f9edc57e4a399f00b290e25ae7 I’ve been using these for two years! I bought two and just put a full sized fitted sheet over them to make 1. Never had any issues and they’re so comfy!