Cold air beds

[Boris]

Well I've just spent another cold night on an airbed and it was pretty miserable. I never used to have a problem with cold but since I bought my down bag which works brilliantly with my thermarest it is just too cold to be comfy on the airbed. I only get cold patches where I touch the bed so whichever side I'm lying on gets cold and the rest of me is warm and I reckon the problem is the down bag.
Before the down bag I used synthetic bags and the missus still does and she was toasty so I think it must be the down squashes more than the synthetic is goes super thin where I am lying on it and all the insulation just goes. This down bag is 4 season and I have been in much colder nights with the thermarest without feeling cold. I'll take my "colder" synthetic bag next time and see if that helps.

Has anyone else noticed problems with airbeds and down bags?

[winxp-master]

I use an airbed and down bag and was not cold at the national in Ullapool. Maybe try putting the Thermarest on top of the airbed

[steveR]

I'll take odds that it is the airbed. Put a fleece blanket on the top of the bed or a foil blanket to isnulate yourself from the cold air in the bed. If I could afford or justify it, I would love to get an Exped down or synthetic mattress, they are supposed to be wunnerful!

[trophydave]

You could try a roll mat under the airbed.I use one under my cheapo self inflating matress in the winter,seems to work well.They are a bit bulky on the bike though.

[Boris]

Well I had another two nights away last weekend and took the thermarest and left the airbed at home and I was toasty. I'm sure they are fine when it's summertime but on colder nights an airbed and down bag just don't work for me.

[davsato]

i have used a space blanket between the bag and bed before, it was warmer and took up no room but crinkled every time i moved, waking me up! the answer for me was a new bag. i tried to go all year with one 3 season(+20/+10 comfort rating) which is fine for half the year, but then i got a nice thick winter 3 season(+10/-10 comfort rating) . packs much larger but boy the extra all over warm was worth it, the space blanket only keeps your underneath warm.

[davsato]

Somehow i don't think my bed would be easily carried on a bike

youd be surprised what you can fit on a bike......