Cold air beds

[steveR]

As we all know, air beds do give a comfy nights sleep, BUT they do tend to get cold. The other advantage is they can be had for a fiver and another fiver for a pump, so in all, cheap as chips. I am too old and grumpy to use sleep mats again, unless I have 2 or 3 in a pile!!

So, how can a nights sleep be improved with one of these? I have used a fleece under me which helps a lot, but a good fleece blanket is bulky and weighs, neither good on a bike trip.

I believe a foil survival blanket will help?? Where would the best place to have it, under the sleeping bag itself, or under the airbed on the ground?? I have tried a foam sleep mat which helps, but is again, more bulk. Any other ideas?

I know a yummy Exped Down is the dogs wottsits, but the cost my dears, the cost! The carpet that I have seen mentioned will I suspect have the same issue of bulk??

In case you were wondering, I am looking at 5-6 nights camping en route and back from N.Italy in a fortnight!

[tankosl]

Hi Steve,
I know what you mean about cold airbeds.....plus I seem to have this nasty habit of waking up on the floor anyway ......I suppose the survival blanket should work if you can keep it in place.
I've swopped to a self inflating mat which I find great and easy to use, just unroll, a couple of quick blows to top it up and job done. Mine's made by Highlander and was a sensible price, the trouble with these things are you don't know what works without trying it!!!

[steveR]

Hi Steve,
I know what you mean about cold airbeds.....plus I seem to have this nasty habit of waking up on the floor anyway ......I suppose the survival blanket should work if you can keep it in place.
I've swopped to a self inflating mat which I find great and easy to use, just unroll, a couple of quick blows to top it up and job done. Mine's made by Highlander and was a sensible price, the trouble with these things are you don't know what works without trying it!!!

I have used the self-inflate beds too, but these are too thin for my old bones! I have even used 2, one on top of the other.. I love the idea behind the self inflaters mind.

[tankosl]

Steve,

Another idea.......I see Go-Outdoors have air bed covers for sale???

I don't know what they're like, but it's something else to think about

[caster]

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

[DaveS]

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

Hmm yes good point!

[mustbemad]

hiya,

try puttting old newspaper underneath, it does work to some degree. and can be thrown away on departure, I have used this method it is ok, but being a camping princess i put yoga mats underneath. oh yeah and take two cars to accomodate my needs lol. bearlake six tent, carpet, chairs, blankets, kitchen, along with many other comforts.

[tankosl]

Hi,

Just returned from a week in Devon.....

The Bear lake 4 performed well in various weathers and the self inflating mattress was great, but something I thought about was that with a footprint, full groundsheet and a sleeping pod there were 3 layers under my mat anyway!!!!!

That could have a bearing on comfort...

[winxp-master]

I can't stand mats, ive tried galert 3/4 and the expensive thermarest and hated both. They don't provide a massive degree of comfort and basically just stop the cold floor and thats it, and thats if you can stay on the damned things. Everytime i woke up the mat was at one end of the tent and me the other!

I switched to a double airbed and it's heaven, ive heard all the ramblings of them being cold but i have yet to suffer being cold using one. That being said, i have been in contact with 2gocamping (on here) as his royce thermal carpets are supposed to be good and im having one made to fit under the airbed (just in case)

must chase that up actually, lol...

[steveR]

Well, I managed OK on the trip with my airbed A tad cool in the higher regions above 1700m, but that is to be expected, however the ground was still warm from the day when we pitched camp so the foil trick was not yet tried out. I did find the fleece bag inside a 2 season cheapie (envelope bags) was a wonderful mix as it allowed me to adjust for any temp thoughout the night. 8 quid in Wilkinsons well spent!!