Air Mattress

[Gerard & Sandra]

After 3 weeks last year doing Ocean Road Trip we have tried a few different air mattresses (varying price tags) without a great deal of success. Any suggestions please taking into consideration need to keep size down to pack in a trailer.
Regards
GB

[cravenhaven]

I've been looking at the exped range. They seem to have great reviews, though they are quite expensive.

[StinkyPete]

Any air mattress is going to be a compromise between competing factors.    Conventional blow-up air mattresses are compact when deflated, but tend to allow the cold to seep up from underneath.  I hate cold!     For many years I have used a nice thick self inflation, which are filled with low density foam which insulates from the cold really well, but they are somewhat bulky when deflated and packed away.   However I have been prepared to put up with the excess bulk for the warmth and convenience of a self inflator.    I highly recommend the Roman Moon Mat Super Deluxe. but it is bulky.      See  http://www.discountcamping.com.au/index.php?page=products&pageid=beds&pagesubid=sim8cm

[alans1100]

We have one the Coleman ones which can either be plugged in for it's built in pump or used with an external pump which we have. The higher bed is  easier for Heather  than a standard air bed. It's only been used twice with the most recent at our Robe RTE and somehow we manage to repack it in the bag it came in.  I use a basic queen size air bed when going by myself. Both fit in our trailer ok. With the Esky up front on the draw bar I put the larger air bed at the back of the trailer.

[alans1100]

    Conventional blow-up air mattresses are compact when deflated, but tend to allow the cold to seep up from underneath.  I hate cold!

I noticed the cold as well but using a sleeping bag on top of the mattress can stop that getting to you. Try sleeping on the air bed inside your sleeping bag if you have one.

[ST2UP]

Here is some info that mentions our camp mats http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=9925.0

The exped range as Alan mentioned is brilliant but you will pay for the privilege.......but if it's compact, warmth and comfort you seek 

Warmth is the killer of Hiking mats.....as soon as you add your own air by inflating by mouth you add moisture to the inside of the mat that increases the cold.....the internal pump or the bellows bag from Exped is brilliant.

Another alternative worth considering for couples camping is the Black Wolf mega deluxe mat, it has a lifetime warranty, exceptional R value and its on special at the moment at Snowys Outdoors......they roll to 66x24 cm. but will take a a little time to fully inflate 





 

[Gadget]

A blanket between your air mattress and sleeping bag can help.

I also don't like cold kidneys, so I went with a self inflator again.

I've recently purchased a Wanderer king single self inflator from BCF which is 12 cm thick. It is a bit bulky but I was able to pack it down to almost the size it is in the store. The thing I like about it, is that it also has 4 bungs for rapid inflation and deflation. I paid $112.00 on sale.

This one is almost as comfortable as my bed at home which has 10 cm of memory foam built in to the top.



http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Wanderer-King-Single-4x4-Mat.aspx?pid=381384&menuFrom=571563#Recommendations

This is my second self inflator I've used; the last ones were bought over 20 years ago. The foam finally gave out.

[tj189]

Must support the exped range, been unsing one for a while now and it is excellent.  Yes they are expensive but keep shopping for one and you may pick one up on special somewhere.

[Down Under]

There are some good light weight mats around now.  I'm in the market for an upgrade myself.  It was coming down to a choice between Exped and the Nemo Cosmo range but I'm impressed with Sea to Summits latest Comfort Plus pads.  They are getting very good reviews even though they are expensive.  As I get older I'd rather fork out a bit extra for a good nights sleep!

I like the way the Comfort Plus pad is constructed.  It has two separate layers, so if one layer deflates due to a puncture you at least have some redundancy rather then sleeping the rest of the night out on cold hard ground.