Blow up mattress or self inflating mat?

[Thearg]

I normally use one of them cheapie blow up mattresses but I am going shopping tomorrow and I might get one of those self inflating mats,so whats the most comfortable out of the two?

Any recommendations?

Ta!

[coma girl]

I'd go with the mattress personally unless you were planning on buying one of the really expensive self-inflating mats.

[dan05delaney]

I normally use one of them cheapie blow up mattresses but I am going shopping tomorrow and I might get one of those self inflating mats,so whats the most comfortable out of the two?

Any recommendations?

Ta!

[AnnaGrant]

I love my self inflating mattress, but it is an upgrade from the nasty bit of foam mat I had before. Mine is only a cheapo from Go Outdoors, sorry I seem to name check them a lot but we have a shop very nearby.

[Thearg]

I usually use a self inflating mat, i've had no problems with it but I am used to camping, it saves a lot of space,but I'm thinking of taking an air mattress as i personally find them a bit more comfortable

[dan05delaney]

Thanks Dan,comfort is paramount as I'm getting older,I find the blow ups a bit of a pain though.

Anna,that's where I'm going tomorrow.

[Thearg]

Could just be worth comparing the two at Go outdoors when you go, the mats are only about an inch deep, not too bad if you have 2 on top of each other but can still be a bit too firm...

have you not thought about getting a camp bed?

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-4-leg-camping-bed-p143629

this one is only 20 cm off the ground and may be a good alternative

Edited April 25, 2013 by Thearg

[guypjfreak]

get yourself a blow up nowadays your sure to find some one with a battery powerd pump

i brought a big double a few years back didnt look at it till we were at the festi and found it was 24 volt ha ha SO i went up to the ice cream van man that ive got to over about 10 years of going to glasto and asked him if i could use his jenny .....pumped it up and wondered back to tent with wot looked like a double bed it was bloody big lol

ahh glasto you gotta love it

Edited April 25, 2013 by guypjfreak

[AnnaGrant]

They usually have a few campbeds and mattresses set up in the tents in the showroom.

I'm fairly sure my self inflating mattress is the thinner one, about £12.99. Didn't want the weight of the heavier one. I know there are some super-expensive mattresses but I had to draw a line somewhere.

[Thearg]

You didn't mention NFR NFC Guy when I mentioned wellies,Ha Ha!,your slacking mate

Keep up the good work.

[jakenicolaides]

my mate took a blow up mattress in 2010 and he found his tent unbearably hot, especially at night. Most of the heat lost from the human body at night when sleeping is lost into the ground. Something to bear in mind

[Thearg]

They usually have a few campbeds and mattresses set up in the tents in the showroom.

I'm fairly sure my self inflating mattress is the thinner one, about £12.99. Didn't want the weight of the heavier one. I know there are some super-expensive mattresses but I had to draw a line somewhere.

[Mark E. Spliff]

As Tony Blair would say, there is a third way... The Thermarest NeoAir range (as well as similar offerings from other brands) are blow-up mattresses that pack down to a fraction of the size of a self-inflating mattress. I've got one and I can highly recommend it. They're a lot thinner than a normal air-bed, but by having lots of ribbed compartments, they manage to avoid your shoulders/hips etc touching the floor.

Personally, I use a dirty great big blow-up mattress, duvet and pillows, but that's cos I can drive my car very close to our workers' campsite. When I need to travel light, it's the NeoAir every time.

Edited April 25, 2013 by Mark E. Spliff

[AnnaGrant]

my mate took a blow up mattress in 2010 and he found his tent unbearably hot, especially at night. Most of the heat lost from the human body at night when sleeping is lost into the ground. Something to bear in mind

[Kyelo]

Blow ups are rubbish if you ask me, I prefer my self inflating mat every time. Best thing I've bought for festivals.

This is mine, by vango...

[worthyraver]

As Tony Blair would say, there is a third way... The Thermarest NeoAir range (as well as similar offerings from other brands) are blow-up mattresses that pack down to a fraction of the size of a self-inflating mattress. I've got one and I can highly recommend it. They're a lot thinner than a normal air-bed, but by having lots of ribbed compartments, they manage to avoid your shoulders/hips etc touching the floor.

Personally, I use a dirty great big blow-up mattress, duvet and pillows, but that's cos I can drive my car very close to our workers' campsite. When I need to travel light, it's the NeoAir every time.

[ktj_sbs]

I was considering one of these:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-4-leg-camping-bed-p143629

[Kyelo]

I was considering one of these:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-4-leg-camping-bed-p143629

[cham08]

We've got self inflating ones that inflate to about 10cm. They are not the smallest when packed down though. But we went for the bigger ones as with the exception of Glasto when we camp, the car is not far away.

Used to have blow up matresses but they always seemed to get a puncture - 1 or 2 camping trips out of them at most.

At glasto the grass on the fields is normally fairly thick so adds another layer of comfort.

[Thearg]

Just got back and I'm not really that impressed with the mats or the beds,think I'll stick to the blow ups.

Had a look at the Coleman extreme coolbox,good size,just about right but the wheels are shit,cant see them lasting at all but I will still buy one.

[Chimps in Balaclavas]

Self inflating mattress all the way, too much hassle with the blow up ones and I find they aren't as comfortable.

Edited April 26, 2013 by DAVA

[Arkady]

Blow ups are rubbish if you ask me, I prefer my self inflating mat every time. Best thing I've bought for festivals.

This is mine, by vango...

[Phil-itfc]

Could just be worth comparing the two at Go outdoors when you go, the mats are only about an inch deep, not too bad if you have 2 on top of each other but can still be a bit too firm...

have you not thought about getting a camp bed?

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-4-leg-camping-bed-p143629

this one is only 20 cm off the ground and may be a good alternative

[Comfy Bean]

I got a self inflating mat this week at Halfords £14 in the sale ( normally £21 ). Seems pretty good. Only tried it on the kitchen floor mind.

[a williams field pilgrim]

Alpkit are very good, gear is well tested and the mats cheaper than thermarest equivalent, also good warranties & aftercare from a small company

https://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats