Member - Cocka replied:

My wife likes the comfort of what we have used for a few years. It cost about $44 at the time. Its a double, blow up and has a sort of velure finish on one side and blows to about 6" thick, very comfy. It gets the ocassional pin hole which she manages to patch up. But we use an electric pump with rotary blower (bit like a hair dryer) from the cig socket and that's really quick. The pump will last a lifetime but after 5 years I reacon we should replace the old matress with a newy. Don't think they'l still be 44 bucks though.

Member - Geoff replied:

Congratulations on taking a weekend off together. We have a self inflating mattress (Blackwolf brand) it is absolutlely comfortable. We are very fussy with the comfort of our beds and feel this is the best investment we have made. Cannot remember what the price was when we bought it, but it is as comfortable today as it was the day we bought it 3-4 years ago. Another cheap way of comfort, if you have the room in your vehicle is the firm foam rubber mattress about 3-4" thick. You may buy the foam rubber and cover it yourself. A little food for thought anyway.

Member - Terry replied:

We have used both pump up and self inflating mattresses over the past 5 years and I would never go back to a pump up. To many leaks, especially when you wake up in the morning with a semi deflated mattress.Self inflating at least already have foam in them and are simple to inflate.I still use a jackeroo self inflating, however the wife uses what is known as a 4wd self inflator, approx.100mm thick, bigger to roll and store . It is however very comfortable, if you look after the jackeroo brand you will get good use out of it.

Member - Colin replied:

Do a Forum search using "self inflating bed" I have used air beds and they are cold and leak. Try a self inflating mattress, there are a lot to choose from but are not cheap. You dont generally get a good nights sleep on a cheap bed. Next to my frig, the mattress is probably the best bit of camp gear I have bought! Ours is a Great Outdoors brand and is double bed size - just fits across the inside of the Forester but worth it.Colin - Subaru Forester

Phil P replied:

You can buy a Double Air Mattress from Ray's Tent City for Under $30, size is 137 * 185 * 13cm. Cheap Air Pump (12V Cig Lighter) from Supacheap for around $15. The main advantage of an Air mattress is that it takes hardly any space in the car !

Robert replied:

Air mattresses are comfortable but as Colin has mentioned they are very cold to sleep on. We go camping in spring and autumn and found it impossible to keep warm whilst sleeping on the air mattress. Ours did deflate a little but it wasn't enough to be a problem.
I would go with the foam option.

Member - Rohan K replied:

Just one word of advice. No matter what you choose, make absolutely certain it is long enough! You need a mattress at least 20cm longer than you are. Trust me!Be good, or be quick. Rohan

Savvas replied:

Hi 4wdnovice,

We bought 4 king-single sized "Outdoor Connection" air mattresses for the family from www.budgetcamping.com.au a couple of years ago. They are 99 by 198cm and were about $35ish each at the time.

Budget Camping are out at Minchinbury in Sydney's west.

They haven't punctured yet and are really quite comfortable. I actually think the air mattress is more comfortable than on our pillow top queen size bed at home.

They can get cold but you can get over that, as others have said, by insulating underneath it. We use rubber backed picnic rugs to do that. If it's still cool, add a blanket or something between you and the mattress.

We chose the king singles so as each person has their own mattress and they don't interfere with the person sleeping next to them when they roll over, as would happen on a double or queen.

We also got a bellows foot pump for $5, but I'd buy the 12v blower from Super Cheap Auto for $15-$20.

jules replied:

Hi - hope you have a good weekend - have you looked at the cheapy stores - i.e. Reject Shop, The Warehouse, silly sollys or the like" they quite often have really good items quite cheap - as to the cold - who in their right mind goes camping, summer or winter without a hot water bottle - but insulating the mattress from underneath is a great idea - friend of ours uses those cheap hiking mats (blue foamy stuff) underneath her blow up mattress - the best idea is not to overinflate - they leaks are usually the seams popping when you overinflate then lie on them - I mean your are usually looking at up to 100kg with 2 people on the mattress -
jules