What camping mattress should we buy?

Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 21:10

ThreadID: 99541 Views:2807 Replies:8 FollowUps:6

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Robyn R4

Would love advice from seasoned campers.
With the van sold and our outback travels revolving around tents for a while, we are yet to find a decent mattress. We camped next to a nice guy in Charleville and heard him, every time he rolled over...verdict: no air beds!
We have a Kia Sorento which isn't a big 4WD so the thin foam one we rolled and squished and shoved onto the back floor during the last trip can surely be bettered...
And please don't ask me to sleep on those really thin "yoga mat" ones!
But what else is out there...besides buying another van and enjoying the inner spring delights once again?!
Thanks for any words of experience!

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Reply By: cruza25 - Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 21:22

Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 21:22

hi robyn

i have just bought 2 oztent goana stretchers $89 which are very comfy but maybe a bit heavy and bulky if the car is short of storage space.

we also looked at the self inflating 4 inch thick mats such as thermarest luxury. $220 est

if you can get to a big camping store try them all out. make sure you set up and pack it away to see if its easy or not to get them back in those bags that are always too small.

cheers mike

AnswerID: 500639

Follow Up By: DesF - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 16:24

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 16:24

Got to add my vote for Thermarest, have had 2 for about 18 years and swear by them,
a bit dearer but well worth it,
Cheers Des.

FollowupID: 776702

Reply By: philw - Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 22:14

Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 22:14

We use Oztrail King Single self inflating mats on stretchers.
Very comfortable in all conditions.

AnswerID: 500643

Follow Up By: Top End Az - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 11:04

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 11:04

Yep, we do too. We have gone through all of this during this year. Air mattresses deflate and get punctures, but a camp stretcher with a self inflating on top of it is very comfortable, and we could carry it in our RAV4, although we now have a ute. We went Oztrail and have no regrets. The added bonus of using the stretcher is that in the tent you can store a lot of stuff under it and have a bit more room without tripping over everything.

FollowupID: 776694

Reply By: rocco2010 - Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 22:32

Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 at 22:32

Gidday

For my last trip I decided it was time to stop sleeping on the ground (unless absolutely necessary, ie when swagging it.) I have a Roman deluxe rapid stretcher with a thermarest on top and had one of the best night's sleep while camping in years. Just make sure what ever you buy fits in the tent. I was nearly caught out by the sloping walls of my Black Wolf Turbo tent.

Cheers

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AnswerID: 500645

Reply By: phantom - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 11:24

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 11:24

Just completed a 2 month trip from Melbourne to Darwin and over to the East coast in our tent using Planet Earth self inflating matresses. A great night sleep and they are compact. We've had them for a couple of years and always get a good nights sleep, irregardless of what the ground is like.
We have friends using Thermarest and Coleman who are also impressed with their kit.
Have more friends who bought cheaper and they ended up buying better quality after a couple of nights. You get what you pay for.
A good mattress will cost around the $200 + mark.

Cheers & Beers

Rob

AnswerID: 500661

Follow Up By: Robyn R4 - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 18:05

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 18:05

Thanks for your words of wisdom, folks!
When you spend a third of your life in bed, money is well spent if it's in the search of quality.
Had heard about self-inflating ones but didn't know if they were the way to go...
And the Sorento's only a tad bigger than a Rav ( I think) , so that's a great explanation of space!
I live within an hour of a major city so we have access to all sorts of camping stores. After the madness of "Silly Season" - where one avoids shops! - we at least know what to search for.
Thanks!

FollowupID: 776708

Follow Up By: phantom - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 20:35

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 20:35

Robyn,
They have explore planet earth mattresses on Grays online for about $149. We paid much more than that years ago. Better to go with the 65mm mattresses.
Happy Camps.

Rob

FollowupID: 776730

Reply By: Bazooka - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 13:22

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 13:22

There have been quite a few threads like this recently Robyn. Worth a read:

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/98192/Stretchers_vs_inflatable_mattresses.aspx

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/98699/Denali_self_inflating_mattresses_advice_sort_.aspx

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/98766/Black_Wolf_mattresses-where_are_they_made_.aspx

AnswerID: 500671

Follow Up By: Robyn R4 - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 18:23

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 18:23

Thanks, Bazooka!

Bazooka?!
What's the origin of that?!
:)

FollowupID: 776712

Reply By: Robyn R4 - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 18:24

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 18:24

Sorry...I'm a novice of only a few months... I am just learning where to poke into past threads.
Bear with me.
:)

AnswerID: 500685

Reply By: Member - DjohnW - Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 19:53

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 19:53

Hi Robyn,
I have used every type of camping and hiking mattress available over the last 40 years !!! The best I've come across in that time and the one being currently used is an Exped Downmat. Integrated pump and down insulation inside. The Bee's Knee's !!!
Good luck
Dennis

AnswerID: 500698