mattress in swags

Dave,

Any links to this mattress please?

Thks......eng

Google reveals:

Site Link

at $199 - twice (or more) the prices of normal 4WD self inflating matresses.

Mike Harding

Site Link

Can't find the companies site at the moment. Mine was supplied by Bogong Jack or Bogong Equipment in Ltl Bourke St in Melbourne.

Buying two I think I got them for arount the $180 each mark.

I don't deny that they are expensive Mike, but they are good enough to warrant it in my opinion. But then I also have about $800 worth of mattress for the family between these and the other two Thermarests the kids sleep on.

The thing is though that if I get one of those 4wd Double Mattresses sold by Aussie Disposals & the like, I have an impractically large mattress that has to be rolled twice to get it back in it's bag, and when it's in it's bag it doesn't even fit in the back of the ute.

Most people I've seen with them invariably end up with them on the roof just waiting for an over hanging branch to sliced or puncture them. Then they are $140 worth of foam junk.

The two kids Thermarests packed are about 15cm dia & 25cm long each. The Expeds are about 18 cm dia & 60 cm long each. They are excellent insulators and keep the ground cold at bay, and on the kids bunks insulate them from the cold night air. At Davies Plain Hut in subzero temps they made a big difference to comfort levels for the whole family on ANZAC Day weekend.

The kids matts are small enough that they get chucked in a lose hole needing filling between bags. Ours sit on top of the food boxes or bags no worries.

When I did the Canning last year my swag was more comfortable than the other 6, and packed 40% smaller (important saving when you are carrying 5 swags on the roof rack).

It's not everyones cup of tea. But a good nights sleep is worth the extra money and when you think you own these things for years it's bugger all when you spread the cost over nights used.

Not only that but the Exped Mattresses were $100 each cheaper than the comparable Thermarest products, and had innovative advantages making them a far better product.

Dave

Interesting points.

I have no objection to paying for quality but for twice the price I would expect something a fair bit better than what I have. ie. one single and one queen size 100mm self inflaters from Rays, both about 4 years old now and both still working very well except they both leak a bit when deflated which is why I don't use the bags any more - I can get them into the bags, no problem, but getting them out is a swine :)

I don't find the size of the single to be a problem but I agree the queen is a bit on the big side but I still manage to get it inside the vehicle OK. Most certainly they both provide an excellent night's sleep and I've used them down to -4C and been quite warm enough.

I am attracted by the 180mm rolled up size - that would be very convenient, maybe I'll get one and see how it goes.

Mike Harding

Bongong Equipment don't list any self inflating mattresses on their website and appeared rather confused, when I called, about their products and pricing - they currently do not have stock of the DeLux 10 but thought it's price would be in excess of the $245 they were charging for the Sim Light 10 - too dear when compared to the $80 or $90 Rays are charging for their products.

www.bogong.com.au/html/products_.html

Mike Harding

Sorry Mike,

Just went back and checked the Plastic money statement. The sleeping bags from Mountain Design were $180 each. The mattresses were $210 each - I haggled a little for two mattresses and didn't pay retail, and they had quite a few in stock at the time (about 30 I think he said). It was Neil I dealt with and he was one of the owners so whether that gave him more latitude with the pricing than his staff I don't know. He was very helpful though, and very knowledgeable about his product.

If I was younger and fitter the down mattresses for hiking in the same brand looked excellent too.

www.box.net/public/865a3sjfrl
www.box.net/public/yeuj6sb90i

The links above will take you to a file store where I've placed a couple of pics of the rolled mattress next to a ruler. Should give you some perspective.

Personally I think they are worth it. I know they aren't in everyones budget.

Dave

Thanks for that Dave. They certainly are a good size and much smaller than the Ray's type I have and if I could get one for $200 I would probably go for it but once we get to the "$245+" it's rather like my GMC gen verses a Honda: sure the Honda is a much better product but I can't justify paying X times more for it and in this case I doubt the Exped will be more comfortable or warmer, just smaller.

Anyway thanks for the info. I didn't know anything of that brand so I'll keep a look out for them now and if I see one at a decent price I'll grab it :)

Mike Harding

Amortise the price difference over the 5 - 10 years you use it and it's between $0.37 & $0.75 a month

:o))

Dave

I like it!

So using those maths I can go out and buy the Kipor, the 80lt Engel, the new rifle I want ($2500) and upgrade my Amateur Radio - total = a measly $11.73 a week - amortised over 10 years of course....

Now... where's that credit card....

Mike Harding :)

Hey,

It works on my wife. It might work on yours.

Hell, it even works on me! I can talk myself into any gadget I need .... or should that be want....

At the moment it's just a matter of deciding on a Patrol or Landcruiser that's the issue now that we've had vehicle leasing included in our salary sacrifice.... :o))

Dave

>It works on my wife. It might work on yours.

I no longer have a wife but I might be interested in yours; please send a photograph and I'll make an offer - providing we can amortise her over 10 years: of course we’ll have to factor in depreciation due to ageing....

Mike Harding :)

Just go to the camping store and buy a single self inflating mattress....
I sometimes wake up and think i am in my own bed at home..

as an upholsterer I can tell you that a cheaper way to do it would be to go to your local foam supplier or Clarke's and get a high density piece of foam cut to size. There are more than just high, low and medium densities and all are a different colour. So if you can see the actual foam through it's cover you can see whether it is diferent from any new piece that you buy.

Got to agree with you Steve.
Our swag is 1200 wide so that made finding a self inflating hard to find.
After 2 weeks of sleeping on our "high density" mattress we stopped at Broken Hill and got a new one cut to size at the upholsterer. Got home and used an old doona cover as a mattress cover. Heaps cheaper than the self inflating ( even without the family discount ) and still rolls up comparably to the kids self inflating mattress.

Mrs S

Thanks for a couple of great ideas, Wayne ......

"I have done the same, just use a self inflating mattress in the swag. "

"Once it is rolled close the valve so that the mattress does not try to inflate again."

"The other thing that I do is to place those foam squares under the swag, 3 locked together."

Will try both of those ........... I have an OzTrail KingSize single self-inflatable in my swag ........ which rolls up to the same size as the original mattress so a smaller bundle will be great ...... and the foam squares will be just perfect for an additional edge in sleep enhancement !!

These little gems and the many other I have 'stolen' make my recent membership more and more worthwhile.

Until somebody's missus starts swearing at you uncontrollably at 3am cos you've found it necessary to fire-up the little high-flow blower to re-inflate.....hahahaha

Never an issue :P only ever 1 in my swag :(