Self inflating mattress in a swag – advice sought

A proper 100mm self-inflator will roll up if you are religious about keeping your swag tight while rolling. One bugger is that the head end of my swag is the inside of the roll meaning that I have to leave the mattress's valve open. I roll it with my knees keeping it tight as I go.

A totally different construction and situation to the standard 4WD mats which provide little support and less insulation.

Your major problem would be trying to stop the mattress from reinflating if you couldn't access the screw top valve that all SI mattresses use to stop air coming back to reinflate. The majority of sefl inflators I've seen have these at the top of the mattress and therefore are not accessible after you roll it up inside the swag.

After many years of 'swagging' it, the cold seeping up through the ground finally got the better of me and I went to my local camping store for advice. As I never sleep outside (my tent is enough thank you) they recommended a self inflator and I got a Coleman 120mm job. The insulation it provided from the cold compared to my swag was quite exceptional and I'm now a dedicated fan of this form of camping bed. They are so comfortable and take up the same space as a swag.

So forget the swag, just get a self inflator. If you want to sleep under the stars then you'll probably have to pack them separately

Gday Mike,
We use a 100mm 4wd self-inflating mat from Rays Outdoors inside a double swag. We removed the 4 bungs, and leave them out. Works for us, and is more comfortable than the 50mm foam. Its a bit bulkier, but that doesn't matter. Been doing this for a couple of years.

Mike the best method imo is to get another 70mm foam mattress and buy some egg foam to put on top,some places hav it stuck to the foam..Thats what i hav in my B&W Redgum Double...Folds up nice and sleeps comfortably..

Stay with what you know works !

Cheers

Have a look at the Thermarest range of self inflating mattresses.

Only 50mm thick and comes with a lifetime warranty.

We use the Thermarest LuxuryCamp XL, expect to pay mid $300.00 each

Thermarest are the best you can get.

Mike, What I have done is use a thinish self inflating mattress, bought cheap from ebay and a memory foam topper. The topper is quiet thin and easily rolled up, the self inflater is under the foam mattress. Open the bung, roll up, leave bung open. Roll out, let mattress inflate, a few puffs and insert bung, comfy sleep.

LIke all the others.....either way get one.....ours is comfier than our real bed...!

we have ours in the swag all the time and its easy to pack up...doesnt have the pillow thing though...like my own....cannt remember the brand.....4wd something i think....

Mike, good quality foam with a "hiking mat" underneath works well for us!

Yep mine makes a pretty huge sway rolled up but ive got the room and certainly makes for a good nights sleep. dont haver to worry if there are rocks underneath the swag.
only thing is i cant tell the difference with the bungs in or left open as far as im concerned its best vale is just as a thick mattress.
Cost about $100 (country prices)

One thing I have done, I use a ground sheet under my swag..
I went to a Clarke's (spelling) Rubber store, and purchased 1 ( one ) sheet of 1" thick waterproof pool rubber. It's looks like that sky blue hiking ground sheets, but it's 10 times tougher and it fits under my swag.

So my aching bones are relaxed and warm, but which self inflating thermo mattress..help also !!

Can anyone help me ??

Cheers all
Bucky

Mike

Apart from the comfort and the warmth I get from my ground sheet, I also protect the base of my swag.
Camped up in some pretty dodgy places over the last 5 - 6 years.

And if it does rain, well I am a little higher than the ground around me. Seriously though with me its more about comfort & warmth.

Some of my mates have swung over to those aluminium stretchers, and swear by them ,, but muggins here, cannot sleep on them.

guess I am stuck with my 1" thick ground sheet.
Cheers
Bucky