Self Inflating Mattress

Ahhh a subject close to my heart...

You can see from our camp storage area the story of our (camping) life...

First the thin thermarest self inflating mattresses. Got a bit thin once we hit our thirties, but did the east coast of Oz and three months in Europe.

Then 50 mm self inflating - much much better, but a leeeetle too narrow (we are getting wider too you know) and our hips hit the deck all the time... But they lasted through our 30's to our 40's

All right - time for some comfort. Got a queen self inflator , abouut 2 1/2 inches from memory. This proved to be an expensive disaster - I am 1 1/2 times the weight of the missus, and as soon as I hop in bed she pops up like a pimple on a pumpkin. If I deflate (the mattress that is), my hip hits the deck. You both gotta be the same weight at least to have one of those, and have a lot of room in the car. They are a serious pain in the hip, wallet and bum.

Then we got two cheaper 3" self inflator singles (large - I think they are called King Singles) from a camp store; we put a mattress protector on them and then a fitted sheet. Can't feel the gap, no hip pain, the missus is happy. We are in our 50's now and really comfortable.

One big thing. Air mattresses (the pump up kind as against self inflators) are a big no-no for camping. If the temp drops they will suck the heat out of you; a good sized bindi will puncture it - they are a bigger pain than the queen above. Been there done that...

viz

Ditto Viz
We used two 4WD 3" King Singles with mattress topper and fitted sheet for our 5 week trip to Lawn Hill and Gulf and found it very comfortable. Singles also compensate for weight differences (me heavy, she light), and suitable for solo trips when I just take one mattress.

Cheers

Gday Donk,
we got Two single Self inflators - much easies to roll and store, and side by side in a fitted sheet jobs right.Thinking of a single slipped into swag as well.

Yes we love ours. Best thing we brought. Its great for quick comfy weekends away! Slept in it, in August on a frezzing night in WA. Ice on ground in the morning, and we were snug as a bug. Just had cheap Kmart sleeping bags. Nothing worse than not being able to get a good nights sleep.

Hi Daniel
We love our old sway, it is great. Our coldest night out was -5.5C on Googs Track. There have been many other times when the swag has been white with frost, and every time we have been as warm as toast.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi, have to agree with the Thermarests , we have two singles full length , and have been used constantly, when the wife comes we just lay them together and put an old style cotton sleeping bag on top and then the sheet and use the good sleeping bag as a doona, as you say uneven body weights can be a problem on a double,
They roll up fairly small and weigh nothing.
they were $145.00 each 14 years ago , but worth every penny.
Cheers Des.