what type of 'BLOW-UP MATTRESS do you use ??

Submitted: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 20:34
ThreadID: 78767 Views:7163 Replies:13 FollowUps:14
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What brand / model of Blow-up Mattress do people use in a tent ??

It will lay on the ground, on a ground sheet / tent floor
Queen size - for my Queen

N0T seeking the cheapest bed, but a good nights sleep :-)

Maîneÿ . . .
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Reply By: turbopete - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 20:51

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 20:51
Hi Mainey...The air in a blow up mattress gets/is very cold,bit like sleeping on a steel bench but marginally softer,
AnswerID: 418125

Reply By: Members Paul and Melissa (VIC) - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 20:54

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 20:54
i found the green velour topped one from Rays Outdoors the best blow up mattress. i have tried numerous but the greeny was by far the best. after that was the high density foam matt but they are hard to transport and fold up.
AnswerID: 418128

Follow Up By: Members Paul and Melissa (VIC) - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:01

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:01
i also used to put a comforter over the matt and never suffered from the cold out of the ground. if we were in the same spot for a few nights i put a carpet offcut on the tent floor, the wife loved that one!
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Reply By: ChipPunk - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:15

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:15
I use the "King" as supplied by the (RIP) Freedom Camping.
Self inflators. Memory foam.
As usual, I use two side by side as a queen and use our normal bedding underlay, duna etc.

It was unknowingly lying on a 4lb hammer, a picks, & .... that sold me on the King.

A few months ago a friend offered me $300 for it (more than a 50% profit after 5 years of use!) - he seemed to like them too.

The manufacturer can manufacture another batch - of 200 units.

Maybe there are 2nd-handers for sale...?
AnswerID: 418133

Reply By: Member - Michael John T (VIC) - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:15

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:15
Mainey,

We used tents for a long time before moving to a camper. We gave blow ups the flick in the 90's and used the self inflators.

Benefits include

* Easy to set up , just throw them in the tent and let them inflate.

* No need for a noisy inflating pump or lots of puff.

* If they puncture (blow ups seem to do it about 3 am) makes no difference to the ride.

* They are useful at home as a spare sleeper. Ours is 15 yrs old and is used by all our family to accommodate friends, and is still going. (Which reminds me who has it at present?)

Disadvantage:- They are bulkier to carry.


What ever you choose don't buy a cheapy it's false economy.

Mike (Vic).
AnswerID: 418134

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:23

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:23
Mike,
Can you recomend a brand ?

I will then Gstgle to get information for us

Maîneÿ . . .
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FollowupID: 688173

Follow Up By: Member - Michael John T (VIC) - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 23:36

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 23:36
Mainy,

Sorry I can,t remember the brand name and it's not here at the moment but we bought it at a camping store and i've seen them around on occasions since.Mine is queen size about 2inches thick with a reasonable robust ssythetic cover. Just pull out the two plugs and let it inflate. We sleep with the plugs out as it tends to have a little more give in it. When rolled up and secured by 2 straps it would be about 35 - 40 cm in diam by the width of the mattress.

Mike.
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Follow Up By: Moose - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 13:25

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 13:25
Mainey - check out the Roman Moon Mats (self inflating). Come in various thicknesses. Very comfy.
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Reply By: Olsen's 4WD Tours and Training - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:21

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:21
I gave up on blowups in the 1970's. Too cold and always puncture at the worst time.

My swag mattress is fine just the way it is, but a self inflator makes it better.
AnswerID: 418136

Follow Up By: Ino - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 00:09

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 00:09
A small prick and they're gone, mate? :)

Sorry - couldn't resist!


Ino
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Reply By: Selina V - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:58

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 21:58
We gave up on blowups/air mattresses years ago after ending up deflated on the ground in the morning (the mattress of course)

We've been taking a covered foam mattress for years now. We lay a blanket underneath, most comfortable sleep ever. We put it on the trailer last, over the top of everything and it helps keep everything together :)
AnswerID: 418152

Reply By: Member - Rob Mac (QLD) - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 22:05

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 22:05
Hello Mainy (sorry I do not know how to put the little bits above the letters), I have a DMH Outdoors Bush-mate model www.dmh.aust.com just looking at instructions and got website off that. Mine is 2" thick single which is in the swag permanently, it is bulky and hard to role up especially when I forget to open the bungs. It is pretty comfortable much better than the 1" ones.
Cheers
Rob Mac
AnswerID: 418153

Reply By: Flynnie - Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 23:50

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 23:50
Mainey

This is an easy one. What brand of blow up mattress - NO BRAND.

I have one I don't use. Too cold and would go down in the middle of the night. Never again will I sleep on a cold air mattress forever. I hope.

A thick self inflating Thermarest was a whole lot better but I prefer the mattress in my sag.

For your needs perhaps the biggest, thickest, Thermarest presently available.

Flynnie
AnswerID: 418166

Reply By: Member - Harv & Anne E (VIC) - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 00:01

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 00:01
Well, I'm swimming totally against the tide here. We use a canvas covered "lilo" type and I love it! It's the same as the old "Clark rubber" ones. To beat the cold simply lay a couple of closed-cell foam bed rolls underneath (we use the cheapest we could find about thirteen years ago and they still work fine).
And if you are tenting, a space blanket/ground sheet under your tent provides extra protection from the cold.
We are five weeks into an 8 week Melb to Qld and back tenting trip and I'm still comfortable.
We got ours last year from Rays.
Insulation from underneath is the trick.
Anne
AnswerID: 418167

Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 07:49

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 07:49
We use the DMH self inflating mattresses. 2x singles held together by a fitted sheet works perfectly for 2 people. Easier to carry 2 singles than one queen IMO.
AnswerID: 418178

Reply By: de7158 - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 08:22

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 08:22
We have tried a few, and the one that stands out for us is the Exped DownMat 9DLX.
This is a down filled air bed with an internal pump. Absolute luxurious to sleep on with a R value able to be placed on snow.
We put two side by side with a fitted double sheet and sleep every bit as good as our home. Great for side sleepers as the pad is thick enough so as your hips don't touch the ground.
We bought ours from USA from http://www.basegear.com/outdoor-research-downmat-2009.html
New buyers geat a 20% discount......makes up for the way our aussie $ has gone the last week!
Ordered on their site and the pads were delivered 10 days later.
Best part is the wife loves it and she is a first time camper.
AnswerID: 418181

Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 10:20

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 10:20
How small does it roll back up too?
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Follow Up By: de7158 - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 12:21

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 12:21
Open size is 1930 x 660 x 90 (love the 90mm thick bit)
Packed size is 280 x 153. I have no trouble fitting it back into it's own stuffsack.
Weight is 1250gms. A bit heavy for the UL hikers.....but i've no doubt in my mind you'll not find a more decadent sleeping pad.
You'll not get any cold air coming up from the ground with this pad.
I'am 180cm and 88 kilos and have no trouble sleeping on it for 10hrs without a sore anything!
Best to do a search youself for reviews about this pad. Newer models have the inbuilt pump which is easy to use. Wife pumps her own pad up without any complaints.
Sleeping pad is constructed strong enough to handle the one wide two high concept when the urge arises!
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Follow Up By: Spade Newsom - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 15:04

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 15:04
de 7158, I am thinking of replacing the foam mattress in the camper trailer with a very good inflatable. Would your turnout do the job? The foam mattress is a queen and about as good as you can buy foam. It is weighty though making the lid difficult for the missus to lift and the thickness means it takes some effort to put the cover on.

Ultimately comfort is priority number 1.

I have camped on an 18 inch blow up that sat on a frame. Was very comfortable so I certainly will not write of the new type of airmattresses.

Mind you I found a rock very comfortable one night many moons ago when I was too drunk to find the swag.
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Follow Up By: de7158 - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:38

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 18:38
Only problem i would see is that 2 x DownMats are slightly smaller in width and length, and probably depth than a queen size mattress, which is 1500W and 2100L. Better check with with your missus whether she'll put up with something smaller & shorter in bed!

Best part is that you can individually adjust the firmness of your own mattress and you don't feel any partner movement

I don't believe you would be giving anything away in comfort.

Bit hard to tell without giving them a go youself. Everyone seems to have their own comfort levels. We've slept on timber tent decks and some ordinary ground sites, but it has been impossible to tell any difference through the pad.

Would believe a domestic queen size mattress would be a lot lighter than a foam one.
Peter
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 19:16

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 19:16
Where abouts are you? Would love to see one.
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Follow Up By: de7158 - Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 13:52

Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 13:52
Towomba area......but any good camping store should stock them.

Peter
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 14:23

Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 14:23
I'm in Brizvegas and I've never seen them before. Maybe a good excuse to go to the camping show in June ;-)
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 08:29

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 08:29
Gday Mainey,
Storage space has not been a problem for us so for the past 10 years, we've used a double size 3" thick self-inflating mattress - commonly sold as "4wd mattress". Get them from Anaconda, Ray's and most other camping shops. You just roll them out - no need to inflate. You'll never get it back in the bag it came out from though! A good mattress and a good chair are gold when you're tenting.
I take it you're not taking the Hiace to the Cape?

Cheers
phil
AnswerID: 418184

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 11:35

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 11:35
Phil,
Yes, the HiAce stays home this trip and the caravan will be left probably in Townsville, so we go up to the 'tip' in the 4WD with a tent

Vehicle:
* Mitsubishi Pajero 4wd 3.2l did turbo diesel
* Uhf radio (in case we get sick of talking to each other)
* Gps (in case we get lost)
* 5 door (in case we get bored of getting in the same door)
* 7 seater (in case we have a disagreement and don't want to sit next to each other)
* Bullbar (in case we decide to go round up the cattle or chase the roos or pigs)
* Driving lights (in case we forget our glasses)
* Long range tank (in case all the servos on the road are shut)
* Hayman reese towpack (in case I get stuck in mud and she has to pull me out - when fishing)
Yes, my lady does have a warped sense of humor :-)

Image Could Not Be Found

Caravan:
Coromal Princeton, Model 652
Air Con, full ensuite, QS bed, full size kitchen and fridge, heaps of storage with full annex and flooring.
Image Could Not Be Found
Maîneÿ . . .
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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 21:26

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 21:26
Agree with Phil G, we got rid of the blow up mattresses and went the 4WD selfinflating ones, I bought all singles a they are easier to roll up and for storage than the doubles.
We find them very confortable
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FollowupID: 688330

Reply By: olcoolone - Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 15:59

Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 15:59
We use Thermarest's in our swags...very happy
AnswerID: 418430

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