do self inflating mattresses attract condensation?

Hi Outback,

You get condensation when warm damp air (in this case from our bodies) hits a cold impervious surface such as the platform of your camper. The amount of condensation will depend on how much moisture and how cold etc, but it will form wherever that impervious layer is, as the damp air cant escape. In some cases a bed may appear to be warm when you wake in the morning but by nightime if the moisture cant escape it will still be damp and hard to get warm again.

We sleep on foam matresses and tackle the condensation problem by drilling some holes in the bed platform and turning the mattresses over regularly.

Sorry I don't have any experience of using self inflating mattresses, but, at the risk of inviting the wrath of the "dont advise people to do a search" brigade I would suggest that you just type "mattress" into the search text box (top LHS of forum page) and you will find a heap of info on how others get around the issue of condensation. There are more possibly useful threads there than it would be sensible to link.

Cheers,

Val

My boys sleep on self inflating mattresses on the camper floor. We place those windscreen sun shades that you use in the car between the mattress and the floor. They offer a degree of insulation and stop any mattress condensation. A good cheap solution.

Jon

If you get some solar hot water tubing/mats & put some holes in it & throw this down first this helps a lot, as the mattress (foam or self inflating) can breath thru the holes & tubes I have used this for years in our camper.
As far as condensation & self inflating mattresses I know on one of our trips years ago the double in 2 week's sucked about 250mls of into it & also found that the self inflating mattresses a lot colder to sleep on in cold areas than a foam mattress (we use all foam but it is laminated with different grades of stiffness)
good luck

Vince

Ive had this problem over the years from sleeping on air mattresses,sometimes it happens ,sometimes it doesnt.
Maybe you could try some scrap carpet that could be aired if it feels damp.

Have been using these for around 10 years. Have never had a condensation problem, but have always put a picnic rug down first. This has obviously sorted out a problem that we knew nothing about.
MM

Hi everyone and many thanks for your helpful replies. Cheers. Rob.

We have a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet cut to the size of whichever mattress we are using and have done so for many years in all sorts of conditions in various tents and camper trailers. It is easy to store and has little weight.