Thread: Airbeds ok?

I learnt in the Field in the Antarctic to use a Thermal Blanket ( Fiol Ground sheet) inside the Floor of the tent. This stops the Perma Frost. I have used it for years of Winter Bushwalking in Tasmania. It helps with 'Cavity' beds. Actually makes all Tents a lot warmer! I use a Therma Rests, self inflating Matress. Have done for years. I hope that makes Camping a Bit Better for everyone. I come from a Bike Background & still travel light and compact. Get out there and enjoy it. But with a 'Tad' comfort. jim. .

We got a coleman airbed yesterday. It inflates in 1 minute (I timed it) and much the same going down. It would appear quite comfortable. Leaving the bedding in it doesn't look like being a problem either and when packed it occupies probably only 20% of the space our foam bed did. Overnight it didn't leak.

The biggest problem so far is that my little boy and girl appear to be compelled to use it as a bouncing castle. It has saved so much room that I think we'll be able to move the fridge to the back of the car rather than in the back with the kids which should make for a more pleasant trip.

Thanks for the tips about the space blankets.

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

We got a coleman airbed yesterday. It inflates in 1 minute (I timed it) and much the same going down. It would appear quite comfortable. Leaving the bedding in it doesn't look like being a problem either and when packed it occupies probably only 20% of the space our foam bed did. Overnight it didn't leak.

The biggest problem so far is that my little boy and girl appear to be compelled to use it as a bouncing castle. It has saved so much room that I think we'll be able to move the fridge to the back of the car rather than in the back with the kids which should make for a more pleasant trip.

Thanks for the tips about the space blankets.

spuds like you are all sorted

make sure you take a repair kit

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

The biggest problem so far is that my little boy and girl appear to be compelled to use it as a bouncing castle.

We borrowed one once. It wouldn't stay up so I took it down to the river and pushed it under - it was like a spa pool - there were so many holes. Turns out their kids liked to use it as a jumping castle - but with shoes on.

Coleman stuff is generally pretty good so you should be happy with that choice. If you have a reasonable thick canvas or similar bag you can put it all in whilst travelling, it will stop it scraping and rubbing and making little holes..

Originally Posted by waynep

That might be fun for them - but it won't be for you when you're patching all the holes in your airbed.

I realise we're going to have to work on that

Originally Posted by westcoasterjim

I learnt in the Field in the Antarctic to use a Thermal Blanket ( Fiol Ground sheet) inside the Floor of the tent. This stops the Perma Frost. I have used it for years of Winter Bushwalking in Tasmania. It helps with 'Cavity' beds. Actually makes all Tents a lot warmer! I use a Therma Rests, self inflating Matress. Have done for years. I hope that makes Camping a Bit Better for everyone. I come from a Bike Background & still travel light and compact. Get out there and enjoy it. But with a 'Tad' comfort. jim. .

My recollection of High School Physics from about 45 years ago tells me that the silver side should go up to reflect back the heat radiated from your body.
Does that sound right?
It seemed to work for me.

(I think "reflect back" is a tautology, but I'll leave it anyway.)

after the amount of air beds i have bought i decided to buy a 10cm self inflating mat and yes they do take up more room but i will never turn back, even if you do puncture a self inflater you still have a good night sleep it seems heaps warmer we slept on ours for 12days straight and never woke up sore never had to pump it up every day the last air matress i had was 120 and it was good but the self inflater is soooo much better

on our last trip we camped for fourteet of our twenty one days away. The air bed went really well and were very happy with it. It probably wasn't qiluite as warm as the foam mattress but it definately had more cushioning than the foam bed. Also the Coleman quality was great. It didn't leak once.