Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What is the best air matress for camping?

Looking at an Aero EcoLite air mattress.

So do you want something that you can backpack with? Or is it car camping?

I like a cot and mattress pad better than an air mattress.

I am looking at tent camping, close to vehicle. Looking for an air mattress which doesn't get holes every time I use it.

Then get one of those thick Coleman air mattresses if you camp in the summer or a thick couple rubber foam ones if camping in winter.

I have the Coleman version that's held up well so far. Wife likes it much better than the standard thermorest.
Aeros are quite a bit more than the coleman, but Check costco online, they usually have the aeros for much cheaper than anywhere else..

DayPacker:

I understand your soncern about getting leaks/holes in an air mattress. Several decades ago, I used one that was made of rubberised Nylon. One would think that was bullet proof. But it wasn't and it had constant leak problems. Also the old traditional air mattresses weren't insulated so they can be real cold.

So I started using foam rubber mats. They're real durable, they don't leak and they're warm, but they're not as soft as other types of mats. They weigh less than most self inflating mats.

Eventually I started using Thermarest self inflating pads. They had leak problems but I was able to mitigate the leaks by being careful to use only tents with floors. The best combination that I discovered was a Thermarest ultraliight 4' self inflating pad with a 1/2" foam rubber pad. This combination weighs less than a full size Thermarest CampRest but it's just as soft and warm and the rubber pad protects the self inflating pad from punctures.

A couple of years ago, I bought a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core mattress with a mummy shape. I hoped that the technology has improved. The mattress endured several nights with me sleeping on top of it but I didn't like the tapered cut because I move around a lot when sleeping. I guess that's my problem not the mattresses' problem. It's a good mattress so I think I'll give it to my grandson.

I bought a Thermarest NeoAir full size and used it on several multi-night backpack trips last summer. I love it. I'm still careful about the surface that the mattress lays on, making sure that there's nothing that can create a puncture. I carry the mattress inside of my backpack, not strapped to the outside.

KC

A fat woman.

Gunner

One that doesn't go flat.

And how would you know this?

Gunner

I read it on da innernets.

Gunner

I sleep on one of these more than 30 nights a year and have no complaints. They are very comfortable. If not this one I would say one like it. 3 or 4 inch pads are great for car/truck camping.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___43026

The Thermarest DreamTime XL looks interesting and so does the Thermarest NeoAir. Now I have some more to look at. Thanks for the ideas.

I sleep in back of my truck, best thing I found and cheapest is a chaise lounge pad for outdoor furniture. end of summer, lowe's and home depot or target put them on sale cheap. usually around $20 and weather resistance. folds up easily because of the sewed sections. I have a topper on my truck and sleep comfortable where ever I stop, works for me and it is warm.

I have severial weeks worth of outings on a Therarest Dreamtime and never a problim.

I use it on the ground and on a Davis Fat Boy cot, and sleep like I invented sleep.

There are a few like the Dreamtime, I dont know of anything tbat would beat it.

+1

Some sort or heavier plastic tarp or ground cover beneath ones pad/matress will greatly extend its life. Conventional tent floors are not a suitable barrier between a pad and sharp pokey things. I just disposed of a therma rest pad that saw about 25 days of use for 20+ years. Fabric around the valve just wore out.

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