In the last year and a half, I've gone through three different air mattresses and am getting tired of replacing them. So, I want to now what you all are using. I know that some mattresses are mentioned here and there on other threads, but I couldn't find just one thread dedicated to this subject. So, tell me what you use and how you like it.

Our most recent mattress was a Coleman double high mattress. I really liked it but by the second day of the second camping trip (JC), we woke up about on the ground. The first night was great and I really liked the extra height...especially for getting in when Dee and Tyler are asleep. Our two mattresses before this latest one were both Intex mattresses with the built in, battery operated pump. We liked the built in pump, but we also have the Coleman battery operated pump, so it's not a requirement. Our mattress before this two was a single thickness Coleman that worked well until it got a leak at JC a couple of years ago.

Now I know that for at least one of our Intex mattresses, the issues may be attributed to kids jumping on it. The same might be true of our oldest Coleman. A fellow BCPer saw kids jumping on our double height Coleman in May, but it worked well after that, so I don't think that was a contributing factor.

So, tell me what you use. I've seen one member recommend the Aerobed Pakmat. I like the look of it, but the downside is they are only for individuals. I'd prefer something along a queen size for Dee and me. Hopefully I can find a good replacement that will last for a while.

Thanks!

So far the Colman quean size has been the best for us, thirty years of camping for us, perhaps there are better ones out there, like you I would love to find one, some seem to last several years and others one or two camp outs, there are tricks to using them, one is to fill it and let it set, they take a stretch set and then seem to remain relatively stable, super glue is a good quick repair, the fill valve and plug cap are often the leak, clean the sealing surface with a damp rag before use. I would like to find a better pump with lighter batteries, the Colman works but it’s heavy.

I use NRS river bed sleeping pads. They only sleep one but my wife and I just put two together and put a blanket over then and tuck it underneath on the outsides, we don't use sleeping bags anymore. Works great for us an the pads are super tough. When I buy new ones I'll probly buy Aire landing pads because they are thicker.

We have always used individual thermarest pads http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest . They are light, comfortable (depending on which model), and they pack down extremely small. Most importantly they provide a solid insulation layer between the ground and you. Since my wife and kids all sleep in individual bags I have never been too concerned about a "double" mattress. You'll find you can still squeeze everyone in close on their own individual arrangement, and a good thermarest pad will be MUCH warmer than an air mattress!

Jeremy

In my experience there's only one worth a lick: the Therm-A-Rest mentioned by Jeremy. Rugged, doesn't take up a lot of space, lighter than the Coleman inflatables, no need for pumps.

I was worried about weight so I bought a couple of Exped air mattresses. http://www.rei.com/product/780367/exped ... -with-pump

warm, didn't stretch and inflated quickly by hand. Even though two of them cost more than my tent it was the best money I spent on gear.

This has worked for us. Looks conceptually similar to the thermarest ones: http://www.rei.com/product/778148/rei-t ... lating-pad

I have always been a die hard Therm-a-Rest user as well. When out solo, i pretty much still am. Having said that, when looking for a suitable set up for sleeping with my smarter half I tried one of these, and have never found a better way to sleep double since, or before. In fact I am really tempted to try one of their solo bags. This thing is extremely comfortable, and extremely warm;
https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Bag/cabincreek

Therm-a-rest! Camping at Fish Lake, ID, years ago when we hit nightime freezing temps, our buddies, who had air mattressses, were cold all night! Not us! They made a trip into Grangeville the next a.m. to purchase foam pads!

We've had the double self-inflating, (which is no longer made), one for years; yes, cost an arm and a leg, but I believe there is a velcro strap option to hook together.

I've recently switched from Term-a-rests to ExPeds for the wife and I. ExPeds were recommended to us by osoloco and others. They are much more comfortable than thermarests and pack a lot smaller too.

If you are camping in the winter, spring or fall or the summer up in the mountains where it gets chilly at night you need an insulated mattress not just a plain air mattress. With a plain air mattress in cold weather your topside stays warm but where your body compresses your sleeping bag insulation against the air matress that does not insulate you either, you get cold. Here are some options.

Closed Cell Foam: It is cheap, light weight and insulates pretty well but its not much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground. It is also pretty bulky.

Open Celled Foam: Its hard to beat the comfort of a thick open celled foam egg crate type mattress. They are used on top of hospital beds to make a bed more comfortable but they are too bulky for most airplane camping.

Inflatable Open Celled Foam: i.e. Therm-a-Rest, these are self inflating open celled foam mattresses. They are more expensive than the previous options. Since they inflate they do not have to be as thick to still provide the same level of comfort. They deflate to be more compact than the previous options too. When I was a younger back packer I was happy with the thin ultralight versions. Now that I'm in my 40's I appreciate the thicker, heavier, more expensive ones and don't sleep as well on the thinner ones. They all insulate well.

Inflatable with Insulation: i.e. Exped, These are the ultimate mattress for airplane camping but come with the highest price tag. They are an inflatable mattress that has either down or a synthetic fiber insulation inside it. They are as comfortable, compact, light weight and insulate as well as the best of the above in every category.

3/4" thick closed cell pads aren't much good by themselves, but if you put it on top of your air mattress you get comfort AND insulation on the cold nights.

This one gets great reviews - - and it should for what it costs. I bought one about 6 months ago and agree it's amazingly comfortable, though I've only tested it on the living room floor.

http://www.amazon.com/Therm-Rest-NeoAir ... _sbs_sg_14

bumper

Thanks guys. I should have given a few more details. A few years back, we bought some nice, warm bags that zip together. Dee is a bunson burner and I really like being able to snuggle up to her when it gets cold. So, I want something that either is large enough to accommodate the bags together, or that can go together without having a canyon to fall in between. Whee, I like the blanket idea. I also contemplated the Velcro idea too.

As for the double, I just liked having it higher to sit on and, with Tyler in between us, it's easier to get in and out without disturbing him. But that is a short term issue since he will be in his own bag next year.

Rob, thanks for the info on what types insulate best. Getting cold on regular air mattresses is an issue we've been battling too. When we just had Adam, we did one trip with 4 inch foams and egg carton foam. Blankets instead of bags. Hands down the best sleep I've had in the backcountry. But, it's too bulky as you said.

We have had some of the lower end self inflating 2" rolls for the kids and they work well. But like Rob said, the days of me being able to sleep on 1/4 in foam pads is long gone! We need something a bit more comfortable for Dee and me.

Keep the suggestions coming! I'll start looking into the Thermarest pads.

Thanks,
Cory

bumper wrote:This one gets great reviews - - and it should for what it costs. I bought one about 6 months ago and agree it's amazingly comfortable, though I've only tested it on the living room floor.

http://www.amazon.com/Therm-Rest-NeoAir ... _sbs_sg_14

bumper

Here's REI's comp for a lot less: http://www.rei.com/product/778152/rei-c ... lating-pad

.5 inches thinner, but higher R value.

Mike and I each have Big Agnes Insulated Air Core inflatables that inflate to about 2.5" - takes minutes to blow it up with your own air and adjust to your liking. We used to haul those heavy Coleman mattresses + a pump around in our Murphy Rebel. Now our weight penalty for these two mattresses is only 5 lbs. So far (fingers crossed) have not sprung a leak. I have a lower back problem and have slept quite comfortably on these. Look at CampMor and Sierra Trails or REI on sale for best prices.

We have been using these with our airplane camping trips for the last year or so (I have probably 25 nights on mine and Mike probably has 30 or more nights on his).

Cory:

I have purchased progressively thicker Thermarest pads over the years, and finally my last purchase was the REI camp bed that RW2 mentions above. I need the thicker mattress to be comfortable and it's worked great for me so far. My kids get the luxury of sleeping on the hand me down Thermarests. They are still very functional just too thin for my aging and increasingly girthy frame.

Flynengr

I have used my backpacking Thermo-Rest, 4 ft. Long. had It for a long Time.

Thermo-rest or the REI knockoff (I actually like the REI better). If you want comfort, get the 3.5 models and the long/wide ones. Air mattresses are very short lived in camping situations and are heavy and time consuming to set up.

If you are having comfort issues, try to make a small depression in the ground under the tent where your hips will be. That way, when you are on your side or back, your spine will be more straight and it will help keep pressure points from forming.

Cabelas Long twin blow up pad and tempor=pedic twin mattress topper Sleep like a baby. Yea they weight about 40lbs together but thats why I have a 185 so I can take all my shit with me