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For reasons that are not relevant I will likely be sleeping on church/village hall floors for half a dozen weekends next year. That is NOT my idea of fun, and I’m too old for sleeping on a thermarest (certainly without alcohol!) on a solid floor. I’m not even a fan of sleeping inside a sleeping bag (too restrictive).
So this clearly needs a solution like a camp bed:
- will be driving there so space not critical but I need to store it in the house and carry it from car to hall (perhaps 100m) so nothing ridiculous!
- not as cold as sleeping in a tent but these halls are often not heated
- in a real bed I’m usually a side sleeper
- if it creaks every time I move I’ll worry about disturbing others
- ease of set up, pack away is probably reasonably high on my list
so what do you recommend?
If you want comfort you could always look at a fishing bed/chair? Or one of the rather thick Berghaus mattresses from go-outdoors?
I've only ever used the US Army cot, which ones broken in doesn't creak to bad, but all the repro's creak like a bitch.
We got some of https://amzn.eu/d/3UuUMY B">these for our camping trip earlier in the year off Amazon.
Been used a few times since when staying at relatives too.
Pretty comfy - I'm 50 so way past a therma rest too lol.
British army artic sleeping bag for the sleeping bag issue, they are huge so you can wiggle about like you are under a duvet.
Not roasting hot unless you buy the inner and outer.
I'm in my 50's and like a nice comfy camping mattress. I cut myself a 4" to 6" thick block of foam from work (we make massive blocks of PU foam). I have some double sided velcro from Amazon that I lie on and roll up. It expands nicely next time.
If you are anywhere near Rossendale I can sort you out FOC
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You'll still need a mat if it's cold. Camp beds like the above are similar to hammocks in that respect. They can be surprisingly cold to sleep on.
This is excellent, although I've topped it with a 10cm Outwell matt, so might be getting expensive. I usually wrap a mattress sheet around it and use a Snugpack rectangular bag, either as a duvet or zipped up if its colder.
In the scenario you describe I'd be perfectly happy and comfortable with this set up.
https://snugpak.com/products/navigator-wgte
I've a double Vango 8cm thick mattress. It folds in half so is 16cm thick and full single mattress size. Pop a sheet on and full duvet & pillows for real comfort. The few times I've used it I've basically slept as well as I do at home.
I understand your concerns over light thermarests, but this is a very different beast.
I've used camp beds in the past and found them all very narrow and cold.
Apologies for Amazon link but I’ve used things like these at friends houses and I found them better than air beds etc , see option below as well, basically taking your own couch cushions
Edit gawd knows what link is doing
Ready Steady Bed Comfortable Fold Out Z Bed Chair | Sofa Bed Futon Lightweight | Soft Water resistant Cover | Ergonomically Designed Single Mattress Zbed (Blue)
The big thick thermatrsts or their copies - decathlon/go outdoors/alpkit would be my choice over a camp bed every day of the week. And night.
Way warmer and more comfy, silent. They are pretty much as good as a proper bed
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I can vouch for that one too. Bought it ahead of 3-week solid use in the tent on holiday this year - huge improvement in comfort over using the Vango Comfort 7.5 air mattress thing by itself (I now put the Vango mattress on top of this). Be aware you need a pump to inflate it: the same pump we use for our SUPs and inflatable tent beams also worked for this with appropriate adaptor.
I can also recommend the Decathlon air bed base, bloody amazing things. We generally use ours with 5cm self inflating roll mats but have also used this Decathlona air matress https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-camping-mattress-air-comfort-70-cm-1-person/_/R-p-334099?mc=8648441&c=- and it works a treat.
Relapsed Mandalorian - I had wondered about the fishing ones. I wasn’t sure why they are sold as fishing specific?
dirkpitt - that was the lines I was thinking along. My one experience of them was about 30 yrs ago and were basically a stretched fabric - it looks like they now include a thin mattress for warmth/comfort?
towzer - yeah someone else who goes takes something like that, but I’d need to put the back seats down to fit that in I think, and that may mean I have to do this shit even more often!
I’ve seen those inflatable bed frames - that looks like a bit of faff, but maybe it’s worth it.
rustyNissan - I’m not local but I like your style!
fishing "cot" would be what i would investigate. Cant you get them as bivi's too? so you can use it outside. basically a bivi tent on a solid frame to lift it off the floor and level it, with good insulation on all sides. Sounds pretty cosy.
The camping/fishing types that I've tried creak
Try a Jay-Be if you can stretch your budget https://www.jaybe.com/products/folding-beds/
I recommend a foam layer on top of their mattress to protect you from the hard frame. The mattress has to fold inside the frame for storage, so a lump of foam 200mm bigger than the mattress in length and width is advisable
I’ve seen those inflatable bed frames – that looks like a bit of faff, but maybe it’s worth it.
Maybe, but I already have an electric pump for it so have never had an issue.
The other but is, mine is used in a van, so its inflated at home and is so light you're carrying with one hand.
With the matt I have on it, its not all that far off a real bed in terms of comfort. I also store stuff inside which helps keeps things organized/tidy.