As a former air mattress user in Colorado, I can't recommend them up
here when the weather cools. In the middle of summer when the air is
hot they are fine but when the air cools, space blanket or not, you
end up sleeping on cold air that transmits into your body. Some years
back I switched to Thermarest for car camping and bought ($$) one of
the deluxe double wides and extra long for the wife and I. It is
luxurious. This past July,during our 31 day motorcycle trip, I bought
new Thermarest's for the wife and I. Also luxurious, an r6 insulation
value and almost 3 inches thick inflated, we were comfortable and
warm. They packed fine on our bikes.
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Tengai Mark Van Horn
wrote:
>
> I love my faux Thermarest pad (GuideGear) that I got from Sportsman's
> Guide for $19.95 a few years ago. However, on my last use, one of the
> heat-welds popped, leading to a leak in a difficult-to-repair part of
> the pad.
> So, I decided to start looking for a replacement.
>
> While in Target yesterday, I saw these Eddie Bauer twin-size
> inflatable mattresses, you know, the standard 39"x 75" mattress with
> velvet top that you find in the camping aisle of all the "X-Marts" on
> the planet.
> This one came with a small, D-cell-powered pump and it was on
> clearance for $17. I popped open the box, and after a quick
> inspection, I decided to take a shot.
> I got home and inflated the mattress. The pump, while not as fast as
> the 12V pump I have for pool inflatables, was still pretty quick. I
> then took a short nap on it on the hardwood floor in the living room.
>
> I actually have a queen sized air mattress that I use for family
> camping, but I always felt that an air mattress would be too
> impractical for motocamping, not to mention that it's embarrassingly
> low-tech (but not as bad as sleeping on a skinny pool raft).
> However, after my cozy test drive in the living room, I deflated the
> mattress, using the pump's exhaust feature, folded it once
> lengthwise, and then rolled it up.
>
> Here's my observations:
>
> 1. Although slightly heavier, and wider (when blown up), it actually
> rolls up smaller than my sleeping pad. On a motorcycle, a few extra
> ounces don't mean jack. The several cubic inches of space saved
> allows room to tote the air pump.
>
> 2. My sleeping pad is/was super comfortable, but the air mattress is
> definitely cozier. I'm guessing that the additional thickness will
> add insulation value when camping in the cold.
>
> 3. A similar tear is more easily repairable on the air mattress in
the field.
>
> 4. Replacements are available everywhere, for as little as $8.00.
>
> 5. Setup takes about the same time as the Thermarest, buy stowage of
> the air mattress seems to take longer.
>
> So, on my next trip out, I'll be going with the inflatable mattress.
> If it performs well over a 2-3 week period, I'll stick with it.
>
> Mark
>