Camping stuff ?

[Itchy]

Horses for courses of course but I went out to a camping type shop and saw 3 choices:

The traditional roll mat which I've seen on many bike tourists pictures

https://www.lasoutdoors.com/images/Roll%20mats.JPG

I think that they are light and cheap,

Couple steps down in the camping shop I saw one of these

https://www.lasoutdoors.com/images/Single%20flock%20airbed%20AIR26.JPG

Its like a phone book size and of similar weight. fit into a panier sideways (I still have a completely empty panier).

A couple steps down I saw one of these

https://www.jacksons-camping.co.uk/folding/New%20concept/Camp%20Bed2.jpg

It is much heavier tipping the scales at 5 kilos, however it is of equal size to the roll mat (the first picture) in terms of bulk (length and circumference).

What are everybody's experiences of each one? This is for the Spanish trip , where it will be warm , and perhaps cold during the nights.

Thanks

(and yes a n00b question but as said I've never been camping before and want to have a try next weekend before I go in two weeks time).
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[G]

Don't like any of them.
Have used many foam mats - too thin and generally too small.
Airbeds - always end up with an elbow or similar on the ground as that's where the most pressure is. Bit too 'bouncy' for my liking.
Metal-framed bed thingy. Have used one exactly the same. Makes a nice bench. Too curved for my liking sleeping on it.
It's actually dusty's one and he always had trouble when he used it in tents - because it's quite high, it's been too big for the tent. so he's had to leave the door open, with his feet out the door.

I've just ordered myself another Fat Airic, because mine has disappeared.
https://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16215
Far from the smallest of such things, but inflated is 7.3cm which gives decent comfort and insulation. Nice if it was a little bit wider still, but otherwise combines the best of an airbed and foam mat for me.

As mentioned in the thread I put up recently, I reckon one of the sleeping bags that has a pocket for these would be a pretty good combo (I'm always waking up half-off the mat).

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

Fat Airic gets my vote too.
Aric range

I've had mine for a few years now, and can't fault it. The website says it's "a beast" and it's "large" - but don't forget that Alpkit is aimed at folks who carry all their gear on their back - not on a motorcycle. I don't think the Fat Airic is too big at all. I also have a Thermarest - which costs around twice the price of an Airic. This does roll up smaller, and is just as comfortable despite being thinner.
Out of the two, the Airic get the most use ( in fact I couldn't tell you the last time I used the Thermarest )
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[colin1]

I've got a netto equivalent of the fat airc thing. I think it cost me about a tenner.

Its like a cross between an airbed and a foam mat. Best of both worlds.

I regret not buying a camp bed tho when on special. Daft really as I hardly ever go camping.

While on the subject, i recomend silk sleeping bag liners from ebay.
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[Flip]

I use an army grade roll mat when camping on the bike. Straps to the back of the bike, weighs f*ck all and leaves the panniers free for all the sh1te Mrs Flip brings. I sleep on it fine but I've usuallly had a few beers when I'm camping.

[Kris]

Both times I've toured I've actually forgotten to take roll mats so had to make do by laying the rest of my clothing over my bike jacket and sleeping on that instead. Not great...

The basic roll-mat is what I'd use though. Cheap and light enough to completely forget about.

I've previously camped on airbeds and found them a pain in the arse. i.e. you shift some weight onto your side and every other area rises making the new found sleeping position even more uncomfortable...

The in-laws have one of those ally camping beds and I've kipped in the house on one. Bit more comfy than the others IME but my long legs meant my ankles were resting on the bottom frame. Not comfy Also, as Gman says, would it fit in a small tent? I think not.


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[stinkwheel]

I use a backpacking therm-a-rest. Comfy, warm and packs small. I can get two of them in an oxford sports pannier (not expanded) and still have room for three bottles of wine.

I also worked out a handy tip last weekend which is to put the rubber mesh netting you use to protect the bodywork from the panniers underneath your mat it to stop it sliding about in the tent if you pitch on a slight slope.
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[virus]

If you only want a thin mat, much like the top one, then hunt for a German army sleeping mat, they are £5 at the most, same level of comfort, except they fold up square rather than roll, so take up next to no space, they fit perfectly down the back of a Bergen, and they pack so small you could take 2 if you want.


Cheers
John
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stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Serendipity]

I spent years using the roll mats and they are very good. Tough, cheap, lightweight and fairly comfortable. We used to call them karrimatts, presumably after the Karrimor branded ones.

I started using Thermarests about seven or eight years ago and they are much more comfortable and still very light. They pack down smaller than the roll mats and I find they easily squeeze into panniers. I bought two and a strap kit to fix them next to each other to make a double. When combined with zip together sleeping bags and a member of the opposite sex it makes for a very civilised experience.

Also tried airbeds, but the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. As mentioned by others above the movement of air beds is a pain, but my biggest complaint is that you lose all the headroom in the tent. I guess this would apply to the camp bed option too, although I’ve never used one myself.

So my vote is:

1st place = roll mat – cheap, light, virtually indestructible and mostly waterproof.

2nd place = Thermarest – pricey, but good quality. Light, compact and tough, but could be punctured if abused.

3rd place = airbed – heavy, bulky, needs inflating and steals all your headroom!

I haven’t even placed the camp bed due to lack of experience. If used on extremely stony or uneven ground I expect they’re worth considering.

Have you got your tent yet? I find a small four man tent works best for me. Room enough for two if the weather closes in with space to spare for the luggage. Two man is ok for solo camping, but gets cramped if you have to retreat from the rain.
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[Handsome]

On the bike I use a roll mat, unless there's loads of us going then one will carry the air beds and dish out other stuff amongst the rest...

In the car it's the air bed every time...
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[yambabe]

Wouldn't camp without my airbed these days, old bones and all that.

We have a double for when we are both going but if I am on my own I use a lilo rather than an airbed.

Packs down small, weighs nothing, can be blown up with breath wthout hurting if you don't have a pump handy, comfy as anything (especially if you get the ones with the sort of spring/pocket constuction), fairly tough and vey very cheap (under a £5, sometimes the £1 shop have them!)

My current one is one of these
https://www.jakabel.com/images/toys_pocket_lounger.jpg
and I've had it for about 3 years (although we did have 2 and 1 burst)

Look out for supermarkets for tent bargains.

Re tents, we have all sizes from a big 2-bedroom thing to a tiny one-man single skin! Our main tent is a 3-man (allegedly) tunnel that has a living space as big as the bedroom which is handy for 2 of us as I can put the table/cooker/chairs up in the front bit. However if I am camping solo I use a 2-man dome with a small porch as I find this quite big enough for me, my airbed, my panniers and my helmet & jacket!
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[oriel dave]

Does nobody else not bother with the rollmat?

I just sleep on the ground and it's usually fine.

To be fair I am usually a bit pished by the time it comes to sleeping..

[barnhatter]

I use a cheap backpacking tent single pole takes 10 min to errect, I have a 3 reed inflatable mat takes 3 min to inflate.
Both take a mininum space and weight. I don't cook so no stove stpping for coffee after an hour in the morning.
This works for me travel light and easy.