Sleeping Pad vs Camp Bed - Which is Best??? ***CONTROVERSIAL***

[@CampingSecretsUK]

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[@fatherdamo2]

Sleeping well is my hiking super power, thus I use the Helinox along with a soft inflated Thermarest wide mat on top. Also a fillo luxury pilow. The extra kilo is worth it for me. It's like being in my own bed and sleep so well I'm fully recharged for the next day.

[@CampingSecretsUK]

@@fatherdamo2 good to hear it! There's alot of negativity about the helinox on here but I think it can work well for certain people's requirements. Thanks for your post!

[@rufusduck71]

So recently ive cracked the comfort issue ive had camping for the past 35 years . Use 2 inflatable sleep mats one on top of the other .bottom one is blown up hard ish and top one is very soft . You sink into the top mat and it contours to your body stopping the morning aches .and the bottom mat keeps you off the ground .you get excellent insulation from the ground and you dont need super heavy or expensive mats .2 cheap amazon or oex mats will work You also have a back up mat incase you have a failure in one .2 air mats at 400 grm each for £40 each .and you will be warmer ,more comfortable , lighter ,and cheaper than both your options above . Try it .

[@CampingSecretsUK]

Liking this Rufus! Do you get any problems with the top one sliding off the bottom one in the night? Sliding is my main bugbear with sleeping pads....

[@rufusduck71]

No I've not had that issue at all to be fair and I did expect it .2 rings of shock cord 1 top and bottom would solve it if it did become a problem but so far it's not happened. I'm out in a 2 man tent this weekend for a couple of nights so will see if the extra space (compared to a 1man tent ) males a difference . I've been sleeping a solid 8 hours without waking through the night .and have no aching back or dead arms in the morning .

[@CampingSecretsUK]

@@rufusduck71 great stuff mate - thanks for the update and enjoy the camp!

[@Tennouseijin]

Yeah, for some people 'ultralight' might work. For me, if I can't sleep, I can't walk ;) Some extra weight to actually get good sleep sounds like a good deal.

[@blood2seeker]

I use a sleeping pad on top of the cot. Best sleep ever. Just have to deal with the bulk and weight.

[@CampingSecretsUK]

Luxury!!

[@checker3694]

What sleeping pad R rating would you recommend for fall winter uk on a cot, would it not need to be as high R as its of the ground

[@thecorporategypsy]

Very helpful. So in colder weather did you put your insulated air mattress on top of the bed?

[@CampingSecretsUK]

I have tried that and it's comfortable, but only works well if you've got a huge pack or you're travelling by car. Alot of weight.

[@thecorporategypsy]

@ I travel by motorcycle. There are pads like the ether light with an R value of 6+ yet are thin. So they suck on the ground as only inch/inch and a half thick but might be perfect with this cot

[@willg2267]

Hi, just a quick note, with your sleeping mat inflating bag if you do one soft blow into it at around 15 cm away it draws all the air around your blow into it saving you from whipping it round trying to get air. There's probably a KZbin video explaining it😊

[@willg2267]

Also means you can keep it attached to the mat

[@CampingSecretsUK]

Ooh I like this! This could be the ultimate camping secret!!! Will try, and if it works, I'll do a video and credit you!

[@dallan7740]

@@CampingSecretsUK I know the OP has covered this, but the secret is not blowing too close. If you're too close, you're only filling it with air from your lungs, if you're just the right distance, you create a stream that draws in the air around.

[@roaduser6438]

​@@CampingSecretsUK Did you try it and succeed? Your breath pulls surrounding air with it if done from the correct distance. Easily fills a bag that size with no swishing.

[@louiskirby4266]

Thanks Cobba options are the key get both

[@yudhakusumaatmadja6847]

I use both to protect from snake bite from under the cot

[@timfuller6206]

I think you hit the nail on the head with the slippery nature of sleeping pads and they can puncture. The cot wins it for me every time

[@markperry222]

Would love a cot but cannot afford the Helinox. I found a couple of potential issues with some, not all, cheaper cots. Many cheaper camping cots are much taller, and in a backpacking tent, dome tent or one with sloping end walls , this height pushes up into a narrower part of the tent higher up, and touches the end walls. Look for a cot that is low profile, maybe the same height as the Helinox. All the cheaper low profile cots I looked at in the past had a very poor weight limit. I think some were only about 80kg. Not much good for bigger people, and with such a low limit I would also question the durability at the top of that weight limit. Just a couple of thoughts of things you need to check if buying a cheaper cot.

[@CampingSecretsUK]

yes I've looked at the cheaper ones too and not found anything that quite matches the Helinox. That being said, it's ridiculously expensive. Great comment!

[@toritori4430]

Theres a much cheaper just as good version of the helinox cot . The F.E Active 👍

[@johnweightman2002]

You couldn’t have made inflating that mat more difficult if you’d tried! It is very simple and effective if you do it properly. Like having it unrolled before you start.

[@fkb9490]

You are using the wrong method to fill the stuff sack with air. Just open it fully and blow just one breath of air into it. Your one breath with pull sufficient other air into the stuff sack to fill it completely.

[@CampingSecretsUK]

Yes thanks for this, someone else mentioned it. Will definitely try your approach. I always previously avoided blowing moist breath into the pad

[@paulmatthews4293]

@@CampingSecretsUK It appears that moist isn't the problem we all thought it was, BUT when you so the blow like this it's quite magical the amount of air you get compared to what you actually blow. That said, the flextail pumps are awesome.

[@michaelstartin405]

What was the white of the airport added onto the white the mattress

[@gymbobjoe1091]

That sleeping pad is absolutely wild. So so heavy, for that weight a terrible R rating of which you'd want to be high if your pad is that heavy. Your advice saying a r value of 2.? Is just wrong. Winter months you want a minimum of 4. Time to invest I feel.

[@CampingSecretsUK]

yeah thanks for the feedback - I'm getting the feeling i need to fork out for a decent pad! I'll have to brace myself!

[@tikebkaatar]

I've never heard of an inflatable pad that heavy. I'll admit I stopped watching after that as couldn't see a point to watching anymore

[@CampingSecretsUK]

I don't blame you if weight is your primary concern

[@dallan7740]

He did caveat the comparison throughout saying that his pad was in particular quite heavy. You should watch the whole thing. Was very good.

[@ulbushcrafting6592]

10 pumps with that bag? Come on dude, MAYBE 4, probably 3. 15 minutes? Come on dude, maybe 4 minutes. I prefer cots btw. But not that one. Pain to assemble, and WAY TOO much money. Assemble on that bad boy is about 7 minutes, not 3.

[@CampingSecretsUK]

I probably need to practice with the bag as I didn't get on with it the first time I used it. Prefer the pump. Not sure what you mean by the bed. Timed it at 3 mins

[@ulbushcrafting6592]

@@CampingSecretsUK I understand. You don’t have to do sweeping motions, like most believe. Just like putting together that cot, it takes practice. And I was incorrect thinking you took longer than 3 minutes- my apologies. I would think you would get tired of assembling that, but I would be wrong since you have had it so long. The one thing keeping me from purchasing that particular cot is the height, or lack their of, off the ground. I tried two cots- Alps Mountaineering & NatureHike. The first one is low to the ground while the later has removable leg extenders. I LOVE the leg extensions! It feels normal this way. Laying on the ground or close to it, and being shut-in while in a tent, makes me feel like a glorified homeless person! Why 🤷🏻‍♂️. Especially when you do t have too. Technology has improved since the Pilgrim times. 🤣. Again, thanks for taking the time to make a terrific review