AirBed for on- and off-the-Playa?

DJ Dominus · Post by **DJ Dominus** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:43 pm

I used a Quest air mattress this last year. They actually sold a $5 no questions asked warranty for it, which I got knowing how low quality air mattresses can be. It worked great. Comes with a battery powered air pump. Velvet topped. Worked great all week. No leaks.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:47 am

mdmf007 wrote:Bas -
That kicks ass, but I have a simpler solution - Taxidermist!
get that little tuxedo wearing bird stuffed

That's what they were going to do with it up in the Twin Cities. I guess it was cheaper for them to stick in a a freezer someplace. I am pretty certain shipping it was cheaper for Drew.

Anyway, the damaged beak is what kept the museum from stuffing the bird.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:46 pm

Yeah - taxidermy is pricy, i like thed the image of a penguin in a cold storage. seems like a fitting decoration

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:18 pm

I liked that it had spent something like 25 to 30 years in an ice cream warehouse being used as a product date marker. Too bad the health inspector finally noticed.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:17 pm

I had this one (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=5079291) and indeed it is was a nice bed. The downside is that it leaks a little air, which was not that bad and if your girlfriend is on top during passionate love making and she has long nails, she might just pop the mattress. Which sucks.

I just bought this one (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=4328286) and it feels like a good Playa choice. The only downside is that you need a standard 120v plug or a car with a 12v to 120v converter to fill this mattress up. However, once you get that thing filled up, your lover will be happy she is with you.

barnz · Post by **barnz** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:07 pm

CapSmashy wrote:I have an Aerobed and it works pretty good around the house for company and for the tent camping trips we have had it on.

I did not take it to the Playa, but if you had access to electricity, it seems it would do fine there. A small inverter would work to plug it into the car and it only takes like a minute to inflate.

... Mrs. Waking Up On The Ground calling for Mr. Aerobed....
Mr. Aerobed, please pick up a white paging telephone for a message from Mrs. Waking Up On The Ground...

Of course this could work great. In fact it should work great. But basically the only other option besides great is....you guessed it... waking up on the ground.

Why do I sound so definitive? Try and guess...

IF you are taking an airmattress, do be sure and test it in real outdoor conditions. Pretty much where ever else you may be camping will be a better place to wake up on the ground than the Playa!

Also, be aware of your fallback position. (Waking up on the ground. Sorry couldn't resist) What will you do when you spring a leak? What will you do when the patch kit you bring (You WILL bring a patch kit, SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR THAT PARTICULAR MATRESS) doesn't fix the problem?

Time to be all boy-scouty and stuff. Be prepared!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:50 pm

I second the FOAM suggestion. I have several 4" foam matteresses in my... yes, school bus. Foam Rubber mattresses come in all kinds of sizes and can be cut down if needed. And they can be rolled up to a reasonably small size. I got mine in a local "Army surplus" store. You can even get them at Wally-World -- tightly packed in a cardboard box -- but those cost more.
You may be amazed how tightly you can pack a 4" foam mattress if you have some extra hands to help squeeze it into a duffel bag or some such.
No way will I ever bother with an air mattress again.

asp3 · Post by **asp3** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:26 am

I used the "tall" Coleman queen size bed last week while visiting my son and I have to give it a thumbs down. It was comfortable enough, but with our pillowtop on it the bottom sheet didn't stay on it and we had roving bottom sheets (which I can't stand.) I will reiterate our love of the regular size Coleman queen size air mattress that's usually in the camping section of the store. It works great and I don't have any problem with the bottom sheet slipping off.

Once again the pillowtop made the mattress very comfortable (even with the shifting sheets) and we had no problem whatsoever with getting sweaty even though we were in a very warm, moist climate.

EB · Post by EB » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:05 pm

I've lugged out the futon (too heavy) and the blow-up Coleman (too leaky) and have found the best mattress is a Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad. They roll up into a small space, self-inflate and they're comfy. They're more expensive but a good night's sleep out there is worth its weight in gold. (how much does sleep weigh?)

My Mileage is 35 city/40 hwy.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:22 pm

I also saw a fella with a simple futon pad, he had it in one of those 8 dollar plastic bed bags from the moving companies.

if you had room - those would be mighty comfortable on playa.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:24 pm

What about something like this?

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:21 am

A friend of mine had something like that tri-fold, and it didn't work well at all-- and that was just to sleep in an apartment, not while out camping. (His was a cheaper version, but, from what I could tell, the basic design is flawed-- not enough padding, folds in the wrong places, and too narrow to stay on while asleep.) Some sort of roll-up pad would work better, IMHO.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:31 am

We used big double trifolds, sans pillow attachment in Japan, slept on the tatami floor for nine years. I was a lot younger, and the key words are "on top of a real tatami floor." I wouldn't use on on the playa.

We use a double self-inflater topped with a memory foam pad. Very Nice, although bulky, but since it rides in the topper, not a problem. Sine we don't let dust into the tent, cleaning either item up hasn't been an issue. Larry hauling on the straps too tightly and tearing the pad casing, yes, but that's why they come with patch kits.

Something like this, but for two people:

http://backpacker.com/gear/4225

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:17 pm

For those tri-folds, the floor would make all the difference!

When I was at BM in 2006, I slept on a folding cot, and I think I had a self inflating pad on top of the cot and under my sleeping bag. I want to get something a bit more comfortable for next time..., and to be at least a bit healthier next time.

Of course, what works for one person might not for another. Some folks don't seem at all bothered by sleeping right on the playa...! I have no idea how someone can sleep like that, but, apparently, some people do.... (Or, maybe, I am just gullible?

)

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:00 pm

Those people are passed out as opposed to sleeping.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:02 am

Ooooo! Now I understand!