| Do you know how important camping beds are | | | | ones simply do not. You cannot rely on a sleeping |
| when you camp? The right choice is going to help | | | | bag to keep you warm all night when you're |
| you to stay warm all night long and help to make | | | | sleeping on the ground. It simply won't. Especially |
| your camping trip more enjoyable overall. | | | | on cooler nights and early or late in the season. A |
| There are different types of beds available. | | | | sleeping bag needs to be used in conjunction with |
| We've all seen the ones from Wal-Mart that could | | | | a good sleeping pad to keep you warm and that |
| double as a spare bed for when you have guests | | | | will allow you to be comfortable. |
| at you house. The other end of the scale of | | | | Some folks will choose to use an air mattress but |
| course is the sleeping bag. | | | | they're not really the best choice either. They do |
| For me those big bulky beds from Wal-Mart just | | | | get you of the ground but often your heavier mid |
| are not the way to go. Sure they're probably | | | | section will still touch the ground unless the |
| very comfortable but to lug something that size | | | | mattress is overfilled, in which case it's no longer |
| around on any camping trip I would go on is just | | | | comfortable. Besides all of that they make a lot |
| far too much work. I like to go smaller than that. | | | | of noise while you toss and turn and you just |
| They're a good choice when you're car camping | | | | don't sleep as well as a result. |
| and don't have to be mobile but if you're hiking or | | | | A good self inflating sleeping pad will be both |
| paddling then those ones are just too large. | | | | warm and comfortable and is also very rugged so |
| Folding cots are a better choice than an actual | | | | you'll be able to use it on many trips to come. |
| folding bed but even they can be too large in my | | | | They can be somewhat expensive but you don't |
| opinion. They're certainly more comfortable than | | | | need to buy the most expensive one. There's |
| sleeping on the rocks but defintely at the cost of | | | | always one available that is mid priced and |
| taking up space in your backpack and by adding | | | | excellent quality. I have bought several and know |
| weight to your load. | | | | from experience that the best ones are made by |
| My bed of choice is the self inflating mattress and | | | | Thermarest. There are others that are similar in |
| for a number of reasons. First of all they're light | | | | construction and quality to the Thermarest |
| and so they only add a marginal amount of | | | | mattresses but be sure to look for one where |
| weight to your pack. Secondly, they can be | | | | the foam core is physically attached to the out |
| lashed to the outside of your pack and will stay | | | | lining. This keeps the lining from spinning around on |
| compressed until you are finally ready to open it | | | | itself when you move around on it. |
| up and inflate it. Last but certainly not least, they | | | | There are a few options for you here. It really |
| offer excellent insulation value when you're on the | | | | depends on the type of camping your doing. RV |
| trail. | | | | camping or camping out of your car offers more |
| You obviously can choose whatever camping bed | | | | room for bigger items like the Wal-Mart camp bed |
| you like but here is the single most important | | | | where backpacking and paddling pretty much |
| thing to consider when buying one. That is the | | | | demand the self inflating air mattress. The |
| insulation factor. The big beds will offer insulation | | | | important thing is that you get off the ground. |
| because their mattresses are made from some | | | | That's the best way to stay warm and |
| sort of foam but not all foams are created equal. | | | | comfortable. |
| Some foams insulate very well and other cheaper | | | | |