Camping mats, sleeping mats, whatever you want to call them.

[weeksy]

Currently thinking/planning our adventures to Spain/france.

We've got a fair few nights in the van/tent and it's going to be 'interesting', we've managed to stick in a place or two with a washing machine as well to get riding kit cleaned up and get us both showered etc. But we will be having several nights with both me and the boy sleeping in the van/tent.

So starting a small list of things we need and first on there is a mattress.

We've got 2 blow up ones which are cheap and cheerful and do actually stay inflated fine, but they're quite 'noisy' on the floor of the van as they flex/move a lot. So the boy has been using a cheap 40 year old self inflating one.

Thought i'd break the bank and get a slightly more modern version to try out

https://www.blacks.co.uk/16552499/outwe ... bsQAvD_BwE

OutwellDreamcatcher Single Sleeping Mat (5cm)

Just ordered so we'll see in the next few days.

Recommendations wanted though, just in case this isn't the holy grail

[mangocrazy]

What dates will you be away and what locations will you be visiting? I'll be at the moneypit from early/mid April to early/mid June. If you're near, pop in...

[Count Steer]

I've always used Therm-a-rest and they're

However, one if my key requirements was light weight because I had to carry them. As ever with such things, the lighter the weight, the higher the cost - they can be a bit spendy.

Assuming most similar thickness mats are the same, one thing I have learned is to blow 'em up as hard as your lungs will go otherwise at pressure points like the hips you don't get much insulation.

With the luxury of a van to carry stuff you could also put a Kampamat underneath for extra comfort, insulation, noise deadening.

[weeksy]

What dates will you be away and what locations will you be visiting? I'll be at the moneypit from early/mid April to early/mid June. If you're near, pop in...

Leaving UK end of July, from there to Deols then to La Molina in Spain, then to Pal Arinsal Andorra, then to Meze, then to Les Menuires, then to Morzine, then back to Les Menuires, then home at the end of August.

[MrLongbeard]

With the luxury of a van to carry stuff

I'd be off down my local 'Go Outdoors' and trying out every carp fishermans bed they had in stock, or an army surplus folding bed

[weeksy]

With the luxury of a van to carry stuff

I'd be off down my local 'Go Outdoors' and trying out every carp fishermans bed they had in stock, or an army surplus folding bed

Yeah not tried any of those, i'm not sure i'd get on with them, but i'm not completely against the idea.

[mangocrazy]

What dates will you be away and what locations will you be visiting? I'll be at the moneypit from early/mid April to early/mid June. If you're near, pop in...

Leaving UK end of July, from there to Deols then to La Molina in Spain, then to Pal Arinsal Andorra, then to Meze, then to Les Menuires, then to Morzine, then back to Les Menuires, then home at the end of August.

Ah, OK - ze Crazy Eenglish who visit in the hottest part of the year (School hols, I guess?). We're only a short distance from Meze, but doubt I'll be in residence mid-August time. Never say never, though...

[weeksy]

What dates will you be away and what locations will you be visiting? I'll be at the moneypit from early/mid April to early/mid June. If you're near, pop in...

Leaving UK end of July, from there to Deols then to La Molina in Spain, then to Pal Arinsal Andorra, then to Meze, then to Les Menuires, then to Morzine, then back to Les Menuires, then home at the end of August.

Ah, OK - ze Crazy Eenglish who visit in the hottest part of the year (School hols, I guess?). We're only a short distance from Meze, but doubt I'll be in residence mid-August time. Never say never, though...

MTB European Championships and other races, as well as riding and family holiday.

[MrLongbeard]

With the luxury of a van to carry stuff

I'd be off down my local 'Go Outdoors' and trying out every carp fishermans bed they had in stock, or an army surplus folding bed

Yeah not tried any of those, i'm not sure i'd get on with them, but i'm not completely against the idea.

They always seemed comfy enough to me for the 20 minutes or so I've tried them in store, after that the staff get snippy with you.
If you've got weight / space constraints then blow up mattresses have their place, but if you don't need to sleep on the floor then don't.

[Rockburner]

Re the mattresses on the floor of the van: might be worth putting down a bit of rug/carpet (off-cut from a fitted carpet would be ideal). Should stop the squeaking, and also provide a bit of insulation. (not that you'll need insulation at that time of year - but it does still get cold overnight in the mountains).

If you sleep on your side, get the thickest mattress you can. I can't sleep on a single Thermarest because they're too thin and my hips start bouncing off the floor. Last time I camped I think I was on 3 of them... (was travelling by bike, 3 thermarests take up less space than 1 think mattress when compressed)

[weeksy]

I'd be off down my local 'Go Outdoors' and trying out every carp fishermans bed they had in stock, or an army surplus folding bed

Yeah not tried any of those, i'm not sure i'd get on with them, but i'm not completely against the idea.

They always seemed comfy enough to me for the 20 minutes or so I've tried them in store, after that the staff get snippy with you.
If you've got weight / space constraints then blow up mattresses have their place, but if you don't need to sleep on the floor then don't.

Well in my defence, we're kinda used to it now having done approx 20 weekends away in the last 2 years with one of us in the van and the other in tent next to it. Space isn't an issue though no. ease and speed of breaking it down can be at times though. We often take a full sized single Tempur mattress or even 2, but not sure we will for this trip as they're a little bulky lol.

[Rockburner]

What dates will you be away and what locations will you be visiting? I'll be at the moneypit from early/mid April to early/mid June. If you're near, pop in...

Leaving UK end of July, from there to Deols then to La Molina in Spain, then to Pal Arinsal Andorra, then to Meze, then to Les Menuires, then to Morzine, then back to Les Menuires, then home at the end of August.

Ah, OK - ze Crazy Eenglish who visit in the hottest part of the year (School hols, I guess?). We're only a short distance from Meze, but doubt I'll be in residence mid-August time. Never say never, though...

I'm happy to volunteer to be "in residence" for a week or two in August....

[mangocrazy]

Leaving UK end of July, from there to Deols then to La Molina in Spain, then to Pal Arinsal Andorra, then to Meze, then to Les Menuires, then to Morzine, then back to Les Menuires, then home at the end of August.

Ah, OK - ze Crazy Eenglish who visit in the hottest part of the year (School hols, I guess?). We're only a short distance from Meze, but doubt I'll be in residence mid-August time. Never say never, though...

MTB European Championships and other races, as well as riding and family holiday.

Yes, guessed it was all tied into MTB-ing. You'll be travelling through some very nice parts of Spain/France (as I'm sure you know). Meze is for a bit of seaside/family holiday time, I guess? Lots of great seafood from the close by Bassin de Thau lagoon.

[weeksy]

MEze is a 12 hour thing only, it's when we're heading from Andorra to Les Menuires and is literally an overnight stopping point with a washing machine

However, i do like a nice bit of seafood so that could be very welcome in the evening we are there.

[mangocrazy]

Pair your seafood with a chilled bottle of Picpoul de Pinet white wine (very local) and you'll be golden...

[Count Steer]

If you sleep on your side, get the thickest mattress you can. I can't sleep on a single Thermarest because they're too thin and my hips start bouncing off the floor. Last time I camped I think I was on 3 of them... (was travelling by bike, 3 thermarests take up less space than 1 think mattress when compressed)

S'why I said blow 'em up as hard as your lungs will go. I had the hip/ground problem on an overnight 'mountain skills' exercise in Wales - it was a pretty cold night. I blew like a blowy thing until it they felt like boards and they were fine.

(Don't have much choice other than 1 mat. Again, for size and weight, our MacPac sleeping bags have no down in the underside, just a big pocket to put a Thermarest in. The idea being that the down gets compressed under you and doesn't insulate anyway. Works a treat and the bags pack to half the size of a standard bag. I could put a Kampamat under, but again you have to carry them and they're bulky).

[Yorick]

What dates will you be away and what locations will you be visiting? I'll be at the moneypit from early/mid April to early/mid June. If you're near, pop in...

Leaving UK end of July, from there to Deols then to La Molina in Spain, then to Pal Arinsal Andorra, then to Meze, then to Les Menuires, then to Morzine, then back to Les Menuires, then home at the end of August.

That sounds awesome

[Noggin]

I ended up with an Exped air mattress. Have to use a pump to get them blown up as they have feathers in them. But they roll up VERY small and for the first time camping I wasn't cold or uncomfortable.

Had I found them a few years before, I might have been persuaded that camping was fun!


I know I wasn't much help last time, but I have a car now and if you need washing sorted (don't know if you are camping there) or any help with stuff, give me a shout. If I happen to be working away whilst you are there, I have a mate in St Martin de Belleville (just below Les Menuires) who understands everything about a son in racing (her's is in slalom ski racing but she still has had to fund raise and manage transport and other stuff) - if I'm not about I'm sure she would help.

[weeksy]

I ended up with an Exped air mattress. Have to use a pump to get them blown up as they have feathers in them. But they roll up VERY small and for the first time camping I wasn't cold or uncomfortable.

Had I found them a few years before, I might have been persuaded that camping was fun!


I know I wasn't much help last time, but I have a car now and if you need washing sorted (don't know if you are camping there) or any help with stuff, give me a shout. If I happen to be working away whilst you are there, I have a mate in St Martin de Belleville (just below Les Menuires) who understands everything about a son in racing (her's is in slalom ski racing but she still has had to fund raise and manage transport and other stuff) - if I'm not about I'm sure she would help.

Thank you. I think we'll be mostly good... the first week will be the toughest as it's 4 days sleeping in a paddock. But the place seems to have a swimming pool etc, so we'll be enjoying ourselves a bit too.

[Mr Moofo]

Is it too late to buy a motor home ?