One aspect that I struggled with a bit was that if you just leave it to self inflate, you'll end up with a mattress that's on the softer side. So much so that if you put all your weight down in one area, you will hit the ground underneath (this sensation is exacerbated if you go for a one-person-on-a-double situation, so choose wisely before scaling up so you can starfish). However, if you spread out a bit and you've got a lovely cushiony soft surface that's amongst the very comfiest camping beds I've ever slept on. You can feel if a mattress-mate shifts around next to you, but the movement is dulled, so you won't have the sensation of being near bounced out of the tent, as can be the case with air mattresses. Elastic Fabric – Produced using a soft, elastic yarn knitted into a comfortable fabric providing a home-from-home feeling with the best possible night’s sleep The Shangri-La is exceptionally easy to inflate and deflate, and this is one of its major strengths. The Cyclone ‘flip-valve’ as seen on the Comfort 10 Double is a joy to use. Simply flip it around to the correct airflow direction required. Inflation happens automatically, and deflation can be achieved in a couple of minutes by the old “roll and kneel” manoeuvre. The comfort of the MondoKing is exceptionally good. I lay down on it for a few minutes to ‘test it out’ and found myself dropping off surprisingly rapidly – that wasn’t the plan, but it’s testament to the cushioning on offer. Thermarest use a ‘Stratacore’ construction to achieve this which combines a continuous layer of thermal foam with alternating ridges of air and foam. It works very well. In use, the comfort is very good indeed, and provides just enough support for up to around 15 stone in weight. If more support is needed then air can be blown into the top valve – this makes the top surface more taut, but less comfortable.

For the latest information and advice on COVID-19, please refer to the latest updates by the UK Government. The Vango Shangri-La II Double 15cm is an exciting addition to the range that brings superior comfort to your camping trip. The luxury feel is achieved through a knitted, soft feel, elastic yarn on the surface. The three dimensional construction with vertical walls adds to the comfort further, whilst creating a flat sleeping surface which remains supportive over the whole area. Durability is ensured by the high quality, precision construction and modern TPU lamination. The latter feature also enables the self-inflating mat to compress down further and at a lighter weight. This luxurious item is also easy to use, with two cyclone valves ensuring rapid, unaided inflation. Moving to the present day and there’s now an extremely wide variety of camping mats and camping mattresses on the market – some of them self inflate (the topic of this article) whereas others require pumping – either via a hand pump, pump bag (a simple way of filling a bag with dry air which can then be squeezed into the SIM via a valve) or electric pump. Camping Mat vs Camping MattressAt Camping Secrets we often like to highlight niche products we uncover which accomplish a task in a clever way, whilst maintaining quality and value. The 3rd generation IForrest Sleeping Pad accomplishes this task extremely successfully. In terms of dimensions and operation, the Dreamcatcher is pretty standard in most areas. However, the inflated size is a little restricted compared to the more expensive Vango and Berghaus options – the length is 195cm (just under 6ft5) and so we would recommend either of those two over the Outwell if you’re lanky like me.

With Vango goods you are are always assured of decent quality fabrics and components, and the company have extensive experience in the inflatable arena with their tents and sofas. We recommend an R-Value of 3 or higher for 3-season use, and 5 or higher if you will be lying on the ground in winter too. One good feature of the Ultim is that both the single and the double SIMs in the range come with clips which enable you to join up multiple SIMs into an enormous bed. Perfect to practice your gymnastic routine on after a few beers! Inflation is simple and obviously doesn’t require a pump. Simply undo the valve and the air will gush in with full inflation after 5-10 minutes. At this point tighten up the valve and you are ready to climb on board. Inflated size for the Ultim is 200 x 136 x 8cm which is enough for most people under 6ft 6 inches in height. The Ultim In Use Operation is simple. The Berghaus uses a rotatable ‘flip valve’ with a protective sealed cap to secure in place. When the flip valve is is one position air can get in but not escape (i.e. use when inflating). In the other orientation, air can escape but not get in – use for deflating.Single-Layer Stitch Construction - Reduces cold spots by ensuring the fill is evenly distributed within the bag There’s no denying that the SIM was comfortable for my wife though who is a much more svelte 11 stone. OK, 10.5 stone – she’s watching me type! Vertical Walls - The Mattress is three-dimensionally constructed with vertical walls so all upper surface is usable providing a bigger surface area and more comfortable sleep.