Looking For Camping Advice

[hoglaw]

One of my favorite things in the world is a multi-night float trip. When I'm alone or with friends, I always sleep in a Grand Turk Skeeter Beeter hammock with a thermarest in it. I use a tarp or some other kind of light weight homemade rain fly if there's a chance of bad weather, so I never have to carry a tent. My girlfriend loves to camp and is really hooked on smallmouth fishing now. I'm trying to figure out the best way for us to sleep together. On my last trip, I took a coleman air mattress (not new) that I tested before I went. Of course it spring a leak during the night. I woke up on pointy rocks and was about 99% sure we were about to have a really long night. I managed to stop it with a bunch of twine and a patch kit that actually held together that night, but it was really sketchy. I'm never going to trust a cheap air mattress again. I want to be 100% sure that it's not going to fail.

So now I'm thinking my options (other than sleeping in two hammocks) are:

thermarests, or something similar. Cons: I've never thought they were comfortable and they have to be on soft ground (sand or dirt) as opposed to rocks, right? Still need tent on some trips.

Cots. Cons: heavy, bulky, and still need a tent on some trips. Those tent cot things seem cool, but the one for two weighs a ton and is awfully big.

Air mattresses. Cons: I really like the idea and they're comfortable, but I have a hard time relying on them. A night of sitting in a chair or sleeping on rocks is a bad night.

Any suggestions for the best way to camp for 2? I'm thinking it has to be a thermarest, I just don't like the idea of cutting down on my campsite options, as some of my favorite camp sites on the overnights I do often don't have sand on them.

[Jack Jones]

My advice---Hotels!!!!! As humans we have evolved where we no longer have to sleep on the ground and in tents.....but of course if you want to, I will say that my experience with cots is that they've been too firm to really get comfortable. Each persons sleep needs vary, but it wasn't for me. Not enough cushion. I've had good luck with some of the pillow top air mattresses. I would say to just scope the area before laying it out and make sure it's level. worst case throw some foam under it to buffer the rocks.

All of that said.....I have used both indoors when sleeping at friend's houses. I cannot confess to having an outdoors experience with them. But the only difference is the roof, ya know?

[ozark trout fisher]

My advice---Hotels!!!!!

Aw, come on? What's the fun in that?

Most of the fun on a multi-day float trip is just sitting around the campfire under a starry sky, just chilling out, and listening to the river as you go to sleep, then waking up the next morning on a beautiful river full of clear water and fish. Can't get that at a hotel.

[Gavin]

Get some full length fat boy camp pads.....We use REI's 3.5" model...much better than a one or two inch pad......Better than my bed at home, IMO. Great in summer & winter...does a good job in sub-freezing temps if you have a good bag to toss on top...Thermarest pillows are a plus. Cheers.

http://www.rei.com/product/778152/rei-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-pad

[jim1]

Get some full length fat boy camp pads.....We use REI's 3.5" model...much better than a one or two inch pad......Better than my bed at home, IMO. Great in summer & winter...does a good job in sub-freezing temps if you have a good bag to toss on top...Thermarest pillows are a plus. Cheers.

http://www.rei.com/product/778152/rei-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-pad

Buy a new air mattress. I have used them for 5 years without any leaks. They do get old and start leaking. Just be sure you store them properly.

[hoglaw]

Gavin:

Those look pretty cool. Those camp pads have come a long way since my twenty year old thermarests. Can you set them up on gravel pretty effectively? I understand you can't put them on fist sized rocks, but at least something bigger than pea gravel?

Jim, I'm glad you've had good luck with air mattresses. I haven't. One failure in twenty uses is unacceptable for me at this point in my life. The one that went bad was bought last year I think. With both of us on there, we're talking about a combined 350lbs, at least 230 of which is me. Plus an air mattress means bringing a pump, batteries, and a patch kit. I'm trying to downsize my requirements for an overnight or multi-night float trip, even if it means more expensive gear.

[Gavin]

They work pretty well on most any surface thats relatively flat...just kick the big rocks out of the way. An air mattress will work too, but they are usually a pain to inflate or deflate...Jack's Plastics makes the best pads on the market but they are pricey....have my eye on the Silverback when my current pad gives up the ghost.

http://www.jpwinc.com/pages/photo-pacopads.html

[techo]

We started using the Ascend pads this summer and they are sweet. I second the pad vote!

[ollie]

Big Agnes makes a great pad too, although I haven't tried there newest one out yet. I have a mattress as well and don't really like it. The tent cots will be way too heavy unless you have a truck nearby to haul it with. My vote is with a pad or get her another hammock. Although I have wondered about the hammack and where you would put one? I know where they go, but the creek is so low right now I would think you would have to hang it far back from the water just to find trees!

[FishinCricket]

I have two responses, pick one (and only one):

My girlfriend loves to camp and is really hooked on smallmouth fishing now. I'm trying to figure out the best way for us to sleep together.

Why mess with a good thing? Find someone else to sleep with!!

Or:

I'm trying to figure out the best way for us to sleep together

They make a book (either "The Birds and Bees" or "Kama Sutra") that explains all that.. And besides, this is a family forum!!