Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Thanks for the input. Tensor is the latest model, and is somewhat noisy as well. Hopefully it will break in and quiet down a little as the air xlite did ref @theesotericone post.

 

Picked up a used Oztent RV3 with all the goodies.

Anyone have any good suggestions/real experiences on air mattress setup for 2 people?

I am torn between air/foam Exped which is about $500 or going with a $60 Intex queen air mattress

Exped style would be better for cooler temp (I don't usually camp below 40f) camping and are more comfortable. But they are expensive and low to the ground.

Intex style mattresses are taller and massively cheaper. But don't have insulation and are meh for comfort. I figure the insulation can be fixed by carrying an extra blanket/sleeping bag to put between us and the bed.

 

Comfort first. If it's not comfortable you're sleep will suffer. Buy once cry once.

 

Uninsulated air mattress results in CBS.
Cold
Butt
Syndrome

 

Yeah the more I read the more I am leaning towards foam air hybrid mattress.
I remember the first time hammock camping outside of the summer months, I just used a sleeping bag inside the hammock and my ass was cold, didn't take long for me to get an underquilt

Lost Horizon looks like a pretty good option, queen size and 4.5 inches thick for $250
The Exped Luxe Duo is $550 for the big one.

I've also be thinking of getting a Coleman queen cot since I can find them used for under $100 and throw away the crappy air mattress that comes with it so that way even with a short mattress I can be off the ground and make my life easier.
Every year I get a bit older and every year it seems my body gets a bit stiffer, especially in the mornings.

 

Wife and I went cross country twice now, camping only at State parks all the way out and return.
We started with air mattresses that clipped together, but went to the self filling air/foam "camp pads" after about 6 nights out. We both slept better for the change.
I'm a front or back sleeper, she is a side sleeper. The self filling air/foam matts worked for both.

We got it down where we can Pull in, get the tent up, the bags rolled out and the pads filling in about 15 minutes tops. I get the Coleman stove going while she fluffs the bed covers ;-)

It seems like "less is more"! For us. But we are old, so there is that.

 

That's awesome.
My wife and I sleep the same and like the same firmness so that's why I am looking at double or queen mats.
Ideally I want the quickest, easiest setup. That's why I got the Oztent.


It's a shame the Hest mattress' don't fit in my truck, we have their pillows and they are so comfortable. We bring them even when we go to hotels.
I could get 2 of their Foamy pads but that is damn near $700

 

You seem to hint a duo, not a solo pad.
And you keep saying Exped.

We got Deep Sleep. There is a Duo model. Costs less than Megamat.

 

After some reddit research I decided on Lost Horizon mattress.
The Lost Horizon was $200 with a pump and just testing it out I couldn't tell the difference between this one and the Exped.

I tried exped and nemo at REI. Nemo didn't seem as firm as I like but the Exped was so nice, only thing is it is almost $600 with tax and I'd still need a pump.
Though the Exped Luxe did have a much nicer feel to it, I plan on buying the Nemo Jazz sleeping bag, so the top layer shouldn't really matter much.

 

is that too old ya think?

 

I think we have the same or similar, it was pricey from REI , going to spend next week on it it’s very comfortable, it’s gotten a lot of use this year

 

I usually have a few hundred dollars in REI rewards but I spent it on new binoculars and camp kitchen goodies. So that was one of the other reasons I went cheap on the mattress.

 

We’ve eaten some of ours that’s been out of date, seemed fine. My bear spray is also out of date, I live on the edge

 

I’m retired, there’s a store about 50 miles away, go there for big purchases. Been a member for years, I asked them if they could tell me when I joined, 1977 , really felt old then

 

I live about 3 miles from one of their flagship stores so I shop there quite often. I've been a member for about 20 years. One of the guys I bike with has also been a member since the late 70s/early 80s.

 

The Fishing Car , solo trip, I sleep in the back of my truck, Luno air mattress, pretty comfortable

 

I say go for it!


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ultimate-camping-thread.117444/page-277#post-25341584


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ing-gear-thread.340757/page-412#post-18423302

 

Best tent I've ever owned is the Durston X-Mid 2P. I've used it many times. Super light weight, fast pitch. Spacious. Fairly priced. Well made. I've never used, nor needed a groundsheet. Every tent I've ever used since getting one of these has compared unfavorably in some way to my X-mid. The dude just nailed the design of them.

Durston | X-Mid 2 Ultralight Tent

You can pin the fly to the ground to help limit drafts in cold.

If you are camping mostly in high wind low temps:
Durston | X-Mid 2 Solid Ultralight Tent

Similar as the first, but more focused on wind and cold resistance.

 

Thanks, I’ve some backups and I’m not going too far in…

just testing my old water filter and it was leaking. Body warping around the “newish” filter housing. Took a wrench to get it out! Put some chapstick on the threads and O rings, gently screwed it back together, and seems fine now.
Glad I tested it.

 

im not into trekking pole tents myself, but I did talk to Dan about the x dome. I was wanting to get into one but having a hard time justifying it since I have tents that are lighter and about the same price.

He said he’s hoping by next summer to have a x dome in dyneema to bring to market.

If it comes out to about 750 grams I all in. It will be more freestanding and durable than my Nemo hornet osmo elite, and about the same weight.