Sleeping pad/air matress option of a camping on relatively rocky ground

[DesiPower]

This place we are going camping to is known for not being the best camping ground. Any camping pros here? any recommendations? I am thinking about getting an air mattress, queen size, for the kids and myself and SO will rely on padded sleeping bags. Camping supply space will be limited to whatever the cargo area of highlander can hold (camping for one night only). Any recommendations?

 

[Dirigible]

I don't know what a padded sleeping bag is, but unless it's a lot of padding, you'll be quite uncomfortable.

 

[BoomerD]

Fuck sleeping on the ground.

 

[cabri]

Clear the area of rocks; put a 1-2" foam pad under the sleeping bags with a ground sheet on the ground itself.

Worked well in scouts for 7 years and a close to a thousand miles along the Appalachian Trail and the Berkshire, Green and White mountain range all the way up past Mt Katahdin in Maine

 

[irishScott]

WTF is a padded sleeping bag? Counting on goose down or synthetic insulation to provide a good sleeping surface is a bad idea even on good ground. It'll be cold and uncomfortable.

The air mattress will work fine assuming you're car camping and not backpacking. At the absolute minimum you need a foam sleeping pad to provide some cushioning and insulate from the ground. Make sure the length/width is correct for whoever'll be using it.

http://www.rei.com/c/sleeping-pads?...g-pads-cots-and-hammocks|sleeping-pads&page=1

 

[stargazr]

An inexpensive hammock with a tarp.

 

[BoomerD]

An inexpensive hammock with a tarp.

Hell yes...might as well provide the bears with a rotisserie...

 

[stargazr]

Hell yes...might as well provide the bears with a rotisserie...

I'm sure they would appreciate it.

 

[Telgin]

I'm sure they would appreciate it.

I'd take a pistol, 45 cal FMJ rounds or so for bears. Never hurts to be prepared. I use hammocks, and rain fly. Get them from Dick's or any good outdoor hiking store. Boomer, how come I don't see you on Reef Central any longer?

 

[lxskllr]

I use an old military foam mat. It's cheap, and it works. I don't like inflatable crap. It's just something else to break when you need it.

 

[DesiPower]

Clear the area of rocks; put a 1-2" foam pad under the sleeping bags with a ground sheet on the ground itself.

Worked well in scouts for 7 years and a close to a thousand miles along the Appalachian Trail and the Berkshire, Green and White mountain range all the way up past Mt Katahdin in Maine

Dang, I am looking in Amazon and pads 2 inch or thicker are more expensive than airbeds... do you remember where you bought yours from and how much you paid?

 

[BoomerD]

I'd take a pistol, 45 cal FMJ rounds or so for bears. Never hurts to be prepared. I use hammocks, and rain fly. Get them from Dick's or any good outdoor hiking store. Boomer, how come I don't see you on Reef Central any longer?

Took down my last tank in 2005 or 2006.

 

[Telgin]

Took down my last tank in 2005 or 2006.

Oh, OK. I missed you in the Reef Chemistry forum.......

 

[inachu]

THe old pros just dig out the rocks then dump the dirt back into the hole then you got a nice sleeping spot. Commonly takes up to just 20 minutes to do.

I did that when I fought the yellowstone fire back in 1988.

 

[BoomerD]

Oh, OK. I missed you in the Reef Chemistry forum.......

Do you have the right guy? I was a regular on RC for quite a while, but...
BoomerD is chemistry stupid.

 

[jonny13]

An inexpensive hammock with a tarp.

After spending many nights on the ground with a nice pad in a tent, I finally went to hammock sleeping a couple years ago and it's great. Especially up in the BWCA in northern Minnesota where it's very rock and no flat ground. An Eagle Nest Doublenest and some straps and you'll never look back.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I use an air mattress on top of high density foam. Get a cloth mattress bag so, you get better air circulation. The combination sits atop a wood break down bed frame with storage around the edge for plastic bins to store clothes and what not. The frame stores flat.

 

[waffleironhead]

Thermarest pad? 2" thick, self inflating.

http://www.amazon.com/Therm-A-Rest-...sbs_sg_24?ie=UTF8&refRID=0Y43X0V6TMQRTDQMV7VY

Looks like there are some cheaper knock offs out there as well nowadays.