Finding a quality air matress

[yakimarcher]

I've had a handfull of air matresses over the years and they all leaked. they usually start off only losing a little air over night and after a dozen or so nights they go flat in just a couple of hours. Now the time has come to geet a new one, can anyone point me in the direction of one that lasts a little longer?

[pianoman9701]

Coleman usually works fine for a couple years at about $30 a pop.

[yakimarcher]

not to bash any brand and most coleman gear is great, but coleman is what i've been using.

[rtspring]

did the air matress thing for years, they all suck in my mind..

Ever try a cot?  Try the BIG BOY cot from Davis Tent  out of colorado, has a setting on it to firm it up or soften it.
heavy duty and I will not be sleeping on anything else ever again.. way diffrent than your normal back breaking cot..

[fair-chase]

I quit using air mattresses about 10 years ago and went with a good quality cot. My back feels much better after a night on a cot compared to an air mattress and it also retains body heat better than an open cell air mattress. 

[fair-chase]

Rt beat me to it but seriously consider a cot if you can.

[steen]

Tried enough air matresses all with the same results so bought 6 good cots and never regreted it.  Bonus, there is room under the cot for alot of gear, saves alot of room in a tent.

[jeepasaurusrex]

I love sleeping on a cot. But, if your set on an air mattress, get one of them elevated ones. Its sure easier to get out of bed at 4am when you don't have to climb up off the ground.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I use them myself (Coleman air mattresses) for the family, was looking in the bedding department and saw some that looked a little more sturdy, but cost $$.
Had a friend that went with a cot, but froze his backside off at night w/o having an insulated pad.
Do these cots you guys are talking about have built in pads  ?

[rtspring]

I just use a foam matress on top of the cot. never got cold once..

mine is big, like 7 foot long and 3 1/2 feet wide....  and better built than any I have found...

[time2hunt]

For some of use that backpack and spike out a cot just doesn't work I've been using a therma rest air mattress for about 5 years know with no leaks and it been to hell and back
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/fast-and-light/prolite-plus/product

[YellowDog]

I have a cot as well but when I use an air mattress it is a double stack Coleman that we got at Target for $50.  It has held up well, is the most comfortable air mattress and holds aire for at least 3+ days (haven't used it any longer at one time).

[pianoman9701]

Tried enough air matresses all with the same results so bought 6 good cots and never regreted it.  Bonus, there is room under the cot for alot of gear, saves alot of room in a tent.

I really rough it. I have one of those accordion-type queen-sized beds that I put the air mattress on. There's plenty of room underneath and the bed is the right height. I may tent camp but that doesn't mean I have to suffer.

[rasbo]

they all leak at some time and its usually soon.I went with the cot below and a cheap 3inch foam pad and I stay toasty and comfortable

[elkslayer99]

Bought a cot pad at cabelas for my cot works great!

[Alchase]

Those $30.00 mattresses are use a couple times and throw aways. We still use an expensive queen size Coleman mattress when the misses comes camping. I have had six or seven different ones under $50.00 and they all leaked.
We use cots from REI for deer camp.
 
http://www.rei.com/product/765277/rei-comfort-cot
 
Very comfortable with a self inflating pad. Last year I made the mistake of forgetting to bring my cot pad. The 25 degree nights made me realize how important a good pad is. I froze my butt! OR which ever side happened to be touching the cot, lol. Next day I went into town and bought a inexpensive down sleeping bag, and used that as my cot pad, I was toasty 
 

[FC]

I like cots better than air mattresses too, Alchase where did you find an inexpensive down sleeping bag at?

[Bean Counter]

We've had a queen size air mattress for many years. Lots of leaks, lots of patches. Its annoying getting a leak, but we've never had a patched leak reopen.

[FC]

We've had a queen size air mattress for many years. Lots of leaks, lots of patches. Its annoying getting a leak, but we've never had a patched leak reopen.

Is your air mattress turning silver? 

[Alchase]

I like cots better than air mattresses too, Alchase where did you find an inexpensive down sleeping bag at?

I bought it at the hardware store in Winthrop. In my haste on the keyboard I used "down", It is poly, the key word being cheap. 

[FC]

I like cots better than air mattresses too, Alchase where did you find an inexpensive down sleeping bag at?

I bought it at the hardware store in Winthrop. In my haste on the keyboard I used "down", It is poly, the key word being cheap. 

It amazes me when I see how cheap some of those have gotten.

[briancorneal]

Can't beat thera rest pads.  I've had one for 4 years now, and not only do they insulate you but they don't lose air.  I've have all kinds of air mattresses, even ones that cost hundreds of dollars, but they all leak no matter what you do.  Spend some dough and get a therma rest

[swanny]

Those $30.00 mattresses are use a couple times and throw aways. We still use an expensive queen size Coleman mattress when the misses comes camping. I have had six or seven different ones under $50.00 and they all leaked.
We use cots from REI for deer camp.
 
http://www.rei.com/product/765277/rei-comfort-cot
 
Very comfortable with a self inflating pad. Last year I made the mistake of forgetting to bring my cot pad. The 25 degree nights made me realize how important a good pad is. I froze my butt! OR which ever side happened to be touching the cot, lol. Next day I went into town and bought a inexpensive down sleeping bag, and used that as my cot pad, I was toasty 

This cot is so comfy, highly recommend it! 

[phishisgroovin]

Those $30.00 mattresses are use a couple times and throw aways. We still use an expensive queen size Coleman mattress when the misses comes camping. I have had six or seven different ones under $50.00 and they all leaked.
We use cots from REI for deer camp.
 
http://www.rei.com/product/765277/rei-comfort-cot
 
Very comfortable with a self inflating pad. Last year I made the mistake of forgetting to bring my cot pad. The 25 degree nights made me realize how important a good pad is. I froze my butt! OR which ever side happened to be touching the cot, lol. Next day I went into town and bought a inexpensive down sleeping bag, and used that as my cot pad, I was toasty 

This cot is so comfy, highly recommend it! 

how would that cot fair for a person with a seriously damaged spine? i use an air mattress with a pad on top of it, when i go to roll over my legs get locked up tight (charlie horses bigtime). then i am done for 4 hours until the muscles relax.

[Alchase]

Those $30.00 mattresses are use a couple times and throw aways. We still use an expensive queen size Coleman mattress when the misses comes camping. I have had six or seven different ones under $50.00 and they all leaked.
We use cots from REI for deer camp.
 
http://www.rei.com/product/765277/rei-comfort-cot
 
Very comfortable with a self inflating pad. Last year I made the mistake of forgetting to bring my cot pad. The 25 degree nights made me realize how important a good pad is. I froze my butt! OR which ever side happened to be touching the cot, lol. Next day I went into town and bought a inexpensive down sleeping bag, and used that as my cot pad, I was toasty 

This cot is so comfy, highly recommend it! 

how would that cot fair for a person with a seriously damaged spine? i use an air mattress with a pad on top of it, when i go to roll over my legs get locked up tight (charlie horses bigtime). then i am done for 4 hours until the muscles relax.

I could not say if it would be good for a damaged back or not. What I can tell you, is even without a pad inserted, it is padded very well and as Swanny said, very comfortable. It cradles you. No way you can roll out of it accidental. It is by far the most comfortable cot I have owned and still own. We have three of the GI Joe's cots with the thick pad and two of the Cabelas similar to what Rasbo posted (also good cots). Like all cots, when it is cold out you definitely want a pad under you for insulation.
 
Here is a link to the reviews of the cot,
http://www.rei.com/product/765277/rei-comfort-cot#ReviewHeader

[Alchase]

If you have a REI near you go lay down on one, you will see right away how comfortable they are. Very nap capable, lol

[rosscrazyelk]

I just use a foam matress on top of the cot. never got cold once..

mine is big, like 7 foot long and 3 1/2 feet wide....  and better built than any I have found...

    In the summer I Only use the foam pad. Air mattresses suck... The air actually steals heat from your body I was told by a UW scientist.

[pianoman9701]

When I was up scouting this weekend, I just used my cot. I think the air mattress and frame will be in mothballs for a while. The cot's just fine and much easier. I got one of those large slumberjack cots from Cabela's. I used to have one of the accessory things that hung off the side of it. Those are pretty handy.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/largeImagePopup.jsp?productId=715719

[wt]

I imagine a cot is superior in most ways, but my Dad swears buy his aerobed, we have had the air mattresses stink conversation also and he says the aerobed is much better from a no leak prospective than any others he's owned. So if a cot doesn't fit your application an aerobed just may. They also have a good pump design, it turns once it's inserted to "lock in" so you don't have to hold it during inflation.

 http://www.smartbargains.com/go.sb?pagename=prod&fprod=3050623390&fcloc=cat&deptid=3&catid=2269&prodid=3050489853&t=Cat.dept-3.cat-2269.prod.5

[whacker1]

The aero beds are nice, but for the money and the lifespan (they develop leaks also), your money would be better spent on cots.  I bought a couple of cots for my wall tent several years ago, and no need to look back.  And a foam pad or a therma rest or both underneath is plenty to keep the back side warm.  They make small cots, for easy storage and horseback pack ins.  They make big cots for car camping.  It is all in preference, but they will all outlast the most expensive air mattresses. 

Many outfitters use the cots made by Camp Time here in Spokane, because they are light and packable. 
http://www.camptime.net/roll-a-cot.htm

They make two sizes if you need a longer one.  They are not the best cot available, but one of the the most packable, which is why many outfitters like them. 

[jeepasaurusrex]

We had a couple of cots that were about 40 years old. Wood frame with white canvas. A couple of years ago we were spending a couple of days scouting. During the middle of the night I needed to roll over. About half way through my roll I hear "RIPPPPP" the one whole side of the canvas had rotted over the years and ripped through leaving me laying on the X bracing. 

[losdaddy7]

Try the Costco elevated full size mattress.  Come with a high power air pump, etc.  I've used mine for 4 seasons now and no leaks at all.  Great thing about Costco is there return policy.  If it EVER leaks, take it back and you will get a full refund.... Can't beat that.

[whitey]

I like Our Air bed.
Its kindof hard to get a little shot of leg on a cot. 
If She aint going with Me then I do take My cot to put inside the "Ye Ol Stabbin Cabin" .