Advice on which self inflating matress to buy

[BarnieH]

Especially if you are a heavy bloke the 10 cm Tentco's will be better. I had 2 x 7cm Carmaquips. Bought 2 x Tentco's and ended up selling the Carmaquips.

10cm Tentco's without doubt better than the 7cm Carmaquips. Tentco material / surface also nicer to sleep on.

Hi Peter, how does the Tentco packed dimensions compare to the Carmaquip?

I have Carma quip and to overcome the feel of the mattresses we have made slip on linen sheets for them.

[Dwayne P]

Hi Peter, how does the Tentco packed dimensions compare to the Carmaquip?

I have Carma quip and to overcome the feel of the mattresses we have made slip on linen sheets for them.

we use a fitted sheet single over mattress. I have 2 original first edition one still doing duty and a later model, before the joints changed of the outer.

Would not change it for an afblaas.

[AardvarkNV]

Does anyone have/use this First Ascent Supreme?

https://www.firstascent.co.za/supreme-mattress

[Sneaky Pete]

[QUOTE=BarnieH;4531410]Hi Peter, how does the Tentco packed dimensions compare to the Carmaquip?

The tentco is slightly bigger but only because the Carmaquip we had was 7cm thick and Tentco we changed to was 10 cm thick. This was a big improvement on our comfort. Although Tentco use a preferable type velvet (Carmaquip was a type vinyl) we still used a fitted sheet as we use the 2 x 10cm Tentco's side by side in place of the 10cm foam matress in our Echo Namib.

I would guess the 10cm Tentco packed is about 30cm in dia and the 7 cm Carmaquip about 220 cm in dia. The rest of the length packed size very similar.

[Snyks]

Especially if you are a heavy bloke the 10 cm Tentco's will be better. I had 2 x 7cm Carmaquips. Bought 2 x Tentco's and ended up selling the Carmaquips.

10cm Tentco's without doubt better than the 7cm Carmaquips. Tentco material / surface also nicer to sleep on.

I have 2 Carma Quip mattresses and must admit, they do not blow me away....maybe I should consider the Tentco then

[Mike N]

If they don't blow you away you did not inflate them enough!

I have 2 Carma Quip mattresses and must admit, they do not blow me away....maybe I should consider the Tentco then

[HugoNotte]

Deleted, not self inflating.

Might still count if someone else does it for you while you drink beer?

[hatjohan]

Just keep in mind that the main reason why you buy a self inflating, is to save space. So after comfort (and you can only really tell after at least one nights sleep), the rolled up size is the important criteria (not that I can think of others )

[bigboy529]

Just keep in mind that the main reason why you buy a self inflating, is to save space. So after comfort (and you can only really tell after at least one nights sleep), the rolled up size is the important criteria (not that I can think of others )

This is the other big advantage of the First Ascent, it rolls up really small.
I had people laugh at me when seeing how "thin" the First Ascent is, but they change their mind quite quickly after having a lie down on it.
There is also quite a big difference between having to tolerate a mattress for only 2 nights in a row vs longer, the longest I have slepped on my First Ascent was 15 nights in a row.

[Die Professor]

Had 2 carma quips, good robust quality, however I did not find them so comfortable AND it is noisy. If you role over it might wake the person next to you. Something so small will become something very big if swambo did not sleep well.

[Sneaky Pete]

I found that some people comment that they inflate the matresses orally. There is a large amount of moisture on ones breath and given that the matresses will be nice and warm probably a nice breeding ground for some ugly "bugs". Right now I am fed up with all the bugs and viruses we have to contend with.

[bigboy529]

I found that some people comment that they inflate the matresses orally. There is a large amount of moisture on ones breath and given that the matresses will be nice and warm probably a nice breeding ground for some ugly "bugs". Right now I am fed up with all the bugs and viruses we have to contend with.

I don't know about the others, but with the First Ascent there is no need to add any additional air to it. I roll it out in my tent and open the 2 caps, leave it for a while then it self inflates like the name says and I close the caps.
If it has been stored rolled up for a long time or I'm in a hurry, then I give it a couple pumps with my hand or foot to allow it to suck in air more / faster, otherwise I'll just open the caps when I set up camp say late afternoon and then only close them when I go to bed tonight.

[Skylark]

This is the other big advantage of the First Ascent, it rolls up really small.
I had people laugh at me when seeing how "thin" the First Ascent is, but they change their mind quite quickly after having a lie down on it.
There is also quite a big difference between having to tolerate a mattress for only 2 nights in a row vs longer, the longest I have slepped on my First Ascent was 15 nights in a row.

Which model is that again?

15 comfortable nights with just a sleeping bag and the mattress is very impressive.

[bigboy529]

Which model is that again?

15 comfortable nights with just a sleeping bag and the mattress is very impressive.

Dream deluxe, not my bed at home, but beats many other things I tried.

[DC Polokwane]

I believe that when asking for any mattress advice it is very important to know how much the person weighs that's advising you!

What might work for a 70kg hiker guy will not work for me, at 2m and 140kg, when camping!

[BarnieH]

I have 2 Carma Quip mattresses and must admit, they do not blow me away....maybe I should consider the Tentco then

I forgot to store mine inflated.
It took a while for the foam to pop out again.
The Carma quip mattress material is hard, but then one must remember that the makers developed it for sleeping along the Orange river where stones, sticks and thorns can be harsh on the outside material.

[Steady]

You can have 1. Cheap. 2. Strong. 3. Light.

Pick any two.

For strong and comfortable, Tentco.

For light, anyone of the others. So the question is where are you going and how are you planning to get the mattress there. If I'm going by car I take the Tentco. http://tentco.co.za/index.php/quick-...ss-10cm-detail




If I'm walking I take the Thermarest https://www.futurama.co.za/therm-a-r...waAhOzEALw_wcB

[CornelisVoigt]

How will these work on stretchers. I see matress is 700mm wide and the stretchers is 645mm.

[DC Polokwane]

Couple of months ago we stayed at a tented camp and they had the Natural Instincts Heavy Duty Stretcher with the Campmaster 65 mm Fold-Up Mattress and we slept well.

We are used to the Carma Quip on the same stretchers but were pleasantly surprised with the Campmaster mattress.

Also look at Tentco's range of mattresses.

[Spiceman]

How will these work on stretchers. I see matress is 700mm wide and the stretchers is 645mm.

I have a work collegue that is a life long camper. He uses one like that on a stretcher. He told me the roll-up one is too bulky for packing purposes.