This camping thing is getting harder and harder for me as I get older - I was in pain for 4-5 days after a 1-nighter. After my last experience on the air mattress three weeks ago, I’m done with that thing!
Cot or Hammock?
If just one night then I just use an air mattress ( more like an air pad as it is only about 1" thick), otherwise I use a cot. One tip to provide some additional padding/ insulation is to put a decent layer of pine needles under the tent footprint if you are going without a cot.
I can’t even begin to tell you how miserable it is to sleep in one of those backpacking hammocks. My kids all have them and so we took them on a 4 day hike. I slept 10 hours total in 3 nights. Unless you like to sleep in a cacoon in the shape of a “C” and not move around at all. Then have at it.
If just one night then I just use an air mattress ( more like an air pad as it is only about 1" thick), otherwise I use a cot. One tip to provide some additional padding/ insulation is to put a decent layer of pine needles under the tent footprint if you are going without a cot.
This or a hotel.
When you say that one night on an air mattress caused pain and discomfort, are you talking about this kind of air mattress? Or do you have a serious princess and the pea complex? If you’re car camping, there is absolutely no reason not to use a real air mattress. You’ll thank me in the morning.
I spent a month sleeping on an air mattress while working after Hurricane Sandy. It actually did quite well. The key for me was not having too much air in it.
Big Agnes q core, in the long and wide flavor is an answer. Ain’t cheap but they sure are nice. The pastry bag inflator they sell is also pretty nice.
Hammock.
Most comfortable thing ever. I actually oversleep when I hammock - when I’m on the ground in anyway, I’m up with the sunrise. With a hammock, i’ll sleep in till 8 or 9.
Me and the family in Yosemite 3 or so years ago
my buddy took a new Helinox cot on our 3 night canoe camping trip this past weekend, and he was raving about it. Very pricy, but also very compact. He still snored outrageously, however.
This camping thing is getting harder and harder for me as I get older - I was in pain for 4-5 days after a 1-nighter. After my last experience on the air mattress three weeks ago, I’m done with that thing!
Cot or Hammock?
I was having the sames issues as you and ended up getting a self-inflatable air mattress from REI. Changed my life completely for the better.
I use a self inflating air mat from Costco. No issues for me.
One of my buddies swears by his hammock.
As for the cots, one friend has one and he likes it. However, over time it will destroy the floor of your tent. So you need to put something on the feet of the cot. Some people use tennis balls with a slice in them.
Like so…
Good Lord. Unless there is hot lava or a bunch or poisonous snakes while don’t you ladies try real camping for a chance of made? I am curious what kind of air conditioners and sea weed facial lotions you take with you.
If you need anything more than a thin foam pad or a pile of pi,ne branches you might as well take an RV or stop calling it camping! No wonder we are doomed. We’ve become as soft as an air mattress.
How do you feel about bringing a couple of stuffed animals so they can protect you against the wolves and things that crawl and slither? I never go camping without Mr. Fluffy, Teddy or Miss Snow.
I think you are a man among men. Bringing them along makes perfect sense. They can double as a pillow. They can pull security while you sleep and if it gets too cold you can gut them like a dead Taun-Taun and keep warm.
You may want to keep the fact that you have Snow with you though. I hear someone is looking for her.