REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

I first want to say I have been camping since I was a child as a family and in Boy Scouts for many years and in many different situations. I was out of camping for a couple of years and now have gotten back to family camping so I needed to update my camping equipment. Also to let everyone know alittle about what drives my thoughts is first comfort been on the ground done that, no longer going to do that. Second convience, if its not convient I'm not buying it or useing it. Third quality, I believe you get what your pay for. Now onto the first, and probably the last sleeping pad you will ever purchase. I was looking for something my wife and I could sleep on I thought a blowup queen sized air mattress would be what I wanted then I thought back to my younger days and how the air mattress would deflate easily get punctured with a small stick or loose air during those colder nights. Then while I was at the REI store I saw this [...] I check this pad out in the store it is comfortable you can adjust how much air you want in the pad or how little you want. The canvas covering the foam pad is very durable. Even when fully inflated jumping on it with my daughter and I'm 5'11 190lbs it didn't bust or pop. It has with stood winter camp trips never once lost air during the night at least not that I noticed when I woke up the next morning I was not on the ground. The temp those night were around 15- 20 degrees. This pad is a great insulator from the ground it does help keep you and the spleeping bag warmer during those cold nights. This pad is great for when your tent is setup on the unforseeable lump right were your going to sleep been there, didn't notice the lump woke up feeling great "I have had back surgery so this was a nice suprise no back pain". It has two valves at one end of the pad for quicker inflating and deflating. They turn easy to lock air in and provide a great seal so air does not leak out like an air mattress. I have noticed the last time I used the pad was this past January 2009 that the air mattress did not inflate mostly by itself I fault myself rather than the product for not getting it out once in while to let the pad inside expand I will update this aspect later during my next outing. By the way if you want more air in the pad after it inflates on its own yes you will have to blow air into the mattress, this is dependent on how firm or soft you want the pad to be. I have found I just let the pad inflate on its own (when I first used the pad) and let it go at that, though its nice if I want it firm it only take a couple to breaths to fill it up. This pad is also 3.5 inches thick so if you have ever slept in a tent and your tent has leaked its nice to be alittle off the ground just enought so your sleeping bag dosn't get wet. This pad did that for my wife and I last year our 13yr old tent leak after a sever thunderstorm and since tent was setup at the bottom of a hill not by choice, just were the campsite was located our sleeping bag was off the ground and remained dry. This leads me to anther thing about the sleeping pad it drys quickly. Good thing when the next day after the storm when your packing to go home. Now for the decompressing and packing it up I myself do not find this hard to do I have ready in some other review on pads similar to this one that it is difficult to roll and get all the air out. Open both valve and as your roll it up use your knees prop yourself on your knees on top of the pad and you will get all the air out and then just turn the air valves so air can't go back in. It comes with two vlecro straps and are used to keep it rolled up however they are not attached to the sleeping pad this I find inconvienient hopefully with new pads they will attach those straps. However if you roll it like stated above it will fit very easily back into its carrying bag. The carrying bag folds into itself so your not trying to find a place for a large unwrapped carrying bag this is a nice little feature. This pad also come with a repair get but I have to say I think you would have to really attempt to tear it or puncture the pad to have to use the repair kit. this pad is to heavy for backpacking camping but great for car camping. If you want comfort, reliability, and convinece in your camping this is a must have. The price is high compared to other sleeping pads but once you have this pad you wont need or want another. One of the best purchases I have had since updating my old camping equipment. I hope this helps everyone.

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

We have had a number of sleeping pads over the last 20+ years, beginning with the original Thermarest. For some time I have been looking for a really thick, comfy pad for car camping, boat camping, base camping, anytime I don't have to carry it too far. A few years ago we bought Thermarest Base Camp pads. They were OK, but this pad is by far the best we have found. It really is 3.5 inches thick, the bottom side does not slide around in the tent, the top side is soft enough to sleep on with bare skin, and this pad is CUSH. The two valves make it extremely easy to inflate and deflate as soon as you get used to the 1/4 turn opening and closing. After the self-inflation period, I put a few breaths in mine, but my wife uses it without extra air.Roll up is very easy, at least for me with fairly large hands. I just fold the pad in 1/4s first and press most of the air out, then close both valves. I then unfold the pad and begin to roll, only opening one valve. When I get to the top, I close the one valve, put on the velcro straps, and slip it in the bag.The stuff sack is enormous, so you don't have to get all the air out if you don't want to. We have only used the pads on one week of car camping near Moab, but we were both very happy with them. I think this is a great bargain at [$].The only negative is the weight. I would never carry this pad on an extended trip, but that is not what we bought it for. It appears to be well made and durable, so I expect to get many years of service out of it. Buy one. You'll love it.

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

First time adult campers, 61 and 51 years old. Looking for a good night's sleep, and found it with this pad. In fact, it was better than the 2 beds we had in 2 motels at the start and end of our adventure to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. The key to getting it into the stuff sack was mentioned on a previous comment: open the valves and accordion fold the pad (I kneel on it to get the air out). When folded, close the valves. Open it up and roll, and at the end open the valves to get the last air out. Perfect! Easy to get in sack.

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

This mattress is the best! My old pad is a thinner Thermarest and every time I used it my back, hips, and shoulders ached. This pad solved all that! I can finally get a good night's sleep and wake up with no aches or pains. That makes it worth it's weight (and size) in gold.

The mattress inflates and deflates easily, and unlike the Thermarests it comes with a stuff sack and Velcro strips to keep it rolled up. It kept me warm, along with my down bag, when nighttime temps dipped below 30 F.

I am a 6' tall woman and this pad is just long enough for me. I originally ordered the XL size but decided it would take up too much space in my 3-person tent. This is just the right size for car or boat camping and it's comfy enough for occasional sleepovers at home.

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

At 55, I decided to go on a wildland fire assignment. My first assignment was 3 weeks on a fire in Northern California. My greatest reservation was how my back would take sleeping on the ground. So, I headed straight to REI and asked for the best sleeping pad. The salesman recommended the 3.5" Camp Bed. I could not have been more impressed. It's more comfortable than my bed at home.

Having not camped for 20-some years, I didn't pick the best spot. My first spot was littered with pine cones and twigs. When I moved, I was amazed at how lumpy the ground was but that I felt nothing through the pad (kneeling on the tent floor was a different story.) I also found that it wasn't at all level. Mostly, I would end up at the bottom of my sleeping bag. The bag did 'crawl' some but that was solved when I moved to a level spot. I'm not the strongest person and so getting it back in the bag was next to impossible the first time. I'm getting better at it but it takes a lot of work for me to get it there.

Last summer, I spent 5 weeks on the ground. For a twenty-something, that's probably not a big deal but for a fifty-something, I contribute it all to my REI camp bed! I've recommended it to a lot of people and can't wait to use it again this summer.

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

This is the best sleeping pad you will ever get!!! I can't believe a 3.5 sleeping pad can be as comfy as my own bed at home. Once you've used this you will never use anything else. It inflates by itself so you don't have to remember to bring your pump anymore for those who use air mattresses. (No more air mattresses for me even though they were comfy, but nothing compared to this. Plus, you have your own pad so if you toss and turn in the middle of night you don't have to worry about waking up your spouse. I can not be any happier!!! REI is so smart that they made the bag a bit bigger so it's easier to put back in when all rolled up. It's worth every penny even though it is pricey. It's definitely one of my top 5 best buys!!!

The only thing that is a bit not so great is rolling it up or is it great because I get a little work-out? Come on, we don't live in a perfect world...what's a big deal about putting in a tough 3min roll up if you can get a full nights sleeping without waking up with any aches and pains, right? If you're 80 years of age it might be difficult to roll up, but other that anyone can. Way to go REI!!!

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

My husband and I are the occasional car campers who love tenting it, but have searched in vain for years for sleeping comfort. We have finally found it! We have tried many sleeping pads from inflatable air mattresses to more expensive flat pads. I finally decided to pay a little more for these since it had such great reviews. I am very happy that I did. I ordered these online and when I picked these up at the store they wound up being on sale, which was a bonus. I would have been happy to pay full price for them. If you are above the average size-wise, the regular width might be a bit narrow, but otherwise, these are highly recommended!

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

If weight is not a factor this is the pad for you, its amazingly comfortable. its not too bad for backpacking although it is really large and heavy, i took this on a backpacking trip and it was a bit bulky but the quality of sleep you get is amazing.

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

My pad use has evolved over years from dense foam, through several generations of Therm-a-Rest pads, which have served very well, and continue to do so, although with the thinner pads I often wake up stiff in the morning. This pad is as comfortable as my bed at home, the extra width is nice, and it is easy to inflate and deflate. While I would not consider it as an option for backpacking, I highly recommend it for car-camping.

Comments about REI Camp Bed 3.5 Self-Inflating Pad - Regular:

This is much easier to carry, inflate, deflate and store than a mattress inflated by a pump. It also takes up less room, so I can share my tent with a second person, if needed. I am a heavy person, and it kept it firmness. I do wish it was a couple inches wider, but it is okay the way it is. Also, I do not know if one side is the top or bottom, or if it does not matter.