Camping Thread

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#1468691 12-Jan-2016 20:28

blackjack17:
Handle9:

Mattress is this one (but they did it for $269). It is more comfortable than many beds I've slept in but it's HUGE. Thank god for roof racks:
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p1306_Roman_4WD_Mat_with_Pillow_-_Queen.html

.

I would save $200 on the mattress and instead spend it on the tent/accessories.

Something like

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7AIQN5QH/title/torpedo7-queen-hi-side-airbed-with-12v-pump

would be more than enough

or even

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7AIQN5Q5/title/torpedo7-queen-airbed

Each to their own. I despise airbeds and have never had a good sleep on one. If I had to sleep on an airbed I'd rather sleep on the ground. As I said previously I haven't skept well camping, hopefully this solves it.

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#1468693 12-Jan-2016 20:32

Handle9:
blackjack17:
Handle9:

Mattress is this one (but they did it for $269). It is more comfortable than many beds I've slept in but it's HUGE. Thank god for roof racks:
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p1306_Roman_4WD_Mat_with_Pillow_-_Queen.html

.

I would save $200 on the mattress and instead spend it on the tent/accessories.

Something like

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7AIQN5QH/title/torpedo7-queen-hi-side-airbed-with-12v-pump

would be more than enough

or even

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7AIQN5Q5/title/torpedo7-queen-airbed

Each to their own. I despise airbeds and have never had a good sleep on one. If I had to sleep on an airbed I'd rather sleep on the ground. As I said previously I haven't skept well camping, hopefully this solves it.

Newer airbeds bumped up to full pressure are a very different beast from what I remember sleeping on 20 odd years ago, even the cheap ones.

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Handle9

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#1468713 12-Jan-2016 20:41

Not for me. Like I said, each to their own. I don't have the best back either so airbeds really are of less than zero interest to me. YMMV, and that's all good, just don't ever try and get me to sleep on an airbed.

Stan

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#1468812 12-Jan-2016 23:15

Anyone have any advice on foldable solar panels a friend and I are doing a 12 day camping only ride around the south island and I was planning on installing at usb charger to the bike to charge a powerbank for phone and camera gear.

However if we decide not to ride for a day could be useful.

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#1468816 12-Jan-2016 23:28

Handle9: Not for me. Like I said, each to their own. I don't have the best back either so airbeds really are of less than zero interest to me. YMMV, and that's all good, just don't ever try and get me to sleep on an airbed.

I'm the same, was easily the worst part of last years trip.

Slight tangent but finding it more difficult to find traditional metal tent/awning poles these days.
Searching for tent poles returns those dome tent fibreglass sections on a rope?!

Looking for a good deal on a foam self inflating mattress too if anyone sees one? Cheers.

jonathan18

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#1468922 13-Jan-2016 09:37

Handle9: Not for me. Like I said, each to their own. I don't have the best back either so airbeds really are of less than zero interest to me. YMMV, and that's all good, just don't ever try and get me to sleep on an airbed.

Not all airbeds are born equal; there are actually some now that are totally acceptable.

We turned the spare bedroom into the kids' playroom, so needed an airbed for guests; ended up with an Aerobed Platinum, from a brand that used to be sold at Harvey Norman's (where I first saw them), but we picked it up from the importer on TM for way cheaper (around $450, so a lot for an airbed!). Still available, eg http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/camping-outdoors/stretchers-mattresses/air-beds-pumps/auction-1013207940.htm).

It's a full-height queen-sized bed with a built-in air pump, which even comes with a valance and topper. We've had only complementary things from guests who have used it - recently that included two different guys over 6 foot, one who wasn't even aware it was an airbed until after sleeping on it for four nights.

It's not that compact, given its height and size, so not ideal for light-weight camping, but I'd be totally happy to sleep on that any time anywhere (and I'm fussy about beds).

As for stretchers - I was impressed with the comfort and strength of the Oztent range (eg http://www.oztent.com/oztent-furniture/oztent-king-goanna-stretcher#.VpVjY7Pou70) - they're not cheap or light (11kg for a single!), but being made of steel they're not flimsy at all like the Kathmandu equivalents.

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#1470915 14-Jan-2016 15:04

Intex air bed products on special warehouse today

Jaxson

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#1470988 14-Jan-2016 15:37

gzt: Intex air bed products on special warehouse today

Yeah I'd debating getting one of the Plush models, as the feedback is the sheets don't ride up on them, like they do if you have shiny vinyl sides.

Anyone have either of the two models here?

Trying to work out which is the better model, and assume the 'durabeam' one is?

http://search.thewarehouse.co.nz/search?w=intex%20airbed%20plush

gzt

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#1471780 15-Jan-2016 11:29

I will guess the more expensive one. We are off topic for camping but do you happen to know if it comes with a pump?

jonathan18

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#1471853 15-Jan-2016 12:20

gzt: I will guess the more expensive one. We are off topic for camping but do you happen to know if it comes with a pump?

A case of RTFM! Both listings state the pump comes built-in...

In all seriousness, if you're after a decent air bed, try the one I linked to above - expensive, but worth every penny.

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#1473963 18-Jan-2016 16:24

We had a great few days in Mangawhai. Both girls loved it, although the first night with my 18 month old was pretty hard. The second night she was fine, sleeping over 12 hours which was awesome.

We were very happy with both our tent and the mattress. I slept well and wasn't sore in the morning, which is a significant improvement on any other camping experience I've had previously.

We certainly wouldn't have gone any smaller than the tent we bought, it made life pleasant to have enough space for the kids and for us, as well as the central room for everything else.

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#1473965 18-Jan-2016 16:26

What mattress did you pick in the end?

Handle9

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#1473972 18-Jan-2016 16:41

The one I linked to earlier. Wasn't cheap, and it's rather large even when rolled up but I wasn't broken after sleeping on it.

jonb

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#1512883 14-Mar-2016 11:24

I'm off for first camping trip in quite some time on Wednesday. To a Top10 park, so most things are covered, but wondering what some tips for handy items to take along.

My camping style has been described as 'Caveman with Four Square' so nothing too flash..

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#1513040 14-Mar-2016 13:54

jonb:

I'm off for first camping trip in quite some time on Wednesday. To a Top10 park, so most things are covered, but wondering what some tips for handy items to take along.

My camping style has been described as 'Caveman with Four Square' so nothing too flash..

If you are going for a few days, half brush and shovel!

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