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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
The best you can get for car camping! May 17, 2011
By JCLJorgenson
If you are a car camper like me, who really values sleep, the 4" XXL air pad is about as good as it gets. If you are a hiker and need something compact and lightweight, look elsewhere. I tent camp and have tried a variety of pads, including roll out foam pads and air mattresses.
The foam pads are somewhat bulky, but just don't provide enough comfort against rocks and uneven surfaces. The air mattresses, on the other hand, offered more comfort but had some major deficiencies. First, they tend to deflate with air temperature changes or pinhole leaks - I regularly woke up in the morning with half the air that I started with. Second, they also feel like a water bed and may not provide very good support or, if you have a queen air mattress and share it with another camper, then you are likely to feel every little movement they make. Third, with at least my tent's design, the air mattress was too tall and put my face too close to the angle of the tent - on the side wall. Finally, air mattresses need to be inflated with powerful lungs or an air pump. For the pump, you may not always have access to electricity or batteries, whcih can be frustrating.
Basically, this self inflating mattress was the ultimate solution. I feel like I can stop searching for the perfect pad for my tent camping. The 4" padding model is super comfortable, easy to inflate, and sits relatively low to the ground. Since getting this pad, it is the first time I have felt really rested when I wake up from my tent in the morning. Even my wife was super happy with it.
It is a little more difficult to roll back up, however, because the pad wants to self inflate while you are trying to get the air out. The trick is to roll it up once really sloppy and quick, just to get most of the air out, then you close the valves. Now unroll it and roll it up a second time but while keeping the valves closed. This will push and trap any remaining air to the end near the valves. At that time, reopen the valves and push out all remaining air before tightening the valves back up. The pad rolls up to about a 10" diameter and includes a couple of elastic straps and a nice travel bag with handle.
So far I have only used this for one trip and loved it, but I cannot speak about long term durability just yet. From what I see, it looks pretty solid. I do know my 5 and 6 year old kids were jumping around on it in the tent and it seemed to endure the test.
I also found the pricing of the Alps Mountainerring pads to be much more reasonable versus the ThermaRest brand.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Best sleep I've ever gotten while camping Nov 03, 2010
By M. Zankich
This thing is ridiculously comfortably.
I go camping in the Mojave Desert a couple times a year. Most of the grounds out there are packed hard as rock. I had a rollout mat that was completely inadequate on my first trip out there and have relied on inflatable air mattresses since then. Even the best inflatable mattresses tend to deflate under me within about 5-6 hours, and never have quite enough support for comfortable sleep.
I devised a lofty plan to build a cot with an integrated tent and generally downsize my camping gear so I bought a solo tent and got this mattress to fit the solo tent until I had time to design and build the cot. After my first trip out, I've lost interest in the cot. I don't need it. With this mattress, I'm able to sleep through the night and wake up more refreshed than I ever have in the desert.
Also worth noting, I am rather large (6'5 and 50-100 pounds more than you would tell me you think I am) and toss and turn at night and this is plenty long and wide.
The only downside I've found so far is that it is recommended that it be stored in laid out rather than rolled up. I stashed it behind a couch so it doesn't matter so much.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Most comfortable sleeping pad I've ever tried May 30, 2011
By Arthur Simon
This is far and away the most comfortable sleeping pad I've ever tried. I have the 3" XL version, I didn't realize there is even a thicker 4" XXL version. I bought this for my wife. For women with curves, camping out can be painful, but my wife is always pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it is. The woman across the street always borrows it for the three day breast walk, as she's found it to be the most comfortable sleeping pad for camping as well. I've had mine for I think 4+ years now, and it must get used on at least a dozen trips a year and it's still holding up great. Much, much more durable than an air mattress and more comfortable as well. I like the slightly raised pillow portion at the head. The only downside is that it is absolutely huge even when it's rolled up. I'll probably get one for myself eventually, but for now I'm just happy to see my wife sleeping comfortably on camping trips.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 ALPS XXL Air Pad Jan 27, 2011
By I Am Zillagod!
The pad didn't inflate to full size right away, I had to blow it up a few times. After that it was more comfortable than I expected.
Edit 06/06/11: After using this pad for several months now, I'm finding it is inflating much better and is overall easier to use. Very comfortable when used on a XL cot.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Total comfort Jan 17, 2012
By Sully
I'm 6'3" and 220lbs, so the XL size was a must. The first time it inflated took about :25-:30, but I left it inflated about 30 days then deflated and tried again. It only took :10 the second time. This air pad seems to be very well built, I've used it one time and was pleasantly surprised at the comfort level. It's not small when deflated, but worth the extra size for this level of comfort.
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