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I see your point. I guess you're saying it's okay to remove the check valve if you close the valve after step 1. BUT: If you remove the check valve you won't be able to adjust the firmness while lying on the mattress because the air will rush out. On a related topic, neither of the check...

I find it pretty laborious to deflate the Mega Mat. It takes two steps: Fold in half several times and get out as much air as you can. Unfold and roll up. I don't recommend removing the deflation check valve as air will come back in when you unfold the mattress for step 2.

Yet another update on the Exped Megamat. I recently had to sleep in the livingroom on the Megamat for three weeks due to a roof leak in my house. I set it up on the Camptime Roll-a-Cot wide. As I said before, the Megamat is too wide for this cot and it was hard to keep it centered. However, I...

When I receive a new mattress I fully inflate it with a pump the first time. That seems to get things moving and it should inflate by itself the next time. Also, it helps if you store it inflated between camping trips. Usually Exped products are reliable. It's not a good idea to blow a mattress...

There's an excellent review of the Campmate at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnoHyv12AaQ I found in several places that it's been discontinued. Unfortunately it's too large for me, but that's about the style I'm looking for.

Do you have a link to that box? I think I noticed it in the kitchen box thread but it seemed like it was discontinued.

I'm looking for a rather small kitchen box to hold both kitchen gear and food for one person for several days. Current system of digging around in a plastic box is disorganized. I considered getting some sort of gear bag with pockets (Cabela's has good ones), but I think a solid box would work...

Yes, I also use one large bag instead of smaller ones. Before using this system I had dozens of individual bags all over my vehicle. It was total chaos. I have the Outdoor Products vinyl "Storm Duffle" bags from Walmart http://www.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor-Products-PVC-Duffle-Collection/17017889...

I agree! 30% is a lot. Here's an update. The Coleman Quickbed lasted exactly one night. On the second night it sprang a leak and was finished. I returned it to Walmart. I originally returned the Exped Mega Mat because it was too wide for my cot. I came to realize that there are times when I...

The two best brands I've found that are cheap and good quality are Kelty and Alps Mountaineering. Specific models to look at: Kelty Trail Ridge: You could fit the whole family in the TR 4 but it would be tight. You could consider getting a 2P for the children and a 3P or 4P for you and your...

I just got a Coleman Quickbed for $22 at Walmart. Much as I love the Exped Megamat, I can't say that there's a huge difference in comfort between these two mattresses. Except of course that the Megamat is insulated. Other than that I would say that the Megamat is maybe 30% more comfortable than...

Honu, I did notice your comment about that in another thread. I experimented with sitting on the end of the cot and found that if you sit down normally, at least a foot in from the end, it doesn't flip. It would be very unusual in a 4P tent to sit on the end, because there's no room between the...

I think I have this partly figured out. Start with these two components: ________ Kelty Trail Ridge 2 tent. Base measures 46" x 83" (actual measurements and it's 45" tall. _________ Camptime Roll-a-Cot wide: 32" x 74" and 15" high. _________ The challenge is to create a structure that 1) Can...

Re tent height, it gets dang hot in a low tent. That rules out a tent cot for me. Another advantage of a platform is being off the wet ground. New idea: An inflatable tent base about 20" high. You wouldn't need any mattress at all!

Yes, you're right that a taller tent would work. After trying numerous three-person tents that all turned out to be too short, I finally got a 4-person Kelty Trail Ridge, which weighs over 11 lbs. I had to go with a 4P in order to get enough height for a 15" cot. So if I had a platform the...

Where does one buy Nidacore? How much does it cost? I can only find wholesalers, no retailers.

I honestly think that this tent is more spacious and less claustrophobic and has better ventilation than any tent cot: http://www.kelty.com/p-600-trail-ridge-2.aspx The reason cotters need a tall tent is that a cot can take up to 15" of vertical space. If the tent is on a platform no cot is...

Looking at all the different types of tents in the "Post your tent" thread, plus the tent cots, made me start thinking about creative ways to add comfort to camping. Is it possible to make a small, light platform, say 20" high, for a two-person tent? That way you would just sit on the edge and...