Balloon Bed

[verloc]

Ok so I've just ordered up a Exped Down Mat 7 short (couldn't resist it - looks so comfy and warm, plus its only a tiny bit heavier than my blacks not-quite-a-thermarest jobby), ordered it from the US as even with shipping being $35 it's still cheaper than over here, anyway nosing around a little I stumbled onto this,

http://www.balloonbed.com/

I'm sure you guys would have seen it already but I didn't know whether to laugh or be impressed - to be honest I still don't...

 

[Tengu]

They look terrific. nor are they very expensive

£20 inc 3 nights worth balloons, pump and p+p

(I have no doubt you could make your own)

But they say you need about £1.25 worth of balloons per night....

(yes, ok, you have the burst balloons for firestarting)

if you were an ultralighter or really strapped for weight...

and you would have to be unbelievably careful where you slept....

 

[bikething]

could you untie all the ends, then let them go all at once and fly off like some sort of magic carpet ride?

 

[durulz]

I bought a 'hiker's inflatable mattress' that looks very similar - six inflatable tubes. Deflated it's no bigger than a bog roll. But the 'tubes' are permanent (that is, they are not balloons inserted into the material) and therefore do not need to be replaced, and it only cost me £10! So why you'd buy a balloon bed beats me.
Mind you, that hiker's mattress is really uncomfortable. May as well not be there. Which is a pity, because it's a third the size and weight of the usual inflatable mattress I take - which is 100 times more comfortable.
I'm sure I've seen them in both Argos and Blacks, if you really feel you must have one. If you usually kip on just a foam mat, then it'll be like a slumberdown in comparison, for the same weight and a fraction the pack size of a kip mat.

 

[wolfshead]

All you need is a wood without any twigs, stones, or pointy things and it would be ideal!!

 

[crazyclimber]

could you... fill the balloon with helium before you went, then tie it to your rucksack? The ultimate in lightweight!

 

[hobbitboy]

They are quite popular with adventure racers where weight is at a premium, you used to be able get them from PlanetFear.com. Pretty ingenious really....

 

[Matt Weir]

could you... fill the balloon with helium before you went, then tie it to your rucksack? The ultimate in lightweight!

Just make sure it's not windy