OzTent stretcher users

[latestarter]

Looking at a stretcher for my 7 yr old son. My question is whether you need additional mattress with the padded oztent stretchers or is the padding adequate ?
Was also cosidering the Darche brand as they make one wider, but am concerned about the quality.
Appreciate any feedback

[StrvnMrvn]

Hey Mate,

I have an OzTent Bunker and use it for work. I spent 56 days sleeping on it last year during winter months and loved it! 1 minute to set up, 2 if you put the cover on. The cover is water proof (had to live through some rainy nights), but make sure that you tie off the end as the water will pool above your feet.

I would look into getting a mattress for the young fella, as I used a self inflating 3/4 mattress (http://www.bcf.com.au/Product/Wanderer-Self-Inflating-Mat-Hiker/382598?menuFrom=571563) due to room constraints. If it was for 1 night every so often, don't worry with the matress.

I'm looking at getting one of those Wanderer self inflating mattresses (http://www.bcf.com.au/Product/Wanderer-4x4-Mat-SIngle/381383?menuFrom=571563) for more comfort, but when you roll it up, the bag isn't big enough to fit it in. I have a double one that I use for the swag and draw all the air out with a 12v air pump which makes it alot smaller.

Get yourself a little pillow like the ones you can get on a plane as they fit nicely in the bag. I am looking to upgrade the bag as it is starting to show some wear and tear. I know Drifta do an alternate bag, but it will last for a few years if you don't throw it around to much.

There is pouches inside that you can put books, iPad or phones in. We use ours for the young fella when we go camping and SWMBO, Me and the Miss 5 sleep in the RV5 tent.

[Rodt]

It is an interesting question and I will give you my take.

I bought two stretchers for my daughters (were a bit older than your 7 year old when purchased) and after a trip thought I would buy them the self-inflating mattresses for extra comfort. My youngest thought it was good but the oldest preferred sleeping on the stretcher without it 

From that I reckon it's horses for courses and you really won't know until you try it

[latestarter]

Thanks for the replies. I guess another concern is the insulating properties with regard  keeping the cold air from coming up underneath.
Rodt can I ask how wide the stretchers were your kids slept on? My lad is a very restless sleeper, sleeps in a double bed at home and has still managed to end up on the floor during the night. This is one reason I'm still considering the darche at a metre wide.

[Hoyks]

What works depends on where you are.

I slept on a stretcher in Darwin for over a month. I was provided a self inflating mattress, but that went back in the bag after the 1st night. It was a 100mm job and fully inflated it was too firm, but 1/2 inflated you sank into it and steamed like a dim sim.

I ended up going and buying a $10 yoga mat at K-Mart. It was about 20mm thick and gave just enough padding and was softer, thicker and cheaper than hiking mats.

I have camped in Barrington tops in coolish weather and found you do need something under you on the stretcher or the heat escapes through the compressed insulation on teh under side of the sleeping bag. We got by with a doubled over blanket, but a hiking mat or the $10 yoga mat will do the job more than adequately.

[StrvnMrvn]

Thanks for the replies. I guess another concern is the insulating properties with regard  keeping the cold air from coming up underneath.
Rodt can I ask how wide the stretchers were your kids slept on? My lad is a very restless sleeper, sleeps in a double bed at home and has still managed to end up on the floor during the night. This is one reason I'm still considering the darche at a metre wide.

The OzTent Bunker is fully enclosed with either fly screen or the cover. Its about 700 - 800mm wide. This should keep the young fella in. Watch this if you haven't already. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRg8uVcExJM)

The 3/4 mat I had was ok for insulation, but around my feet I put down a jumper as I could feel the temp difference.

[Traveller]

I know this is probably the wrong question, but does he actually need a stretcher and couldn't get away with a good quality self inflating mattress? At one stage we used to camp using a 4" thick Thermarest self inflator and we couldn't believe how comfortable they were. Never had the cold come up through from underneath, and that included the High Country in winter just on the snow line.

As added extras would be that if he tumbles off during the night he certainly won't feel the fall, and you might end up saving a bit of weight and space in your camping kit.

Just a thought.

[Beachman]

We went to Clark rubber and bought our kids a foam mattress which just happens to be the same size as there stretchers.

Not cheap at $116, but when you place these on top of their stretchers they give a fantastic nights sleep.

Yes they are bulky when folded, but we don’t fold ours and transport them flat under the tonneau cover of the camper. 

 https://www.clarkrubber.com.au/comfort-deluxe-3-fold-foam-mattress

[Alan Loy]

I know this is probably the wrong question, but does he actually need a stretcher and couldn't get away with a good quality self inflating mattress? At one stage we used to camp using a 4" thick Thermarest self inflator and we couldn't believe how comfortable they were. Never had the cold come up through from underneath, and that included the High Country in winter just on the snow line.

As added extras would be that if he tumbles off during the night he certainly won't feel the fall, and you might end up saving a bit of weight and space in your camping kit.

Just a thought.

Same here, we used self inflaters for years in our tent days.  Only the floor underneath the mattress and it was warm and comfortable.  You can just roll them up with the bedding like a swag to make things quick if you want or pick the lot up and put it on the bed to make space during the day or to travel.

[LC]

One of our kids (the 12yo) sleeps on the stretcher with one of the wanderer self inflating mattresses from BCF. He is happy.

The other kid (11yo) prefers to just put the mattress on the ground.

But in answer to the original question, yes I think a mattress would be a good investment.

[Rodt]

Thanks for the replies. I guess another concern is the insulating properties with regard  keeping the cold air from coming up underneath.
Rodt can I ask how wide the stretchers were your kids slept on? My lad is a very restless sleeper, sleeps in a double bed at home and has still managed to end up on the floor during the night. This is one reason I'm still considering the darche at a metre wide.

Sorry mate didn't see this until just now. I will have a look this afternoon but from memory I think we got ones that were branded XL which I think is meant to be wider. We got the bigger ones for the length as my babies are pretty tall (15yo is over 6') and I wasn't sure if they were going to stop growing 

[Redcherokee]

For what it's worth, when we took my 70+ year old dad out with us, we had a Oztent stretcher and a self inflating mattress to go on top for him.  He never used the mattress, declaring the stretcher and sleeping bag perfectly comfortable. However, we didn't cop any really cold nights. 

[latestarter]

Thanks to everyone that has provided input.
Talking about this with my wife last night, we have decided to flick the idea of a stretcher and go with an Exped (double) Megamat. Bloody expensive, but I have not read anything but glowing reviews.

Our mind set is two fold. Firstly, we plan on buying a second hand hard floor for the trip that we are planning (4 mths on the road) and with this we can simply pull it up onto the main bed when packing up. Secondly, I will at some point buy the young fella a double swag and this mat should slot straight in to replace whatever comes with the swag.

Anyway ... thanks again and Merry Xmas to one and all.

[itchvet]

Looking at a stretcher for my 7 yr old son. My question is whether you need additional mattress with the padded oztent stretchers or is the padding adequate ?
Was also cosidering the Darche brand as they make one wider, but am concerned about the quality.
Appreciate any feedback

Definitely a mattress of some sort. Get the biggest, widest quality you can afford for the stretcher.

[sbv20j]

why not just get him to try it for a few nights without a mattress first then make a decision

[LC]

Thanks to everyone that has provided input.
Talking about this with my wife last night, we have decided to flick the idea of a stretcher and go with an Exped (double) Megamat. Bloody expensive, but I have not read anything but glowing reviews.

Our mind set is two fold. Firstly, we plan on buying a second hand hard floor for the trip that we are planning (4 mths on the road) and with this we can simply pull it up onto the main bed when packing up. Secondly, I will at some point buy the young fella a double swag and this mat should slot straight in to replace whatever comes with the swag.

Anyway ... thanks again and Merry Xmas to one and all.

Not sure how thinck the above mattress is you are planning on buying......but with our KK we were very limited to what we could put on the bed. With the awning still attached we could only have the doona and pillows on the bed when folding up the camper. I would suggest you but the camper first then see how much space you have.