Camping and RV Forums  Camping Forums  Camping 101  Ground To Hard For You?.. I've Got It Covered
Previous Previous
 
Next Next
New Post 10/14/2009 6:17 PM
  Our JeepLife 2
6 posts




Ground To Hard For You?.. I've Got It Covered 
Modified By Our JeepLife 2  on 10/15/2009 9:48:57 AM)
Because of my lower back pain.. which stems from my fathers side of the family, It's sort like having hip displasica, some times painful, but more over can and I have contorted it with Proper exercise and strengthening.

Our last outing wasn't so pleasant. Staying at the Enota Mountain Retreat, In GA I found myself with major back pain due lifting some gem mining buckets at a local Gem Mine.. Most of these buckets had been filled with rocks instead of the typical sand or silt product. I felt like Charlie Brown On Halloween. "Say Charlie, What Did You Get In Your Trick Or Treat Bag?".. "All I Got Was A Rock".

Anyway.. I've been biding my time and biting my tongue on this cleaver way to soften the ground while camping.. Most hardware stores like Lowe's or Home depot have foam "Gold's Gym Exercise Pads" which lock together like giant puzzle pieces. Some come in array of playful colors squares measuring 2' x 2' while more are a more natural color or shade of gray or black. These mats are most commonly used in basements as excise floors and kids play areas.

We Set up tent, took some measurements and determined that we needed four packs of four mats each.. which would covered the entire floor surface area of the tent. Heading back into town. We located the nearest Home deport (which at the time was the closest to our camp site) and bought the packs of mats. Selecting the gray colors mats over the kid friendly "Day Glow Green, Red Yellow and Blue" Which came to roughly $28.00 per pack. (Found out Wal-Mart has them cheaper, But it was to late to complain)

Arriving back at the camp ground.. We moved the tend aside.. and began placing the 2 x 2 puzzle mats down on the ground.. then picking up the tent and setting it directly on top of the mats. It worked! Thou the mats offer some comfort more so then the ground. They do offer a thermal barrier as well.. Not sure the "R-Value" but we did feel warmer that night.

Next season, We will go into more detail about how one is to carry this much foam padding and have some pictures to boot:
Our JeepLife 2's Web site

 
New Post 1/12/2010 2:31 PM
  padmej
124 posts




Re: Ground To Hard For You?.. I've Got It Covered 
How do blow up mattresses work for you?
 
New Post 10/5/2011 6:32 AM
  el fuller
96 posts




Re: Ground To Hard For You?.. I've Got It Covered 
It's been a long time since I've done some tent camping. But I remember back then I'd use a floor mat that would go underneath my sleeping bag. It gives me that added support for my back.
 
New Post 2/6/2013 9:39 PM
  harold
112 posts




Re: Ground To Hard For You?.. I've Got It Covered 
Air mattress + sleeping pad = good night's sleep and a happy lower back.
 
New Post 2/8/2013 5:20 AM
  Matthew
121 posts




Re: Ground To Hard For You?.. I've Got It Covered 
Tried an air mattress. Either I'm inflating it wrong or what, but I end up having a painful back after a few hours. We ended up getting a foam mattress. Works really well for me.
 
Previous Previous
 
Next Next
  Camping and RV Forums  Camping Forums  Camping 101  Ground To Hard For You?.. I've Got It Covered
© 2007-2024 Camping Road Trip, LLC. All Rights Reserved.