Thai rollaway mattress - opinions?

indigo_k · 06-21-2019, 05:13 PM

Hey, all:

While watching various skoolie tour videos, I saw one family in Australia using these Thai kapok mattresses:

I really like the idea of being able to roll away the mattress when I need more floor space for projects or lounging or whatever, but I don't know if I want to commit to using one of these as my full-time primary mattress. Has anyone here used one, ever? What were your impressions of it?

indigo_k · 06-21-2019, 05:16 PM

The same company makes a line that are one inch thicker but can still be folded to store-away. Not as compact/convenient, but still probably much more comfortable.

Sleddgracer · 06-21-2019, 05:33 PM

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...664b5d63umkt4a

indigo_k · 06-21-2019, 08:28 PM

Yeah, but have you used one? Did you find it comfortable?

HazMatt · 06-21-2019, 08:34 PM

Yeah, except for the bed bugs.
Oh, you asked if I used one. I thought you asked about used ones...

musigenesis · 06-21-2019, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indigo_k

Hey, all:

While watching various skoolie tour videos, I saw one family in Australia using these Thai kapok mattresses:

I really like the idea of being able to roll away the mattress when I need more floor space for projects or lounging or whatever, but I don't know if I want to commit to using one of these as my full-time primary mattress. Has anyone here used one, ever? What were your impressions of it?

Thailand is Buddhist and Buddhism teaches that life is suffering. Hence the kapok mattress.

HazMatt · 06-21-2019, 10:20 PM

On the plus side, it will serve as a flotation device!
Too bad it doesn't have a cupholder on either side...

peteg59 · 06-21-2019, 10:21 PM

If you're young, probably be okay. Some age and old injuries, back issues, etc., not so much.
You're probably better off using an air mattress if it needs to be comfortable and compact when not in use?..

ol trunt · 06-21-2019, 11:18 PM

At least with an air mattress that has gone flat over night you'll know why your back aches. Something to be said for a couple of inches of rollable dense foam.
Jack

indigo_k · 06-21-2019, 11:21 PM

Fair enough! Thanks for the input, gang!

Mark_In_MA · 06-21-2019, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indigo_k

Hey, all:

While watching various skoolie tour videos, I saw one family in Australia using these Thai kapok mattresses:

I really like the idea of being able to roll away the mattress when I need more floor space for projects or lounging or whatever, but I don't know if I want to commit to using one of these as my full-time primary mattress. Has anyone here used one, ever? What were your impressions of it?

Well, it looks more comfortable then sleeping on the floor.
(Exactly - that's not saying much.)

While I get the desire to have more/flexible space, are you really just planning on having a mattress-sized spot on the floor where you sleep? That seems like it would be awkward to sleep in most of the time, while being usable only some of the time. What's your floor plan?

I'd look for a murphy bed, or some sort of bed that folded up against the wall/floor that would support a real mattress. I've seen (and slept on) some comfortable air mattresses, but I don't know how they'd hold up with long-term everyday use.

indigo_k · 06-22-2019, 12:29 AM

I'm planning for lots of sleeping options - a main loft big enough for a queen-size mattress, a convertible dinette, space for hammocks, and a smaller loft for a guest.

I've slept on an air mattress, for about 6 or 7 months at a stretch, and it messed my back up pretty good - not nearly firm enough for me. I don't want to have to pump up an air mattress every time I decide to use it or get it out for guests. Ideally I'd be able to put the mattress away like a futon (another good floor-sleeping option) and then pull it out and set it up in a couple minutes if I decide to sleep on it. I expect I'll be leaving it out and ready to sleep on most of the time, but I'm trying to keep my spaces as fluid and flexible as I can.

As much as I'm trying to avoid single-purpose items in the bus, I'm also trying to include as many multi-purpose spaces as possible as well.

indigo_k · 06-22-2019, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol trunt

At least with an air mattress that has gone flat over night you'll know why your back aches. Something to be said for a couple of inches of rollable dense foam.
Jack

A couple of inches of rollable foam is pretty much exactly what this is, I mean aside from being foam. It's a plant fiber that's densely packed, so it should be quite firm (more than an air mattress, I would guess), but the stitched-tube construction keeps the filling from sliding around inside and bunching in the corners, while also allowing it to be rolled pretty compactly compared to a foam mattress.

I guess I'll check around locally and see if any stores carry them so I can give one a try.

peakbus · 06-22-2019, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Thailand is Buddhist and Buddhism teaches that life is suffering. Hence the kapok mattress.

That's about it. My brother in law was so exited to offer us this option as a guest bed after he had visited Thailand. It was about the worst night I'd spent, until we slept on his slowly deflating air mattress years later

HazMatt · 06-22-2019, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indigo_k

A couple of inches of rollable foam is pretty much exactly what this is, I mean aside from being foam. It's a plant fiber that's densely packed, so it should be quite firm (more than an air mattress, I would guess), but the stitched-tube construction keeps the filling from sliding around inside and bunching in the corners, while also allowing it to be rolled pretty compactly compared to a foam mattress.

I guess I'll check around locally and see if any stores carry them so I can give one a try.

Take the word, "foam," with a dollop of salt. Kapok has long been used in flotation devices. Fairly lightweight and resistant to saturation. You may find it at the opposite end of the sleep upon spectrum- while not as hard as concrete, it isn't a heck of a lot softer...

Quote:

Originally Posted by peakbus

That's about it. My brother in law was so exited to offer us this option as a guest bed after he had visited Thailand. It was about the worst night I'd spent, until we slept on his slowly deflating air mattress years later

Does your BIL like you..?

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Thailand is Buddhist and Buddhism teaches that life is suffering. Hence the kapok mattress.

Huh! I was a Buddhist, & didn't even know it! (Tho the gradually developing Buddha belly shoulda been a hint...)

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