A query about bedding

[tamarinne]

So I've started my annual preparation for Pennsic (making my list, checking it twice, etc.) and I'm wondering if anyone out there has a clever idea about bedding.

See, here's the thing.  I really don't like sleeping on an air mattress.  They squeak, they bounce, they deflate unexepectedly.  However, they get a high score in terms of compression and packability.  

So... does anyone out there have a clever idea for alternative bedding?  I've been wondering about foam or something along those lines.   Ideally it would be something that either (A) could squish to fit in an already fairly full car, or (B) could be easily obtained in Pennsylvania once we get there (and possibly even left in Pennsylvania in the trailer that our campsite rents there, although that would require an additional degree of heat-, humidity-, and cold-tolerance, since it would be living in an un-climate-controlled trailer for a year.)

Comments

[kr4sh.livejournal.com]

we use a queen size futon that we leave in our storage in PA.. and we are not going to Pennsic this year sooo...

it has some mildew stains but the mildew has been kilt so it should be good to go. if you are interested, let me know

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

I may well take you up on that! I'm still holding out hope that we can find a permanent solution (rather than a "just this year" solution) but if I don't get anywhere with that, I'll email you about your futon. Thank you!!

[kr4sh.livejournal.com]

undersdtood but i thought i would put it out there

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

The period solution is to make a mattress bag, and fill it with straw or hay obtained on site. Freidrich claims this works well. (not for the alergic of course).

[jamey1138.livejournal.com]

Sounds cool, actually-- I think I'll give that a try this year.

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

I poked around a bit and this was the cheapest price I could find on heavyweight ticking (I found cheaper standard ticking, but I figure if it's getting straw put inside it, heavyweight is probably better):

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=9014&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=ticking

Would you be interested in this? I figured I'd drop by Hancock sometime this week, and if they don't have it in stock, I'd order it online. Let me know if you want me to buy some for you. I figure it will probably be something like 10 yards to make a queen sized mattress tick.

[jamey1138.livejournal.com]

I'm just an ignorant caveman, but I'm curious what makes "ticking" better than, say, just regular cotton canvas (like this http://www.hancockfabrics.com/product/iMainCat/3248/iSubCat/3379/iProductID/9017/9017.html )?

The canvas comes to about 1/2 as expensive, once you figure in the enormous difference in width (ticking is 32" wide, canvas is 72" wide...)

I'm guessing that the idea is that ticking has a higher thread count, for a more comfortable feel, but I tend to put a wool blanket between the mattress and the bedsheet, anyway (for warmth), so I'm not sure I'd appreciate it?

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

I think (being a little of a caveman on the subject myself) that ticking is more tightly woven to prevent mattress innards from escaping, while still being flexible enough to allow the mattress to have some give. I'm just learning about making mattresses myself, so what I don't know about this could fill volumes. I'd be game for trying it with canvas, though.

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

Ah, teh intarwebs...

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/straw-mattresses.aspx

"Canvas woven from hemp, also called hurden or tow, was a likely choice for the tick before machine-woven cottons took over. Ticking, the cloth for the tick, evolved into strong, closely-woven cotton, often striped in English-speaking countries."

So canvas might actually be MORE period appropriate! :)

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

I am intrigued!

Do you know how one would go about obtaining hay once on site?

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Cooper's sells bales, up by the main check in (before you get to troll). Or they did.

[dreda.livejournal.com]

I would be wary of the straw at Pennsic these days - I have not seen any for sale for a while, and what there is (the setups for battles, etc.) has been positively alive. Green, blue, all kinds of festive colours.

More choices

[ballestra.livejournal.com]

But now you have to be able to tell the difference between hay and straw! Sigh. I wouldn't survive an agrarian era. I don't even know which kind to tie to what foot to learn how to march...

Re: More choices

[tamarinne.livejournal.com]

Weirdly, although I have no agrarian skills to speak of, I can tell the difference between hay and straw. I owe it all to my mother's parents, who had a working farm for most of my childhood. After jumping into the haymow from the rafters of the barn, and jumping into the straw... uh... pile... from the same rafters, I can tell you that straw is MUCH scratchier.

[samazon13.livejournal.com]

I also recommend the dried grasses - one of the few times I chose to sleep outside two nights in a row, I gathered a bed of straw/hay (whatever was handy) and just lay my fleece sleeping bag on top of it and climbed in. It was surprisingly comfortable.

-Samazon