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

[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! :)