Early Retirement Extreme Forums

I think this has been asked before, but can one of you point me to a sleeping system that is easy to clean and portable? Turns out long and unfoldable mattresses don't fit in cars. This is for my room, so a sleeping bag and pad are out. I was thinking more of a roll up tatami matt. Questions for you/myself:

1. How does one sleep on tatami? Do you just get the tatami and put a sheet on it like a regular mattress? Or put something soft on top of it?
2. For example, maybe a roll up futon like this: http://roselawnlutheran.org/futon/japan ... -up-futon/
3. My mattress is a ghoul-green plastic material that is easy to clean with a sponge. How does one clean futon or tatami?

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Pretty: https://www.google.com/search?q=tatami+ ... DIIMD_aiDM:

I would strap the mattress to the top of the cargo van. Probably can't use too many straps.

Tatami is thick (about 1.5") soft straw flooring that's sold in standard sizes. It does not fold or roll. It's flooring material. Not a bed. You could sleep on it like you would sleep on the floor insofar you're into that. Seems a bit silly though---it would be like buying a piece of 4x8 plywood and sleeping on that.

Tatami is hard to clean (hence the rules about taking your shoes off) and the Japanese switch them out every so many years once they get too gnarly. Japanese rooms are built in standard sizes (measured in unit mats, e.g. a 4 mat room) to make this easy.

Maybe you're thinking "tatami omote" which is like a thin beach mat? Those are only good for sword testing or improvised clothing(*). They have about as much softness to them as a piece of paper. Call it a 0.1 on the yoga mat scale.

Otherwise, you put a shiki futon on the floor and sleep on that. I'd rate that at 1.5-2 on the therma-rest scale. You generally do not put covers on futons like you would on a mattress but of course you can do whatever you want. To sleep on it, you would tie your swords together so that there's one sword on either side of you with the string passing under the futon. Also you keep your right arm under you while sleeping lest it be cut off before you can react. This is the only way, if you care anything about your honor as a swordsman!

The futon should be hung up to air out [daily]. If you want something transportable and reasonably presentable (to the hipster-consumer mind), that's what I'd get. If you don't give a shit, I'd suggest a cowboy roll (same rating) or a cot (much higher rating).

(*) In case your clothes get stolen because you failed to secure them before going to bed. Here, common methods involves tying your clothes to your grappling hook and tying the hook to your big toe. CMI makes a good one.

Have you thought about a hammock?

You could try to find a swag. Image search. I've never tried one for long periods of time.

Wait, but you said sleeping bag and pad are out. And yet a roll up mat is OK? Difference without distinction in my opinion.

http://www.lebonbond.com

Otherwise, 1 or 2 thermarest Z-Lite would be very versatile.

jacob wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 17, 2017 9:47 am

Seems a bit silly though---it would be like buying a piece of 4x8 plywood and sleeping on that.

that's literally what brute's been doing.

I use a Japanese futon, it takes some time to get use to but I like it. If this one becomes unusable for some reason I would probably just sleep on the floor - my futon doesnt have much padding to begin with.

What about a "memory foam" mattress? I think they come compressed into a small box, though I'm not sure if they can be compressed again once opened.

Or an inflatable mattress?

James_0011 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 17, 2017 9:06 pm

I use a Japanese futon, it takes some time to get use to but I like it. If this one becomes unusable for some reason I would probably just sleep on the floor - my futon doesnt have much padding to begin with.

Do you have a link to the one you got, or something similar?

I think a futon makes more sense than a mattress while mobile.

The tatami is for hipster cred.

Just kidding, the futon's going on the floor. Maybe.

I've been sleeping on this for about a month now and have no complaints thus far: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0065 ... UTF8&psc=1

@GdP - Originally I was thinking "No way!" but here's a guy who compressed a memory foam mattress with a vacuum cleaner!

https://medium.com/@sambrannon01/moving ... cee8d31708

BRUTE wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 17, 2017 9:04 pm

jacob wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 17, 2017 9:47 am

Seems a bit silly though---it would be like buying a piece of 4x8 plywood and sleeping on that.

that's literally what brute's been doing.

Why do you need the plywood? Ground too lumpy?

dusty, and sometimes cold

BRUTE wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:05 pm

dusty, and sometimes cold

Does a 3/4 inch piece of plywood really make a difference when it comes to dust?

BRUTE wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:05 pm

dusty, and sometimes cold

Aren't you going a bit soft

BRUTE wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 18, 2017 12:25 am

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/222179983 ... -l1000.jpg

Okay, I like that, but what is it called?

@George, ooo, that's really cool!