Best Air Mattresses

For everyone from students in single-semester living arrangements, travelers, campers, frequent family visitors, air mattresses are much more useful than they are often given credit for at first glance. Transportable, inexpensive, and a lot more comfortable than a sleeping bag on the floor or rolling off the sofa, air mattresses are an excellent way to get a good night’s sleep.

Unexpected guests can drop in at any time, or travel problems could result in family members needing to stay over at the last minute. If you have a small home or little spare room, an air mattress can be put up in your lounge in next to no time and conveniently taken down again the next day. Air mattresses are also much cheaper alternatives to purchasing a traditional mattress along with a box spring. So, whether you’re on a tight budget, moving between houses, or saving up for the bed of your dreams, purchasing an air bed can be a great way to save money.

There are several different styles of air bed available, but in general all air mattresses can be split into the two main categories of indoor versus outdoor mattresses. Naturally, there is often some overlap and, depending upon whether you prefer “glamping” or camping, an indoor style can be used outdoors and vice versa. Let’s take a look at the main characteristics of these different types of air mattress.

Indoor Air Mattresses

Air beds intended for indoor use are generally heavier and contain electric pumps that need to be plugged in. While they are still manufactured to not puncture easily, the home environment naturally presents fewer risks than the great outdoors. As they are often purchased for use as pop-up spare beds for guests, this type of air mattress can be a lot higher than the outdoor variety and is designed to provide greater comfort often at the expense of portability and weight. You may find that your indoor-use air bed has a greater level of all-round comfort and special features such as internal “threaded beams” for greater support, or even an inflatable headboard for a more homey look.

Outdoor Air Mattresses

If you are looking for an air bed for camping you will need one that can be inflated with a manual pump or from your vehicle. If you are staying at a campsite and have a large tent, you will probably prefer to purchase and use an indoor air mattress, but if you have a small tent and are looking to get closer to nature, then a compact air mattress designed for outdoor use can provide you with extra comfort and make your trip go much better with a more comfortable night’s sleep.

Designed to be highly portable and lightweight, this style of air mattress can also be easily transported. Their low height and waterproof material make them a great choice for camping, just be sure to double check your ground sheet before inflating in case of any debris or underlying vegetation or sharp stones. While this type of air mattress is optimized for use outdoors, you could certainly spend a comfortable night indoors on one or offer it to any unexpected guests.

Air mattresses are extremely simple to use. Before unpacking and inflating your air bed, we recommend taking a few moments to assess the area where you are thinking of using it. You will need to be near a power outlet and away from any possible puncture hazards. If possible, give the area a quick vacuum or brush over.

Once you’re sure that there are no potential puncture hazards in the vicinity, you can proceed to inflate your air mattress. Follow the manufacturer’s usage directions, to make sure that your air mattress is correctly inflated. As air beds can often expand slightly with their first use, we recommend inflating your new air bed a few hours before when possible. Then, just before use, top up with extra air to ensure that any slack that may have formed is filled. Remember, you should only ever fill your air mattress to around 90% capacity. This will ensure that you have a comfortable sleeping experience and will not roll off an over-filled air bed or risk splitting the seams.

With so many different models to choose from, it can seem like a challenge working out how to choose the best air mattress. Here’s our guide to some of the most essential features that you should consider when choosing your new air bed.

Size

If you are purchasing an air bed for yourself, then choose the size that suits you best. If you are looking for an air mattress for guests, you will probably be best looking at a queen size inflatable mattress. That way, you can put up couples for the night as well as an individual. Queens can also be a good choice for sleeping your grandkids or nieces and nephews, if they cannot regularly visit.

Once you have decided upon your air mattress size, double check the dimensions before you purchase. Sometimes, some less scrupulous manufacturers don’t always respect the predefined dimensions. In this case, you could find that your bedding won’t fit your new air mattress. It’s always best to double check the exact dimensions correspond to the standard traditional mattress sizes.

Weight Capacity

For single air beds, you shouldn’t have much of an issue, but the weight capacity for queen mattresses can vary substantially. When you consider that some models can vary by as much as 300 pounds extra capacity, there’s a huge difference. If you are purchasing an air bed for occasional guest use, we strongly recommend going with a model that has a high maximum weight capacity so that it can support the weight of anyone who may need to use it.

Internal Electric Pump

When you purchase an air bed with an internal electric pump, inflating and deflating becomes extremely simple. Plug in your air bed and press the button to inflate it in minutes. Internal pumps make for easier storage and ensure that the pump doesn’t get misplaced or used for other purposes. With an internal electric pump your air mattress can be inflated and ready for use in minutes.

Option to Attach Manual Pump

This option is extremely useful and means you can use your inflatable mattress in a variety of situations, such as outdoors or during a power outage, without the need for electricity.

Weight

If you are looking for an inflatable mattress for occasional guests to your home, then weight will most probably not be an issue. If, though, you are looking for an air mattress for camping, you will probably appreciate a lower weight mattress for greater portability.

Sleeping Surface Material

As air mattresses tend to be rather cold to sleep upon, some air mattresses offer a brushed fabric upper that will help to add to your heat and comfort levels. Others have a pillow style construction for optimized comfort and a better night’s sleep.

Internal Supports

In order to maintain a decent height, high-rise air mattresses need some kind of internal support. Certain models have developed lightweight fabric supports that can be used to improve the stability and comfort of your air mattress.

Carry/Storage bag

Whether you’re looking to take your air mattress camping, or to store it in your closet, a carry or storage bag is a handy addition that will make using or transporting it a lot easier.

Headboard

Some air beds include inflatable headboards, which can provide an additional level of comfort and relaxation. An inflatable headboard will give you or your guests greater support and comfort when reading or watching TV and can make your inflatable mattress look much more like a traditional bed.

Pros

• Inexpensive – If you need a cheap sleeping solution then an air bed can save you a lot of money, as they are much cheaper than traditional mattresses This can be especially useful when you’re moving house, in temporary accommodation, or lodging with a friend.
• Saves Space & Easy to Store – Store your inflatable mattress in your closet then turn your living area into a temporary bedroom. Having an air mattress enables you to save space, converting living areas to bedrooms quickly and easily without the need for any permanent transformation.
• Highly Portable – Folding down neatly into a convenient carry bag, an inflatable mattress is highly transportable compared to a traditional mattress.

Cons

• Easily Punctured – Unfortunately, air mattresses can often be easily punctured. Before inflating your air bed, always check the vicinity for any possible puncture hazards and keep any pets off your air bed to avoid their claws puncturing the surface.
• Short Lifespan – With regular use, your air bed will not last as long as a traditional mattress and box spring will. If you are thinking of using an air bed as a permanent sleeping solution, bear in mind that you will probably need to replace it at least once every 12 months.