My kids are in prime "sleepover at a friend's house" age. They get a real kick out of being able to stay up a little bit later to watch a movie or two, while they eat huge amounts of popcorn and other assorted treats. We love letting the kids have friends over, but we just weren't equipped to offer overnight accommodations to visiting guests. We do have a pull out sofa bed, but, having tried it once, I didn't feel right forcing anyone to sleep on it. It's pretty uncomfortable. We thought about it and decided that it might be a good idea to get an air mattress. When they're deflated, they don't take up much space, and when they are blown up, they're actually pretty comfortable.
Inflatable mattresses have one thing in common- they rely on compressed air as a means of support. Beyond that, there are some differences that you will notice as you start looking around for deals on these handy home accessories. There are enough of these mattresses to choose from that picking the right one can be confusing.
For our purposes, we'll be discussing here mattresses that are primarily intended to be for temporary use, or maybe for permanent use in space that's used for sleeping by night but other purposes by day. There are high end permanent mattresses that use air as a component of the support system, but that's another story. If you are curious about what options you have when you decide to start looking for something comfortable to sleep on, be sure to check what other people said about these best reviewed inflatable mattresses
This Intex Queen Airbed has a built in pump!
As I was researching air beds and inflatable mattresses, I was surprised by the sheer number of them. I also found that there were some that clearly stood out from the rest. This was due to their superior comfort as well as their reliability. There is really no sense in buying one of these mattresses if they are not built to handle normal use. In my research on Amazon, I found that by far, one of the most popular and best reviewed inflatable mattresses around today is the Intex Raised Downy Queen Airbed
Inflatable mattresses have come a long way since the days when they were first used by Boy Scouts to avoid the lumps and bumps and pokes of the hard ground under their sleeping bags. Many a night has been spent on a Coleman inflatable mattress under the stars!
The inflatable mattress answers a variety of needs, and as time has passed they have evolved. As more and more people discovered their advantages, manufacturers responded by seeking to fill market niche after market niche. Today there is a wide range of inflatable air mattresses from which to choose.
You can find them made from various types of materials that most people refer to generically as plastic, but most often poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), or you can find them made of rubber. You can find them with or without fabric coverings. You can find them in a range of sizes, and even with self inflating mechanisms. You can find them of varying heights, the higher of them intended to simulate the common experience of most people of sleeping raised substantially above floor or ground level. For those who really intend their inflatable mattress use to be a long-term thing, they can even be found with metal frames.
If you need room to move, this QuickBed King is a good choice.
As a practical matter, an important first consideration is the strength of the material used to construct the mattress. If you have a cat who likes to sharpen its claws or 'knead' a resting place with its paws, maybe an inflatable mattress isn't for you. Short of that, however, consider the anticipated uses and users of the product. is it likely to encounter anything more abrasive than the family room carpet? If so, make sure to assess the weight and durability of the mattress at the very outset. Is it likely to be used as a trampoline by the kiddos? On the other hand, if you expect to be lugging yours around, as in camping or back packing, you may be willing to sacrifice some sturdiness in construction for lighter weight. Again, plan ahead!
Consider how much time and effort will have to be spent inflating (or deflating!) the mattress. Related to this, but often unrealized without benefit of experience, is that inflatable mattresses are not all equal in their ability to contain the air put into them. If you buy one that doesn't hold air well, regardless of your intent to blow it up and use it indefinitely, you may find yourself having to re-inflate it more often than you would like.
There are available inflatable mattresses that inflate as you unroll them. If you can do without this relatively expensive luxury, consider whether you'll be willing to spend some minutes giving yourself a workout at bedtime to get your mattress inflated. At the extreme low end, you can actually blow it up like a balloon, but this is not something many modern users want to do. If it suits your overall purposes, however, at least make sure that the inflation valve has a 'one-way' feature that prevents the air you've just blown in to escape while you take your next breath.
Some mattresses come with manual pumps of essentially a billows type principle. They can be operated by hand or foot, but they do require exertion that you may not want to engage in when what you really want is to lay down and rest. Electric pumps are also available, and do a fine job until the power is out. If you go that route, at least make sure you have a back-up system. Battery operated pumps can be excellent for back up or routine use. With the advances in battery technology in recent years, they can be your most reliable option.
Don't forget to consider how long it will take you to deflate your inflatable mattress. Some require that you roll around on it or physically roll it up to force the air out of the deficient exhaust valves. If you intend to do this many times, you'll be glad you looked into the matter.
Inflatable mattresses come in a wide range of sizes, from child sized to king.
This is a smaller, Intex twin model. It also has an a pump built right in!
Be aware, though, that as size increases, there is a tendency for the mattress to 'wallow'. Some are available with internal support pockets or foam designed to minimize this effect. As a general rule, if you're planning to buy a king-sized inflatable mattress for a distinctly low price, don't expect much in the way of support. As with other things, it costs money to add features to a mattress, and that cost is going to find its way to the consumer.
If you intend your inflatable mattress to be used regularly, you may want to consider the advantage of having one that's made so the sleeping surface is raised to or near the level of a regular bed. This might not seem important to a potential purchaser at first, but who isn't familiar with the experience of being unable to fall asleep because a bed feels 'strange'. Sleeping at a height of six inches off the floor isn't the same experience of sleeping up higher for most people. Also, don't forget to consider that the coldest air is always nearest the floor. If you opt to sleep down near the floor, maybe it would be a good idea to budget for an extra blanket or two.
Although inflatable air mattresses are not terribly expensive, it's definitely worth the time and effort consider your wants and needs and to do some research. Don't be shy about asking questions and examining the goods before plunking down your cash.
If you're someone who prefers to go with the crowd, Aerobed is probably the largest selling brand name in the field. However, Intex inflatable mattresses are well-liked by many, and certainly a Coleman inflatable mattress brings to the party a long history of quality products, especially among the outdoors oriented.
Remember, it may not seem worth a lot of thought or investigation to buy a relatively low priced item like an inflatable mattress. Consider, however, how you might feel about the matter as you lay sleepless through a long, long night, or how you will cope with a long, long day of complaints from the in-laws about their long sleepless night before. Do the homework and rest easy!
