The days of air mattresses being cheap and uncomfortable are long gone. Nowadays, there are a great many options on the market that can be used as long-term bedding solutions, rather than cheap stop gaps for camping trips. The market is much larger than it used to be, so we’ve done some research and come up with a helpful list for prospective buyers.
The Uses for Air Mattresses
Air mattresses these days are comfortable, even providing relief for people who suffer from back pain as it is possible to vary the firmness of your mattress through inflation and deflation. As an added bonus, double air mattresses tend to be inflated in two separate parts, which means that each side can have a different level of firmness; ideal for couples with different physical needs. Of course, they are cheaper than regular mattresses and a good space saving option too, but there is also increased durability to consider, as air mattresses don’t sag over time, meaning that if you look after yours well enough, there’s a good chance it’ll last longer than a regular mattress.
Without further ado then, here are our top 5 air mattresses, in no particular order. And to check out a range of information and advice on how to choose the best mattress for you, click here.
The Top 5 Air Mattresses
- If you’re looking for a mattress that you can take out and put away for when guests are round, then the SoundAsleep Dream Series is an excellent choice. Its internal pump means that it inflates and deflates quickly and reliably, with little more than 3 minutes’ wait, which is ideal if you can only temporarily make space available for your visitors. In terms of build quality, it has a waterproof top, which means it will be durable enough to use on short camping trips (although SoundAsleep also produce a camping specific model), but its main feature is its 40 internal coils, meaning that there is enough firmness to take the place of a regular mattress in the short term. And with a load bearing capacity of half a tonne, you shouldn’t have any problems with weight.
Patented 1-click internal pump for easy and fast inflation/deflationSoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress Highlights
Brand: SoundAsleep
Mattress Firmness: Medium to Firm
Mattress Construction Type: Dual-chamber, air coils
Mattress Thickness: -
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Queen
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: -
Warranty: 1 year
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side, Back sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.2/5.0 - With larger airbeds, an internal pump is a massive bonus, and Instabed make the best one around. The secret here is their neverFLAT technology, which keeps the bed inflated automatically by reading the pre-set air pressures. It re-inflates slowly and silently during the night, so you’re never disturbed, and you have the option to choose from three different firmness settings for it to keep to. The other main advantage of the Instabed is its height; up to 20 inches in height. This is great if you have older guests staying, and also ensures that there is always plenty of air between you and the ground.
Raised height with exclusive neverFLAT™ pump for desired comfort levelInstabed Raised Airbed with neverFLAT™ Pump Highlights
Brand: Instabed
Mattress Firmness: varied firmness
Mattress Construction Type: PVC and coils
Mattress Thickness: 18"
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Full
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: -
Warranty: 1 year
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side, Back, Stomach sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.3/5.0 - If you have a tight budget, but you’re still looking for good quality, then Intex have a range of mattresses that perform well despite not breaking the bank. The Dream Lux Pillowtop has a lower load capacity than other mattresses on this list, at 300lbs maximum, but the focus is very much on comfort nonetheless. The main factor in this is that it comes with a height of 22 inches, which makes it very easy to get on and off. In addition, the pillowtop feature means that you have a soft raise in the head area, and the flocked sides protect the softer surface against any damage that might befall a slightly lighter weight mattress. Coming in at $74.99, it is a high-quality, affordable option for household use and comes with an internal pump for inflation and deflation.
28 circular coils that create a comfortable and supportive sleeping surfaceIntex Dura-Beam Dream Lux Pillowtop Airbed Highlights
Brand: Intex
Mattress Firmness: Soft to Medium
Mattress Construction Type: Electric pump
Mattress Thickness: 22"
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Full
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: -
Warranty: 90 days
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side, Back, Stomach sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.8/5.0 - It isn’t just the larger mattresses that have stepped up in quality over the last decade. You can also get lightweight pack-down mattresses for regular outdoor use, without compromising on comfort. Among the best of these is the Shangri-La 10 from Vango. At 4 inches thick, it is more an air mat than mattress, but the work that Vango have put into the design means that it is comfortable enough for prolonged use. The Thermostatic Polyurethane (TPU) lamination ensures high-end elasticity and durability and the elastic yarn makes it feel remarkably like a mattress despite its thinness. For travellers, though, it’s one of the best camping mattresses out there. Its self-inflating function takes around 30 seconds, and it doesn’t take much longer to deflate and pack away. And weighing in at under 6kg means that it definitely falls within the portable range.
Self-inflation mat designed to provide all the comfort of your bed at homeSHANGRI-LA 10 Self-inflation Mat Highlights
Brand: SHANGRI-LA
Mattress Firmness: Medium Firm/5
Mattress Construction Type: Top fabric and Cyclone valve inside
Mattress Thickness: 3"
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Double
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: -
Warranty: -
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side, Back sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.1/5.0 - From lightweight camping solution to seriously heavy duty, nothing gets as close to a real bed as the EZ Automatic Inflatable Bed. This monster weighs in at 20kg and is therefore a home use option only, but it’s a sight to behold when you take it out of its carry case. Once you plug it in, it’s like watching a pop-up tent, in that it starts to unfold and take shape as a full bed. And by full bed, we mean complete with attached frame. The mattress itself is durable – not the most comfortable on the list, but it benefits from being off the ground and on a frame, especially if you have less mobile visitors to consider. Deflation is easy too; just plug it back in and the mattress shrinks away. All you need to do is fold the frame up and it fits comfortably in the bag.
EZ Inflatable Automatic Air Mattress with Folding Frame Highlights
Brand: EZ
Mattress Firmness: varied firmness
Mattress Construction Type: Electric pump
Mattress Thickness: 20.8"
Compatible for Bed Frame Size: Double, Single
Mattress Sleep Trial Time: -
Warranty: Amazon warranty
Delivery: Free shipping and returns
Perfect For: Side, Back, Stomach sleeper
Customer Rating: 4.5/5.0
Regardless of the type of mattress you decide to buy, the main factors in your decision are clear. Comfort, ease of inflation, height, weight, durability and of course, cost. And as you can see from this list, there are almost as many options with air mattresses as there are with traditional ones these days, meaning that it’s worth doing a bit of research before you make your choice.
