Air mattresses are traditionally convenient for camping when you don’t want to put your sleeping bag on the cold, hard ground — you could even throw one in a truck bed for sleeping under the stars. Like other high-end air mattresses, this version has air coils for added support and comfort, as well as a flocked surface designed to hold sheets in place. And at 45 pounds, this air mattress is on the heavier side, but we appreciate that it comes with a rolling case for easy transport. The true killers of air mattresses are “slow leaks,” which usually crop up along the glued seams and are often especially difficult to find. If you suspect you have a slow leak, inflate your mattress and then press hard on it, listening closely along the seams for air escaping.
It took six minutes to assemble the bed, and we gave the process a perfect rating for its simplicity. We also found that the pump made it faster and easier to deflate the air mattress, too. This 19-inch-tall queen air mattress has 40 internal air coils to evenly support the weight. A flocked top adds to the nice appearance and comfortable feel of this mattress. It’s also equipped with a built-in pump that assists with inflation and deflation functions, but it should be noted that the pump could have worked more quickly. It took seven minutes to fully inflate this queen air mattress, which is longer than others with a built-in pump.
Others will give you 90 days and throw in a few vinyl patches to cover up a puncture wound. Fortunately, air mattresses are available at a wide array of prices; it’s up to you to figure out how much you want to spend. Make no mistake, air mattresses of all prices can run the risk of deflating or puncturing over the years. But often, pricier models are designed to hold up well for a while. Before you set a budget, think about how you will use this air mattress.
This article was written by GH Institute Textiles Lab Executive Director Lexie Sachs, who has a B.S. In fiber science from Cornell University and more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products. Lexie joined GH in 2013 and has extensively tested all types of bedding — including mattresses, sheets, pillows, comforters and more — using specialized lab equipment and hundreds of consumer testers.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). There’s no such thing as a perfect air mattress, but we’ve been testing the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress since 2016, and it still holds air after many, many uses.
Here at The Spruce, we want to ensure that we fully stand behind every product we recommend and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all of these products ourselves, though occasionally we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut.
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A dual-pump air mattress eliminates the worries of waking up on a saggy, deflated bed. And if you’ve ever gone to sleep on an air mattress, only to wake up with it flat on the floor, you’ll especially appreciate a dual-pump option. While not all air mattresses are equipped with this feature, the Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress is our top recommendation bestway twin air mattress for those that are. In our overnight evaluation, this option lost less than 1 inch of height while holding 100 pounds of weight. So if sleeping on a deflated mattress is a concern, the dual pump is very effective at preventing that. The 18-inch-tall air mattress is also comfortable and high enough to make it easier to get in and out of.