The airbed stayed up through the night – no top up of air required. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly advises against using air mattresses with children under the age of 15 months—whether alone or accompanied by a grownup. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health (paywall), air mattresses were reported in more than 100 sleep-related infant deaths.
Battery-operated pumps are lighter and don’t require a wall socket but are typically less effective and less capable of fully inflating a mattress. A manual pump or a flat pump, on the other hand, can deliver a degree of firmness the others can’t match and needs neither batteries nor outlet — but will require a significant amount of physical labor to operate. The Beautyrest Hi Loft twin air mattress comes equipped with a plug-in electric pump that screws on to the mattress. Once attached, it inflates the mattress in about 2 minutes — though not as fully as I would’ve liked. Once it’s inflated, you need to quickly unscrew the pump and replace the valve cap. Below, you’ll find reviews of the best and worst single- and double-height air mattresses, based on our latest tests.
They’re great for camping trips or for folks who don’t have a ton of storage for a bigger air mattress. A double-height air mattress is great as a makeshift guest bed. Many have a fuzzy vinyl side, making it less likely for your guests to slide across the mattress at night, and they often come with an electric air pump that makes inflating the bed less of a chore. The manufacturers of the mattresses we tested all told us not to store air mattresses in areas with high temperature fluctuations or humidity, because such conditions can stress the materials. That means you should probably think twice about storing your air mattress in a basement or garage. Ideally, store it in a dry, cool location, either in a sturdy container or the provided storage bag.
I was left with a heavy hunk of PVC, and the accompanying tote bag meant to store the air mattress couldn’t be used at all. The true killers of air mattresses are “slow leaks,” which usually crop up along the glued seams and are often especially difficult to find. Although some loss of pressure overnight is to be expected, a slow leak is the likely culprit when your mattress deflates at least 10% to 20% overnight—not enough to empty the mattress, but annoying and uncomfortable. 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. You could also try to pass a wet hand a few inches from the seam, feeling for the cool touch of the air.
This model in particular stood out among competitors in our Lab tests with no overnight leakage after 170 pounds of weight were applied to the mattress for 24 hours. Plus, it impressed our testers, who called it “more comfortable to sleep on” than other air beds they’ve tried, but they noted that the brand’s pump was a little too loud when inflating the mattress late at night. Air mattresses have a bad reputation for sagging over time, but this two-pump system uses unique technology to prevent just that. The first pump is used to inflate and deflate the bed and has an automatic shut-off when the mattress is full. The second pump stays on all night and automatically adjusts the air pressure to keep it fully inflated. In addition, Serta’s model allows you to select from three firmness levels prior to inflation for your personalized comfort.
Our range of airbeds with built-in pumps is sure to make your outdoor experience a breeze. When it’s time to pack up, the pump deflates the airbed so it fits into a carry bag that can be stored away till your next adventure. Perfect for every camping enthusiast, our collection of air mattress repair kits, air mattress repair patches and air mattress storage bags is sure to come in handy.
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