This past year, we put seven new air mattress contenders through a series of rigorous Lab tests and consumer tests to find the best of the best, using standardized testing methods and other industry standards. In all, we’ve analyzed over 400 data points over the years from more than a dozen inflatable beds to determine the best air mattresses available. For both comfort and convenience, you’ll an inflatable mattress that’s easy to set up, compact to carry and store and won’t leak air overnight while you’re using it. But that’s easier said than done; it can be difficult to tell exactly what’s comfortable without trying it out for a few nights yourself. That’s where we come in, having tested dozens to find the best air mattresses available. The true killers of air mattresses are “slow leaks,” which usually crop up along the glued seams and are often especially difficult to find.
Though it’s on the cheaper side, the Intex Comfort Dura-Beam air mattress is sturdy and impressively firm, with horizontal air chambers. While it may not be the overall best air mattress, it’s comfortable enough to sleep on and a great pick for everyday use. While this option is on the pricier side compared to some on our list, bestway air mattress users say it’s worth the splurge, thanks to its superior comfort and ease of use. The Coleman SupportRest Elite Double High Airbed with Built-in Pump was the previous runner-up in this guide. It had a noticeable dip on the surface after eight hours with the 125-pound weight test, and it arrived without a patch to fix any leaks.
Though most queen-size air mattress options measure approximately 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, height is both a variable and a selling point. In fact, it may be a primary consideration for older or disabled people who would have trouble getting on or off a bed that’s too low to the ground. The best air mattresses have a built-in electric pump that plugs into a wall socket. Some have a battery-powered external rechargeable pump, which usually runs on four D-cells. 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.
I also noted how easy or difficult it was to repack them back into the original storage bag. Once I had a pretty good idea which ones were the finalists, I left those inflated for an additional 24 to 48 hours to see how long they held air. Besides all the official overnight tests, I also spent many hours lounging and napping on them with my 6-year-old child and husband when we got hit hard with COVID-19. No, you shouldn’t sleep on even the best air mattress as your main bed. Air mattresses are a good short-term solution when you need a comfortable place to sleep that’s not the ground or a couch, but they aren’t meant to be slept on every night. Air mattresses can lack proper support to keep your spinal alignment over the long term and promote back pain.
(56 cm) tall, Queen-sized bed promises strength, durability and comfort all night long. Its compact size and built-in pump make it quick and convenient for use whenever you need it. Durable ConstructionWith a comfortable sleeping surface and sturdy construction, along with a built-in pillow, a great night’s sleep is right bestway air mattress around the corner. The internal structure of this bed is made with Tritech™ material offering durability and strength, while also allowing the mattress to keep the same shape no matter how many times it’s inflated and deflated. Specifically engineered for firmness, this material minimizes air loss throughout the night.
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. People have had some success spraying a dish-soap solution along the seam to see where the bubbles form as air escapes.
At about 17 pounds, it was light enough to move around and inflated fully in just under 3 minutes. The flocked top and sides add some extra grip for sheets and minimizes the feeling of sleeping on a pool float (as opposed to the SoundAsleep, which is flocked on only the top). But this does mean that the sides can be more prone to gathering lint. The top of the mattress has a powder-blue flocked velvety material that keeps sheets from slipping around, provides a softer feel, and minimizes the impression one might have of sleeping on a pool float. We had no problem getting our queen-size fitted sheets to grip the mattress snugly, which wasn’t always the case with other testers. We also like that the SoundAsleep comes in five sizes (including full and twin XL), compared with the King Koil, our runner-up, which comes in only three.