Our recommendations all use electric pumps for faster inflation and deflation, and most have a built-in pump to further simplify the process. We also love that the mattress has a built-in grab handle and comes with a travel bag, making it easy to take on the go. The mattress and pump would fit on ozark trail sun shelter a shelf or in a corner of your closet, and they are light enough to transport to a friend’s house or camping. Keep in mind that this air mattress is shorter than a twin-sized air mattress; it measures 62 inches long when inflated, in comparison with the 75 inches that is standard for twin beds.
For fifteen dollars I wasn’t expecting (or needing) anything that would stand up to freezing weather. Unfortunately the workmanship was more than a little upsetting, even for that price. Since nights are typically cooler than daylight hours, the air in your mattress is bound to condense overnight, causing some deflation. Additionally, while many models are good at storing air, they’re not airtight.
I could have gotten better quality from a teenager’s home ec project and lighter weight. The bag uses Climatech fill, a down alternative, making it very light. The roomy bag, 33 inches wide by 75 inches long, rolls up to a compact 14 by 8 inches. Made with soft polyester, the outer layer being a diamond ripstop material, the bag is both comfortable and durable.
We happily backpacked for multiple nights at a time with this bag but noted we needed an extra blanket to stay warm when temperatures were in the 15-to-25-degree range, despite its 20-degree rating. Multi-season campers should keep this in mind when putting together their packing lists. For side sleepers who don’t like a traditional mummy-style bag, this bag’s helpful jacket-style hood is insulated and keeps a pillow in place. It’s relatively lightweight and compatible with most types and sizes of sleeping pads, and it packs down to a compact size.
Mummy bags like the Sawtooth 15 tend to be more conducive for backpackers trying to save weight, but a mummy bag might be more comfortable if you like to burrow in. Just like any other type of mattress, you should decide how high you want your air mattress to be before you browse through options. Generally, shoppers have two options—low-profile and double-height—both of which have their own set of pros and cons. While low-profile mattresses are lightweight and portable enough to bring on a camping trip, they might require extra legwork as they may deflate quickly. A taller, double-height mattress may not be ideal for every situation, but these models typically come with an electric pump to make inflation a little easier.
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. While deflating the mattress was also slow, the deflate function on the pump made it a simple process. Once packed into the included carry bag, we found it to be very convenient to carry and store.
We tested this in 30-degree temps and stayed warm and dry all night. Without a full-length zipper or built-in hood (a draft collar option is available), the bag is lightweight and permits you to comfortably move around in your sleep. The bag’s buckles (versus a full zipper) also make it more convenient, save on weight and space, and encourage quick and easy entry and exit. ozark trail sun shelter The bag’s mummy cut fits close to the body and features a shaped draft collar and adjustable down-filled face gasket to keep warm air in and cold air out. A nifty glow-in-the-dark zipper with an anti-snag slider allows for easy entry and exit. The bag may also be zipped up with another compatible Mountain Hardwear sleeping bag (with a right zipper) to create a bed for two.
We tested several air mattresses with adjustable firmness, but if it is a priority for you, we recommend the Skyrise Raised Express Air Mattress from Beautyrest. In our lab testing, this mattress was very comfortable, felt similar to a standard mattress, and provided sufficient back support. The only thing standing between this air mattress and a perfect rating for comfort is the fact that its inflated dimensions were shorter (by 1 inch) and narrower (by 2 inches) than a standard full-size mattress.