Updated: June 8, 2015 What's the most important piece of furniture in your home? The bed, by far. You need sleep to function, to feel good, to not snap at everyone who stands in the way of the coffee maker. A great bed is essential whether you're in your own bedroom, at a friend's house, camping, vacationing, or having a few guests take over your house. Instead of roughing it on the floor or the cold, hard ground, try an inflatable bed. These are relatively inexpensive, convenient, portable, and best of all, surprisingly comfortable. If you hear "inflatable air bed" and think lumpy, flat, hard to get into and out of, irritating fabrics, and a plasticky smell, you may have been right a few years ago. But fortunately, today's best inflatable beds offer designs that more closely resemble your regular mattress or bed, offer exquisite comfort, and are several notches above sleeping on the floor - or even some mattresses! You may want to trade in the ticking for a premiere air mattress bed.
We'll show you how to get the quality you need. Choosing the Best Inflatable Bed - When you choose a mattress for your bed, you don't just go to the store or online vendor and choose the one with the most attractive cover that happens to be in the size you want. You want to look at its construction, the springs, if any, the composition of the filling, the material of the ticking, whether it is antimicrobial, whether it is organic or memory foam. There are a lot of factors to consider, and while an inflatable bed is less of an extreme expense, it is still important to get the best quality possible. Here are a few things to think about before you buy:Some air beds, particularly older models, required you to get out the old foot pump and get a workout before bed. If that is not appealing to you, choose an air mattress that inflates via air compressor or electric pump. It will save you time and a little aggravation. Also check to be sure that the air bed comes with a pump - if not, order one at the same time.
*Think about what you want to use the inflatable air mattress bed for. If you're going to use it in lieu of a guest bed and don't care too much about ultra-compact storage, that's fine. But if you need an air bed that will travel with you and needs to be more portable, that is a key consideration in your purchase. Some inflatable beds are designed solely for indoor use, solely for outdoor use, or a combination.The air mattress itself should be thick, durable, and puncture-resistant. If you're going to be using it for camping or traveling and don't want to deal with sheets, make sure the top fabric is comfortable for you. Also, if you're going to be using it outdoors, make sure it is waterproof. *Orthopaedic Research Institute Seal of Approval. You will see this on many beds, which indicates that the inflatable beds have been thoroughly tested and meets or exceeds strict quality standards.If you're not as spry as you used to be (and who is, besides 10 year olds?), getting in and out of a standard air bed may not be comfortable.
You may want one that is on a raised platform. Then again, if you're camping or traveling, you may want the compact design of an on-the-floor model.You can spend under $50 or over $200. In addition to choosing the features that will be most useful and comfortable for you, you need to also stick to a budget. Fortunately, you can find some quality air mattresses no matter what your budget. Let's take a look at some of the most popular to give you a starting point. You can browse the best selling inflatable air beds here. Best Budget Inflatable Beds: Coleman is a name you will see a lot in connection with camping equipment, so it is no surprise they have a line of great air beds for camping. Coleman also makes inflatable beds that are appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use. ConsumerSearch selected the Coleman 4-in-1 Quickbed as the most versatile air mattress on the market. This is ideal for those who want an air bed for those extra guests, one they can take traveling, and one they can pack with their camping gear.
The QuickBed is also ideal for those on a budget. So what does it offer? The twin-sized mattress allows you to configure the bed in several different ways. You can use them separately for 2 twin beds, connect them to make a king-sized bed, or stack them for an extra comfortable, high twin. This is great if you have a guest that doesn't want to plop down onto a floor air bed - or if you don't want to. The suede-topped QuickBed is made with an exclusive PVC formula that is about 15 percent more puncture-resistant, ensuring that this bed will be durable and withstand even outdoor use. It has a double-lock valve for easy and fast set-ups and take-downs, a 600-pound pressure rating, and the convenient Wrap N Roll system (you just roll the bed into the attached bag, tie it, and you're ready to go). This is a solid, versatile bed that is a comfortable $34. The QuickBed receives consistently positive reviews from consumers, earning an average of 4 stars on Amazon. One downside is that there is no pump included with the bed.
You can get the Coleman 120V Electric Quick Pump for about $20 (get it here). Even with the extra money for the pump, the QuickBed is an outstanding deal. Another good budget choice is the Intex Raised Downy Queen Airbed with Built-in Electric Pump. This air bed is well reviewed by consumers. It is a queen-sized bed with dual chamber construction to provide support and firmness, a raised platform for comfort, plush waterproof flocked top, 600-pound capacity, easy inflation and deflation, built-in high-powered electric pump, side indentations to grip sheets, and durable 15-gauge vinyl beams and 16-gauge sides and bottom. The bed measures 60 inches x 22 inches x 80 inches and includes a duffel bag and shoulder strap for easy transport. One Amazon customer bought it when he moved into a new apartment, planning on using it only until he got a real bed. Three years later, he still loves the comfort of this Intex air mattress bed. You can find it for $54 - and remember, the pump is built-in.
ConsumerSearch named the Wenzel Insta-Bed Queen Raised Sure Grip Bottom with Built-in Pump as the Best Raised Air Bed on the market. It also reviews very well with consumers, one of whom said that the bed is a step above the Aerobed (another top brand) but at a lower price. The Wenzel Insta-Bed features a comfortable 22-inch height when fully inflated, which is the same height as a standard mattress. Its underside grips the floor so you won't be slipping and sliding whenever you roll over, and it includes an integrated 120V AC pump for quick and easy inflation and deflation, flocked top so bedding stays put, and flex coil construction for stability and firmness. The queen-sized air bed measures 60 x 22 x 80 and comes with a nylon carry bag with shoulder straps and 1-year warranty. It comes only in queen size, though, so it may not be as portable as a smaller Coleman. You can find it for $120. If you want an air bed that is more of a bed replacement, Frontgate's Essential EZ Bed is an ideal choice.
This is the number 1 pick of the Wall Street Journal's Real Estate section, who called it the "star" of all the air beds they tested. The EZ bed, which comes in twin and queen sizes, features an integrated pump that inflates the bed in less than 3 minutes. A flip of a switch deflates it. The air mattress, which inflates to 8.5 inches thick rests on 16-steel legs so you can get in and out as easily and comfortably as you would a regular bed. It folds easily for storage, and the wheels make it even easier. Again, this is not something you'd take camping, but it is ideal for guest rooms, living rooms, or even your bedroom. The EZ Bed costs $200 from Frontgate via Amazon. Another big name in the industry is Aerobed. The AeroBed Raised Signature Comfort Bed is a favorite with its soft, velvety surface, tiered construction, fleece mattress cover, and puncture-resistant, heavy gauge, hypoallergenic PVC vinyl. It has a bed skirt so you can integrate it more easily into your home decor. The Aerobed is a hefty $300 (see all Aerobeds here), but is exceptionally comfortable and durable.