🥇🛌🏻Best Air Mattress Reviews 2024: Buyers Guide🏆

Buyer's Guide To The Best Air Bed

What Are The Types of Airbeds?

Raised​ Air Mattresses 

Raised air mattresses generally have a height of between 18 and 22 inches from the floor. While an air bed should never be used as a permanent replacement for an actual bed, some raised air mattresses have excellent durability and comfort and can be used for extended periods. Most models will come with a built-in pump which will inflate the mattress in a matter of minutes at the touch of a button. Some feature a secondary pump which ensures that the right internal pressure is maintained during the night. This ensures that you don't wake up in a deflated pile of plastic.

Internal coils are a standard feature, and provide strength and comfort. The best raised air beds will come with a non-slip bottom to prevent the bed from sliding around the floor with your movements during sleep. Indented sides are also common and they give fitted sheets something to hold on to, making sure that the sheets don't slip.

Low Profile​ Air Mattresses

Low profile air mattresses are much more lightweight than their raised counterparts. This makes them much more compact and portable. If you want an air mattress for camping or to take backpacking, this is typically what you would choose. They are generally filled with air using either a manual hand pump or an external battery powered pump, and can be filled relatively quickly. Being smaller in size, these air beds are generally cheaper than other styles. They are often also used at home but are more suitable for short term sleeping arrangements, such as for guests staying just a couple of nights. They are perfect for kid sleep overs!

Air Mattresses With Frames

Air mattresses that come with a frame add a touch of comfort to your sleep. By raising the mattress, you are less likely to get cold during the night as the cold temperature from the floor or ground won't transfer to you. This makes them especially ideal for camping where you are more exposed to the elements. Instead of lying directly on the cold earth with just some tarp or tent flooring to keep the cold out, you can protect yourself. An added benefit when using these air beds for camping is that you have some extra storage space under the frame. We all know how cramped tents can get with all your gear! Some air mattresses with frames even come with built in side tables which is a nice touch.

Overall, having a framed air mattress just gives you a bit more comfort. If you don't want to splurge for the cost of a raised air mattress but don't want your guests practically sleeping on the floor, these are a good compromise. 

Self Inflating​ Air Pad

Generally used for lightweight camping trips, backpacking or as an emergency backup, air pads are low cost and very compact. They are far less comfortable then an actual air mattress, but do have the advantage of being very easily transported. They feature compression straps and can be rolled up into a tight roll. They do not require a pump and as the name suggests inflate by themselves. All you have to do in unroll them. Some come with an inbuilt pillow, and they come in various thicknesses ranging from 1 to 3 inches.

Memory Foam​ Air Mattress

At the high end of the air mattress scale are those which include an additional memory foam layer.​ The memory foam is just like on a regular bed, and is designed to contour to the shape of your body. By absorbing the pressure from the primary points if impact such as the hips and shoulders, memory foam will give your spine proper support and keep it neutrally aligned. This promotes proper sleeping posture and reduces tension in the body. A memory foam air mattress will also feel warmer as you are not lying directly in the plastic. ​

Deciding Which Type of Air Mattress To Buy

Permanent​ Or Extended Home Use

An air mattress should never be considered as a permanent replacement for an actual bed. They can however be used for extended time periods. If you are using one every night for a few weeks or months at a time, you definitely need to consider the long-term comfort and durability, as well as ease of use.

The best air bed for daily use is of the raised variety because they provide the best support. They feature internal coils which just like in a real mattress will support your back while you sleep. This also makes them the most comfortable. If you want added comfort and support you might consider a memory foam air mattress. 

An alternative to using a raised air bed is to use an airbed with a frame. These give you height of a normal bed, however will not be as supportive or comfortable in the long run. Read air mattress reviews very carefully when looking for such a product.

Guest Air Mattresses

When finding the right air mattress for guests, you want to consider reliability, comfort, storage size and ease of pumping up. Unless you have guests over every night, you will want a reliable airbed which you can easily stow away for weeks or months without having to worry about whether it will pump up and function as it should when you need to use it. You don't want your guests to wake up in a pile of plastic either so you need to make sure you are purchasing a highly quality product. The the best air mattress for guests will be either fast inflating raised or low profile air mattresses.

Air Mattresses For Camping

When it comes to choosing an air mattress for camping, it will largely depend on the kind of camping you intend on doing. If you are a luxury camper or have an RV, you can use a raised air mattress with a built-in pump. It will however require a portable generator for inflation. 

Most people will prefer a more basic option for camping. A camping air mattress should be lightweight, easy to carry, easy to set up, and reliable. The best types of airbeds for this are low profile. Easily the most portable, they are light and simple to use.

Airbeds For Kids​

For the little ones you can choose between low profile or self inflating air mattresses. Both are easy to inflate and can be stored away without needing much space. Generally you would choose a low profile air mattress because they provide much more comfort, but the self inflating variety can make a good option also. Being so easy to use and lightweight, you can easily pop them in the wardrobe or under the bed and have them as a backup for emergencies or for sleep overs.

The Different Air Mattress Pumps

One of the ​considerations to make when deciding on an air mattress is the style of pump you prefer. Different air mattress require different amounts of air, and generally the larger ones will come with a built-in pump. The low profile variety will usually come with either a battery powered pump, or will require manual inflation. 

External​ Pump

Some air mattresses will come with an included external battery powered pump. While not as quick as a built-in pump, these make life a lot easier and give you a lot of convenience. Generally speaking the premium low profile and framed air mattresses will come with an external automatic pump. 

The other type of external air pump is the manual variety which requires time consuming and physical work to get the air mattress inflated. Usually the smaller air beds will use these pumps. While more physically demanding, they have the advantage of not requiring any power source. 

While more time consuming and less convenient that a built-in pump, external pumps do have an advantage. They can be more easily replaced or serviced in the event they malfunction as compared to built-in pumps. 

​Built-in Pump

The larger raised air mattresses generally come with a built-in pump which automatically inflates and deflates the mattress at the push of a button. If you want an air mattress which will be used often for guests or as a temporary replacement for an actual bed, a built-in pump is a must. Without one you will have to work hard every time you need to inflate the bed. 

Some premium air beds come with a second built in air pump which maintains the internal air pressure while you sleep. This is a huge plus because it ensures the correct level of support and comfort is maintained all night. It also makes life a lot easier because you don't need to get out of the bed to push the button to re-inflate the mattress. 

If you are reading these air mattress reviews and thinking you want some added luxury, this AeroBed is the solution. With its headboard and high comfort, you will enjoy sleeping on it for months at a time. Perfect as a temporary bed or for guest visits, many customers have comfortably used it for extended periods at a time. Some have even used it camping for the ultimate in outdoor luxury.

At 18 inches tall, this airbed is not as tall as some of its competitors. However, the reinforced edges make getting in and out of the bed easy. You can sit on the edge as you would on a regular bed. 

The headboard not only gives you something to rest your head against, it also prevents pillows from sliding off the edge of the mattress.This is a common problem with other airbeds. Together with the easy fitting of sheets, the headboard gives the feel of a regular bed.

The bed is inflated using the easy to use built-in pump. When you first use the mattress, you will notice that the airbed seems to deflate over time. This is due to the stretching of the plastic. It is normal with all new airbeds. You will need to top up the air occasionally over the first few days. Once fully stretched, the bed will stay firm. 

There are some instances of customers receiving defects when purchasing this air mattress. This is however very rare, and the majority of customer feedback is very positive. Some have owned the mattress for years and have used it for months at a time with no problem. This is a strong contender for the best air mattress.

At a fraction of the price of other raised air mattresses, this Intex airbed is a bargain. Perfect for extended home use, as an occasional guest bed, or even camping, it provides versatility and a lot of value.

The air mattress comes with an internal pump which easily inflates the mattress in under 4.5 minutes. What we really like, is that you can also attach an external battery operated pump. This allows you to use it not only at home but also when camping. As with all air mattresses, it will stretch over the first few days. It is recommended that you follow the product guidelines, and give the mattress some time to stretch before using it extensively.

With a high profile of 22 inches, it will make the perfect guest bed for elderly relatives. Getting in and out of bed will be easy. The air bed is strongly made, with thousands of polyester fibers providing great support. 

From the air mattress reviews, many customers have enjoyed this airbed so much that they have called it the most comfortable airbed ever. Being able to easily use sheets due to the side indents, it will feel just like a normal bed. 

For the price, you will not find a better deal than this airbed. We recommend it highly for its versatility, low price and comfort.

As far as low profile air mattresses for camping go, this is the Cadillac. The mattress itself is high quality and comfortable, but what makes this airbed standout is the external rechargeable pump and the outstanding customer service.

First the pump: Not only can it be pre-charged at home before you go camping, it can be charged using the car DC outlet. This gives you the convenience of being able to charge it at the camp site easily by using the car power. Or if you forget to charge it at home before you leave, you can charge it during the drive.

Many customers have said that SoundAsleep's customer service is incredible. If you call them, you can expect to be put through to a real person who will talk you through everything you need to know. If there are any product issues, they will quickly and painlessly help you resolve it. This together with the 1-year limited warranty makes this camping air mattress a very wise choice.

All the other features are what you would hope for in a great air mattress. It inflates quickly in under 3 minutes. Once inflated, it will initially stretch slightly and will likely require some topping up.

It is very comfortable and has been specially designed to meet the more rugged demands of camping. With the carry bag, you can easily bring the air mattress with you wherever you go.

Whether you want an air mattress at home for slumber parties or the best air mattress for camping, the SoundAsleep Camping Series has to be your first pick. It comes very highly recommended.