When inflated, the frame gives the bed a substantial look worthy of a temporary set-up in a small guest room. It should be noted that this mattress may move a little bit under shifting weight, and it has the potential to lose some air overnight. In terms of comfort, this mattress bestway air mattress has a flocked surface but it wasn’t as plush as other options we tested. In fact, the mattress was in pristine condition after our testing, and we liked the fact that the storage bag includes handles to make it easier to tote the mattress from one location to another.
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. It was among the most comfortable air mattresses we tried (it didn’t deflate noticeably in the night and so provided better back support), and you can control the level of inflation. 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.
The pump inflates or deflates the mattress in about 3 minutes, and we found it easy to re-pack inside the included tote bag. Just because there is a hole in your air mattress, doesn’t mean that you have to buy a new one. However, if you’re looking to go down the DIY avenue, there are plenty of options.
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. The epitome of a cheap air mattress, the Bestway air bed is compact, lightweight and relatively quick to inflate with its integrated pump. I also noted how easy or difficult it was to repack them back into the original storage bag.
During the testing, I thought the King Koil model came closest to mimicking the feel of a real coil mattress. 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 King Koil Luxury Air Mattress (20-inch) was one of the most comfortable mattresses I tested. It lasted an impressive 48 hours without needing to be re-inflated and deflated easily within 3 minutes—folding up perfectly in the included nylon tote.
Air mattresses are traditionally convenient for camping when you don’t want to put your sleeping bag on the cold, hard ground — you could even throw one in a truck bed for sleeping under the stars. For example, the SereneLife Air Mattress, our “best splurge” pick, boasts a built-in frame, internal air pump, and adjustable firmness settings. Budget-friendly picks like the Coleman GuestRest Double High Air Mattress may not come with all the bells and whistles of premium models but will still do the trick.
We do wish that the carrying case included a handle to make it easier to transport around the house or in and out of the car while camping. Like other mattresses we tried, it did move an inch or two when we jumped on it during stability testing. We suspect that a grippier bottom or more flocking would help the mattress hold its position better. And with its weight capacity of 600 pounds, this is also a great option for couples.