Air mattresses - the perfect solution for out of town visitors during the holidays, the cousin who just stopped by "for a couple of days" or guests who should not be driving home after having too much to drink at your party. Lots of people also take them on camping trips or with them when they travel. Comfortable and convenient, these mattresses hide in the closet when not being used.
Air mattresses - also known as airbeds - are just what the name implies - inflatable mattresses. Most are made from heavy duty plastic or a textile reinforced rubber. When deflated, they fold down to fit in a duffel bag.
When needed, an air mattress can be fully inflated and ready to go within minutes. Mostly, an electric pump is used to inflate the mattress, although it is possible to inflate it by blowing into a valve if no pump is available.
Air mattresses are designed for four main uses; temporary at home use, camping, in an RV or truck, and as a permanent bed replacement.
Keeping an airbed available for use when house guests arrive provides a good sleeping arrangement for your visitors, while freeing up the "guest room" for other uses when no one is sleeping there, which is likely most of the time. It offers very little in the way of compromise in comfort for your guests in exchange for making the extra space available.
There are mattresses designed with camping in mind. Sometimes called sleeping pads, these are typically lighter, thinner and smaller, designed to be easily transportable, some even included in a backpack. If the one you pick comes with a separate pump, check to see if a car adapter is available.
Some of the best brands include the Intex air mattress, Aerobed air mattress, twin air mattress, queen air mattress, king air mattress, full air mattress and other inflatable, raised, blow up, toddler, kids comfort and spring models.
Some airbeds are specifically designed as a home bed replacement. Sizes for these range from twin to king. Most use normal sheets and bedding, so there are no additional expenditures necessary. They provide a raised sleeping platform, keeping users off the floor and a more traditional mattress sleeping experience.
You can purchase mattresses for your truck or SUV with wheel cutouts to make fitting easier. Make sure that the mattress you pick is made of thicker, more durable materials than one designed for indoor use.
Air mattresses can help provide relief to people with back problems. They provide an easy, inexpensive way to adjust the firmness of the mattress to an individual's requirements, including size, weight and shape. This can be a good substitute for expensive adjustable beds that can cost thousands of dollars. More sophisticated mattresses have multiple chambers which allow for different inflation levels and therefore firmness for each sleeper. These beds can also have multiple layers of foam, some even offer memory foam, pillow top options, and multiple matching box foundations.
Many air beds come with air pumps - either built in or as a separate component. The pumps can fully inflate the mattresses in just a few minutes. Some come with remote control units, so you can get the firmness just right as you are lying on the bed.