Once reserved for holidays and houseguests, air beds have recently carved out a much broader niche in the bed world, due largely to the efforts of the Sleep Number mattress company, maker of the popular Sleep Number bed. Today's more robust, upscale air beds look similar to innerspring mattresses, but use air in lieu of coils. For aficionados, the air bed's most attractive feature is its adjustable firmness, which can be easily tweaked by increasing or decreasing the air pressure in the mattress. Of course, if you are merely seeking a storable sleep accommodation for friends and relatives, you may be well served by a more basic, portable air mattress. This type of air mattress has also seen great improvements in recent years, both in comfort and ease of use.
When evaluating air mattresses, it is important to understand the key elements of their construction.
Relative to a traditional innerspring mattress, the key differentiator of an air mattress is its unique air-filled core, commonly referred to as an air chamber. Each air chamber is connected to an electric air pump, which is located either inside or underneath the bed, and is operated via a remote control. Air chambers are typically made from either vinyl or rubber, using various techniques to ensure a tight seal that minimizes leakage. Although some air bed owners do notice small amounts of natural air loss over time, this is typically something that can be easily adjusted on a periodic basis using the electric air pump.
Some air mattresses feature two separate air chambers with a foam rail in the center to provide support between them. This design provides the obvious benefits of both customized air pressure on each side and motion separation between the sides. That said, in some models, the center rail can be a source of minor discomfort in the event that one or both sides are set to particularly low pressure levels.
The air chamber(s) are surrounded by four walls of sturdy foam encasing, as well as several layers of upholstery on top. These top layers tend to greatly resemble the upholstery in an innerspring mattress, and can be evaluated the same way. Air mattresses are sometimes sold with specific foundations, however they can often utilize traditional mattress foundations as well. In most cases, air beds will require some assembly once you get them into your home.
Perhaps the most highly acclaimed, and well-advertised, feature of the air mattress is its adjustable firmness. By increasing or decreasing the amount of air in the mattress, air beds can be configured to a precise level of desired firmness, or even different levels of firmness on each side. Air bed advocates find this advantageous in many ways, not only to resolve differing preferences between sleeping companions, but also to adapt to changing preferences for any one person over time. Some people find their comfort and support needs simply change over the natural course of a mattress' 10+ year lifespan. Others find their inclinations are influenced by shorter-term life events such as pregnancy or injury. Still others claim that their predilections vary on an even more frequent basis, depending on their activities that day for example.
In an air mattress, support is provided by the air-filled core. As such, air pressure needs to be adjusted to a relatively firm setting in order for the mattress to do its job. Some people find that the mattress loses its comfort at this level of firmness, leading to the common complaint among air bed detractors that air mattresses are either too soft to be supportive or too firm to be comfortable. Enthusiasts counter that the easy adjustability of an air bed allows you to find the precise level of pressure that delivers this balance appropriately. If you are concerned about finding such a balance, it is recommended that you go with a firmer air pressure setting for support and add a memory foam topper or other cushioning layer for comfort.
For those seeking the best possible air mattress experience, a number of additional features are available on higher-end models. Extra layers of cushioning, from traditional pillow-tops to memory foam pads, can enhance the comfort of the air mattress. Remote controls can be cordless, and are available with lighted keypads and programmable settings. And quieter air pumps, sometimes referred to as a "whisper quiet" pumps, can help prevent noise disturbance from any late-night adjustments. (When running, a standard air pump usually sounds something like a hair dryer wrapped in a blanket.)
Leading brands of upscale air mattresses include Sleep Number and Comfortaire. To find other air mattress lines, please browse our extensive list of air mattress manufacturers and product lines below.
14 people recommend air bed mattresses. Read the reviews.
Comfortaire Advanced
The Comfortaire Advanced Series offers the same improved design as the Preferred Series and has the added benefits of the OUTLAST technology. This NASA certified ...
Comfortaire Original
Comfortaire ®…The Original Air Bed Company™. Long before there was a Sleep Number Bed® Comfortaire was creating and marketing dual adjustable air supported sleep systems. ...
Sleep Number Performance Series
The Sleep Number® Performance Series is our most popular collection, featuring enhanced comfort and great value. The Sleep Number® Performance Series consists of: * p5 ...
Sleep Number Classic Series
The Sleep Number® Classic Series is the classic design that launched a sleep revolution, offering personal adjustability at an affordable price. The Sleep Number® Classic ...
Sleep Number Personal Preference Collection
With a variety of styles and sizes, the Personal Preference collection includes a Sleep Number® bed that’s right for every person in the family. All ...
Comfortaire Exclusive
Exclusive Series – With Comfortaire’s Modern Air Bed Technology™ Comfortaire’s Box-Top Air™ with Edge-to-Edge Air™ designs are not available from Sleep Number Bed®. The heart ...
Comfortaire Preferred
Our Preferred Series offers an improved design with a eurotop (pillowtop). This zippered pillowtop contains the replaceable foam which extends from edge to edge, buffering ...
Sleep Number Innovation Series
The Sleep Number® Innovation Series is the premier experience in personalized comfort, offering leading edge innovations in sleep technology. The Sleep Number® Innovation Series consists ...
Sleep Number Memory Foam Series
There’s comfort in togetherness. Only at Sleep Number will you find a bed that combines cradling memory foam with comfort that adjusts on each side. ...
Sleep Number Specialty Beds
The Sleep Number® Specialty Beds Collection enables you to enjoy the personalized comfort and support of a Sleep Number® mattress in a variety of unique ...
| Brand | Support Type | Tags | Price | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Airbeds | Air | Air Bed, Memory Foam | (1 review) |
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Comfortaire Advanced
The Comfortaire Advanced Series offers the same improved design as the Preferred Series and has the added benefits of the OUTLAST technology. This NASA certified ... |
Air | Air Bed, Adjustable Comfort, Latex | $$$$ | (1 review) |
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Comfortaire Original
Comfortaire ®…The Original Air Bed Company™. Long before there was a Sleep Number Bed® Comfortaire was creating and marketing dual adjustable air supported sleep systems. ... |
Air | Air Bed, Adjustable Comfort | $$ | (1 review) |
| Innomax Luxury Support | Varied | Air Bed, Dual Comfort, Innerspring, Latex, Memory Foam, Waterbed | (1 review) |
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| iSleep | Innerspring | Air Bed, Innerspring | (5 reviews) |
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Sleep Number Performance Series
The Sleep Number® Performance Series is our most popular collection, featuring enhanced comfort and great value. The Sleep Number® Performance Series consists of: * p5 ... |
Air | Air Bed, Adjustable Comfort | (2 reviews) |
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| Boyd Specialty Sleep | Varied | Air Bed, Adjustable Comfort, Dual Comfort, European, Factory Direct, Gel, Gel Memory Foam, Latex, Memory Foam, Natural Materials, Organic Materials, Sustainable Materials, Waterbed | $$ | (1 review) |
| Dreameasy Adjustable Air | Air | Air Bed | (1 review) |
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| Innomax Economy Air | Air | Air Bed | (1 review) |
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Sleep Number Classic Series
The Sleep Number® Classic Series is the classic design that launched a sleep revolution, offering personal adjustability at an affordable price. The Sleep Number® Classic ... |
Air | Air Bed, Adjustable Comfort | (1 review) |
| Model | Line | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortaire Elegance | Comfortaire Advanced | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Opulence | Comfortaire Advanced | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Imperial | Comfortaire Preferred | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Luxor | Comfortaire Exclusive | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Premier | Comfortaire Preferred | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Comfort | Comfortaire Original | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Comfort Plus | Comfortaire Original | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Optima | Comfortaire Original | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Original Comfort oc300 | Comfortaire Original Comfort | Comfortaire |
| Comfortaire Imperial | Comfortaire Preferred | Comfortaire |
| Retailer | City | State | Brands | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Select Comfort |
Edison | NJ | Sleep Number Performance Series, Sleep Number Classic Series, Sleep Number Innovation Series, Sleep Number Memory Foam Series | |
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Relax the Back |
North Brunswick | NJ | Comfortaire | |
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Select Comfort |
Short Hills | NJ | Sleep Number Performance Series, Sleep Number Classic Series, Sleep Number Innovation Series, Sleep Number Memory Foam Series | |
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Select Comfort |
Bridgewater | NJ | Sleep Number Performance Series, Sleep Number Classic Series, Sleep Number Innovation Series, Sleep Number Memory Foam Series | |
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Relax the Back |
East Hanover | NJ | Comfortaire |
By Tom Heller ♦ March 13, 2013, 12:49 p.m.
By Kelly B Feb. 10, 2013, 8:08 p.m.
By GoodBed Admin ♦♦ Jan. 21, 2013, 5:17 p.m.
By GoodBed Admin ♦♦ Jan. 21, 2013, 5:02 p.m.
By GoodBed Admin ♦♦ Jan. 13, 2013, 4:14 p.m.
Air Bed mattresses are recommended by 14 of our 25 reviewers. Do you have something to say about your mattress? Write a review!
Based on 25 reviews
Overall Rating:
Recommended by: 14 of 25 reviewers
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