Though most queen-size air mattress options measure approximately 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, height is both a variable and a selling point. In fact, it may be a primary consideration for older or disabled people who would have trouble getting on or off a bed that’s too low to the ground. The best air mattresses have a built-in electric pump that plugs into a wall socket. Some have a battery-powered external rechargeable pump, which usually runs on four D-cells. Battery-operated pumps are lighter and don’t require a wall socket but are typically less effective and less capable of fully inflating a mattress.
A manual pump or a flat pump, on the other hand, can deliver a degree of firmness the others can’t match and needs neither batteries nor outlet — but will require a significant amount of physical labor to operate. The epitome of a cheap air mattress, the bestway twin air mattress is compact, lightweight and relatively quick to inflate with its integrated pump. If you can spend more money and have more storage space, you may want to consider a folding foam mattress, Japanese futon, or sleeper sofa instead. But if you live in a small apartment or house, or you don’t host guests regularly, an air mattress may be the best option. Air mattresses can also be useful for kid sleepovers, temporary sleeping situations during a move, or for quarantining a sick family member in a space that isn’t typically used as a bedroom. This 19-inch-tall mattress comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, and king sizes.
The easy inflate/deflate quick-release valve allows for easy deflation after use. The valve also ensures a tight seal to keep the bed inflated and comfortable all through the night. Explore the outdoors with the comfort and convenience of the Bestway Twin Air Mattress. To find the best, we tested several air mattresses for everything from indentation over time and overnight leakage to puncture resistance and bursting strength in our Lab. We then had real consumer testers set up the mattresses and sleep on them at home to rate their ease of use and comfort. The picks ahead are the top-performers in our tests, along with newer models that have unique features and rave reviews from users.
Also, no matter how expensive or well-made, an air mattress is not meant to replace a real mattress. It won’t withstand nightly use over a long period of time (and many companies specify that if you use the mattress as your primary bed, you’ll void the warranty). The pump inflates or deflates the mattress in about 3 minutes, and we found it easy to re-pack inside the included tote bag.
Start by deflating your air mattress and degreasing the area around the hole. These inflatable beds can stand up to everyday use, camping trips and more. The queen-size King Koil model is slightly larger than the Sound Asleep mattress, which made it difficult to fit a pad and sheets over it. (This will, however, vary depending on the sizes of your bedding, which varies from brand to brand.) Keep this in mind if you have smaller queen-size sheets.
She also evaluates luggage, rain gear, disposable paper goods and baby products. Lexie has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Prior to joining GH in 2013, she worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times.
It inflates in just 240 seconds due to its rapid inflation and deflation technology and comes with a built-in pump for easy operation and convenience. Portable and easy to store and set up, you’ll have a comfortable bed instantly. When not required, just deflate, fold, and store it in a carry bag until the next use.
The second pump stays on all night and automatically adjusts the air pressure to keep it fully inflated. In addition, Serta’s model allows you to select from three firmness levels prior to inflation for your personalized comfort. The circular coils and 18-inch height help make it feel more like a real mattress, and the flocked finish means you won’t notice any plastic underneath your sheets. Several users were surprised that the bed conformed to their bodies for a more comfortable feel than most air mattresses they’ve tried.
These instructions illustrate a few methods for how to find and fix a leak. And yet many air mattresses, whether they’re stretched out or not, do leak over the course of a night. And there are some bestway twin air mattress beds that are simply more durable and better constructed than others. But airtightness is tricky to judge — even after you inflate an air mattress — and may reveal itself only over time.
This article was written by GH Institute Textiles Lab Executive Director Lexie Sachs, who has a B.S. In fiber science from Cornell University and more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products. Lexie joined GH in 2013 and has extensively tested all types of bedding — including mattresses, sheets, pillows, comforters and more — using specialized lab equipment and hundreds of consumer testers.