The top surface can be a soft, non-slip material, for example, brushed cotton. Some contain additional comfort materials such as a layer of memory foam. Sometimes the inside of the mattress is divided into chambers - either vertically or horizontally arranged - to ensure better support.’ Of course, a SIM isn't the only alternative. We'd also recommend the best sofa beds and the best chair beds for something more permanent and stylish. How easy is it to inflate and deflate an air mattress? VERSATILE – Perfect for both indoor or outdoor use, this raised 16.5" bed includes a built-in pillow and air pump for convenience; the unique construction provides superior stability with a soft, velvety sleeping surface ensures a good night's sleep

Intex Unisex Outdoor Queen Deluxe Pillow Rest Air Bed

Like most air beds with a built-in pump, the Bestway is noisy to inflate and deflate, so this is something to bear in mind if you’re putting it up late at night, but it only takes five minutes each way and the instructions are straighforward. A five-minute pump left the bed feeling too firm for my liking, so I used the dial to relieve the pressure a little and give the bed a bit of bounce. STRETCH – At first inflation the material will STRETCH, which is sometimes misinterpreted as leaking; You will sense a loss of pressure, that's just the bed stretching, simply re-inflate the bed again; the bed will fully settle within 2-3 nights I slept comfortably on this bed overnight and didn’t need to inflate it in the morning. A two-minute bounce from Bethany and William soon changed this, but overall I was impressed at how well it retained its firmness. There was the odd squeak when I turned from side to side, but I managed to dampen this with an extra blanket on the bed.If you’re looking for a blow-up mattresses for the great outdoors, you can discover more in our feature on best air beds for camping. For this review, we’ve mainly focussed on large air beds with built-in electric pumps. There is some crossover: respected camping brands such as Vango, Bestway, Hi Gear and Intex also offer blow-up beds for home use that have the height of a standard bed and are roomy enough for two. A smooth-to-the-touch greige polyester fabric covers the PVC structure on this air bed. I was impressed: I think it would blend well into most modern and classic design schemes.

Intex Dura-Beam Standard Series Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised

Durability seems to be a strong suit of this mattress. It's made of tough material that feels like it can withstand regular use without fear of punctures or wear. The mattress's height, similar to that of a traditional bed, makes getting in and out of bed easy, especially for guests who might have mobility issues. Most air beds will come with specific instructions on how to deflate your air bed, so read the manual carefully. ‘For a design with a built-in pump, you’ll need to plug in the air bed and turn the dial to the deflate position for no longer than the recommended time, which is usually under five minutes,’ says Jessica Alexander from the National Bed Federation. How do you store an air bed? If the leak is too small, it might be hard to hear so another popular method is to gently wipe over the mattress with a soapy sponge and look out for small bubbles. Washing up liquid is good for this. This depends on how much your budget will stretch. There are three main types of pumps: a foot pump, an integrated pump or an electric pump. The majority of the top of the range airbeds come with a rechargeable or mains-operated integrated pump. They will also have a remote control that can inflate and deflate the mattress within a matter of seconds.Its firmness didn’t last through the first night however. As expected, I needed to top up in the morning. The instructions point out that like most PVC air beds, you will need to add air to the bed more frequently the first few times you use it as the fabric stretches to its natural shape. Size-wise, it's spacious and comfortably accommodates two adults. The mattress remains firm and supportive even with two people, which is impressive for an air mattress. I chose a range of double, king and queen air beds from the likes of Argos, Decathlon, Dreams and Active Era that have built-in pumps and can be manually pumped up too. I rated each air bed on its design, warmth, comfort, portability and assembly. I took into consideration pillow and edge support, how easy it was to get in and off the bed and whether it came with extras such as a puncture patch or storage bag.

air beds of 2023 for guests staying overnight The best air beds of 2023 for guests staying overnight

Inflation: There are two kinds of air beds: those that have a built-in pump and those that require an external pump. This is something you need to consider when choosing an air bed, as you need to figure out what you’d rather. As you can imagine, a self-inflating air bed is much easier to use on a regular basis - but it’ll also be more expensive.Any extras: While most air beds come with the inflatable mattress and the inflatable mattress alone, there are others that offer extras. They might include pillows, sleeping bags, and more. Of course, these air beds will normally be more expensive, so you need to work out whether those extras are worth the extra pennies. The choice of airbeds for occasional guest use has become a lot more sophisticated in recent years,’ says Jessica Alexander from the National Bed Federation. ‘While they are not intended as a replacement for a proper mattress – since they don’t provide the same support – they are increasingly impressive in terms of comfort.’ Once you find the hole, circle it gently with a permanent marker so you don’t lose it and then deflate it. If you find it hard to get in and out of bed, look for a high raised air bed design. The self-inflating air beds we tried go up to 48cm in height at the pillow end, compared to thinner camping-focused designs that can be just 16cm in height. Do air beds feel cold to sleep on? I may not have my priorities right, but the first thing I wanted to do when inflating the Intex was to give it a stroke. Its top layer of wonderfully smooth fabric feels good to touch. Team that with the vertical lines spanning the bed's length, and the Intex looks and feels very enticing to sleep on.