Sometimes you just can’t afford a memory foam mattress or you don’t have room for another permanent stationary bed. Or maybe you’re saving up for one of the Memory Foam Maniac’s recommended best mattresses. In those cases, portable beds like the AeroBed brand inflatable mattress are ideal. They cost less, often less than $200. And they collapse into a surprisingly small package for easy storage.
What to look for in quality inflatable air beds:
- Thicker material is better. Resists punctures
- Is the motor quiet?
- Does it inflate or deflate within 2 – 3 minutes?
- Is the motor built in? Can sleepers operate the controls to adjust the firmness while they’re on top of the bed?
The most common complaint about air beds is that people say that they leak and by morning they’re half deflated. This is NORMAL. Remember warm air expands and cool air contracts. So if you fill the bed with warm afternoon air, by 3 am it will take up much less volume. Either fill it up when it’s cool or be prepared to pump more air on cold nights.
Test all air beds (or aero beds) as soon as you get them! That way, you know right away if you have a defective one and you can easily return it. Here’s how: Warm the bed to room temp. fill slowly to about half and let it sit for an hour. Then fill more until almost firm, maybe 80% and let it sit overnight. Then fill it until it is firm and let sit overnight again before sleeping on it or deflating it for storage.
Aero mattresses with memory foam pads built into them are not recommended. They’re much harder to store than inflatable mattresses without memory foam. Unfortunately, the vacuum pump that is used to inflate and deflate most aero beds isn’t powerful enough to take the air out of memory foam once it’s been expanded. Buy a separate memory foam topper instead.
Best Queen Size Aero Beds Online
Aero Sport All-Terrain Queen Bed
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
45% of buyers gave it a top rating
One thing that I noticed while reading all the customer feedback for these Aero beds is that they seem to be improving in quality. Later reviews are more favorable than older ones.
This Aero inflatable mattress comes in Twin and Queen sizes. Unlike other beds, the Aero storage bag is big enough. You don’t have to struggle to fit the bed into it.
The material that the Aero bed is made of is very durable. Some campers have used them for over 4 years. But like most air mattresses, if it develops a leak it will probably be along the seams.
These Aero beds have one weird quirk, the pump will only operate if it’s completely charged or if it’s plugged into a car’s cigarette lighter. Rather impractical if Auntie May shows up on your doorstep one night. But there’s a cheap, easy fix. Buy a small Powerline 12-Volt DC-AC/1 Amp Power Socket with a female cigarette lighter socket and put it in the mattress bag. Plug it into the wall socket to instantly convert AC to DC power and provide the 12-volt, 1-amp electricity your Aero mattress pump craves.
What Buyers Like:
- Big Aero storage bag
- Under 2 minute inflation
- Quickly deflates – large release valve
- Can inflate up to 7 times off battery power
Check the link for the latest sales prices for the Aero Sport Queen Bed. Also, check for deal bundles!
AeroBed Basics Elevated Bed Is Bargain Priced!
AeroBed Sleep Basics Elevated Queen Bed
Rated 3.8 of 5 possible
40% of those who purchased gave it the best possible rating
The AeroBed Sleep Basics was created for people like the Maniac who would rather sit on a bed rather than fall down into one. These inflatable air beds expand to a height of 18 inches. For comparison, that’s the standard height of a chair seat.
It is usually impossible to get sheets to stay put on portable beds that are this tall. But these Aero Beds have a special indent all around the bed at about 9 inches that holds the elastic fitted sheets. The Aero top is also a non-skid velour textured surface. Sheets stay put all night.
The Aero handheld motor gets mixed reviews. Most agree that it’s powerful and inflates and deflates quickly. But since it is not built in, it can be difficult to hold against the air pressure when you’re blowing it up.
What Buyers Like:
- Raised bed
- Very inexpensive
- Packs easily
- Aero has a large air hole for quick deflation
You can find the most recent sales prices by clicking this link AeroBed Sleep Basics Elevated Queen Bed. There are also sometimes extra savings if you buy associated items.
A Quality Alternative to AeroBed Inflatable Air Beds
Intex Queen Supreme Pillow Top Ultra Plush Deluxe AirBed
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
58% of buyers gave it the maximum score
Sometimes sleeping on aero beds can feel like you’re on a life raft. This one’s different. There are no big channels that run the length of the bed or big divots to get stuck in. This one actually feels like a real bed.
The Maniac thinks that it must be due to the special pillow top. Even though it’s inflatable, it has some give to it. It’s an inflatable top that must have a slow valve in it that allows it to adjust slowly. So you don’t feel the small bumps in the mattress as you move in your sleep.
The anti-roll perimeter keeps you on the bed. On many other inflatable mattresses, you have to huddle together in the center. If you stray towards the edges, they collapse and down you go! That’s not the case here. You’d have to be almost hanging off the edge to fall off this bed.
Inflate this bed as soon as you get it. Intex has a 14-day return policy for leaks and punctures right out of the box. So test it right away using the method the Maniac has posted above.
What Buyers Like:
- Cord folds into motor housing for storage
- Fills or empties in under 4 minutes
- Chair height – not too low
- Raised perimeter border -prevents falling!