Suzanne Scacca
10 min
4.1K
After 18 hours of research evaluating 150 products, we picked SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress as our top choice.
With most air mattresses, you’ll either end up on the floor in the middle of the night or you’ll have to visit a chiropractor the next day. But air mattresses are actually pretty sweet, when you buy the best, of course.
Do I really need one?
Yes! There are many reasons you'd benefit from buying one.
Air mattresses are the perfect solution for outdoor sleeping. They keep you off the ground, provide a cushion for spinal support, and offer more comfort than a sleeping bag.
And don't think air mattresses are only useful when camping! They can make a great "back-up bed" for guests (or if you find yourself sleeping on the couch). They're inexpensive, portable, and more comfortable than a couch or fold-out mattress.
Which one should I get?
There are hundreds of air mattresses to choose from, so how can you find the best?
We've done the research for you. So go ahead, check out our list of the best air mattresses to find one that fits your needs.
And if you find that an air mattress just doesn't work, then be sure to visit our picks for the best mattresses overall and best memory foam mattresses.
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When it comes to camping (indoors or outdoors), lying on the ground isn’t always ideal, especially if you have a bad back or issues with your joints. That’s why this elevated air bed is a great alternative: it’s easy to set up, comfortable to sleep on, and comes with super handy extras.
There are two issues customers commonly report. One is that the cot is noisy if you move around at night. The other is that the mattress may deflate on you in the middle of the night.
Performance: Aside from the few customers who’ve complained about the air mattress deflating, there haven’t been too many complaints about the performance of this mattress. In fact, most customers who buy this love what it does for their usually achy back or joints that struggle with sleeping on typical camping air mattresses or pads that are close to the ground.
Features: There are a few features worth noting with the Coleman Twin Airbed. For starters, there’s the height of this cot. For customers that struggle getting in and out of air mattresses or finding any comfort in them, in general, they shouldn’t find any issues with this one. Also, the air bed comes with a handy side shelf which you can turn into a sort of nightstand while camping. And there’s the air pump which reduces the amount of time you have to spend inflating and deflating the mattress.
Price: The pricing on this air mattress is about mid-tier; however, with the nice add-ons and the extra comfort that comes with it, you might say this is quite the bargain.
The Spruce actually does a great job summing up the benefits of the Shrunks air mattress for toddlers: it’s cheap, it’s easy to use, it keeps your children secure all night, and it’s more comfortable than a sleeping bag! What’s not to love about a bed you can conveniently take on the go with you?
As with most air mattresses, there have been complaints about air leaking out of the mattress during the night.
Performance: If you want an air mattress specifically for your child, this is the one for you. It's durable, comfortable, and built to be incredibly user-friendly. Unpack it, turn on the motor, and 30 seconds later you've got a bed ready for your child to use. Best of all, it fits into a large suitcase, so you can take it with you anywhere you go. Perfect for camping, vacations, and overnight stays with relatives!
More good news: this air mattress won't spring a leak (unless your child uses it as a bounce castle), making for years of use. It's compact, lightweight (under 8 pounds), and just what you need when traveling with a child that needs a good night's sleep.
Features: Includes built-in "security rails" and is compatible with all standard crib-sized sheets. It also happens to be durable, easy to pack and unpack, portable, and perfect for travel as well as home use.
The mattress comes with a Jetaire Electric Pump (requires a power source) that will inflate the mattress in just 30 seconds. The material is 100% free of BPA, lead, and phthalates, and perfectly safe for your child to use.
Price: This might seem like a lot to pay for a child's air mattress, but remember: this is an ultra-comfortable, convenient, and portable option for your child. If you frequently travel with small kids, it's a good way to ensure they've always got a good bed to sleep on!
When it comes to finding an air mattress that won’t pop the second you pull it out of its box, the key is to find one that’s made well with strong PVC—like the Airtex Deluxe full-sized air mattress. In addition to being durable, it also comes with a convenient built-in pump that helps users create the desired firmness and comfort with the greatest of ease.
This being an air mattress, you will find customers who complain about this one losing air overnight. However, the complaints about the mattress going flat are almost non-existent.
Performance: Whether you plan on using this air mattress in your home or while out on the road or hiking trail, the strength of the PVC material should give you some comfort. Not only is it known for its durability, but it’s comfortable too.
Features: The main feature you need to know about is the built-in pump which is easy to use and also cuts down on time you might otherwise waste on trying to inflate or deflate this full-sized air mattress. The comfort controller is also a nice little bonus, so your options aren’t relegated to rock-hard mattress versus lumpy and unstable mattress.
Price: This is the best value you’re going to find when it comes to purchasing an air mattress with a built-in pump.
Many of the customers that use this queen-sized air mattress from Insta-bed actually do so as a replacement for a regular bed. That speaks volumes to the comfort and stability of this mattress, doesn’t it? Add to that the quiet and quick-action air pump that keeps this inflated, and you have quite a nice option to work with here—for yourself or your guests.
Because this air mattress is so heavy and large, you won’t be able to take it on trips out of town or while hiking or camping.
Performance: One of the more annoying things about air mattresses is their inherent ability to leak. Although there have been some customer complaints about this air bed leaking, most customers are incredibly satisfied with its performance, thanks in part to the air pump that automatically keeps it filled. People also really love how comfortable this mattress is, so much so, in fact, that they’ve done away with their standard mattress and replaced it with this one.
Features: The Neverflat AC pump is the winning feature of the Insta-bed air mattress. It’s quiet, it’s quick, and it super conveniently keeps your air mattress filled for you.
Price: This is a great price for a mattress that’s sure to impress both you and your guests.
SoundAsleep takes two of the seven spots on this list of best air mattresses and for very good reason. For the CloudNine, specifically, it’s because of its supreme comfort, durability, and ease of use.
There have been a few customers that complained about this air mattress losing inflation. However, if you review The Sleep Studies survey of previous users, they found that only 1 of 108 have discovered a leak within the first month of use. Within a year (and still within the warranty period), 1 in 68 have spotted a leak.
Performance: When you’re paying top dollar for an air mattress, you have to expect top performance too – and that’s what you’ll get with the CloudNine Series. Because of its thick and puncture-resistant nylon, the chances of a leak are very low. And, with a one-year warranty on your side, you can easily get this replaced if you do encounter any issues.
Features: This air mattress is made with ComfortCoil technology to provide a level surface to sleep on, increasing your comfort all night long. There’s also the silent, but super helpful Smart Pump that refreshes your air mattress’s inflation in case it should go down.
Price: Well, it’s definitely expensive for an air mattress… but you’re paying for top-notch quality and a guarantee of a good night’s sleep.
When you’re hiking outside all day, the last thing you want to do is spend all night setting up camp and then struggling to get and stay warm while you sleep. The Klymit Insulated air mattress will solve both those problems as it’s easy to carry, easy to inflate, and incredibly comfortable (i.e. warm!)
Some customers have complained about the valves being difficult to open, so be sure to play around with them before taking this out on the trail.
Performance: In terms of camping, this is most definitely the best air mattress for that purpose (at least for camping outdoors). Many customers actually place this extra-long air mattress inside their camping hammocks for extra comfort, though it’s not really needed what with its ability to stay inflated and keep users warm all through the night.
Features: This air mattress was indeed made for hikers and campers. It’s extra-long and includes side rails to keep your body perfectly confined to the mattress pad. It’s easy to pack up and carry around. And it’s just really well-made in general. The only thing you might find annoying is that you have to blow up the mattress by mouth (but, again, that means one less thing you have to lug around with you).
Price: This is kind of expensive for an air mattress, though it’ll likely pay off in dividends if you camp outside often and need a reliable and warm mattress to take along on your trips.
This is perhaps one of the best reviewed air mattresses currently on the market. Business Insider, Choose Mattress, Sleep Advisor, The Sleep Judge, and The Wirecutter all give it top honors—and we have to agree! SoundAsleep’s Dream Series is the best air mattress overall for its convenient air pump, comfortable ComfortCoil Technology, super soft top layer, and ease of use.
There have been customer complaints regarding leaks occurring past the warranty window. However, with almost 14,000 reviews on Amazon alone, there’s bound to be complaints of this nature for any air mattress.
Performance: The extra-thick, puncture-resistant material is ideal for using whether you’re at home or in a cramped tent or cabin. The fact that it's queen sized means you get a comfortable bed with plenty of space to move around. It can even fit up to three (small) people!
The mattress is tall (19 inches), so it's too big to use with fitted sheets (which need to grip the base of the mattress). That might not matter what with the super soft top layer. In addition, the "dual height" makes it easier to get in and out of bed, and the slip-resistant base will prevent the mattress from sliding around as you sleep.
Features: One of the best things about this air mattress is the auto-inflate feature. All you have to do is turn the knob, and the mattress will inflate within 4 minutes. Turn the knob in the opposite direction, and the mattress will deflate. Way easier than having to inflate it by hand!
The mattress is surprisingly comfortable for an air mattress, and that's courtesy of the 40 built-in "air coils". These coils make it almost feel like you're sleeping on a regular spring bed. This means no rolling to the center of the mattress as the air distributes itself unevenly. It also won’t lead to you on the ground in the middle of the night if you make the mistake of rolling over to the edge. This one will stay firm.
Price: This is a fairly pricey air bed. However, when you take into account its quality, comfort, and user-friendly design, it's definitely a price worth paying. This is the type of air bed that will last you well for years to come!
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