In terms of comfort, this mattress has a flocked surface but it wasn’t as plush as other options we tested. In fact, the mattress was in pristine condition after our testing, and we liked the fact that the storage bag includes handles to make it easier to tote the mattress from one location to another. And unlike with many other air mattresses, you can choose from three different exterior colors. After testing many different models in our Lab, the popular King Koil Air Mattress is our best overall air mattress. If you are looking for a comfortable mattress that is simple to set up and easy to carry, this is the choice for you.
However, adults and couples will likely prefer a full or queen-size mattress. These inflatable beds can stand up to everyday use, camping trips and more. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). There’s no such thing as a perfect air mattress, but we’ve been testing the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress since 2016, and it still holds air after many, many uses.
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 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly advises against using air mattresses with children under the age of 15 months—whether alone or accompanied by a grownup.
Equipped with a built-in pump, this mattress offers fast inflation and deflation using two separate knobs to control these functions. In fact, the whole set-up process took only seven minutes, and the deflation process was just as easy. Serta’s air mattresses bestway air bed have performed well in our evaluations, standing out as one of the top performers in puncture resistance tests. This model also inflates and deflates relatively quickly, with the Queen-size style taking just shy of two and a half minutes to fully inflate.
That means you should probably think twice about storing your air mattress in a basement or garage. Ideally, store it in a dry, cool location, either in a sturdy container or the provided storage bag. According to SoundAsleep, you can clean your air mattress with water and a mild soap solution and let it air-dry. And yet many air mattresses, whether they’re stretched out or not, do leak over the course of a night.
The King Koil Luxury Air Mattress (20-inch) was one of the most comfortable mattresses I tested. It lasted an impressive 48 hours without needing to be re-inflated and deflated easily within 3 minutes—folding up perfectly in the included nylon tote. In 2017, my husband and I slept (uncomfortably) on an air mattress in our basement for 21 consecutive nights as we waited for bestway air bed construction to be completed in our home. After researching dozens of air mattresses and testing seven, we think the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress won’t let you down. Its robust built-in pump, bedlike sleep surface, and reliable warranty make it the one to choose for guests. The best air mattresses have a built-in electric pump that plugs into a wall socket.