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Most air mattresses are pretty similar, but the very best offers easy inflation, minimal air loss, and — we dare to dream — a luxurious night’s sleep. We picked 11 popular models, consulted chiropractors and a physicist, and measured air loss overnight, before putting our REM cycles on the line to personally test the best. Our favorites offered intuitive pumps, a neat feature or two, and performed well in our overnight test, all while giving truly comfortable support that left us pleasantly surprised.
The 3 Best Air Mattresses
- Coleman SupportRest Elite PillowStop Double High Airbed – Best for Indoor
- SoundAsleep Dream Series – Indoor Runner-Up
- Insta-Bed Raised Queen w/ neverFLAT Pump – Other to Consider
Coleman SupportRest Elite PillowStop Double High Airbed
The Coleman SupportRest Elite PillowStop Double High Airbed is our top pick because its 120V built-in pump is fast — really fast. It was fully inflated in only 1:35. To put that in context, the overall fastest was a single height mattress (the SoundAsleep Camping Series) at just 1:03 but then again, that’s half the size of the Coleman. On the other hand, the runner-up double-height SoundAsleep Dream Series took more than twice as long with a top-tapping 3:41.
The real game-changer with the Coleman is the second manual pump valve. It was one of only two double-height contenders with both an automatic internal pump and a manual pump valve, which means you can use it wherever you need it. While the Coleman doesn’t come with its own external pump, you can use any manual pump (we found those with internal rechargeable batteries are generally faster than those with replaceable batteries) to inflate our top pick anywhere outside your house. And we wanted to take it outside — because it’s the lightest of all our double-height air mattresses, at just 16.5 lbs, and its square carrying bag simply zips up around the mattress.
The Coleman was, also, one of the notable few that lost no perceivable height during our overnight test. The other two were the Coleman Airbed Cot that had an elevated metal frame (which we felt protruding through the mattress), and our camping runner-up, the SoundAsleep Camping Series Air Mattress.
We were initially skeptical about the “PillowStop” feature, a slightly raised edge meant to keep pillows from falling off. It’s not high enough to be a pillow itself, so you’ll either rest your pillow on top of it, which might give you too much lift, or find yourself scooting further down the bed, which may be a dealbreaker for taller folks.
We also found the Coleman’s bold blue and white stripes less stylish than the softer earth and water hues of most other air mattresses. If you intend to put sheets on your Coleman anyway, you can probably forget about this curious design choice, although it may still show through with lighter or thinner sheets.
SoundAsleep Dream Series
If you’re looking for an indoor setup and have put any thoughts of outdoor use firmly to bed, then you’ll be happy with the SoundAsleep Dream Series. Though its fairly standard features didn’t wow us, it was a solid performer and we’re confident you’ll get a good night’s sleep.
The SoundAsleep Dream’s double-height, coil construction comes with a built-in AC pump, and while it had a significantly shorter cord than a lot of the others we tested, we didn’t find this to be a huge issue. It also has a nifty little cubby hole to keep the cord tucked out of the way when the pump’s not in use. Simple storage was a breeze with the generously sized carry bag easily accommodated all 19 lbs of loosely folded mattress. Although its slow inflation time (3:41) couldn’t compete with the Coleman’s, the SoundAsleep does come in gentle ocean blue or deep burgundy color schemes, making it admittedly much more attractive.
Insta-Bed Raised Queen w/ neverFLAT Pump
A reliable indoor choice is the double-height Insta-Bed Raised Queen w/ neverFLAT Pump. We liked the Insta-Bed’s automatic shut-off feature that eliminates the risk of over inflating and makes an already convenient automatic inflation feel even easier.
We weren’t all that impressed with the neverFLAT technology, though, which claims to inflate and maintain preset plush, medium, and firm airfill. Try as we might, we couldn’t feel any difference and with only a handful of inflation seconds between them, we remain skeptical. But the Insta-Bed was just as comfortable as our top pick and runner-up and lost a minimal quarter inch overnight (much better than the Serta that boasts the same neverFLAT pump but lost over an inch). At 22.3 lbs, the Insta-Bed is noticeably heavier than all our other picks and we had a harder time folding it to fit in its carry bag.
Guide to Air Mattresses
Consider your usage before buying
Before you purchase an air mattress, it’s important to think about how you’ll be using it. An air mattress for camping or backpacking is different to one for long-term indoor use or houseguests. Pump type, height, and portability will all depend on your plans for your mattress. The frequency of your use could determine how much you’ll want to invest in a mattress, too.
Top your mattress up every day.
Slow leaks over time can happen in a number of ways: from the seams, from the pump intake/output, and even through the pores of the PVC itself. If you’re sleeping on an air mattress for more than one night, manufacturers recommend topping it up with about 10 seconds of air.
“For optimal comfort, inflate the mattress to a level firm enough that your pressure points (shoulders, hip bones, etc.) sink into the mattress just enough that your spine does not form an arch. Your entire body should feel supported and you shouldn’t feel pressure on your vertebrae.”
Dr. James Devine | Chiropractor
Add a mattress topper for ultimate comfort
Both chiropractors we spoke to recommend investing in a mattress topper for extra padding and temperature control. “The materials air mattresses are made with don’t breathe the way cloth mattresses do, so you can find yourself being uncomfortably hot in the summer and cold in the winter,” explains Dr. Devine. “A cotton mattress pad will insulate you from the heat or cold (depending on the season) of sleeping on an air mattress.”
Air Mattress FAQ
About the Authors
The Reviews.com staff is dedicated to providing you with all the deep-dive details. Our writers, researchers, and editors came together from Charlotte, Seattle, San Juan, Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, and Chicago to put this review together.
