WHEN IT comes to air mattresses, pretty much everyone has a horror story to tell. Maybe it starts in a friend’s living room, or a relative’s spare bedroom … Some even start in the middle of the woods… But they all end the same way: You wake up sleeping on the ground, and spend the day nursing a sore back.
We’ve certainly got a few to tell ourselves, but we’ve also got good news to share here: Air mattresses have come a long way in the last five years, and there are options out there now that are more comfortable than your bed at home and just as reliable. Whether you’ve got plans for camping, sleep overs, or somewhere in between, here are our favorite picks for the best air mattresses of the year.
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What to Look for in an Air Mattress
Before we dive into the specifics here, let’s take a second to review some common features of modern air mattresses. Some of these you may be familiar with while others are relatively new, but regardless of your air mattress expertise, here’s the lingo you’ll want to know to get the most out of your search.
Flocking: Flocking refers the suede-like surface treatment you’ll find on most higher-end air mattresses. Flocking replaces the slippery vinyl feeling of most air mattresses with a softer and quieter alternative. As an added bonus, flocking also helps to hold sheets in place, especially when applied to both the top and sides of a mattress.
Integrated air pumps: Most air mattresses nowadays include integrated air pumps, and if ever there were a feature worth spending a little extra for, this is it. Rather than having to tote around a separate battery-powered or plug-in pump, everything you need (pump, extension cord, two-way valve) is already built into the mattress itself.
Dual air pump system: Dual air pump systems are one of the more recent developments in air mattress technology, and they solve an age-old dilemma: Deflation. Look, we get it: In a perfect world every air mattress holds its shape and firmness indefinitely. In reality, however, a little overnight leakage is to be expected, especially in the first few hours as the mattress stretches. Dual pump systems constantly monitor your mattress’ firmness and automatically top it off throughout the night with a smaller (and much quieter) secondary pump.
Air coils: Air coils are the little structures linking the two faces of an air mattress that allow it to hold its shape under weight. Without these coils, there’s not much separating your air mattress from a glorified balloon, which is why cheaper mattresses with fewer coils (or none at all) can be a nightmare to sleep on. If you’re sleeping solo, this is less important, but if you or your guests will be sharing a bed, they’re a must.
