Many of us have slept on air mattresses for a few nights while visiting
friends and family or while camping in the great outdoors. Some of
the early air mattresses were so thin that we could feel the ground or
floor beneath us. And quite often they developed leaks, so the air
gradually escaped overnight. This type of air mattress may also be
used as a flotation device in swimming pools and at the beach.
Although these rudimentary air mattress are still available, many of
today's air mattresses are a lot more comfortable and sophisticated.
Air mattresses are inflatable mattresses that, in their simplest form,
are often used as temporary bedding or sleeping pads. Years ago,
many families had guest rooms with beds that were used only occasionally,
but today's high cost of housing has made it necessary for each room to
serve multiple purposes. So air mattresses have become very popular,
because they can be used in any room and are comfortable for overnight
guests. This type of air mattress, constructed from sheet vinyl or
textile-reinforced vinyl, can be rolled up and stored compactly on a
shelf. It can be inflated by blowing air into a small air valve on
the air mattress or, more efficiently, via a manual or electric air pump.
Higher quality air mattresses – sometimes called air beds –
feature electric air pumps and easily adjustable firmness levels.
They are designed for long-term use as permanent beds and are available
in twin, full, queen, and king sizes. Some air beds even provide
separate firmness adjustments for each side of the mattress! The
materials and construction of these quality air mattresses may compare
favorably to memory foam mattresses or traditional innerspring mattresses.
air mattress in a pool
baby on an air mattress
When shopping for an air mattress, it is important to consider its primary
use. Rubber air mattresses are designed to last longer, and they are
generally more expensive. Those with latex-rubber air chambers can
usually last for several years of daily use. Vinyl air mattresses
are least expensive, but they may only have 3 to 6 month guarantees.
However, this is based on daily use, so a vinyl air mattress may suffice
for occasional house guest use over a period of years.
Here on AirMattresses.us, we feature a convenient directory of selected
air mattress and adjustable bed suppliers. For comparison purposes,
we also list major foam mattress and innerspring mattress manufacturers
as well as an independent sleep information resource.
This Minnesota-based mattress manufacturer offers a line of adjustable air beds.
Unlike traditional mattresses, which are made from metal coils and springs, their Sleep Number Bed uses uniquely designed air chambers to provide a gentle cushion of support
that can be easily adjusted to your comfort and firmness preferences. www.SelectComfort.com
This independent nonprofit organization is dedicated
to improving public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep
and sleep disorders, and by supporting education, sleep-related research,
and advocacy. www.SleepFoundation.org