This article was written by GH Institute Textiles Lab Executive Director Lexie Sachs, who has a B.S. in fiber science from Cornell University and more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products. Lexie joined GH in 2013 and has extensively tested all types of bedding — including mattresses, sheets, pillows, comforters and more — using specialized lab equipment and hundreds of consumer testers. Air mattresses are some of the first products Lexie tested at GH. Inflation time: The mattress should be able to inflate and deflate in just a few minutes. This is typically listed as a specification from the manufacturer. Like most air beds with a built-in pump, the Bestway is noisy to inflate and deflate, so this is something to bear in mind if you’re putting it up late at night, but it only takes five minutes each way and the instructions are straighforward. A five-minute pump left the bed feeling too firm for my liking, so I used the dial to relieve the pressure a little and give the bed a bit of bounce. Coleman's air beds have stood out in our tests for their easy-to-understand instructions and durable design. The convertible Twin to King EasyStay 4-N-1 Airbed earned top scores for its great puncture resistance. This model in particular stood out among competitors in our Lab tests with no overnight leakage after 170 pounds of weight were applied to the mattress for 24 hours. Plus, it impressed our testers, who called it "more comfortable to sleep on" than other air beds they've tried, but they noted that the brand's pump was a little too loud when inflating the mattress late at night.

The top surface can be a soft, non-slip material, for example, brushed cotton. Some contain additional comfort materials such as a layer of memory foam. Sometimes the inside of the mattress is divided into chambers - either vertically or horizontally arranged - to ensure better support.’ I chose a range of double, king and queen air beds from the likes of Argos, Decathlon, Dreams and Active Era that have built-in pumps and can be manually pumped up too. I rated each air bed on its design, warmth, comfort, portability and assembly. I took into consideration pillow and edge support, how easy it was to get in and off the bed and whether it came with extras such as a puncture patch or storage bag. Air beds range from simple air-filled lilo to ones that look like beds in size and height. Look for built-in pillows and good edge support to stop you rolling out of bed. ‘The outer casing can be made from vinyl, PVC or rubber and the base should be tough,’ says Jessica Alexander.If you find it hard to get in and out of bed, look for a high raised air bed design. The self-inflating air beds we tried go up to 48cm in height at the pillow end, compared to thinner camping-focused designs that can be just 16cm in height. Do air beds feel cold to sleep on? I may not have my priorities right, but the first thing I wanted to do when inflating the Intex was to give it a stroke. Its top layer of wonderfully smooth fabric feels good to touch. Team that with the vertical lines spanning the bed’s length, and the Intex looks and feels very enticing to sleep on. READ OUR FULL REVIEW: My Daughter Wouldn't Sleep Away From Home Until We Got This Toddler Travel Bed

One of our experts routinely uses it in her home, both for overnight guests and movie nights with her kids, and she notes that the mattress feels substantial and doesn’t sag under your weight. Several of our testers have praised the generous 18-inch and 22-inch heights, highlighting how easy it is to get on and off the bed and how “you don’t feel like you’re sleeping right on the floor.” Just keep in mind that we recommend being patient when deflating the mattress, as we’ve found that applying unnecessary force to the inflating component can permanently damage it. Finding the perfect air mattress can feel complicated — especially when many online options look the same. Here are a few key features to keep in mind as you shop for your next air bed to help simplify the process: Height: A taller air mattress that's at least 18 inches high is typically more comfortable, but a lower profile one is easier to roll up and carry. It comes down to personal preference and whether you're using it at home or on the go.If you’re looking for a blow-up mattresses for the great outdoors, you can discover more in our feature on best air beds for camping. For this review, we’ve mainly focussed on large air beds with built-in electric pumps. There is some crossover: respected camping brands such as Vango, Bestway, Hi Gear and Intex also offer blow-up beds for home use that have the height of a standard bed and are roomy enough for two. A smooth-to-the-touch greige polyester fabric covers the PVC structure on this air bed. I was impressed: I think it would blend well into most modern and classic design schemes. We found that the raised air beds in our test didn’t have any specific thermal insulating properties. To retain warmth, it’s advisable to place a rug or blanket under the air bed. Also add a blanket, or better still, a thermal mattress protector under your fitted sheet. Voited sells the CloudTouch indoor/outdoor camping blanket, that is both stylish and warm. It’s a favorite of Good Housekeeping's senior parenting and relationships editor Marisa LaScala, who calls it a game-changer for any trip away from home. “My 3-year-old actually sleeps in it all night without falling onto the floor or waking up in anguish demanding to hop into bed with Mommy and Daddy,” she said. Additionally, it stays inflated nicely overnight without sagging and deflates into a small storage bag. Just remember that the bed doesn't conform to AAP safe sleep guidelines for infants, so don’t use it unless your kid is at least 2 years old.