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What Is an Airbed Mattress?
Instead of using a traditional support core, such as coils or polyfoam, airbeds support sleepers with air-filled chambers. Air can be pumped in or out of the chambers to adjust the bed’s firmness and feel, allowing sleepers to customize the bed to their needs with the touch of a button.
The unique part of an airbed mattress is its support core. Multiple air-filled chambers, usually made from vulcanized rubber or another durable material, are connected to an air pump that is either outside the mattress or integrated into it. Adjusting the amount of air in the chambers is usually done with a remote control, though some use buttons or dials on the bed and some also offer a smartphone app.
Like traditional mattresses, airbeds also have comfort layers to prevent sleepers from sinking against the air chambers. The bed may also have reinforced foam or coils to provide edge support. Airbed mattresses can also be taken apart to access parts that need repair, so assembly is usually required when your new airbed arrives.
Airbed mattresses typically last about eight years, compared to the average lifespan of six to eight years for traditional mattresses. A high-quality, well-maintained airbed may last 10 years or more. However, the mechanical parts inside an airbed may need replacing before the bed itself does.
Given that it may require repairs, anyone buying an airbed should look closely at the warranty terms. Airbed warranties typically span 10 to 25 years while also being partially prorated. This means that repairs are usually free for an initial period, often around 10 years, but after this period owners are required to pay part of the cost of replacement parts, as well as transportation fees. The longer you own your bed, the more you’ll generally pay for repairs and replacement parts.
Most airbeds cost between $2,000 and $2,400 for a queen size model, though budget models can sell for as low as $1,500 and luxury airbeds can cost well over $5,000. This price range makes airbeds the most expensive category of mattress.
Some airbed manufacturers offer optional luxury features for an additional fee. These can include zoned support chambers, memory settings for easier adjustment, and heating components for cold weather.
While airbeds are comparable to ordinary mattresses in most ways and are intended for daily use, inflatable air mattresses are meant for temporary use, such as when camping.
Airbeds have advanced, adjustable air-based support as well as comfort systems comparable to standard mattresses. Inflatable air mattresses, on the other hand, offer minimal support and have few, if any, comfort features. Letting out air doesn’t make them feel softer, just less supportive.
Accordingly, there is a significant gap in pricing. Airbeds are among the most expensive mattresses available, while inflatable air mattresses have an average cost of around $100.
Although they tend to be expensive, airbeds can be well worth the price for some sleepers.
Couples with different mattress preferences can sometimes struggle to find a bed that suits them both. Airbeds with two adjustment zones allow each person to choose the firmness and feel that works best.
Since sleep position is a key factor in choosing a mattress, combination sleepers sometimes have to sacrifice comfort in one position to ensure support in another. An airbed is easy to adjust according to how you want to sleep on any given night.
Buying a mattress requires an understanding of what you need from a bed, including the ideal firmness for your weight and preferred sleeping position. If you’ve had trouble finding the right mattress for you, an adjustable airbed allows you to try a range of firmness options.
Airbeds can be a practical purchase, but they can also be fun. The range of options and the ability to customize your bed at home can be particularly appealing for tech-savvy individuals.
In most cases, sleeping on an airbed feels a lot like sleeping on a high-quality standard mattress. However, airbeds have a variety of features that can impact how they feel.
While buying a standard mattress requires you to have an idea of what firmness level suits you, an airbed allows you to try different options at home. However, there are some guidelines to consider when adjusting your airbed’s firmness.
Your body type plays a major role in the firmness you should choose. People who weigh under 130 pounds usually prefer soft beds, while those over 230 pounds generally fare better with a firmer feel.
Besides your weight and build, you should also take your preferred sleep position into account when choosing a firmness level. Side sleepers often prefer a soft mattress to allow for more pressure relief at the hips and shoulders. Back sleepers typically enjoy a balanced feel with strong lumbar support, while stomach sleepers generally need a firmer mattress to prevent their midsection from sinking too far into the bed’s surface.
While adjustable airbeds are generally easy to use, their firmness settings aren’t a set-it-and-forget-it system. Natural changes in barometric pressure and room temperature can affect the air pressure in the bed’s chambers and require minor firmness adjustments. You may also want to change your bed’s firmness for other reasons, such as fluctuations in your weight or a change in sleeping position.
About The Author
Garen GlazierStaff Writer, Product Testing Team
Garen is a health and lifestyle content creator. She realized the importance of sleep when her children made getting a good night’s rest more challenging. Garen is always learning something new about the wide world of sleep and sleep products. Married with two girls, ages 7 and 11, she is a book nerd and a lover of pop music, travel, and the Pacific Northwest.
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