How to find what you’re looking for…

Insta-Bed – info & ratings of Top 5

Insta-Bed air mattress – Raised, NeverFlat

Head-to-head comparison with the Dream Series by SoundAsleep

Insta Bed EZ

Insta-Bed Raised with Insta III pump

Insta Bed with sure grip bottom

Insta bed Raised with headboard

Top camping model from Insta Bed – Stow and Go

Fact sheet of the Insta Stow and Go

Size – twin, inflated size (measured from the further most edges) – 74 x 39 x 8 inches
Type of pump – battery-operated, two-way (reversible), pump model name Insta I

Head-to-head with the top model of its type

Based on the profile type, the structure number of coils the best fit for comparison here is the Camping Series from SoundAsleep.

Insta-Bed – a closer look at the top picks

Top-rated Insta-Bed – Raised NeverFlat

If we had to choose one inflatable bed to call a classic, it would be this Insta-Bed.

Back when we first started reviewing airbeds, it was stable among the top 5 for home use. But a lot happened on the market since and some new products introduced improved technologies pushed this Insta-Bed out all the top 5.

When we say that we’re primarily referring to the products by SoundAsleep, a company that introduced their first product in 2013 and caused a significant shift in the industry.

It might seem odd that the head to head comparisons of Insta-Bed’s we did above were mostly which products coming from SoundAsleep. We’d like to stress here that we have no special relationship with the company that would make us favor it over Insta nor did we receive any free testing samples.

We feel like Insta should be more proactive in the market to be able to keep up with the onslaught of new technologies and brands that arrived into the categories where the brand had dominating models.

It’s just the current state of the market, innovation is a must.

Now that we got that out of the way let’s dig a bit deeper and look into what makes this bed the superior evergreen classic that it is.

The pump used for this Insta-Bed

We did go over some of the inner workings of the pump, but let us get into the nitty-gritty of it all.

What’s better about it?

From a user standpoint, this pump type simply means that have a more reliable bed that won’t wake you up in the middle of the night because it lost air.

If we reminisce about the evolution of the technology in the airbed arena, it’s fair to say that the smart pump (call the Never Flat by Insta & Serta) is the biggest milestone of the past decade.

It’s changed the way people perceive inflatable beds – from flimsy pieces of plastic into a solid choice for frequent use.

It’s practically eliminated the main complaint owners had – deflation.

Let’s make one thing clear here – the pump is not designed to deal with significant rips or seam separation but small leaks and pinholes.

That’s still a big deal, especially if you have in mind the fact that most cases of air loss come from these small mysterious leaks.

How it works

The system consists of two pumps, and it’s the second one that makes the difference. It’s equipped with sensors to detect air loss and silently turn the unit on to keep the bed at your desired firmness.

Safety from over inflation

One more feature that you don’t typically see in this price range is the auto shut-off safety that’s built into the pump.
For the owner, this means that you don’t have to be on standby as the mattress inflates. All you need to do is choose the firmness presets from three options available (plush, medium or firm and then just turn on the unit).

Once your chosen firmness presets is reached, the safety will turn off the pump.

Materials

For the top, Insta bed uses a finish that resembles suede. It’s there for two reasons.
The first one is to make you comfortable if you’re using the bed without sheets. The second one, and more important, is to increase the friction between the sheets and the bed and lower the chances of slipping, piling or moving.

For this type of airbed our deep-pocketed fitted sheets.

The one thing that we would like to stress here is that Insta bed models are true to size, which means that if you get a Queen, standard sheets in the size will be a good fit.

New colors

We remember the time when this Insta Bed was only available in beige (tan) but, in the past few years, the company added two more color choices. Today, it comes in white and gray as well.

We’re not sure about the reasons, but there is actually a difference in price between the 3 color options.

Air coils of the Insta Bed

One of the main reasons behind Insta standing tall in an ever-changing market is the stability of their beds, both in terms of flatness of the top surface and sideways movement.

To achieve that, the company relies on their system of air coils. These not only play the role of stabilizers but also lower the strain “suffered” by the seams.

Using the NeverFlat pump with a car inverter

The ratings of inverters (DC to AC) are based on how much power they can put out (measured in watts).

To use a car inverter without damaging the circuitry of the pump you have to make sure that the power rating of the inverter meets or exceeds the requirements listed on the pump label.

If you can’t find the specifications on the body of the pump look for a sticker attached to the power cable.

Let’s explained that on an example

The pump that comes with the classic Raised and EZ bed model from Insta-bed has a power specification of 130 Watts. The power inverter would have to exceed that number to be safely used.

A closer look at the Insta Bed EZ

This is the 14th quarterly rating update of the Insta bed EZ.

It’s currently rated at 88 out of 100. The category that is bringing the rating down a peg is “value for money” – this is only natural because the Insta EZ is not your run-of-the-mill air bed.

Stability, Support and Ease of Use

One of the biggest advantages of Insta EZ lies in the extraordinary support provided by its robust bed frame and the aforementioned proprietary NeverFlat technology.

The frame unfolds automatically, so all you have to do is plug the bed in and flip the switch to inflate it. Many customers have wondered about the possibility of deploying separate parts of the frame but the current design doesn’t offer this possibility.

We also don’t see it happening anytime soon.

The weight of the mattress is 48.9 lbs, which translates to around 22 kg. This makes it a cumbersome option for camping and outdoor activities, but provides a stable surface and mitigates the usual problem of the bed moving through the night.

The frame construction is sturdy and can withstand up to 500 lbs of pressure, which means the mattress can accommodate 2 adults without any threat to its structural integrity.

Frame dimensions and height

The dimensions of the frame are 64″ x 54″ x 9.5″.

Total height is 22″. You won’t have any difficulties with getting in and out of bed, which is especially convenient for senior citizens.

All of these features guarantee a stable sleeping surface and the level of support uncharacteristic for an inflatable bed. The EZ is made to mimic the “regular bed,” and the design does its job very well, especially after you add some bedding on top of it.

Durability

Insta EZ is intended for indoor use so, it’s not recommended for camping (although, you CAN technically use it if you don’t mind the weight and have access to power).

The frame features a solid steel construction, which doesn’t wobble or make squeaking sounds, which tends to be an issue with similar beds of sub-par quality.

The mattress itself is made of heavy-duty PVC, and it’s very resistant to medium-level stressors like pet claws and similar outside influences. It comes with a dedicated repair kit and the rolling case for easy and secure storage.

To maximize the longevity of your air bed, you should heed the following recommendations:

• The company doesn’t recommend this product for everyday use. Based on the experiences we’ve seen, it’s sturdy enough to replace your regular bed, but its lifespan will be considerably shorter if you opt for this route.
• You should choose a storage location devoid of temperature fluctuations and extreme temperatures. These factors can stress the material and lead to potential failure. You should also avoid humid environments and inflating the mattress in freezing temperatures.
• In order to prolong the lifespan of your pump, you should only use high-quality alkaline batteries. Also, avoid leaving batteries in the pump for too long since it can result in corrosion and potential damage
• Insta-bed doesn’t recommend the use of heated blankets with its airbeds.

The company offers a full 1-year warranty for all product defects in workmanship and materials. The warranty, however, doesn’t cover holes and other damage caused by misuse, normal wear and tear, neglect, unauthorized disassembly, natural disaster, and similar occurrences.

Comfort and Pump

The bed features an integrated NeverFlat pump system.

In case you didn’t read the analysis that we went over when talking about the Insta-bed Raised (the classic model), let’s reiterate.

This, basically, translates to 2 separate pumps working to provide the optimal comfort. The main pump allows you to select your desired comfort level, which will adjust the overall firmness of the sleeping surface.

Forget about sore muscles, back and neck pain, and stiff joints. With Insta EZ, you’ll be able to customize the overall comfort of your bed according to your particular needs and have a refreshing sleep every single night.

The primary pump inflates the EZ bed in less than 2 minutes, depending on your preferred firmness setting. It usually deflates it in around 20 seconds.

The pump also features an auto shut-off safety, do you won’t have to worry about over inflation as long as you have your comfort level set.

The secondary pump comes with dedicated sensors, which monitor the overall quantity of air within the mattress at all times. Every comfort setting comes with a predetermined air level, and the secondary pump is “in charge” of maintaining it throughout the night.

It engages automatically, refills your bed with air, and shuts off without you even noticing. The noise level is surprisingly low and will never wake you up in the middle of the night.

Apart from customizable firmness, Insta EZ also provides sleepers with minimal motion transfer. This is great news for restless sleepers who tend to toss and turn a lot throughout the night, waking their partners up in the process.

Updates to the review

As we mentioned at the beginning, we typically update the reviews on quarterly basis. What might be important to mention here is that the ratings of this Insta have not significantly fluctuated since we first reviewed it.

As we are currently considering going back to the all concept of separating the home use and outdoor models, it’s very likely that this bed will find its place back in the top 10 where it lived for a long time.

FAQs about the Insta-bed with headboard

Storage

The headboard of the bed also deflates, and the total deflated weight is approximately 14.8 pounds.

In terms of size, the headboard model is not significantly bigger than the classic, which means that it’s just as easily stored.

Sturdiness of the headboard

Bear in mind that the headboard is no different in terms of rigidity compared to the rest of the bed. We are mentioning this because we received a couple of questions about it.

People ask whether they can lean against the inflated headboard like they would with their regular mattress. You might be able to do that if the bed is placed against a wall, but it’s not advisable to exert that kind of pressure on the chambers.

The headboard is there to stop the pillows from slipping over the edge of the bed.

Using fitted sheets

The body of the mattress and the headboard are attached to it each other to about two about half of the mattress height.

This means that you can’t tuck in fitted sheets the same that’s in the headboard area as the rest of the mattress.

That’s why flat sheets are probably the better choice for this mattress. The good news here is that the flocking creates enough friction for the sheets not to slip or more.

Fixing and repairing an Insta-bed

Should you find a leak, patching and Insta bed is pretty much the same as any other air mattress. It arrives with an included patch kit and instructions.

The difference between Insta and Serta

This is probably one of the most commonly asked questions we received over the past few years.

It doesn’t come as a surprise since the products from the two brands are similar. So similar in fact, that if somebody said that they are the same, we would have a hard time arguing the point.

So let’s clarify this mystery of the airbed industry once and for all.

Instant and Serta are owned by the same company, which is Serta Simmons Bedding LLC.

So what separates the two?

If you compare the counterpart models from the two brands, you’ll notice that Serta is almost always the slightly more expensive product.

We don’t have the information nor do we want to go into the intricacies of the inner workings of the company, but we can look at the facts.

One of those facts is that Serta has an unparalleled warranty, not only compared to Insta-bed, but to any brand out there. Some of the new arrivals do come with solid warranties. We still feel that the full 1-year manufacturer’s warranty of Serta airbeds is second to none.

On the other hand, Insta bed is the brand with more products in their portfolio for outdoor use (such as Insta-bed Stow-n-Go we mentioned and analyzed above).

These similarities also have an obvious impact on our ratings, since the counterpart products of the two brands usually have very “close ratings.”

This is an advantage for Insta-bed

If you’re not familiar with the industry, you’ll find that Serta is the more recognizable name and one of the most well-trusted brands in the mattress arena.

That means that being associated with Serta can only be a good thing for Insta-bed as a brand.

As far as we’re concerned, we like both brands and consider them top-tier of the industry, especially when it comes to trustworthiness of the customer support.

Updates and summary

We typically update our guides on quarterly basis, which is also the case with this one.

That doesn’t mean that we update the ratings of each airbed – our statistical model is based on gathering data and if we don’t have enough of new information for a specific bed, this update might happen once every 6 months or yearly.

What this means for this guide is the ratings of the more popular beds, like the Classic raised or EZ, are updated every six months, while the less popular models “wait” until we share enough new info for an update to make sense.

If you have any dilemmas, questions or any thoughts at all about the information we presented, please do share them in the comment section at the end of this page.

Hi and welcome to our guide on the Original Aerobed.

If you’re considering the model, this is the place to be. Below are its updated quality ratings and comparison to models in a  similar price range.

What you’ll see

Over the last decade, we reviewed over 140 air mattresses and about the dozen of them come from Aerobed.

What you’ll see below are ratings in five quality categories, from air retention and comfort to value for money.

Our focus – The Original Aerobed in Queen & Twin size

We are aware that the brand has such of a long tradition that many people make have the misconception that Aerobed is a synonym for an air mattress, so let’s and clear that one up.

Aerobed is just one of the many brands of air mattresses – that’s why the analysis below will not only show you top picks from the brand but also compare them to the currently top-rated products of similar type & price range.

Before you move on, give Andy  30 seconds to explain what you’ll see on this page.

How to find exactly what you’re looking for

Aerobed Original – Queen and Twin

The Original Aerobed is the most popular among high-rises from the brand.

It’s an industry classic and one of the models from Aerobed that stood its ground in the flood of new arrivals in the industry.

It’s probably the most versatile model in their portfolio.

It’s fair to say that this is the staple product of the brand, so let’s compare its ratings to the top-rated airbeds overall – The SoundAsleep Dream Series.

Ratings comparison

More about the Original Aerobed Classic

The carry bag and packing size

The carry bag included with this model features a drawstring and it’s made of nylon.

The deflation is manual but the mega valve does a pretty good job of letting all the air out and allowing you to pack the bed neatly.

According to our measurements, the dimensions of the packed Aerobed Queen Classic are approximately 16 x 12 x 12 inches.

Coiled construction

The construction of the chambers is so important for an airbed that we would go as far as to say that it can make or break a product.

We emphasize that many times before in our reviews – inflatables that feature coils tend to outperform simple horizontal or vertical beams in terms of distributing weight.

This goes beyond comfort

It’s common sense… a stable, sturdy bed that doesn’t have a rickety, bouncy quality to it will give you a better night’s sleep.

But the importance of weight distribution goes beyond that.

A wobbly inflatable bed will not only be less comfortable but is more likely to develop leaks because both the inner and outer seams will take more toil and are more likely to give in to wear and tear. No such problems with this model. The stability is largely attributed to the two-story design.

The importance of coil number

Think about a classic mattress – you know that the higher number of coils, the better.

The Aerobed Queen  and Twin Classic features one of the highest numbers of oval air coils in the industry (48 and 32 respectively). This is what allows it to perform well in terms of weight distribution and motion isolation.

This is yet another piece of proof that Aerobed is keeping up with the times and changes in the industry.

Two-story design

Another important feature of this unit is the design that practically consists of two separate inflatables mounted on top of each other.

Why is this important?

Because the bottom layer, let’s call it “the foundation” will do most of the heavy lifting and the upper story will take less “abuse.”

The physics of it

When placed on the floor, the air inside “reacts” to the temperature of the surface until they even out.

So if you have a one-story inflatable, you will feel those changes as they happen. They will manifest as short blitzes of temperature change.

With this bed, most of these changes happen in the aforementioned foundation and the upper layer will see less temperature fluctuation.

Low-rise versions

Judging by the number of reviews shared online, this is their most popular low-rise air mattress from the brand.

Before we move on to the more detailed analysis, let’s do a side-by-side comparison with the highest-rated model in its type and price range.

Aerobed Original low-rise vs.
SoundAsleep Camping Series

A more detailed look at the Classic low-rise

This model used to be among the top 10 rated products when we initially started reviewing air beds all those years ago. But since then, the landscape of the market has changed significantly and, for the consumer, that’s a good thing.

This month’s update (as well as the last 4) have seen it steadily rising in ratings. The rise is not significant, but in a dynamic industry climate, it’s nothing to be shrugged off.

The shift

The new arrivals from companies like SoundAsleep shook things up in terms of technology and materials – the market is not dormant anymore.

We have to admit that we’re a bit of nostalgic nerds and we like the classic brands like Aerobed. We have seen no significant changes in this month’s update.

They did make some changes some of their new your models in a place to see that, but the gap in ratings is currently substantial – we’re excited to see what the future holds.

Oval coils construction

If you’re just stumbled upon our website and you are s new reader, let us iterate the advantages of coiled construction. Some of the new arrivals and brands are making a respectable effort to catch up, but for most of them, it’s still an uphill battle to reach the structural stability of the good ole’ trusted brands.

When we compared the statistics from a pool of data that is used for our statistical rating model, the conclusion was pretty straightforward. We compared products off the same brands and made of similar material.

Air coils were the better performing option than beams in terms of structural stability in about 80% of cases. That’s probably the strongest suit of this bed.

The Classic features one of the highest numbers of air coils in the industry – 28 for the Twin size and 42 in for the Queen.

Less sinking, less swaying (goes both for the Twin and, more importantly, larger sizes like Queen or King)

The oval coils do a much better job at distributing weight which makes for a much more comfortable sleeping surface.

To describe it simpler, models like this have less of a wobbly feeling, since the air coils act as stabilizers and minimize side movement and swaying.

With products like this, you also see much less sinking, and that’s a frequent issue in air beds of lower quality.

With these, the chambers will make a cocoon-like nest in the middle of the bed. For heavy sleepers, it can even cause the sides to elevate from the ground.

In Queen size it’s even more of a problem because an unstable top surface will have two sleepers rolling towards the middle of the bed and ending up using just about 60% of the surface and pushing against each other.

Temperature of the room

If you’re using the bed for camping in the cold, this has its pros and cons – it is less comfortable but the two sleepers will probably be warmer.

On the other hand, if the night is warm, you’re in for one sweaty and hot snooze.

You’re not likely to see those issues with The Classic.

Bottom line – out of all the products from the established brands (that you could call veterans) the Classic was one of the beds that stood its ground in terms of comfort.

The most likely reason for that is the high number of coils paired with solid vinyl and well-crafted connections, seams and stitching.

The legacy of the mega “ air release” valve

Aerobed has been one of the most dominant names in the air bed arena for over two decades now.

Back in the day, the valve and the pump were nothing short of groundbreaking – the fact that the design remains relevant to date speaks volumes.

To be specific – the main change that the “air release” valve introduced was the unparalleled speed of inflation and deflation.

That’s true even today and this model can take on pretty much any product out there in terms of the pump efficiency. We would give it full 5/5 stars in that quality aspect.

Value for money

If we are talking about the bank for your buck, the Classic belongs to the top 5% of camping airbeds out of 45 we reviewed so far – you can see the full list of top 10 best camping your mattresses here.

Motion and temperature isolation

The motion isolation quality aspect goes back to what we talked about above – the vertical and horizontal stability and the Classic performs pretty well here.

The temperature isolation and the other hand is a bit more intricate issue.

Since this is a low-rise and there are barriers between the chambers the air inside moves more freely, which is sub-optimal for temperature isolation.

Here’s why

The beds that perform better in resisting temperature change usually have some type of system in place to minimize air movement. The reason for that are micro-currents of air that swirl around inside the inflatable.

Let us try to put to the science behind it in simple terms

Any closed environment (like the inside of your airbed) will distribute energy to “achieve” equilibrium.

What does “equilibrium mean exactly?

It simply means s that the cold and warm air will move around until the temperatures even out. Speaking in those terms, the inside of an inflatable is not just one chunk of air but it consists of many clusters of cold and warm air.

Up and down

The cold air has higher density and, on initial inflation, it will be closer to the bottom surface. Once you get on the bed, your body will dissipate heat making the air that’s closer to the top surface warmer. Soon, these micro-currents will start to move up and down to re-distribute the energy.

How it “behaves” in real life

What this means in “real life” is that you might feel warm at one moment and suddenly feel a rush of cold air.

That’s the bottom line – these cold rushes are not about the quality of the material but the inner design separation of the chambers/beams.

One downsides of the pump system

The two main downsides of the otherwise well-thought-out pump are the absence of the auto shut-off safety system and the manual deflation.

The first one means that you inflate the bed to your desired firmness and then just shut the pump off. With some of the modern air beds, this is simplified by including presets which allow you to choose your firmness and just leave the pump do its job.

The second one means that the pump is not a two-way and if you want to deflate the bed, you just open the valve and squeeze the air out.

This is a more significant issue with smaller valves and not really a red light with this bed since it features the mega valve that releases air in mere moments.

Volatility of the vinyl

According to our statistics, the Aerobed Queen & Twin Classic has a somewhat higher percentile of people who report initial rubbery smell (compared to some of the higher-rated products in its price range).

One & two person sleep

The capacity of ths bed will depend on whether you’re sleeping alone or with a partner. The maximum weight on Aerobed Twin Classic can take on is 300 pounds.

On the other hand, the weight limit of the Classic Aerobed Queen can be either 450 or 600 lbs, the former is for one sleeper and the letter is for two people (300 pounds per person).

FAQs about the Classic low-rise

Is it the good option to use it with a platform base?

Although the low rises are more shape-adjustable, it would be hard to effectively use it on a platform. It will likely slip and move much more than a regular mattress would.

The confusion surrounding the capacity

With most air beds the fact sheet precisely lists the recommended weight.

For this bed, however, it’s a bit trickier and we have received a few questions about it.

Most of those were about the capacity of the Queen-size since two numbers appear – 450 and 600 lbs.

Let’s clarify that

The two numbers listed as recommendations of the company are for one and two-person sleep.

One sleeper will exert more pressure onto a smaller area, which is why the recommended limit in this scenario is 450 lbs.

If two people are sleeping this Aerobed Queen size, the weight will be more evenly distributed

Hence, the 2nd listed capacity is 600 pounds.

The risk of over-inflating

We did mention that there is no auto shutoff safety. But if you do leave the pump running it will only inflate the bed to certain firmness and then cease adding air.

Alternative inflation

In case you want to take this bed camping, you might be wondering if there is an alternative way to inflate it.

To the best of our knowledge a leg or manual pump can work, as long does it comes without latches and includes nozzles that would be a good fit for a round opening of the valve.

Pairing it with a car outlet

The pump used here is meant for power outlets and if you want to use it with the car outlet, you would need a converter/adapter.

That also goes for power outlets of voltage that’s not 110 V.

Side surfaces and cord storage

The pump is built-in and the only parts that stick out are the controls. The cord neatly packs into a dedicated space on the side of the bed.

This is a nice touch since it gets the cord out of the way. You would think that that’s all always the case but we’ve seen too many beds that don’t include a dedicated space for cord storage.

Aerobed Queen Comfort Anywhere

Its main competitor in the category (including all brands is the Serta Perfect Sleeper.

You can see their facts sheets below.

Choosing between the two

The margin in ratings between the two is slight and the choice will come down to how much you want to spend.

The Opti Comfort has slightly higher ratings in comfort but it’s about 20% more expensive.

With the two beds being of similar quality, Serta Perfect Sleeper is the higher rated bed in “value for money.”

Another notable difference between the two are the dimensions

The Serta is longer but 2 inches narrower. It’s also 3.6 inches higher compared to the Opti-Comfort.

The razor-thin margin means that choosing between the two airbeds will come down to your taste and preference.

A closer look at the Comfort Anywhere

Two-tier design

This one is pretty important because people who get an air mattress of this type are getting it for frequent use and expect long-term comfort.

Two-tier means that there are actually two separate inflatable parts; one goes on top of the other.

Why is this important?
If you read the humdrum about weight and temperature distribution, you probably found it to be too monotonous, boring even.

But this is where it comes in handy.

The two-tier structure makes for a more comfortable sleep because the bottom inflatable takes on the job of energy and heat distribution and the top layer is much better isolated.

The bottom tier does most of the “heavy lifting,” which makes the top tier less prone to temperature changes.

Sheet grip

A common concern among airbed owners is that the sheets they choose might not be good enough to tightly hold on to the site indentations (ribs).

Two-tier design with the deep side indentations found in this model makes this a non-issue.

The part that separates the two layers is deep enough to form a firm grip, especially if you’re using fitted sheets.

One thing to look out for – the height of the upper tier will make deep-pocketed sheets too loose and you’ll want to go with the lower sheet profile (shallow).

Aerobed King

Apart from the Luxury Collection, there is only Aerobed King model that we know of – it’s the stylish Elevated 14-inch.

It includes all the nifty add-ons seen in other products from the brand but has a bit more pizzazz to it.

It’s one of the best-looking air beds we know and we can only compare this Aerobed King to one product – the Best Choice with the bamboo topper and side skirt.

Below are the details and ratings.

Aerobed King Vs. Best Choice Bamboo

Aerobed Full with quilted foam topper

The two Aerobed models we talked about above are not really your classic home air bed, so let’s take a look at one that does belong to the group.

This Aerobed Full includes some nifty add-ons that 98% of inflatables do not.

First of all, it comes with an attached foam topper. Our statistics tell us that about 40% of new air mattress owners choose to get an extra topper to make their air mattress more comfortable.

With this Full-size Aerobed, there’s no need for that because it comes with a topper of its own.

The second thing that you only see a remote control in high-end models, even some of the best air mattreses don’t come with one.

We’ve seen these features other products, but it’s usually one or the other.

Air mattress that’s the closest matchis Lazery Sleep.

Aerobed Full vs. Lazery sleep

Aerobed Twin One Touch

Aerobed tends to make air mattresses that stand out from the crowd, whether it’s the design or the way the pump works.

The One-Touch Comfort is probably the closest to a classic “air mattress look”.

That’s why we’ll compare it to the most popular airbed out there – the Dream Series.

Aerobed Twin vs. Dream Series Twin

The Original Aerobed Queen

The Original Aerobed comes with a headboard and it’s an eye candy

As far as appearance goes, it’s close to the look of a regular bed, especially the headboard with the bonded patterns.

The Woosh valve

The bed also includes the mega Whoosh valve that makes the deflation faster and easier.

Sheets

As per the company, The Original Aerobed is a good fit for the standard queen-sized sheets. The two-story design is better at tightly holding the sheets in place. In that quality aspect, we place The Original Aerobed Queen the top 4% of air mattresses.

Puncture and leak resistance

We have to admit that were not huge fans of seeing claims like “100% leak-proof.” We tested too many inflatable beds to take a claim like that at face value

We would say there is no such thing as 100% leak-resistance. No matter how good an air bed is, it can still be punctured or develop a leak.

That’s true for even the toughest and most durable and mattresses out there – you can see our top picks in the category of most durable, heavy-duty air mattresses here.

Aerobed Luxury Collection

The Aerobed Luxury Collection includes a range of products starting from single-size all the way up to an Aerobed King.

What’s different about the Luxury Collection are the innovative antimicrobial materials.

Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that it’s not the materials themselves but the antimicrobial treatment designed to protect the surface.

The technology used here is limited only to the Luxury Collection and features a control wand and a built-in pump with 3 firmness pre-sets.

Aerobed Deluxe

One more high-end product coming from the brand is the Deluxe Aerobed.

The most notable difference of the Aerobed Deluxe is the surface. It’s 100% percent cotton (natural).
While the finish of the Deluxe is cotton, the construction is heavy-duty PVC and the controls are based on their one-touch technology.

The Deluxe series comes with all the neat stuff we already talked about – from the Whoosh valve to the carry bag.

Aerobed for kids

The brand also makes inflatable mattresses for kids. One of them belongs to the top 3 kid-size air mattresses.

It’s been locking horns for the top spot in the category with the Shrunks Tuckaire travel bed which you can see here.

Aerobed replacement pump & valve

The Aerobed pump is unique in a few ways and we come to make specific recommendations about any other generic pumps that can work with.

The best we can do here is give you the information that Aerobed replacement pumps are available on their website in the parts and accessories section.

Other Aerobed air mattresses
– honorary mentions

Aerobed warranty

The official Aerobed warranty is one year limited, starting from the date of purchase. The warranty covers any flaws in workmanship and materials and to claim it you would need the sales receipt or other form of proof.

If you’re getting your bed online, your purchase history with the retailer should be proof enough.

The good part that drop-shippers, retail stores and dealers can’t change the original terms.

Claiming the warranty – authorization & returns

To claim your warranty, you’ll need a return authorization. To get it, contact the Coleman Company directly.

How it usually goes

You will be advised to include a pack with your information and the short description of why you’re returning the product along with the proof purchase. You then send the packages via FedEx Ground, Parcel Post or UPS. The package should be insured and sent to the Coleman return department in Wichita.

You will get the exact address from their customer service.

Where to buy an Aerobed air mattress

The brand is widely available both for online and in-store purchase in chains like Costco and Walmart.

Availability of Aerobed at Costco, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond & Target

Both Costco and Walmart carry pretty much all products that we’ve listed above and even some we haven’t. What we saw in our research is that some of the Aerobed air mattresses that are not available with other retailers can be found at Walmart.

A good example of that is one of the more popular model for camping – the All-Terrain Sports.

Aerobed at Bed Bath & Beyond

We can’t paint with a broad brush and the make general claims about the availability of Aerobed at Bed Bath and Beyond.

What we can share here is that at the time of the last update to this guide, models available at Bed Bath and Beyond were somewhat scarce – more so than the range available at Costco and Walmart.

Aerobed air mattress history

The story of the original Aerobed brand dates back to 1992 when they patented a groundbreaking way for quicker inflation/deflation.

Back then, it was hard to imagine a deflation takes only 15 seconds.

Since 2000

Following the release of The Original, the company improved on it by introducing the raised version in 2001. The goal was to get as close as possible to the feel of a regular bed.

In 2002, Aerobed released what they described as an “improved model.” The pump of this one was even faster (30%) and made their beds 20%, firmer.

In 2010, the company merged with Coleman and remains one of the leading brands to date.

Repairing an Aerobed

Reparation of an Aerobed is similar to that of an airbed, but let’s reiterate here by going through the process of patching step-by-step.

1. Locate the leak

If the leak is substantial, locating it can be as simple as isolating yourself in a quiet room and simply listening for a hissing sound.

However, it won’t be at is easy is that most cases simply extend to be small and hard to find.

If the listening test doesn’t do the trick, make a solution of water and soap feel a spray bottle. If you already have a suspected area in mind spray dissolution over it and bubbles will appear at the leak.

2. Most common leak spots

In most cases, the source of the leak will be in the area surrounding the pump or at the seams.

A cautionary note

You might stumble upon some tips that advise extreme measures like submerging the whole unit into water to locate a leak.If you do this, you’ll definitely pinpoint the source of air-loss but it you will probably ruin your mattress.

In other words – this might solve the problem but can cause a bigger one.

Here’s why

The inside of the bed will remain moist and probably turn into a breeding ground for mold and mildew. There is no reliable way that we know of to completely dry out an airbed that’s been fully submerged in water. Moving on…

3. Dry it

The next step will be to completely dry the moist area around the leak. The fastest way to do it is by using a blow dryer (the kind you would use on your hair).

4. Deflate and flatten

Completely deflate the bed and place it on a flat surface with the leak source in the middle. From that point on you have the options to use different types of sealants for the patching (glue, tape, patch fabric or combination of the three).

Sealants that are based on glue will be your safest bet for flocked surfaces, while tape and fabric will be the go-to solution for the vinyl parts.

5. If it doesn’t work

Patching vinyl is tricky and it’s hard to decide what kind of leak is more difficult to repair. The issue of vinyl oils

If the leak is on the vinyl parts, the problem is the thin layer of oil the coats the vinyl. It’s the only surface that gives it the shiny look.

If you use regular or even super-glue, these oils will react with the chemicals in the bond and the leak will probably re-occur.

That’s why specialized kits usually include a chemical that prevents the reaction and keep the bond stable.

Repairing the valve

If the source of the leak is the valve, it gets even trickier.

In our opinion, it might not be worth it in the long run. You’re probably better off getting a new mattress.

Summary and a note about future updates

We’re constantly gathering new information and doing your best to stay on top of and quality changes that might happen with the air beds. Typically, we update the guides quarterly to make sure that the information presented is up-to-date and relevant.

We might deviate from the schedule if we notice and your “red lights.” These usually come in the form of a significant change in the user satisfaction ratings.

When this happens, it triggers an unscheduled update for one product only. Over the years, our database has grown to a mammoth-like size and continues to grow. With that growth, the reliability and accuracy get better.

The purpose of it all is to do the research so you don’t have to and minimize the guesswork involved in choosing an air mattress.

Our team currently has 6 members and the website is our full-time work, so if you have any questions or dilemmas feel free to share them in the comment section below.

You can expect us to respond within one day.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies team

Simmons Beautyrest air mattress Hi-Loft
Twin, Full & Queen

Hi-loft vs. our top pick in its price range

More about the Simmons Hi-Loft

In our ratings this is currently the top model from the company. Let’s look at what makes it tick and, more importantly, see how it fares up against the currently top-rated air bed overall.

The listed maximum weight capacity of 700 pounds is currently one of the highest in the industry – only a handful of other models come close.

It features channel beam design and economic top with the velvet-like finish.

Let’s look at some basic facts of the three sizes it comes in:

• Twin – 74 x 38 x 16 inches with the listed weight of 9.4 pounds
• Full – dimensions 74 x 53 x 16 inches, weight 13 pounds
• Queen – 80 x 60 x 17 inches in size, listed weight 17 pounds

Frequently asked questions about the Simmons Beautyrest air mattress Hi-Loft

Is it an option for camping?

The pump that comes with the Beauty Rest series is electric and built-in, so using it for outdoors and camping might be an option if you have a power source at the site.

Can I use a different pump with it?

The built-in pump is AC power-operated and, for outdoor, use you will need to pair it with a power adapter or converter and make sure the nozzle fits.

Portability and storage

Because of the thicker materials used, the Hi-Loft is pretty heavy, compared to the products of similar size. The downside of that is that it doesn’t back as small or light.

The ergonomic design of the is unique in a few ways.

First of all, the outer edge is slightly raised, which is a nice plus for restless sleepers who then to lose and chase their sheets and pillows.

Vertical stability

One of the crucial features of any inflatable is vertical stability – for a number of reasons.

Not only does it influence the comfort of the bed but it’s also factor in terms of durability and longevity.

Air bed that are more stable tend to have a longer lifespan because the stitching and the seams don’t take as much “abuse”.

Floor grip and sliding

The Hi-Loft includes what the company calls lower angle beam construction which is designed to create a recessed panel at the bottom and, in turn, create a suction effect with the floor when burdened.

Sturdiness of the top edges

The beam that encircles the top surface is there to provide additional support for the edges.

This is important for sleeper school toss and turn during the night, since inflatables with a completely flat top come with the risk of rolling over the sides.

The carry bag of the Hi-Loft

The nylon-based carry bag is one of the sturdiest we’ve seen.
Carry bags that come included with the blowup mattresses are usually flimsy and the stitching tends to separate with frequent use, but we don’t see that happening with this product.

Patented system for adjusting the firmness

You can adjust the firmness of this inflatable at the push of a button – in the range from plush to firm.

The hands-free pump is one of the most powerful we have seen.

It’s a two-way, which means that it does both (inflation/deflation). The add-on adapter included with the pump (with extra nozzles )allows you to use it for other inflatables.

The quick release valve let’s all tear out in just seconds, making the deflation and storage quicker and easier.

he one downside about the pump is that, to the best of our knowledge, it doesn’t include an air-stop feature. This basically means that it’s up to you to close the valve as quick as possible after finishing the inflation.

What might be a good tip here is to slightly over-inflate the bed, which will give you a second or two to plug the valve.

How well it holds air

The percentages of air leaks developed both on arrival and within the first few weeks of use are somewhat higher compared to most of the air beds we tested and reviewed the years.

What we’ve seen people reporting as a flaw are structural issues…the chambers bursting or mysterious leaks that don’t have any apparent cause.

Based on our experience these are usually caused by pinholes, leaking around the pump area or a slight separation of the seams or stitching.

Issues with the height

One common complaint that kept seeing in reviews of the owners is related to the product is being true to size. So let’s clarify that.
The twin and full-size sit at 16 inches, while the queen-size is 7 inches high which puts the Hi-Loft (speaking in the industry lingo) in the range of mid-rises.

We believe that the confusion stems from the fact that the word “hi-loft” is included in the name.

The bottom line is to make sure that you read and fully understand the specific listed by the company before making a decision.

Sheets

We would recommend using deep-pocket fitted sheets. The site indentations are deep enough to hold them firmly.

Initial inflation and first use

The directions included with this inflatable state you should inflate/deflate the bed several times, for about a week, before you use it for the first time.

This gives the vinyl time to fully stretch and adjust so that you won’t see any significant sinking or pressure changes in the long run.
Adding air

Most owners report that they and air every few nights.

What we’re talking about here is not substantial air loss that would qualify as a leak

Rather, it’s simply a natural pressure drop caused by the stretching of the vinyl or the micro-leaks that usually happen around the area of the pump.

Simmons Beautyrest air mattress Twin and Queen – Plush Aire

The plush Aire is a very similar product to the one listed above (HI-LOFT) with the most obvious difference being the appearance and colors.

It comes in twin and queen-size. Let us take a moment here and look at the details of the two versions.

• Twin – 75 x 39 x 15 inches, weight – 10.5 pounds
• Queen – 79 x 59 x 17 inches, weight 16.3 pounds

PlushAire vs. top-rated overall

Compared to the HI-LOFT

Besides the most obvious difference, which is the color, there are slight differences between the two models in terms of size and weight.

If you compare the twin versions you’ll see that the Plush Aire is an inch longer, an inch shorter and sits a peg lower.

The Queen versions of the two are the exact same height, with the Plush Aire being an inch shorter and narrower.

Weight capacities compared

Compared to the Hi-Loft, the Plush Aire has a an even higher maximum capacity – listed at 750 pounds for the Queen.
Other features

The pumps of the two models are very similar, both are quick release and hands-free.

Both products feature a quick adjustable push-button system to control the firmness (patented by Simmons).

Both include vertical beams that run top-to-bottom to minimize swaying and increased stability.

Simmons Beautyrest Smart Aire – low-profile Queen and Twin airbed

If you’re looking for low-rise Simmons Beautyrest air mattress the option you currently have available on Amazon is the low-profile Smart Aire.

Sizes and dimensions

• Twin – 75 x 39 x 9 inches, weighs 7.7 LBS
• Queen – 14.1 x 13.1 x 7.3 inches, weighs 10.7 pounds

SmartAire vs. top-rated low-rise

Availability of the Simmons Beautyrest air mattresses

Beautyrest air beds are carried by some of the largest retail stores in the US like Walmart, Target, Wayfair and online retailers like Amazon.

As per the Walmart website, they offer a two-day shipping on the Beautyrest air beds.

The Beautyrest collection at Walmart website includes both high-rise we talked about above with additional models from the collection such as:

• Beautyrest Extraordinaire Raised Air Bed Mattress with iFlex Support (available in Twin, Full and Queen)
• Beautyrest 18″ Queen Raised Contour Aire
• This model from Simmons Beautyrest has the highest listed weight capacity we have seen, with a mind-boggling 850 pounds.
• Beautyrest Comfort Suite Adjustable Raised Queen Air Bed
  The Comfort Suite same impressive capacity is the Contour Aire and comes with the two year warranty.

Simmons Beautyrest Comfort Suite

Some of the other products available at Walmart are:

• Lumbar Lux Queen Raised
• Fusion Aire 18″ Raised Queen
• Simmons Beautyrest Memory Aire 18″ Raised Queen
• Beautyrest air bed Skyrise raised pillow top
• Hi-Loft DeepSleep Beautyrest full size air mattress

Simmons Lubar Lux air mattress

Availability of replacement pumps

Simmons Beautyrest air mattress pump replacement can be found on Amazon.

Since it’s a pretty unique model you should be careful to make the precise fit when replacing the pump.

Materials

Materials used are similar, most of the time it’s multilayered of vinyl…the difference is the thickness

That’s what allows the products from the Beautyrest series to list weight limits that are 10 to 20% higher than most products we review over the past few years.

As we stressed a few times before the pump is unique and powerful. While most similar products take about 3 to 4 minutes for full inflation, our stats tell us that an average that time is shorter with Simmons products.

The downside seems to be the construction and how well it works with the valve.

It’s fair to say that if we had a degree of “usability rating for the valve” it would be lower than that of other brands because of the absence of an air-stop and the fact that you manually have to plug in the valve.

This especially goes for the products in the lower price range

Comparison to other brands

While compiling this guide we went through thousands of reviews comparing the materials , capacity and other quality aspect.

Some of the conclusions we’ve reached are summarized below.

The range of Simmons air mattresses starts on the cheaper side and some of them cost as low as 40 or $50.

It’s fair to say that if you’re looking for an affordable the airbed, Simmons might be the way to go.

But the information we gathered seems to show a pattern of lower reliability in terms of structural issues on arrival and air-leak problems developed over time.

The advantage of the models we analyzed we below is that they are in the lower range of the price scale. In that price range, they compate against companies like Intex and Embark.

Simmons – about the company

Airbeds are not the primary product of the Simmons Bedding Company and their focus are classic mattresses and bedding.

Founded in 1870, Simmons Bedding is one of the companies with the longest tradition in the industry.They are based in Atlanta and best-known for the Beautyrest brand.

Manufacturing facilities operate both in the US and Puerto Rico – 18 of them combined.

International licensing

What’s interesting is that they are licensing their name to other companies internationally.

This means that if you get a Simmons airbed it might be made by another company and yet carry the Simmons name.

In the case of the products we looked at above we saw the listed manufactured to be Boyd Specialty Sleep.

Warranty

If you’re buying from Amazon the details of Simmons airbed warranty can be obtained by directly contacting the customer service. On the other hand, most products listed with Walmart come with a two-year warranty.

Growth

Simmons reported net sales of and $855 million,$1.13 billion, ,$1.228 billion in 2005, 2007 and 2013 respectively.
Market share

The latest information we have available dates back to 2011. According to that report, the company claimed 15.7% of the US mattress market share.

History

The story of Simmons dates back to 1870 when the founder, Zalmon G. Simmons, started the first manufacturing facility in Wisconsin…Kenosha, to be more precise.

Initially, the company manufactured telegraph insulators and cheese boxes and started spreading into the mattress industry after they received the rights to a patent for a bed spring based on woven wire.

The woven wire patent

With that in mind its fair to say that there beginnings in the mattress industry where result of circumstance because the initial patents was received as a debt payment.

Since receiving the patent the company turned its its focus to mass-producing mattresses based on the woven wire.

Mass production

They started mass production in 1876 and were the first company to do it.

The shift to mass produce allowed the company to make the mattresses cheaper and it wasn’t long before they introduced the spiral coil into their mattresses – that happened in 1889.

The introduction of coil springs was a big deal, not only simmons, but for the mattress industry is a whole.

It’s what allowed the company to drop the price of an average mattress from $12 to under $1, which revolutionized the industry
It made the product widely available and affordable to most people.

Momentum and growth

As the momentum of the growth was increasing, Simmons reacted by acquiring and setting up new manufacturing facilities across the United States, primarily in California (San Francisco Los Angeles) and all-around Canada, including Toronto and Vancouver.

A change in the business model

Very soon, they changed the business model drastically. Instead of buying the products at face value, their customers were soon given the opportunity to test the mattresses on samples available in stores and then have their chosen products shipped within 24 hours.

The Hide-A-Bed

Another important milestone came in 1940 with the introduction of a pull-out sofa. Soon, this type of sofa became the product that Simmons was best known for.

Simmons as we know it today

Today, the company is owned by Advent international which is a US-based, privately owned equity firm.

Advent acquired both Simmons and Serta on October 2 , 2012.