Best Air Beds
200+ products
Three tips when shopping for an airbed
When shooping for an airbed, consider which pump is right for you. Manual pumps, like foot or hand pumps, don't need electricity and are quieter. But they require more effort and time to inflate. Electric pumps, on the other hand, are faster, but can be noisy.
Automatic pumps quickly inflate your airbed. Keep in mind they can be noisy.
Self-inflating airbeds save you the effort of inflating. They are larger than standard airbeds, so make sure you have enough storage space.
Pump bags inflate your airbed quickly and easily. Most pump bags can also be used to store the airbed.
Another way to inflate the airbed is by mouth. But this is the most strenuous and time-consuming option. If the airbed contains down, you should always use a pump. The moisture from your breath can damage the down.
The airbed shouldn't just be comfortable, but also easy to use. So what to look for?
- Side handles. Easy to move the airbed.
- Airbeds with down. Good insulators and keep you warm.
- A built-in pillow. Always handy.
- Suede or velour textures. Hold the sheet in place, even if you tend to sweat during the night.
- An edge around the airbed. Keeps you from rolling off.
The R-value tells you how well an airbed can insulate you from the cold. It's scored from 1 to 10, with a higher value meaning better insulation. If you're using an airbed indoors or camping in the summer, a low R-value should do. But if you're camping in the winter, look for an R-value of at least 4 to keep you warm. Find out more about R-values.