It took around three minutes to inflate and deflate, making the Intex one of the faster-to-assemble air beds in this round up. The manual inflation port within the cord storage is also easy to find, which would come in useful if you’re camping and want to use your own standalone pump. 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. Most good air beds come with their own fixing kit. Each kit’s instructions may vary so be sure to read them carefully. 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. Firstly, the comfort level is outstanding for an air mattress. The Dura-Beam technology truly makes a difference, providing a firm and stable sleeping surface. The built-in pillow is a great touch, eliminating the need for extra pillows and ensuring a comfortable night's sleep, whether I'm camping or accommodating guests at home.

Intex Queen Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Air Bed with Pump

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? Blow up the air bed fully and then examine the entire sleeping surface and listen out for a thin hissing sound. An inflated mattress makes it easier to identify defects.

The raised sides, to stop you rolling out at night, are quite thin compared to other air beds I tried, but this does give you more surface area to sleep on – something my 6ft partner Daniel, who also tested the bed, appreciated. My tester friend Tina also pointed out that she liked the feel of ‘wave beam’ structure on the top, as it made her feel secure. The Touchxel seemed a little noisier than the average air bed I tested, but this may be down to the fact that at the time of inflation it was late and I was tired. It's constructed with 42 air coils for comfort, but I found the grooves on the top layer a little less inviting than some of the more streamlined designs. These grooves do provide grip, however, and kept me securely in place during the night. STRENGTH – Unlike traditional air beds that tend to sink or dip over time, our 16.5" Dura-Beam Air Mattresses are designed with top and bottom ring stability to withstand the weight of the sleeper without sagging or losing its shape

Intex Air beds | Argos Intex Air beds | Argos

The choice of airbeds for occasional guest use has become a lot more sophisticated in recent years,’ says Jessica Alexander from the National Bed Federation. ‘While they are not intended as a replacement for a proper mattress – since they don’t provide the same support – they are increasingly impressive in terms of comfort.’ Once you find the hole, circle it gently with a permanent marker so you don’t lose it and then deflate it.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.

Intex Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Queen Air Mattress - 67737E Intex Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised Queen Air Mattress - 67737E

Its firmness didn’t last through the first night however. As expected, I needed to top up in the morning. The instructions point out that like most PVC air beds, you will need to add air to the bed more frequently the first few times you use it as the fabric stretches to its natural shape. VERSATILE – Perfect for both indoor or outdoor use, this raised 16.5" bed includes a built-in pillow and air pump for convenience; the unique construction provides superior stability with a soft, velvety sleeping surface ensures a good night's sleepI 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.

Intex Dura-Beam Standard Series Deluxe Pillow Rest Raised

Most manufacturers advise that children under eight should not sleep on an air bed. Each design will also have a maximum weight capacity for the user. The Bestway Fortech design has a total weight capacity of 350kg (55 stone), for example.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. Durability seems to be a strong suit of this mattress. It's made of tough material that feels like it can withstand regular use without fear of punctures or wear. The mattress's height, similar to that of a traditional bed, makes getting in and out of bed easy, especially for guests who might have mobility issues. 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. When choosing the best air bed for you and your family, you need to consider a few different things. After all, there are so many different air beds on the market, and narrowing down your search criteria can make your decision a lot easier. STRETCH – At first inflation the material will STRETCH, which is sometimes misinterpreted as leaking; You will sense a loss of pressure, that's just the bed stretching, simply re-inflate the bed again; the bed will fully settle within 2-3 nights