Intex Supreme Airflow Twin - Click to see price and read more reviews
Inflating
One way air mattresses differ is by the means of inflating. There are basically two types: one has a built in electric (or battery powered) pump on it. This is a small device that is plugged in to the wall or operated using batteries. When you turn it on, the pump automatically pumps air into the mattress. This makes it quick and easy to inflate. It’s also possible to add a little bit more air if some is lost during the night. These types of mattresses are great because you don’t have to do any work to inflate them except for turning a switch. The alternative is to get a mattress without a built in air pump and either manually blow it up (not fun) or get an external air pump. These are available for cheap at the same place you get air mattresses.
Most blow up mattresses have a large screw valve for deflating and storage. This is a plastic opening with a cap that screws on when you want to inflate the bed. When you’re done, you can just unscrew this to let the air out. Storage of a blow up mattress is done by letting all the air out of the mattress and then folding it several times until is fits in a small bag or box. Since the materials are so good these days, a queen air mattress can fit in a bag slightly smaller than a regular sized grocery bag. Smaller mattresses can fit in even tighter spaces.
Uses
Your blow up air mattress has many uses. Some people use them as an extra bed. Since the mattress can be easily stored when not in use, this is great for people with smaller houses or apartments. You can turn an office into a spare bedroom in just a couple of minutes. Plus, a nice blow up mattress bed is almost as comfortable as a real bed, so these can even be used for longer periods of time.
That makes them perfect for college students who need temporary housing, vacations where you might not have nice bed, and other trips where you need a portable bed to sleep on for a few days. Those with back problems or who have trouble sleeping can benefit greatly for a good quality blow up air bed. Many people who don’t like sleeping on the ground love going camping with an air mattress. It’s fast, easy, fits in a 4 person tent well, and you don’t have to toss and turn sleeping on rocks. Camping is one of the best uses for an air mattress bed.
Where To Buy
There are many places you can buy a blow up air mattress. One good place to start looking is your local sporting goods store. An outdoor store like Bass Pro or Cabela’s will have a large selection of these types of mattress. A department store or large retail store might have better deals, but to find the cheapest prices, look online. Amazon often has the best deals, even when you include shipping. Other places to look are Overstock, camping accessory sites, and specialty sites. Look for brands like Coleman, AeroBed and Intex.
