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.

Bestway Fortech Essence Air Bed with Integrated Electric Pump

Take a tip from Chris Allen, Outdoor expert at Decathlon, when choosing an air bed – be it for home or away… For those who want to make sure that they have plenty of space for their guests, the Intex Inflatable Downy Queen Double air bed is an excellent choice. This bed is extra-long and wide so you should be able to fit two adults on here comfortably. 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.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.’

air beds 2023: Bestway to Outwell | British GQ Best air beds 2023: Bestway to Outwell | British GQ

An air mattress or air bed is a very handy thing to have around your home. Even if you have a dedicated guest bedroom for people to sleep in, you might find yourself short on space or in need of an extra bed.

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. Buying a self inflating air bed with a built-in pump can be massively beneficial if you know that you are going to get a lot of use out of the mattress and don't need extra space to store the air pump in your home. If you know that it is going to be constantly coming in and out of its cupboard, investing in a mattress with its own pump, or buying a quality foot pump for your new air bed, will definitely speed things along. 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. The cover is machine washable, too, so you can keep the design clean after use. It also includes a carry bag and is ideal for sleepovers or for when transitioning from a travel cot.

Sealy Fortech Airbed with Built-in Pump | Costco UK Sealy Fortech Airbed with Built-in Pump | Costco UK

You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/browse/sports-and-leisure/camping-and-caravanning/air-beds/c:30507/brands:bestway/" on this server. Choosing to instead opt for something that is slightly more expensive and yet still affordable allows us to then find a brilliant air mattress that won’t let us down – figuratively and literally! Material: Nylon, Thermoplastic Polyurethane Installation method: Foot pump Installation time: 30 to 40 seconds Where can I buy an air bed? However, having a blow up mattress for camping or an emergency visitor is cheaper and more convenient than other guest bed options.

The best air beds at a glance:

The single version is apparently ready to go in a lightning-fast 90 seconds, although I’m not quite sure that having to wait another couple of minutes for a bed to inflate would be a deal-breaker for me. The durable material is great for use both indoors and outdoors, and inflates in as little as three minutes — though be aware that you’ll need to buy an appropriate pump separately. We test the most popular air beds with built-in pumps from brands such as Argos, Hi Gear, Dreamcatcher, Outwell, Vango, Yawn and more. We also test a few manual blow-up beds to investigate whether these are just as good or perhaps even better than inflatable beds with built-in pumps. As for us, we wanted to make sure that we put together a varied selection of the best air beds that cover all of the above bases. While you might spot a few from the same manufacturer, they'll be in different sizes to suit a variety of needs. The top surface can be a soft, non-slip material, for example, brushed cotton. Some contain additional comfort materials such as a layer of memory foam. Sometimes the inside of the mattress is divided into chambers - either vertically or horizontally arranged - to ensure better support.’

Bestway Queen Airbed Essence Fortech Inflatable Mattress Bestway Queen Airbed Essence Fortech Inflatable Mattress

and fittings, including the lift mechanism are covered by this Service contract and not the television or The mattress itself measures 191 cm by 73 cm by 22 cm, making it a good size that will easily fit in a tent if you need it to. Smell: An unpleasant rubbery smell can really upset a good night's sleep. Our testers sniff each bed and marked air beds down if they have a strong whiff of rubber. The best don't have any odour at all. I 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. Perfect for all seasons, with added thermal insulation to protect you from the elements whilst camping. It can also be clipped to another single mattress, or the Double Ultim Comfort Mattress, for larger groups.In the case of Television beds with built-in televisions or fittings to accommodate televisions, only the The size is equivalent to a UK Standard King Size, allowing for a great night’s sleep. When paired with a Dreams duvet and pillows, you’ll feel as if you're in your bedroom at home. It comes with a handy storage bag, too, for easy portability.