Raised Air Mattress: A Great Solution for Temporary Sleep Needs

How many of us would love to have overnight guests in our home, yet we fail to issue invitations because we don't have enough beds for them to sleep in? This was not as much of a problem a couple of generations ago when it was standard practice to keep a guest bedroom. But nowadays, the guest bedroom is not so common anymore. When we do have guests over they may wind up sleeping on the couch or taking over the bedroom of one of the family members.

The advent of full-sized, heavy-duty air mattresses began to change that scenario some 20 years ago. But even those early models were not all that great when compared to what we have today. In 2011, we can purchase a raised air mattress which can be just as comfortable as a traditional, permanent bed. In fact, there are people who give up their inner spring mattresses and box springs and opt to permanently sleep on a raised air mattress.

Definition of a Raised Air Mattress

Think of a raised air mattress in terms of being an extra thick air mattress, or even being two standard air mattresses stacked together. Essentially, a raised air mattress provides a second air chamber underneath that acts as a box spring and elevates the mattress off the floor. By acting as a box spring, this lower level provides a lot more comfort and support. And by raising the mattress off the floor it makes it easier to get in and out of the bed as well.

What makes a raised air mattress such a good option for temporary bedding is the fact that at the end of your guest's stay you simply deflate it and store it away somewhere. With this type of mattress there's no need for a specific guest room or an extra bed frame and mattress that only gets used once or twice a year. It is the ultimate convenience for those who need temporary sleep solutions on a regular basis, but not frequently enough to establish a guest room.

Features, Features, and More Features

Like any product we buy, some air mattress models have more features than others. Depending on which of those features are important to you, you can spend anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars on a raised air mattress. At the very least there are a couple of things you should be looking for in order to ensure you get a quality product. The first of those is an electric pump.

An electric pump will save you, and your mouth, the hassle of trying to inflate one of these mattresses the old-fashioned way. Electric pumps typically plug into a standard wall outlet and can inflate your mattress in a matter of minutes. More expensive units might even offer two additional features: the ability to plug into a cigarette lighter for portability, and the ability to act as a vacuum in order to ensure complete deflation of the mattress.

The second feature that's pretty much a necessity is a multiple baffle and air chamber system. In other words, you don't want your raised air mattress to have just a single chamber to hold all the air. Those that do are much more likely to deflate and lose support throughout the night. With two separate air chambers, and multiple baffles within each, you get the most support and the least amount of deflation. Two separate air chambers are a must.

Within those air chambers should be baffles. The best air mattresses have multiple baffles to help provide even support across the entire surface of the mattress. In theory, the more baffles you have the more supportive the mattress will be. Just be careful to find a mattress whose baffling system allows air to flow from one baffle to the next. You'll need this to compensate for a shift in body weight every time you move in bed. By having multiple baffles with air circulation between them your partner is a lot less likely to feel your movements.

Other features that may be important to you include a plush top, built-in pillows, floor grips, and walls that accommodate deep pocket fitted sheets. Just remember that the more features you add the more likely the price will go up. When shopping for a raised air mattress you have to take into consideration how much you want to spend and what features are really important to you. Regardless of the mattress you choose, be aware of the product warranty and what it does and does not cover.

At Home or Away

Typically we think of raised air mattresses as a temporary sleep solution at home. However, many people use them camping as well. They don't fit so well in a small sized tent, but for a large cabin tent, RV, or even a rental cabin, a raised air mattress can give you a comfortable night's sleep that may rival your bed at home. As long as you are careful to protect it from some of the inherent hazards of camping your raised air mattress should be fine.

Along with camping is another alternative for the raised air mattress: hotel stays. It is not uncommon when families travel to all share a room together. But what usually ends up happening is mom and dad get one bed, two siblings get another bed, and the remainder must sleep on a cot. By bringing along a raised air mattress mom and dad can save the expense of having to rent cots while also providing a comfortable sleep for their children. In the morning, simply deflate the mattress and store it away.

Raised air mattresses have a multitude of uses that make them a very consumer friendly product. There are many manufacturers of these mattresses so take your time when shopping around. As long as you buy a quality product from a company you can trust, your raised air mattress should provide you with years of reliable service.