FAQs about Air Mattresses

Sleeping outdoors can be more enjoyable than ever when you sleep on an air mattress. By getting you off the ground, air beds make sleeping while camping almost as comfortable as sleeping in your bed at home, and you'll still have the sound of the babbling brook in the background. However, not all air mattresses and air beds are the same. Finding the answers to the questions you have about air beds before you begin shopping can ensure that you find an air bed you like.

Questions about Air Beds:

1. Are air mattresses and air beds the same thing?
   Yes. Search statistics show that the term "air bed" is used more than "air mattress" in the United Kingdom, but the items are the same. A lot of online shoppers hedge their bets by searching for terms like "air mattress bed" and "air bed mattress," but most retail sites will bring up the same products whether you search for "air mattress" or "air bed."

2. What type of air mattress should I get?
   The type of air mattress you should get will depend on what you are looking for in an air bed. Raised air beds are easy to get in and out of and will feel more like your mattress at home since they are high off the ground. Raised air beds with pillow tops will give you even more comfort and support. However, any air mattress thicker than six inches should give you plenty of cushioning. If you are looking for just a little extra comfort on your backpacking trips, a thin, self-inflating sleeping pad is going to give you that comfort in a lightweight, compact design. If portability is not paramount, a queen air mattress will give you plenty of room to move around.

3. Do I have to worry about leaks?
   Air mattresses are made from thick plastic that is designed to be resilient and not leak air. However, sometimes leaks do happen. Fortunately, they are easy to patch. It is a good idea to test your queen air mattress at home before taking it out camping.

4. How do I fix a leaking air mattress?
   Fixing a leaking air mattress is a simple task. Usually, a patch kit will come with the air bed. The patch kit should include a piece or two of material, some glue and a small square of sandpaper. Use the sandpaper to rough up the area around the leak. Roughing up the area will help the glue hold better. Make a complete circle around the hole with the glue and press an appropriately sized piece of the supplied material to the air mattress. Press firmly for as long as the glue recommends and don't use the air bed for at least 24 hours to allow the glue to dry.

5. How do I inflate an air mattress?
   Most air mattresses nowadays come with an air mattress pump. Air mattress pumps are usually foot pumps that you step on to inflate the mattress. They're not super fast, though. If that's not appealing to you, you can buy air bed pumps that are electric, and sometimes they're even built into the air bed. You simply plug your air bed pump into your car and come back a few minutes later to an inflated air mattress.