Beds : Sizes Types
Air BedsWhat Is An Air Bed?An air bed is in fact usually an air mattress. Instead of containing springs or other fillings, an air mattress is hollow and is inflated to the desired level. You can buy them in all the standard sizes. One of the most well known brand names is probably AeroBed however there are many others such as Comfort Craft, Intex and Coleman available to buy in the stores and online.
Inflatable or PermanentSome air mattresses are intended to be used as inflatable portable or spare beds, possibly for camping or guests. These can be moved where needed and pumped up by hand, perhaps used as a mattress for a sofa bed. Others are intended as part of a permanent bed and are usually raised or mounted on a platform. Perhaps the most well known of the latter variety is the Sleep Number Bed from Select Comfort.Why would anyone buy an air bed instead of a conventional bed and mattress? The appeal is that the cushion of air can adjust itself to the contours of your body, thus reducing the discomfort and pressure spots. A top of the line air bed can be a real luxury and the term used often in advertising and sometimes in reviews is sleeping on air. The other main advantage of this system is that the level of firmness can be controlled to meet your personal needs. Some airbeds on the market have independent air chambers that can be adjusted separately. This allows each partner to sleep on the level of support that is best for them. Some of the more advanced air bed models go further and have several separate "zones" that are adjustable more or less independently. This is most often a tri-zone system. As with all innovations, some people love this whilst others don't see the point. An air bed mattress usually also has a layer of foam on the top. This is usually a few inches thick and serves both to protect the air chambers from puncturing and also to increase the comfort level. Good foam can make a huge difference to the quality of the mattress. Some of the air beds on the market come with a memory foam layer on top, the ideal combination for some people. There are a many other materials, for example the Aero DuraSuede with Microsuede top surface. As well as comfort and support, another advantage of air bed mattresses is that they don't need to be turned. In addition, they are considerably lighter than their traditional counterparts which makes them easier to move. Before this begins to resemble a TV infomercial I should mention that there is a drawback to a sophisticated multi-chamber airbed: it's a mechanical system complete with pump, compressor, controller, etc. Even the best mechanical system can fail, so it's even more important than usual to buy quality and ensure that you get a good warranty.
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