Aerobed Twin, Full, Queen & King – Top Aerobed Picks Compared to Best Products Overall
Over the last few years, we reviewed over 110 air mattresses and about the dozen of them come from Aerobed.
We are aware that the brand has such of a long tradition that many people make have the misconception that Aerobed is a synonym for an air mattress, so let’s and clear that one up.
Aerobed is just one of the many brands of air mattresses - that’s why the analysis below will not only show you top picks from the brand but also compare them to the currently top-rated products of similar type & price range.
What you’ll see below are ratings in five quality categories, from air retention and comfort to value for money.
Aerobed Queen and Twin Classic high-rise air mattress
This Aerobed is the most popular among high-rises from the brand.
That’s probably the most versatile model in their portfolio.
It’s fair to say that this is the staple product of the brand, so let’s compare it’s ratings to the top-rated air mattress overall - The SoundAsleep Dream Series.
Fact sheets of the two
Aerobed Queen
SoundAsleep Dream Series
https://thesleepstudies.com/soundasleep-dream-series-air-mattress-review/
Ratings comparison
The carry bag and packing size
The carry bag included with this Aerobed features a drawstring and it’s made of nylon.
The deflation is manual but the mega valve does a pretty good job of letting all the air out and allowing you to pack the bed neatly.
According to our measurements, the dimensions of the packed Aerobed Queen Classic are approximately 16 x 12 x 12 inches.
Coiled construction
The construction of the chambers is so important for an air mattress that we would go as far as to say that it can make or break a product.
We emphasize that many times before in our reviews - inflatables that feature coils tend to outperform simple horizontal or vertical beams in terms of distributing weight.
This goes beyond comfort
It’s common sense… a stable, sturdy bed that doesn’t have a rickety, bouncy quality to it will give you a better night’s sleep.
But the importance of weight distribution goes beyond that.
A wobbly air mattress will not only be less comfortable but is more likely to develop leaks because both the inner and outer seams will take more toil and are more likely to give in to wear and tear.
The importance of coil number
Think about a classic mattress - you know that the higher number of coils, the better.
The Aerobed Classic features one of the highest numbers of oval air coils in the industry (32 for the Twin-size and 48 in the Queen). This is what allows it to perform well in terms of weight distribution and motion isolation.
Two-story design
Another important feature of this Aerobed is the design that practically consists of two separate inflatables mounted on top of each other.
Why is this important?
Because the bottom layer, let’s call it “the foundation” will do most of the heavy lifting and the upper story will take less “abuse.”
The physics of it
When placed on the floor, the air inside “reacts” to the temperature of the surface until they even out.
So if you have a one-story inflatable, you will feel those changes as they happen. They will manifest as short blitzes of temperature change.
With this Aerobed, most of these changes happen in the aforementioned foundation and the upper layer will see less temperature fluctuation.
Aerobed Queen and twin Classic low-rise air mattress
Judging by the number of reviews shared online, this Aerobed is their most popular low-rise air mattress.
Before we move on to the more detailed analysis, let’s do a side-by-side comparison of this Aerobed and the highest-rated air mattress in its type and price range.
Aerobed Classic versus SoundAsleep Camping Series
Aerobed twin Classic
Aerobed Queen Classic
SoundAsleep Twin
SoundAsleep Queen
Ratings comparison
A more detailed look at the Aerobed Classic
This model used to be among the top 10 rated products when we initially started reviewing air beds all those years ago. But since then, the landscape of the market has changed significantly and, for the consumer, that’s a good thing.
The new arrivals from companies like SoundAsleep shook things up in terms of technology and materials - the market is not dormant anymore.
We have to admit that we’re a bit of nostalgic nerds and we like the classic brands like Aerobed. They did make some changes some of their new your models in a place to see that, but the gap in ratings is currently substantial – we’re excited to see what the future holds.
Oval coils construction
If you’re just stumbled upon our website and you are s new reader, let us iterate the advantages of coiled construction.
When we compared the statistics from a pool of data that is used for our statistical rating model, the conclusion was pretty straightforward. We compared products off the same brands and made of similar material.
Air coils were the better performing option than beams in terms of structural stability in about 80% of cases. That’s probably the strongest suit of this Aerobed.
The Classic features one of the highest numbers of air coils in the industry - 28 for the Twin size and 42 in for the Queen.
Less sinking, less swaying
The oval coils do a much better job at distributing weight which makes for a much more comfortable sleeping surface.
To describe it simpler, models like this have less of a wobbly feeling, since the air coils act as stabilizers and minimize side movement and swaying.
With products like this, you also see much less sinking, and that’s a frequent issue in air beds of lower quality.
With these, the chambers will make a cocoon-like nest in the middle of the bed. For heavy sleepers, it can even cause the sides to elevate from the ground.
In Queen size it’s even more of a problem because an unstable top surface will have two sleepers rolling towards the middle of the bed and ending up using just about 60% of the surface and pushing against each other.
If you’re using the bed for camping in the cold, this has its pros and cons – it is less comfortable but the two sleepers will probably be warmer.
On the other hand, if the night is warm, you’re in for one sweaty and hot snooze.
You’re not likely to see those issues with the Aerobed Classic.
Bottom line - out of all the products from the established brands (that you could call veterans) the Classic was one of the beds that stood its ground in terms of comfort.
The most likely reason for that is the high number of coils paired with solid vinyl and well-crafted connections, seams and stitching.
The legacy of the mega “ air release” valve
Aerobed has been one of the most dominant names in the air bed arena for over two decades now.
Back in the day, the valve and the pump of the Aerobed were nothing short of groundbreaking - the fact that the design remains relevant to date speaks volumes.
To be specific - the main change that the “air release” valve introduced was the unparalleled speed of inflation and deflation.
That’s true even today and this Aerobed can take on pretty much any product out there in terms of the pump efficiency. We would give it full 5/5 stars in that quality aspect.
Value for money
if we are talking about the bank for your buck, the Classic belongs to the top 5% of camping air mattresses out of 45 we reviewed so far - you can see the full list of top 10 best camping your mattresses here - https://thesleepstudies.com/best-camping-air-mattress/
Motion and temperature isolation
The motion isolation quality aspect goes back to what we talked about above - the vertical and horizontal stability and the Classic performs pretty well here.
The temperature isolation and the other hand is a bit more intricate issue
Since this is a low-rise and there are barriers between the chambers the air inside moves more freely, which is sub-optimal for temperature isolation.
Here’s why
The beds that perform better in resisting temperature change usually have some type of system in place to minimize air movement. The reason for that are micro-currents of air that swirl around inside the inflatable.
Let us try to put to the science behind it in simple terms
Any closed environment (like the inside of your airbed) will distribute energy to “achieve” equilibrium.
What does “equilibrium mean exactly?
It simply means s that the cold and warm air will move around until the temperatures even out. Speaking in those terms, the inside of an inflatable is not just one chunk of air but it consists of many clusters of cold and warm air.
Up and down
The cold air has higher density and, on initial inflation, it will be closer to the bottom surface. Once you get on the bed, your body will dissipate heat making the air that’s closer to the top surface warmer. Soon, these micro-currents will start to move up and down to re-distribute the energy.
Real life
What this means in “real life” is that you might feel warm at one moment and suddenly feel a rush of cold air.
That’s the bottom line – these cold rushes are not about the quality of the material but the inner design separation of the chambers/beams.
The downsides of the pump system
The two main downsides of the otherwise well-thought-out pump are the absence of the auto shut-off safety system and the manual deflation.
The first one means that you inflate the bed to your desired firmness and then just shut the pump off. With some of the modern air beds, this is simplified by including presets which allow you to choose your firmness and just leave the pump do its job.
The second one means that the pump is not a two-way and if you want to deflate the bed, you just open the valve and squeeze the air out.
This is a more significant issue with smaller valves and not really a red light with this Aerobed since it features the mega valve that releases air in mere moments.
Volatility of the vinyl
According to our statistics, the Aerobed Classic has a somewhat higher percentile of people who report initial rubbery smell (compared to some of the higher-rated products in its price range).
One & two person sleep
The capacity of the Aerobed Classic will depend on whether you’re sleeping alone or with a partner. The maximum weight on Aerobed Twin Classic can take on is 300 pounds.
On the other hand, the weight limit of the Queen can be either 450 or 600 lbs, the former is for one sleeper and the letter is for two people (300 pounds per person).
FAQs about Aerobed the Classic low-rise
Is it the good option to use it with a platform base?
Although the low rises are more shape-adjustable, it would be hard to effectively use it on a platform. It will likely slip and move much more than a regular mattress would.
The confusion surrounding the capacity
With most air beds the fact sheet precisely lists the recommended weight.
For this Aerobed, however, it’s a bit trickier and we have received a few questions about it.
Most of those were about the capacity of the Queen-size since two numbers appear - 450 and 600 lbs.
Let’s clarify that
The two numbers listed as recommendations of the company are for one and two-person sleep.
One sleeper will exert more pressure onto a smaller area, which is why the recommended limit in this scenario is 450 lbs.
If two people are sleeping this Aerobed in Queen size, the weight will be more evenly distributed
Hence, the 2nd listed capacity is 600 pounds.
The risk of over-inflating
We did mention that there is no auto shutoff safety. But if you do leave the pump running it will only inflate the bed to certain firmness and then cease adding air.
Alternative inflation
In case you want to take this Aerobed camping, you might be wondering if there is an alternative way to inflate it.
To the best of our knowledge a leg or manual pump can work, as long does it comes without latches and includes nozzles that would be a good fit for a round opening of the valve.
Pairing it with a car outlet
The Aerobed pump used here is meant for power outlets and if you want to use it with the car outlet, you would need a converter/adapter.
That also goes for power outlets of voltage that’s not 110 V.
Side surfaces and cord storage
The pump is built-in and the only parts that stick out are the controls. The cord neatly packs into a dedicated space on the side of the bed.
This is a nice touch since it gets the cord out of the way. You would think that that’s all always the case but we’ve seen too many beds that don’t include a dedicated space for cord storage.
Aerobed Queen Comfort Anywhere
Among air mattresses that include a headboard, the Aerobed Opti Comfort ( https://thesleepstudies.com/aerobed-opti-comfort-queen-air-mattress-with-headboard/) is our top pick, with the runner-up being the Serta Perfect Sleeper.
Fact sheets of the Aerobed and Serta Perfect Sleeper
Aerobed Comfort Anywhere
Serta Perfect Sleeper
The margin in ratings between the two is slight and the choice will come down to how much you want to spend.
The Aerobed has slightly higher ratings in comfort but it’s about 20% more expensive.
With the two beds being of similar quality, Serta Perfect Sleeper is the higher rated bed in “value for money.”
Another notable difference between the two are the dimensions
The Serta is longer but 2 inches narrower. It’s also 3.6 inches higher compared to the Aerobed.
The razor-thin margin means that choosing between the two airbeds will come down to your taste and preference.
Two-tier design
This one is pretty important because people who get an air mattress of this type are getting it for frequent use and expect long-term comfort.
Two-tier means that there are actually two separate inflatable parts; one goes on top of the other.
Why is this important?
If you read the humdrum about weight and temperature distribution, you probably found it to be too monotonous, boring even.
But this is where it comes in handy.
The two-tier structure makes for a more comfortable sleep because the bottom inflatable takes on the job of energy and heat distribution and the top layer is much better isolated.
The bottom tier does most of the “heavy lifting,” which makes the top tier less prone to temperature changes.
Sheet grip
A common concern among airbed owners is that the sheets they choose might not be good enough to tightly hold on to the site indentations (ribs).
Two-tier design with the deep side indentations found in this Aerobed makes this a non-issue.
The part that separates the two layers is deep enough to form a firm grip, especially if you’re using fitted sheets.
One thing to look out for - the height of the upper tier will make deep-pocketed sheets too loose and you’ll want to go with the lower sheet profile (shallow).
Aerobed King
Apart from the Luxury Collection, there is only Aerobed King model that we know of - it’s the stylish Elevated 14-inch.
It includes all the nifty add-ons seen in other products from the brand but has a bit more pizzazz to it.
It’s one of the best-looking air beds we know and we can only compare this Aerobed King to one product – the Best Choice with the bamboo topper and side skirt.
Below are the details and ratings of the Aerobed King and the Best Choice Bamboo.
Aerobed King
Best Choice Bamboo
Aerobed King Vs. Best Choice Bamboo - ratings comparison
Aerobed Full air mattress with quilted foam topper
The two Aerobed models we talked about above are not really your classic home air bed, so let’s take a look at one that does belong to the group.
This Aerobed in Full-size includes some nifty add-ons that 98% of inflatables do not.
First of all, it comes with an attached foam topper. Our statistics tell us that about 40% of new air mattress owners choose to get an extra topper to make their bed more comfortable - https://thesleepstudies.com/how-make-air-mattress-more-comfortable/.
With this Full-size Aerobed, there’s no need for that because it comes with a topper of its own.
The second thing that you only see in high-end air mattresses is the remote control.
We’ve seen these features other products, but it’s usually one or the other.
Air mattress that’s the closest match to this Aerobed is Lazery sleep - https://thesleepstudies.com/lazery-sleep-air-mattress/
Aerobed Full memory top
Lazery sleep
You can see the ratings of the two compared below
Aerobed Twin One-Touch comfort
Aerobed tends to make air mattresses that stand out from the crowd, whether it’s the design or the way the pump works.
The One-Touch Comfort is probably the closest to a classic air mattress look.
That’s why we’ll compare it to the most popular airbed out there - the Dream Series.
Aerobed Twin One-Touch
Dream Series Twin
Ratings comparison
Aerobed for kids
Aerobed also makes inflatable mattresses for kids. One of them belongs to the top 3 kid-size air mattresses.
It’s been locking horns with the Shrunks Tuckaire travel bed which you can see here - https://thesleepstudies.com/shrunks-tuckaire-toddler-travel-bed/
The Original Aerobed Queen
The Original Aerobed comes with a headboard and it’s an eye candy.
The headboard is flocked with the felt -like material
As far as appearance goes, it’s close to the look of a regular bed, especially the headboard with the bonded patterns.
The Woosh valve
The original Aerobed also includes the mega Whoosh valve that makes the deflation faster and easier.
Sheets for the Original Aerobed
As per the company, The Original Aerobed is a good fit for the standard queen-sized sheets. The two-story design is better at tightly holding the sheets in place. In that quality aspect, we place The Original Aerobed the top 4% of air mattresses.
Puncture and leak resistance
We have to admit that were not huge fans of seeing claims like “100% leak-proof.” We tested too many inflatable beds to take a claim like that at face value
We would say there is no such thing as 100% leak-resistance. No matter how good an air bed is, it can still be punctured or develop a leak.
That’s true for even the toughest and most durable and mattresses out there - you can see our top picks in the category of most durable, heavy-duty air mattresses here - https://thesleepstudies.com/heavy-duty-air-mattress-most-durable/
Aerobed Luxury Collection
The Aerobed Luxury Collection includes a range of products starting from single-size all the way up to an Aerobed King.
What’s different about the Luxury Collection are the innovative antimicrobial materials.
Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that it’s not the materials themselves but the antimicrobial treatment designed to protect the surface.
The technology used here is limited only to the Aerobed Luxury Collection and features a control wand and a built-in pump with 3 firmness pre-sets.
Deluxe Aerobed
One more high-end product coming from the brand is the Deluxe Aerobed.
The most notable difference of the Aerobed Deluxe is the surface. It’s 100% percent cotton (natural).
While the finish of the Deluxe Aerobed is cotton, the construction is heavy-duty PVC and the controls are based on their one-touch technology. The Deluxe series comes with all the neat stuff we already talked about - from the Whoosh valve to the carry bag.
Aerobed replacement pump
The Aerobed pump is unique in a few ways and we come to make specific recommendations about any other generic pumps that can work with an Aerobed.
The best we can do here is give you the information that Aerobed replacement pumps- http://www.coleman.com/aerobed-partsandaccessories/ are available on their website in the parts and accessories section.
Other Aerobed air mattresses - honorary mentions
In the table below, we’ll list a few products from Aerobed the didn’t make the least top choices in, along with their details
Aerobed warranty
The official Aerobed warranty is one year limited, starting from the date of purchase. The warranty covers any flaws in workmanship and materials and to claim it you would need the sales receipt or other form of proof.
If you’re getting your bed online, your purchase history with the retailer should be proof enough.
The good part about the Aerobed warranty is that drop-shippers, retail stores and dealers can’t change the original terms.
Claiming the warranty - authorization & returns
To claim your warranty, you’ll need a return authorization. To get it, contact the Coleman Company directly.
How it usually goes
You will be advised to include a pack with your information and the short description of why you’re returning the product along with the proof purchase. You then send the packages via FedEx Ground, Parcel Post or UPS. The package should be insured and sent to the Coleman return department in Wichita.
You will get the exact address from their customer service.
Where to buy an Aerobed air mattress?
Aerobed is widely available both for online and in-store purchase in chains like Costco and Walmart.
Availability of Aerobed at Costco, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond & Target
Both Costco and Walmart carry pretty much all Aerobed products that we’ve listed above and even some we haven’t. What we saw in our research is that some of the Aerobed air mattresses that are not available with other retailers can be found at Walmart.
A good example of that is one of the more popular Aerobed for camping - the All-Terrain Sports.
Aerobed at Bed Bath & Beyond
We can’t paint with a broad brush and the make general claims about the availability of Aerobed at Bed Bath and Beyond.
What we can share here is that at the time of the last update to this guide, models of Aerobed at Bed Bath and Beyond were somewhat scarce - more so than the range available at Costco and Walmart.
Aerobed history
The story of the original Aerobed brand dates back to 1992 when they patented a groundbreaking way for quicker inflation/deflation of air mattresses.
Back then, it was hard to imagine a deflation takes only 15 seconds.
Aerobed since 2000
Following the release of the original Aerobed, the company improved on it by introducing the raised version in 2001. The goal was to get as close as possible to the feel of a regular bed.
In 2002, Aerobed released what they described as an “improved model.”
The pump of this one was even faster (30%) and made their beds 20%, firmer.
In 2010, the company’s merged with Coleman and remains one of the leading brands to date.
Repairing an Aerobed
Reparation of an Aerobed is similar to that of an air mattress, but let’s reiterate here by going through the process of patching step-by-step.
1. Locate the leak
If the leak is substantial, locating it can be as simple as isolating yourself in a quiet room and simply listening for a hissing sound.
However, it won’t be at is easy is that most cases simply extend to be small and hard to find.
If the listening test doesn’t do the trick, make a solution of water and soap feel a spray bottle. If you already have a suspected area in mind spray dissolution over it and bubbles will appear at the leak.
2. Most common leak spots
In most cases, the source of the leak will be in the area surrounding the pump or at the seams.
A cautionary note
You might stumble upon some tips that advise extreme measures like submerging the whole Aerobed into water to locate a leak.If you do this, you’ll definitely pinpoint the source of air-loss but it you will probably ruin your mattress.
In other words - this might solve the problem but can cause a bigger one.
Here’s why
The inside of the bed will remain moist and probably turn into a breeding ground for mold and mildew. There is no reliable way that we know of to completely dry out an air mattress that’s been fully submerged in water.
Moving on…
3. Dry it
The next step will be to completely dry the moist area around the leak. The fastest way to do it is by using a blow dryer (the kind you would use on your hair).
4. Deflate and flatten
Completely deflate the bed and place it on a flat surface with the leak source in the middle. From that point on you have the options to use different types of sealants for the patching (glue, tape, patch fabric or combination of the three).
Sealants that are based on glue will be your safest bet for flocked surfaces, while tape and fabric will be the go-to solution for the vinyl parts.
5. If it doesn’t work
Patching vinyl is tricky and it’s hard to decide what kind of leak is more difficult to repair.
The issue of vinyl oils
If the leak is on the vinyl parts, the problem is the thin layer of oil the coats the vinyl.
It’s the only surface that gives it the shiny look.
If you use regular or even super-glue, these oils will react with the chemicals in the bond and the leak will probably re-occur.
That’s why specialized kits usually include a chemical that prevents the reaction and keep the bond stable.
Repairing the Aerobed valve
If the source of the leak is the valve, it gets even trickier.
In our opinion, it might not be worth it in the long run. You’re probably better off getting a new mattress.
Summary and a note about future updates
We’re constantly gathering new information and doing your best to stay on top of and quality changes that might happen with the air beds. Typically, we update the guides quarterly to make sure that the information presented is up-to-date and relevant.
We might deviate from the schedule if we notice and your “red lights.” These usually come in the form of a significant change in the user satisfaction ratings.
When this happens, it triggers an unscheduled update for one product only. Over the years, our database has grown to a mammoth-like size and continues to grow. With that growth, the reliability and accuracy get better.
The purpose of it all is to do the research so you don’t have to and minimize the guesswork involved in choosing an air mattress.
Our team currently has 6 members and the website is our full-time work, so if you have any questions or dilemmas feel free to share them in the comment section below.
You can expect us to respond within one day.
Stay smart,
The Sleep Studies Team
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