Air Bed and Memory Foam Purchasing Tips

Air Beds:

Level of firmness control: One of the principal draws of the air bed is the owner’s ability to choose a firmness setting that fits his or her needs. Consequently, you’ll want to make sure that your air bed’s firmness control system is convenient, fast and easy to use.

 

Air bladder thickness: The thickness of the air bladder within the mattress varies depending upon manufacturer and cost.   Make sure that the air bladder of your new mattress is thick enough that you don’t consistently touch your bed’s foundation – 6-7 inches is enough in most cases.

 

Check the side rails: Given the nature of an air mattress, a lack of sturdy side rails can make it difficult to sit or relax on the edge of the bed. Look for a bed with sturdy, foam side rails at the edge of the mattress.

Memory Foam Beds:

Speed of adjustment: One of the primary selling points of memory foam is its ability to respond to your body’s temperature and conform to you body, but some memory foams are significantly more responsive than others. As you test your potential bed, determine how quickly the mattress seems to conform to your body, and how quickly the memory foam adjusts as you shift your weight.

 

Research the memory foam: As noted above, there is a wide spectrum of quality within the memory foam industry, so talk with your retailer about the memory foam used in their beds. You’ll want to choose memory foam with a proven track record over several years, and it’s important to ask about the density of the memory foam as well. If possible, purchase memory foam with a density of four or more pounds (denser foams are usually firmer, so personal preference again plays a part).

On a final note, keep in mind the heightened expense of air or memory foam beds. Regardless of how carefully you shop, you’re usually going to pay $1,000.00 or more for a well-constructed specialty bed, and it’s not uncommon for the high-end beds to cost $2,500.00 or more.