The air mattress has gotten a lot of hype in the past several and is selling very well.  The problem with air mattresses is that the price doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality and many contain fancy features which add nothing to the quality of double mattresses.  The best air mattresses are made of the best materials and have good design features which have nothing to do with remote controls.

Air mattresses are layers of foam with an air bladder which can be pumped up or let out to determine the firmness of the mattresses.  In the best double mattresses, the air bladder is between 5 and 7 inches thick when inflated.  The bladders can be made of PVC, nylon or vulcanized rubber.  A recent consumer study suggests that for comfort, vulcanized rubber is best.  Nylon and PVC can be hard and unyielding, while vulcanized rubber has a greater degree of elasticity.

The layer of foam over the bladder should be between two and six inches deep and should be latex foam of 2.2 lbs density or higher or memory foam of 3.5lbs density or higher to deliver optimum comfort.  These materials will not break down as other materials, like polyurethane foam, may.  Another important component is the side rails.  The foam in the side rails should be thick enough and dense enough for you to be able to sit on the side of your bed without sinking too deeply into it.  The side rails also provide protection for the air bladder.

Baffles and chambers in the air bladder don’t really add much in the way of comfort.  Simpler is usually better.  Extra features on the controllers are not needed for comfort and don’t add any additional quality to double mattresses.  Air mattresses can be considerably more expensive than coil spring or memory foam mattresses, but may not wear nearly as well.  One well known manufacturer has a return rate of nearly 25% on air mattresses.

The last issue to consider is whether to buy an air mattress that is preassembled or one which you assemble yourself.  When buying pre assembled double mattresses, the cost, both of the mattresses and the shipping, can be much higher than if you buy one you can assemble yourself.  There are usually 6 to 10 parts involved in home assembled air mattresses and the instruction are clear and easy to follow.  The cost of shipping is considerably less and you will know more about the components of the mattress.

Know the facts before shopping for double mattresses and try a coil spring and a memory foam mattress before you decide to buy an air mattress.  It isn’t possible to get air mattresses that adjust on both sides in the double size, for adjustable zones, the smallest size is queen.  In the end, you may find that the difference in comfort doesn’t justify the difference in price.