DawnM Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 (edited) Is there a blow up mattress that WORKS and won't have you sleeping on the floor by morning? We are taking a cross country trip, 21 days long, and will be staying in places where we will probably need at least one kid on some kind of roll up mattress or blow up bed because two teen boys don't want to share a queen sized bed. :crying: I am willing to get whatever is COMFORTABLE (as in comfortable enough for a grown up to sleep on) as long as it doesn't take up too much room in our car. We are driving all the way from NC to CA and back. Thanks! Edited June 24, 2017 by DawnM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kiddos Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We purchased three of the Serta Perfect Sleeper blow up mattresses last summer when my in-laws and their six teenage/adult kids came to visit. They are not small people and the mattresses were fine for the whole two weeks they were here. Additionally, they were really easy to clean when they left which was a plus since they are not tidy people either. We had another house guest come after my in-laws and she remarked how comfortable and nice the mattress was. I found them at my local Sam's club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrichor Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Have you considered a sleeping pad intended for backpacking/camping? I recently bought a self-inflating one for about $40 on amazon, and it's very comfortable imo. You open the valve, and it inflates a little bit, and you can inflate it a bit more with a few breaths. And if it deflates a bit during the night, you aren't laying on a big fluffy uncomfortable cloud of air mattress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 Have you considered a sleeping pad intended for backpacking/camping? I recently bought a self-inflating one for about $40 on amazon, and it's very comfortable imo. You open the valve, and it inflates a little bit, and you can inflate it a bit more with a few breaths. And if it deflates a bit during the night, you aren't laying on a big fluffy uncomfortable cloud of air mattress. We have those. I don't consider them comfortable, but I will ask my son if he does. This would be directly on the hard floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We got two Intex singles and they are fine. We use them for our guest beds as our current house is smaller and we lost a guest room in the deal. They stay inflated really well for one night, and it is pie to boost them up a bit for the next night. They inflate in about 5 minutes, and deflate in about the same. They fold into a carrying bag. They are too low to the ground for my 94 yo mother to use, but for people who can get up off a low chair, they are OK. Suggestion, though: Use a sleeping bag on top. You *can* use sheets and blankets but there's no way to really tuck them in so they stay put. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We got two Intex singles and they are fine. We use them for our guest beds as our current house is smaller and we lost a guest room in the deal. They stay inflated really well for one night, and it is pie to boost them up a bit for the next night. They inflate in about 5 minutes, and deflate in about the same. They fold into a carrying bag. They are too low to the ground for my 94 yo mother to use, but for people who can get up off a low chair, they are OK. Suggestion, though: Use a sleeping bag on top. You *can* use sheets and blankets but there's no way to really tuck them in so they stay put. We use Intex, too, and they last a long time for us when they are inflated. The sleeping bag is a great idea! We've always used sheets and a comforter with no complaints, but I like that idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 If there were a place in the hotel/condo to hang a hammock, we would be all set. But I don't think there is. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We bought a Coleman twin double high at Target years ago. It leaks a tiny bit, but you are still very comfortable by morning. We take it to motels and use it regularly as well as use it for sleepovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 I was going to recommend a camping pad also. They are narrow but comfortable. The REI camp bed 3.5 is comfortable enough for me. I'm a side sleeper. https://www.rei.com/product/870757/rei-co-op-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-sleeping-pad 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 How about a folding cot? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 (edited) I was going to recommend a camping pad also. They are narrow but comfortable. The REI camp bed 3.5 is comfortable enough for me. I'm a side sleeper. https://www.rei.com/product/870757/rei-co-op-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-sleeping-pad I was going to recommend the very same thing! The XL is longer and wider, and even my hubby with back pain finds it very comfortable on the floor. A zillion times better than a traditional back country camp pad. You definitely could not backpack with this thing, but it's not too big for a trunk. I'd have no qualms offering this to a guest in terms of comfort, as long as they were flexible enough to get down and up off the floor. We've tried so many brands of inflatable mattresses and they've all deflated at some point. No problems with these in 7 years, plus REI has an awesome return policy. Amy Edited June 12, 2017 by Acadie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 looking at this site for reviews http://bestreviews.com/best-air-mattresses Hmmmm.....the "best of the best" is $95 on Amazon but might be worth it as we have often needed one. We want just a twin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 How about a folding cot? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Maybe, although it is bulkier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Maybe, although it is bulkier. Are you staying in hotels/motels or people's homes or what? Because if it's a motel situation maybe you could just request a cot. I don't know if they are suitable for adults, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 Are you staying in hotels/motels or people's homes or what? Because if it's a motel situation maybe you could just request a cot. I don't know if they are suitable for adults, though. We are doing both. Honestly, there have been many situations where we have needed/wanted a blow up mattress (my annual women's beach trip is one), so it just makes sense to go ahead and get one. This particular trip we are staying with friends 5 nights, in a 2 bedroom Marriott 9 nights and then in a condo RCI type place 7 nights. But that isn't how it really breaks down. NC-TX- stay 2 nights TX-AZ- stay 5 nights AZ-CA- stay 7 nights CA-AZ- stay 4 nights AZ-TX- stay 3 nights So, a lot of in and out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 whatever you get, I hope there's an easy portable way to inflate it. I'm having flashbacks to ds' birthday party where we sat in the living room blowing up jumbo inflatables. My small handheld balloon/ball/bike pump wasn't cutting it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 whatever you get, I hope there's an easy portable way to inflate it. I'm having flashbacks to ds' birthday party where we sat in the living room blowing up jumbo inflatables. My small handheld balloon/ball/bike pump wasn't cutting it! The Intex ones I mentioned upthread, you plug it in, and flip a switch and it inflates. When you are done, you flip the switch the other direction and it deflates. The reason I know it is easy to use is that my son who is very lazy will actually get it out for a friend who needs to stay over. :0) It folds up in three "folds" and you stuff it into a carrying bag. I'm all about easy. (My dh took this with him on Scout Camps...he made the boys take it to the lodge and inflate it and carry it back, and then the same in reverse when it was time to deflate it. haha) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 I am seriously looking at spending the extra $$ for the "never flat" system. Very quiet, almost silent re-inflating, even while sleeping. Serta Insta-bed Fox Those are the ones I have found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We bought a Coleman twin double high at Target years ago. It leaks a tiny bit, but you are still very comfortable by morning. We take it to motels and use it regularly as well as use it for sleepovers. We have the Coleman double high Queen one for camping and it is fine. When one person is on it, you don't notice the leakage. After two nights, I notice that I start to roll into DH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We have several types of air mattresses and the twins are usually pretty easy and stay inflated enough to be comfortable through the night, possibly needing a bit more air before the 2nd night. I have never been able to sleep two people comfortably on a queen size air mattress. DH & I always roll into the center of the mattress by about 1:00 a.m., which is pretty miserable. So if you need mattresses for more than one person, get individual twin mattresses. Also, get the mattresses that auto-inflate (plug into the wall, inflate in under 5 minutes), then have a large release valve to quickly deflate. There is nothing worse than waiting for 30 minutes in a hotel room for a slowly inflating mattress, or having to squeeze the air out when you are trying to pack it back up. I would look for those particular features rather than a specific brand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 UPDATE: I found two regular 6" Intex blow up mattresses, with tags still on them, for $3 each at the thrift store. I took a chance and bought both of them and brought them home. They both hold air just fine and we plan to take both with us, that will give us the one we need and a spare. They aren't the fancy ones but I do have a pump already, and the trip is expensive, so we will hold off on buying the nice one for now. These will work. YAY! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 We have had good luck with Intec and Coleman air mattresses over the years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 One hint for anyone with a sleep machine. You can use it to blow up your mattress. DH took a stiff tube, cut it about 4" long, and put a ball of tape in the middle that tapered on both sides, so you can get a tight seal on both sides. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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