King Koil is a mattress brand most famously known for its innerspring and memory foam beds. But the company also makes air beds that it claims are easy to use and durable, and, most importantly, elevate the on-the-go sleeping experience by providing back support and promoting good posture. We wanted to see if the King Koil Luxury Raised Air Mattress, which is backed by the International Chiropractors Association, lived up to the hype. So, my husband and I inflated the queen-size blow-up bed in our living room and camped out for a few nights. We tested it together and separately to see how it handled differences in weight distribution. And, of course, we checked how well it deflated and folded back up. Here’s our review of the top-rated inflatable mattress.
Design: Designed to feel like a real bed
Though the manufacturer lists the measurements as 60 x 80 inches, the King Koil model we received was 61 by 81 inches, just slightly bigger than a traditional queen bed. My husband and I felt at ease and had just as much space as we do in our own bed. With a 20-inch height, it has an elevated design that made us feel like we were sleeping on a traditional mattress. All in all, once it is set up with bedding and pillows, this mattress doesn’t give you the impression of a temporary bed. Like many other mattresses on the market, the King Koil has an anti-slip bottom, so we didn’t have to worry about the bed sliding around throughout the night. We loved the raised sides of the mattress. They’re made of flocked PVC, which is puncture-resistant and, as the brand claims, more durable. We found them a bit softer and flimsier than the rest of the mattress. Nonetheless, the sides framed us in and helped us stay put all night long. The King Koil bed also features a built-in air pillow, which is on the pump side of the bed. The brand claims that it is for ultimate comfort. In theory, it is a thoughtful intention, but it raises much lower than most actual pillows. So if you, like me, prefer a big, fluffy pillow, the brand’s integrated cushion won’t cut it. That said, if you are traveling and want to travel light(er), it’s definitely an appealing detail. I love that you can stow the electrical cord in the built-in storage, which is also enclosed. Not only can you put the cord away to easily slip on the fitted sheet, but you can also hide the cord for a neat setup. The extra manual valve, which is placed right next to the built-in pump, means that you can also use the mattress outdoors or on the go. This is a nice touch for those who want a blow-up mattress for camping trips. That said, the valve does get in the way of the fitted sheets, and it’s easy to snap open. Not a big deal, but something to remember.
Setup Process: Seamless setup with a slightly slower deflating process.
The built-in, high-speed pump makes the King Koil air mattress a breeze to install. Really, we just turned the nozzle and sat back—the mattress did the rest for us in less than 4 minutes. Plus, for a high-capacity 120V AC motor, it’s fairly quiet. Note that the pump retracts so that you can lock it in and not have to worry about accidentally turning the switch and deflating the mattress. The cord is long, which meant we could set it up where we actually wanted—a nice bonus point. Deflating the mattress was just as easy, but not as quick. Though it starts off fast, the air escapes more slowly toward the end. Overall, it was still a quick and seamless process, though.
Performance: Firm but still molds to your body
King Koil’s Enhanced airbed technology provides the mattress with a coil beam construction that offers proper weight distribution. This results in a firm mattress, which is great for spinal alignment, with a mild mold, which is great for relieving pressure points. The queen size can support up to 600 pounds. Overall, the mattress felt sturdy and kept its shape, but it had a nice cushiony feel that very much reminded us of our Casper mattress. There was a slight bounce to it, especially when we initially laid down. But the mattress eventually felt like it was contouring our bodies very nicely (this is especially true when I laid down by myself), which helped us keep a good sleeping posture. And we could tell in the morning—when my husband and I woke up, we felt rested and didn’t have any aches. It makes sense: The King Koil air bed is one of the few inflatable mattresses endorsed by the International Chiropractors Association. The sueded top of the mattress is waterproof and buttery soft. It’s nice because it keeps the sheets in place and provides a nice and warm velvety feel when you lie down. Between that and the bed’s softer mold, we didn’t feel the need to add a comforter or mattress topper for extra comfort. The one drawback is the extra valve. It’s an additional exit point for air to leak out, and it happened to us. Once we figured out how to secure it shut properly, it was fine, but it required some strength. Note that some online reviewers noticed slow leaks, although it wasn’t our experience overall.
Portability: Comes with a bag, but doesn’t fit in it that well
The mattress comes with a bag for easy portability. This is great if you know you’ll be traveling or have limited storage. That said, once deflated, we found it difficult to fold the mattress back into its original shape. As a result, it required more strength than we anticipated to stuff it in the bag. The pump is pretty big, which means that even when folded, there is one side of the mattress that remains pretty bulky to fit perfectly in the bag. Though it’s brand new, we can tell that the bag is starting to come undone at the seam.
Helpful Features: Repair kit patch, warranty
The King Koil comes complete with a repair kit containing two patches, which, according to online customers, are pretty efficient at repairing small holes. Worth noting is the one-year warranty and the customer service. We haven’t yet encountered any quality issues, but this guarantee, along with rave reviews from other buyers regarding the company’s customer service, makes us feel more secure in our purchase.
Price: Worth the cost
At $179.95, this mattress is not cheap, but it can be found marked down for around $120, which isn’t super expensive either. With such a supportive and comfortable fit and great customer care, we think King Koil has a great price-to-quality ratio. In our opinion, it’s one of the best options in its category.
King Koil Luxury Raised Air Mattress vs. Intex Dura-Beam Standard Series Essential Rest Airbed
Though King Koil’s air bed is more expensive than the Intex Dura-Beam inflatable mattress (around $69), we tested both and think the former is worth the extra bucks. First, King Koil comes with a one-year warranty, while Intex only offers 30 days. But more importantly, we noticed a difference in durability. The materials that make up the Intex feel cheaper and more prone to punctures, and it leaked air during use. The King Koil, on the other hand, felt super sturdy and kept its shape overnight. The King Koil also stands taller, which provides a sleeping experience that’s closer to the one you get on a traditional bed. The Intex stores in its bag more easily than the King Koil, but otherwise, King Koil seems to be the better, safer choice. The King Koil Luxury Raised Air Mattress seems like a splurge, but if you’re hoping to provide a temporary bed that feels like home, then it’s worth it. It’s firm, but it molds to your body for great back support and posture. It’s also easy to use and more durable than many on the market.
