Expecting guests at your house soon? Don’t worry: You don’t need a cushy guest room to offer friends and family a good night’s sleep. The SoundAsleep Dream Series air mattress, one of the best-rated inflatable mattresses out there, is said to be comfortable, durable, and easy to use. To help you in your quest for the perfect air bed, we put it to the test. Here is what we found out.
Design: Smart design that elevates the sleeping experience
The SoundAsleep Dream Series air mattress comes in various sizes—twin, queen, and king. We reviewed the queen-size option (58 by 78 inches); though it measures two inches shorter than a traditional queen mattress (60 x 80 inches), it can comfortably accommodate two people. My husband and I felt like we had the same amount of space as in our own queen bed. It’s plenty tall, too. Featuring a dual chamber construction, this air mattress is classified as “double-height” measuring 19 inches. This compares to the height of traditional mattresses, providing us with a sleeping experience that felt close to home … err, bed! The top of the mattress boasts raised sides, which gave us the feeling of being securely cocooned. Even if the bed deflates a little bit, you won’t worry about rolling off the bed.
Setup Process: Easy and Fast
This product’s one-click, built-in pump makes for a seamless setup. All we had to do was plug in the mattress, turn the toggle switch to the right, and voilà: The mattress was fully blown up after approximately four minutes. The motor was slightly quieter than a vacuum cleaner. Once it was done, we unplugged the mattress and put the electrical cord in the open socket situated right next to the pump switch, which kept things neat. Plus, then the plug wasn’t in the way of the fitted sheet. Deflating the air mattress was just as easy. Within minutes, it was fully flat on our floor. We didn’t need to manually press the air out in any way, which was very satisfying. The only drawback for me was the length of the electrical cord. Measuring around 49 inches, it felt quite small. We had to get pretty close to the wall to plug it in, which was limiting and inconvenient. Living in a small New York City apartment with tight corners, it’s not easy to maneuver big queen mattresses. It would have been nice to have a longer electrical cord.
Performance: Keeps its shape
The SoundAsleep Dream Series air mattress is made with ComfortCoil technology. This means that the mattress has 40 individual air coils that help it stay firm throughout the night—and we found this to be true. When my husband and I slept on it, the mattress stretched a bit, but it retained its shape. We didn’t have to re-inflate. In fact, we even felt the need to deflate it a bit for a softer, cozier feel. After three days of use, it did lose a bit of its shape, so we added a little more air—a cinch with the built-in pump. The top of the mattress is extra thick and waterproof, with a velvety feel that provides cushioning and helps keep the fitted sheet from sliding around. The material can get a bit moist overnight, however. To fix that, we added a comforter between the sheet and the mattress top, and we used linen bedding, which is great at regulating body temperature and wicking away moisture. The mattress is made of eco-friendly PVC, which the brand says is puncture-resistant and durable. It certainly held up during our week of testing, and other reviewers have testified in favor of its long-term durability as well, with some citing three or even four years before holes appeared or the pump motor slowed down. A “SureGrip” bottom is said to suction onto hard surfaces and prevent sliding. This means that the mattress stays put even if you move a lot in your sleep.
Portability: Easy with the included bag
Once you are done using the mattress (and it is completely deflated), you can fold it back to its original shape and stuff it in the included bag. I was worried that I would have a hard time with this, but it was a breeze; it took only five minutes and very little effort to deflate the mattress, fold it, and put it in the bag. With the bag, the near 20-pound mattress is easy to tote around.
Helpful Features: Warranty and customer service
The SoundAsleep Dream Series air mattress comes complete with a repair kit that includes two patches. However, they look a bit like thin tape, which makes us wary of how well they’d work. That said, the one-year warranty, which isn’t offered by many air mattress companies, as well as the supposedly great customer service, make up for it. One customer changed his review from one to four stars because of the help he received after experiencing an issue with his mattress.
Price: A higher price point for a good air bed
Retailing for around $120 on different websites, this inflatable mattress is more expensive than many options at big box retailers. But the steep price is justified considering the quality and durability, as well as the warranty and customer service.
SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress vs. King Koil Luxury Raised Air Mattress
Much like the SoundAsleep air bed, the King Koil Luxury Raised Air Mattress has air coils, providing a firm surface that supports the spine. Both beds have built-in pumps, we love the closed socket for the electrical cord. It keeps everything even neater than with the SoundAsleep mattress. While both beds offer a soft surface and an anti-slip bottom, the King Koil features an air-filled pillow that’s built into the mattress. We didn’t use that feature, but it is a nice touch if you are traveling since you can pack light(er) and leave your pillow at home. Finally, the queen version of the SoundAsleep supports up to 500 pounds, while the King Koil’s queen can withstand up to 600 pounds. Plus, King Koil is two inches larger and longer than its competitor, which can make a little bit of a difference for people who are taller. Considering that both of these air mattresses are comparable in price, it seems like you would get more for your money by going with the King Koil bed. Though the SoundAsleep Dream Series air mattress is more expensive than many options out there, we found the quality and durability worth the splurge. Plus, we love that the company offers a one-year warranty.
