Beautyrest Hi Loft Air Mattress: The Beautyrest Hi Loft twin air mattress comes equipped with a plug-in electric pump that screws onto the mattress. Once attached, it inflates the mattress in about 2 minutes, although not as fully as I would’ve liked. Once it’s inflated, you need to quickly unscrew the pump and replace the valve cap. It’s not the most elegant solution.

The Beautyrest air mattress has the same pack-of-hot-dogs design as the Bestway air bed and the precarious feel of a pool float. (Many companies that make air mattresses also make inflatable pools and pool accessories. Go figure.) It lacks the stability of other air mattresses and I nearly tipped it over by lying too far to one side.

Keep in mind it may not be the best air mattress for you if you’re tall. Simmons lists its dimensions at 80 x 60 x 17 inches, but my measurements put it closer to 76 inches long, which means that anyone taller than 6 feet will likely hang off the end. The mattress is constructed from a softer type of vinyl than others, making it easier to roll up and fold into a compact shape for storage.

Bestway Air Mattress: The epitome of a cheap air mattress, the Bestway air bed is compact, lightweight and relatively quick to inflate with its integrated pump.

On the downside, this air mattress is only available in one size, and it’s not comfortable at all. It sits low to the ground at 12 inches high, and the pump isn’t powerful enough to inflate it fully, so it makes for a rather squishy ride. The tubular design gives it the look of a pack of hot dogs, and the one raised, horizontal hot dog that’s meant to approximate a pillow rest sets the mattress askew, which makes it more unstable.

The Bestway Air Bed has plenty of negative reviews on Walmart.com that cite slow air leaks, fast air leaks, burst seams, spontaneous bubbling and terrible customer service (as well as dozens of very positive reviews). Although Bestway’s comically vague manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t instill confidence, warranty isn’t a crucial consideration here given the price. Still, Walmart’s policy states that most products can be returned with their original packaging for a full refund within 90 days.

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