Portable mattress is like sleeping on air

Air mattresses have grown sturdier, more comfortable, and, of late, taller, making them great for taking along on driving vacations -- or even overseas trips -- where there may be more people than beds in your accommodations.

Always on the lookout for improvements, I’ve fallen in like with the new SoundAsleep Dream Series Raised Air Mattress. Available in queen and twin sizes that accommodate standard size sheets, these beds have an internal pump that lies practically flat against the side of the mattress, and inflate in about four minutes with the turn of a knob.

The soft flocked top surface makes for a pillow-top effect rather than the typical rubbery feel. Forty internal individual air coils in the queen size (21 in the twin) help maintain shape and firmness and reinforce durability (one puncture won’t lead to collapse).

While some competing airbed models inflate to as high as 24 inches, these can weigh double the SoundAsleep’s 19 pounds in queen size; 13 pounds in twin. That wins the SoundAsleep big-time points for travel. The price is also less than other premium models. Rolled or folded in its included travel bag, this air mattress takes up no more space than a loaded tote bag.

Info: SoundAsleep Dream Series Raised Air Mattress is about $120 in queen size; $95 in twin. www.soundasleepproducts.com.

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