Everything You Need To Know About Digital Air Beds, And Why You Should Own One.

Adjustable air beds have been around for a long time, and they have evolved into state of the art sleep systems that out perform virtually every other mattress category. The reason for this is pretty simple. You can customize the mattress to find that perfect sweet spot between soft and firm, and you can change it on the fly. For couples and for active people, this is an asset that no other sleep surface offers.

What makes a digital adjustable air bed so unique? Clearly, it’s the native ability to adjust the amount of pressure inside of a supportive air chamber which lies underneath any foam or supportive layers, allowing for reducing pressure in the chambers, either making the mattress softer and more yielding, or firmer and more rigid. This adjustment transmits to the top of the bed and allows for a customizable feel. A digital air bed has nothing in common with a camping style air mattress, which has no baffling system with its walls and therefore cannot distribute weight efficiently or provide pressure relief uniformly.

The Perfect Bed For Couples, Offering Independent Adjustability On Both Sides.

Often, couples have very different requirements for comfort and support, and by sharing a bed that cannot be customized, many people end up in separate bedrooms! Today's digital air beds offer the ability to allow couples to find their own comfort setting. Even among individuals, often our bodies need firm support one day, and a little more "cush" factor, the next.

The question is- where to buy a really great digital air bed. Lower end units are notoriously overpriced and often are made with inferior components, much of what is pre-made and imported. Typically they are priced from $600-1500. Generally, there is one thin layer of support foam above the air chambers which at lower or softer settings, can make it feel like you are swimming on the bed. Firmer settings can feel like you are lying upon a slab of granite.

What’s Inside A Digital Air Bed That Makes It Unique?

A premium digital air bed typically makes use of additional foam layers situated above the air chambers, offering support and comfort. A higher quality digital air bed doesn’t have to be as complex as you might think. The entire apparatus is contained within an exterior outer covering usually made with a zippered encasement, since in most cases, when you purchase an air bed, you will be buying it in modular kit form, following some simple instructions and assembling it piece by piece in your home. 

You'll likely have a set of stiff foam side rails which form the perimeter of the interior, inside of which are placed the air chambers that are adjustable, with hoses that snake to the outside, and attach either to an exterior pump unit, or a pump unit that is concealed inside of the bed. The remote controls attach to the pump if they are hard wired, or can be wireless, in which case they communicate with the pump unit.

Above the air chambers and stiff side rails and head and foot rails, there may be one or more foam support layers, made of a variety of materials, or there may be no layers, depending upon the model and the cost. Higher end digital air bed systems will often include a layer of memory foam, pure latex rubber, or other proprietary high density foam layers given unique names by the manufacturer, usually to conceal the fact that it is a pretty common or readily available material, but they simply don't want other manufacturers to copy their product.

Anatomy Of A Typical Air Bed System

Higher end air beds offer many other luxurious features, including advanced memory settings, massage options, snore reduction technology, even warming systems and they can even be used on adjustable beds, now becoming extremely popular. So called “smart beds” communicate with an app on your phone, it can track your sleep performance and auto-adjust if you're a tosser and turner, and basically coach you into better sleep patterns. Pretty amazing. But, we think some of these features are overkill, and often drive the price through the ceiling.

Remember, any use of technology is costly to the manufacturer and may result in sacrificing component quality, such as the foam support layers instrumental to the comfort, support, and durability of the mattress. Also, if the digital air bed already includes a reliable remote control system, isn’t an app a redundant feature?

The air chambers, pump, and the remote controls are common features found on all adjustable air bed systems. What distinguishes each model within a brand has only to do with the ingredients between you and the air chambers beneath. These layers are made from a variety of materials, generally referred to as "comfort layers", and offer a different sleep experience from model to model. These layers of foam materials also greatly affect the cost, and can easily confuse you when you are shopping.

The Heart And Lungs Of A Digital Air Bed- The Pump And Air Chambers

The most important component of any digital air bed system is the air controller, which is either a piston style air pump, or a flap valve style pump. The flap valve pump is much like an aquarium pump, using a vibrating one way rubber valve to move and control air flow.

These antiquated systems, while still used on some models, typically fail after only a few years, and are very noisy, making a raspy and appliance sized noise. Today’s best digital air bed pumps are piston powered, usually driven by a solenoid which activates the piston mechanism to move air. These pumps are far more efficient and powerful, too, and are much quieter, making a humming sound.

How Is A Digital Air Bed System Shipped, And What About Assembly?

Typically, most air beds are shipped to you either partially assembled, or fully assembled, generally depending upon the vendor. In fact, a digital air bed is highly modular, which is an asset, I think. Down the road, if you are out of warranty and need a replacement layer of foam, you only need to replace that one component, and you’re not stuck with replacing an entire mattress. Also, when you move, breaking the system down, packing, and reassembling at your new location is far easier than moving a 200lb. mattress.

When you first assemble an air bed, which usually takes about 30 minutes, you become highly familiar with the working components, and considerably more attached yo your mattress because it isn’t some alien thing that has some mysterious ingredients lurking inside. Unlike conventional innerspring mattresses, a digital air bed system allows you to handle and understand the structure of the bed, making it easy for you to open it up and switch out the positions of some of the comfort foam layers, for example.

and the air chambers are concealed and protected within the quilted bamboo duvet piece. The pump is packaged in container included in the main box, as well.

Most upscale digital air beds are fairly bulletproof, highly reliable, and most suppliers have worked out the kinks with components and can deliver a bed that offers comfort elements that are durable, long lasting and have been used in the bedding industry for many other kinds of mattresses.

Pricepoints- What You Should Pay For A Premium Digital Air Bed System

A decent air bed can vary widely in price, from under $1000 for a basic, entry level model, to over $6,000 for a more sophisticated model from the most popular brands, with top of the line components and a luxurious outer covering. The top of the line model might feature a layer of memory foam, a layer of natural or other support foam layers that are designed to add some cushion and aesthetic qualities to the bed.

The Habitat Ascend Air Bed System is one of the best values you can get for a luxury scale model, the cost being well under $2,000. The reason for this is that there is no middle man, and the units are manufactured in Habitat’s own facility in Baltimore, Maryland. Cut out the wholesaler and the mattress retailer, and save up to 75%.

There are some essentials you really need to stick with when considering a digital air bed system, too. For example, a decent air bed should offer at least a moderately quilted top, without too much filler, otherwise you’re again separating yourself too far from the functional abilities of the air chambers beneath you.

Too much piling on of material above the air chambers, and you begin to lose the ability to detect subtle changes in softness and firmness. At the same time, a thin Euro style top does not offer enough cushion between you and the supportive foam layers, and that initial impression or immersive quality you experience from that perfectly designed quilted top is essential for comfort and sleep induction.

Ideally, you want to purchase a digital air bed that allows you to swap positions of the various support layers, so that you can “customize” your sleep surface. Be wary of any air bed that is sewn shut so that you can’t get inside of it. A zippered, removable outer covering allows you to remove and replace internal parts, or the outer covering itself, should you ever need to do so. The more “modular” you can make your air bed, the better off you will be during the long haul.The Habitat Ascend air bed includes a cover with a smooth nylon zipper mechanism just in case you need to replace your outer cover after a liquid spill, too.

After reviewing many different digital air bed companies, that a reasonably priced system will typically cost anywhere from $1400-$3000, depending upon the ingredients. If you want two premium layers such as memory foam and natural latex, expect to pay around $2800-$3000. If you’re paying $4,000-$5,000, understand what it is you are paying for by researching the individual support layers and the outer covering. Obviously, if you want a cashmere fabric on top, it’s going to cost you more.

Trial Period, Warranties, And Return Policies

Make sure you get a decent trial period, at least 90 nights, with a no questions asked return policy. Air beds, though often made with foam layers that can be moved around allowing you to change the feel of the beds, involve some assembly, and if you are moving to an air bed from another kind of mattress, there may be a slight adjustment period. You need to give some time, say two weeks, to allow your body to adapt to the unique floating and buoyant sensation that only an air bed can deliver.

This means that you should be able to get a full refund, with either a minimal return ship charge of around $100, or no charge, to get the mattress back to the manufacturer. Habitat Furnishings offers FREE returns if you are not satisfied. Look for sales, as digital air beds tend to be on sale more frequently that other categories of mattresses. And, as we outlined above, study the material we've presented and be prepared to throw around some industry terminology to get your self further discounts and incentives. Trust us, it works.

A decent warranty should cover any defective parts with free replacement for at least a couple of years, and have a good lifespan on the pro-rated side, lets say another 15-18 years. We think a 20 year factory warranty on all parts and pieces should be available, with additional premium options available as an upgrade to your warranty. Best example of a clearly outlined warranty? Most online and brick and mortar retailers who sell digital air beds offer a very concise and well outlined warranty page for their products.

Ten years ago, most air beds were simplistically designed, consisting of one layer of material, in addition to the outer fabric encasement. The only way to control the firmness or softness of the mattress was to either pump the bed all of the way up, or dump all of the air until you were practically swimming in the mattress.

But with the advances in comfort layer technology, even the leading brand offers a variety of options designed for a host of sleep issues. The foam layer options are almost unlimited,  with the advent of gel foam materials, graphite (charcoal) infused foam that disperse body heat, memory foam that disperses body weight uniformly, and latex, which offers a buoyant, lively feel. Advanced fiber materials that wick away moisture and heat from the outer covering have offered relief to hot sleepers. Green, eco-friendly materials like bamboo or organic cotton are readily available in the marketplace.

Just like buying a car, it's the extra added features that will get you, and some of them are just a waste of money. This is where air bed shopping can get very expensive-very fast. Our basic rule of thumb: don't get swept away with industry sparkle factor. Keep a basic approach in mind, and consider each ingredient in the air bed a mattress marketing tool designed to cost you money first, an asset to you second. 

We recommend being cautious about buying higher end models that offer pillow tops and foam layers with seemingly made up names like "DreamFoam", UltraFoam", employing cryptic and foggy descriptions that really don't tell you what the layers are made of.  In most cases, these foam layers are made using very inexpensive polyurethane foam, and often these materials are precisely the same kinds of foam used in packing materials and shipping containers.

Trust me, we've created plenty of highly creative names for very inexpensive "filler" materials, having been on the design side of dozens of mattress models. Who do we recommend? In 2007, Habitat Furnishings designed what remains today the most sophisticated yet simplistically designed digital air bed in the industry, and to this day it still offers a host of features and benefits.

More Information About Digital Air Beds And Purchasing

The best way to approach buying an air bed that is right for you is to understand the main ingredients and the architecture of a well made digital air bed. There’s a few key considerations regarding the structural elements of a an air bed that will last, in my opinion. From the ground up, a typical air bed might be constructed in a layer cake fashion. The outer encasement or covering is usually made like a gift box, with a bottom “container” type of construction, and a top piece that either zips on or attached somehow to the top of the bottom piece.

The fabric used in the outer cover should be a breathable material, such as cotton or bamboo, though it’s ok to have a little rayon in the weave, I think, since that usually provides some stretch and give to the covering. Passive ventilation is important in an air bed, since a lot of foam layers are used, which can sleep warmer if the proper outer cover is not breathable. Hot sleepers need to be looking at breathable materials that passively move heat away from the bed. Materials like Tensel, for example. A naturally based fiber that is proven to wick away moisture and heat, we are fond of referring to it in the business as "air conditioning by the yard".

Generally, a perimeter, or outer edge, of a firmer foam material is used to provide the “exoskeleton”, in which everything sits inside. This outer edge is also important, since you rely on it to provide support to get in and out of bed, put your shoes on, and for those with physical limitations, allows for easy transfer in and out of bed. A good digital air bed will often use at least a 2 lb. density foam rail system to provide the edge system.

Inside the edge system is where you fill typically find the air chambers, which when controlled by the pump, allow the bed to range in comfort levels from firm to soft, merely by adjusting the handheld controller. Your best with air chambers? Make sure you're buying fabric backed, vulcanized rubber air chambers. Don't buy an air bed with PVC, Nylon, or other plastic air chambers. These materials do not stretch well at higher settings, and at lower pressures, will swallow you into a pit of despair. Vulcanized rubber will stretch at higher settings, and still be supportive and supple while at softer settings. 

Generally, above the air chambers, you'll find the foam layer options we talked about, each providing a unique feel and personality for every model.

So, if you are seeking pressure point relief for example, say from hip or shoulder pain, you’d likely want to find an air bed using a memory foam layer, along with some supportive layers placed below or above this layer. The memory foam we recommend- all across the board- is a 4 lb. density foam. Ask about it, insist on it. The inferior, most commonly used 2-3 lb. density memory foam won't last more than five years. Also, because memory foam responds to body heat, it becomes more moldable and flexible after you've been lying on it a bit, and many people fall in love with that wrap around your body and cradling sensation.

Let's say you like a buoyant, livelier mattress, without that sinking sensation, but like the softer, giving feel of a bed. You'll definitely want some latex, preferably natural or at least a blend, and at least a layer that is 2" inches thick, situated directly beneath the outer quilted top or encasement material.

Ask about the support layers. Be specific about the density. If high density foam is used, (HD foam) we advise using 31 ILD foam.

ILD is an industry term that the public really has no knowledge of. Start throwing this term around, and you're going to challenge even seasoned sales people, and that means more control and more discounts, more incentives. It shows a sales person that you know what the hell you're talking about, and they're not going to mess with you. 

ILD is an acronym for Indentation Load Deflection, and refers to the amount of weight occupying one square foot that will compress a layer of foam (generally a 4" thick sample) 1 inch. It's a general guideline for density and degree of support and firmness.

20-24 ILD  Very Soft- Good for very top layers, the interior of a pillow, or inside of a quilted pillowtop.

25-30 ILD  Soft to Medium feel, ideal for the top of direct body contact layers, allows a comfortable amount of sink or immersion, and cushiness.

31-40 ILD Medium To Firm feel, ideal for lower layers, providing support. Don't go higher than 36 or so for pieces in an air bed for the simple reason that the more you stack firmer layers of foam on top of the air chambers, you can begin to diminish the ability to detect adjustments when you remove or add air to the chambers. 

The ILD quantification is most commonly used for those foam layers or components that are given  hyped-up names like "Plushfoam". Regardless of the name, if you can get an ILD on the material, it will tell you the general characteristics of the foam. Rule of thumb: high density foam with an ILD range of 27-35 tend to last the longest, are more durable, and resist splitting, stretching, and cracking.

HD foam, or polyurethane foam, is one thing, but memory foam is quantified a bit differently. the rating of density and quality for memory foam (also called visco-elastic foam) being characterized in density, meaning one cubic foot of a given sample weighs x pounds. For memory foam layers, we recommend finding memory foam that is at least 4lb density rather than 3 lb, since the 4lb variety is a bit more durable and tends to resist cracking and splitting. It is not noticeably firmer, and will last longer in the 4lb range. Also, if you like a firmer feel up top and still like the memory foam sensation, ask for a 5 lb. density material.

If you are looking for an air bed that is uplifting and buoyantly supportive, a bit livelier and springier, definitely seek out a model with natural latex, or softer layers of HD foam, like a high density (HD) foam that is around 25 ILD , or an HR (high resiliency) foam layer, that has flex and a more elastic feel, roughly in the 22-25 ILD range. I personally like the feel of natural latex, since it is springier, and it’s also completely chemical free and does not off gas fumes or odors.

Five Insider Tips When Buying A Digital Air Bed

It can often cost $2000 or more, and even up to $4,000+, to buy a top of the line leading brand Digital Air Bed. Why? When you purchase anything from a brick and mortar store, a lot of the cost is for overhead, things like rent, employees, air conditioning, etc. And while buying an Air Bed online often offers lower prices, buying an Air Bed online can be just as tricky, since you can’t really look at what you’re buying ahead of time, and might not be able to get a good description of ingredients that are in the bed.

Are you really getting what you are paying for, and what are the basic things that every Air Bed should have? That’s why we’ve put together this guide, with Our 5 Tips for Buying An Air Bed, to help you cut to the chase and buy an air bed that’ll hold up over time. Our focus has always been that the key is insuring that the air bed you buy a bed has quality ingredients from the ground up.

An Air Bed has a fair number of components that can be skimped on, and unless you know what questions to ask, and have at least a vague idea of what you’re buying, you might just become putty in a savvy salesperson’s hands. When in a retail store, insist on seeing what’s inside, and use our tips below to assist with asking intelligent questions…you just might get a better deal if a sales person thinks you’ve done your homework, or at least negotiate a better deal.

Here's the list:

• Buy A Pump With A Piston Type Mechanism Rather Than A Flap Valve Bladder Mechanism

• Ask For Specific Foam Densities For Any Support Or Foam Layers Used Inside The Air Bed

• Buy An Air Bed That Has Fabric Backed, Vulcanized Rubber Air Chambers

• Buy An Air Bed With A Lightly Quilted Top Using A Breathable Material To Reduce Moisture Retention And Possible Mold Issues

• Buy An Air Bed Without A Center Line Support Foam Rail

1. Buy A Pump With A Piston Type Mechanism Rather Than A Flap Valve Bladder Mechanism

First, right off the bat, you’ll sound educated if you pose this question. And rightly so, since a flap valve mechanism in any Air Bed pump generally has a shorter lifespan than a sealed piston pump.

Incredibly, I’ve actually seen a few air bed pumps stripped down, and was astonished to see that they are built exactly like a cheap aquarium pump for a ten gallon fish tank…complete with whiny, vibrating sound and all. Since it relies on a rubber flap valve as its actual mechanism to move air, it is not as reliable as a piston pump, which operates more like a bicycle pump using a closed, lubricated piston style mechanism to move air into the air chambers-bottom line, it’ll last MUCH longer.

Only a few companies offer pumps are made in the USA, rather than imported pump systems, which makes it easier to get parts or replacements way down the road. Habitat Furnishings is one of these companies. Piston pumps are permanently sealed pumps and have no vibrating parts (like inferior flap valve pumps) they have a much longer useful life. Some remotes even offer a “bed fill” button which allows you to quickly inflate your air chambers with one touch-very quickly, which is nice when you are setting up our system, or if you simply want to go to maximum fill without having to hold down a “firmer” button as on many models with other manufacturers.

Also, most pumps these days feature a quick connect system with air hoses, in the event you move, need to relocate your bed, or clean underneath your bed. And, typically, the pump is typically encased in a sound minimizing outer shell, which keeps the noise limited to a comfortable, pleasing “hum” sound rather than a raspier sound produced by flap valve pumps or pumps with no sound muffling features. Typically, most retailers these days offer a decent warranty, often 10 years or more, and they include a 3 year full replacement (shipping is free, too) component.

2. Look For Specific Foam Densities For Any Support Or Foam Layers Used Inside The Air Bed

Most Air Beds will have a perimeter foam “rail” that wraps around the entire edge of the bed. This is usually a high density foam, and it should be rated at least a 1.5 lb. density foam, so that it is first soft enough to sit on the edge of the bed, but firm enough not to bend or collapse when force is exerted on it from the inside edges. Memory foam should be at least 2″ thick if used, and 3.0-4.0 density is best, not too firm, not too soft. Latex foam, is available, should be 26-30 ILD and at least 2″ thick. There should ALWAYS be at least a 3/4″ support layer of foam underneath the air chambers, to both protect them, and to facilitate motion dampening on the air chambers.

The Habitat Ascend Digital Air Bed is configured with the following material specifications:

• Quilted Bamboo Duvet Top And Side Pieces.

• 5” Tall, 4” Wide High Density Side Support Rails With Tensioning Fabric

• 2” Natural Latex Layer, 32 ILD

• 2” 4lb. Density Memory Foam/Gel Hybrid Layer

• 6” Fabric Backed Vulcanized Rubber Air Chambers, Single Zone Baffling

• 1” High Density Base Foam, 24ILD

Look for Air Beds designed to last the full warranty lifespan..and beyond. We like to see the edge foam, or side rail foam, be at least  2.2 lb high density foam, and measuring at least 5.5″ tall x 4″width, where some manufacturers use side rail foam that is as little as 3″ wide, offering little lateral support on the sides. 

An air bed that offers a layer of memory foam combined with Natural Latex is also a great combination for comfort and support, and works well with adjustable systems. The best latex to fuse in our opinion is Dunlop latex, which has been field tested in the bedding industry for over 50 years for durability and comfort. A good density to work with is 28 ILD, meaning medium supportive, and adds a layer of cushiness and uplifting buoyancy to an air bed. 

A decent air bed might also offer just one layer of support foam, but generally, opt for a 4" piece rather than just one 2" is piece, which is more prone to bottoming out. A 4″ layer of specialized high resiliency foam, is more supportive and a bit more dense than similar foams. It is also designed to last the full lifespan of the bed, without compressing or packing down.

3. Buy An Air Bed That Has Fabric Backed, Vulcanized Rubber Air Chambers

The most flexible, longest lasting, and comfortable air chambers are going to be vulcanized rubber with fabric backing. They are widely used in the industry, but many suppliers will use less expensive PVC (poly vinyl chloride) or even nylon air chambers, which are not flexible, and are extremely firm at higher settings, and often have a waterbed or “swim” type effect at lower settings. Only vulcanized rubber will have some flexibility at higher settings, while still offering good support at lower settings.

When we first started developing our line of Air Beds, which we sold for 15 years,  we tried just about every available air chamber, and always came to the same conclusion…at firmer settings, and at softer settings, fabric backed vulcanized rubber outperformed anything else. The flexibility at firmer settings allows for a firmer, but still yielding feeling, and at softer settings, you don’t experience a wave motion, or swimming sensation, and the elasticity of the rubber accommodates a lower setting. Also, because these days, most air chambers are baffled evenly throughout, without zoned areas, air is evenly distributed and the pressure will be uniform throughout the bed.

4. Buy An Air Bed With A Lightly Quilted Top Using A Breathable Material To Reduce Moisture Retention And Possible Mold Issues

Probably the most important feature other than the pump in an Air Bed, is the outer cover and lightly quilted top. The single most important reason for this is to provide passive ventilation around the bed, since Air Beds can accumulate mold or mildew due to condensation around the air chambers.

Fabrics like bamboo, cotton, wool (in moderation) and technical fibers like Holo-Fil, are good materials to use for the exterior encasement on an Air Bed. Use of a mattress protector on an Air Bed is also critical after purchase, to keep moisture from penetrating the mattress itself. Avoid fabrics like microfibers, leatherette, or other non-porous and non-breathable fabrics.

We experimented through the years with several outer covers on our air beds, first using a synthetic material called “Cool-Max”, but the quilted top material packed down in a several cases with customers, so we changed both the top fabric and the fill material to more breathable and durable components.

For years we used  Bamboo quilted top filled with spun “Holo-Fill” fiber, a synthetic material that wicks away moisture effectively, sleeps cooler, and with the Bamboo outer fabric, allows for much better passive ventilation than a lot of denser woven fabrics. Passive ventilation, again, is important with air beds, so that mold and other organisms which prefer moist environments cannot establish themselves. Customers loved it.

5. Buy An Air Bed Without A Center Line Support Foam Rail

Many manufacturers, including Sleep Number, will build in a center support rail going right down the middle of the mattress which they claim provides additional support for the bed, but often is really provided to fill in gaps that appear when air chambers separate on a poorly designed air bed system.

A quality Air Bed will have a tensioning system which prevents the air chambers from separating especially when used by heavier individuals. This is usually a piece of material that connects the side rails and keeps them from moving apart.

The problem: at lower settings, you’ll feel that piece of foam rail on your back, and it may end up feeling like a ridge in the center of the mattress. Also, manufacturers may use excessively firm side rail foam to avoid adding a fabric tension material to reduce costs, but again, the edge of the mattress can be excessively hard and can be a noticeable comfort issue.

We created a feature in our  Air Bed Systems which was unique to the industry. By attaching a sheet of specialized “tensioning” fabric from side rail to side rail on our beds, when you fold out and assemble our beds, the outer foam rails cannot bend outward when people are using the mattress, thus preventing the air chambers from separating in the middle.

The result is a uniform, continuous surface that feels like one mattress, without creating a crevasse or gulley between the two air chambers, pushed apart by weight. Again, installing a foam rail in the middle of an air bed, is a common solution to the problem in the air bed industry, but we regard it as a design flaw, that masks the real problem of chamber separation.