Air mattresses have gotten a bad rap for a while for being uncomfortable, inconvenient, and hard to climb off of. For example, you might not put your grandparents up on a typical airbed because the mattresses are traditionally so low to the ground. However, air mattresses have gone through major changes and they’ve improved significantly.
The Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed is a good example of what you can find today, and it won’t put a huge dent in your wallet. This queen-sized air mattress is almost regular bed height at 22 inches. The bed inflates quickly because it includes a built-in electric pump, so no one’s going to wear themselves out with a manual pump.
From the thick vinyl to the waterproofed flocking on top of the airbed, this mattress has a lot of features to make it the bed all of your extra guests will want to sleep on. And although it’s meant for indoor use, you could easily take this camping and sleep like kings or queens, as long as you have a tent big enough to accommodate it.
Related: The Best Intex Air Mattress Reviews
Why Would You Want an Elevated Air Mattress?
If you’ve ever slept on a typical air mattress, you know three things: Manually inflating an airbed sucks, it’s so low to the ground that it’s hard to get up, and air loss is a given. The Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed solves all three problems in one go.
Built-In Pump
The built-in electric pump makes it as easy as plugging in a cord, turning a knob, and pressing a button to inflate the mattress. This pump eliminates the need for you to spend several minutes with a hand or foot pump to get the bed nice and firm. You can inflate it manually, if you’d like, which is helpful if you take this with you camping and you don’t have access to electricity. Just make sure you’re not too tired from hiking, fishing, or hunting, because you’re going to be at it for a while to fill up this big air mattress.
Nice and High
That brings me to height. This Intex airbed is huge for an air mattress. At 22 inches in height, it’s about the same height of a platform bed with a mattress. Its height makes it easy for you to climb into bed from a standing position, and getting out of bed is just as easy. You shouldn’t have any issues with rolling out of bed or having to hoist yourself up using your leg strength. You’ll be eternally grateful for that if you get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom because who has any strength at that moment? Plus, if you suffer from back problems, then this is a major bonus.
Minimal Air Loss
Let’s be clear here: All air mattresses lose some air. It’s one of those facts of life. However, this Intex airbed manages to reduce the air loss with its design. As long as you follow the directions with inflating the mattress, you shouldn’t notice much air loss. There’s a dial on the mattress that you need to turn one way for inflation and the other for deflation. Be sure the dial is turned all the way to the inflate side, even when you’re done inflating. This acts a little like a plug to keep the air where it should be while you sleep on the mattress – in the mattress.
Related: Why do air mattresses deflate overnight?
You still may notice a little air loss, but that happens with vinyl products. The material stretches and relaxes as it’s used, so you may need to pump a little air back into the mattress the next day, but you shouldn’t have to do so in the middle of the night.
My Experience
After getting this air mattress in, I noticed it had quite a bit more heft to it than other airbeds I’ve tried. It’s to be expected, though, when you consider the size of this mattress. So, I pulled it inside and opened the box. The packaging was clean and professional. I unfolded and unrolled the air mattress, and set the carrying case aside.
A quick read of the instructions was all I needed to get started. I turned the dial to inflate, plugged in the electric pump and watched as my air mattress plumped up. It only took about four minutes for it to fully inflate. The mattress seemed to take over the bedroom! It was bigger than my previous guest bed that didn’t have a frame.
I did notice a little bit of a plastic smell to this airbed, but it wasn’t too strong. I decided to leave the bed inflated in the room for a while so I could let it air out. A couple hours later, I went back into the room and the smell was gone!
The queen-sized sheets I had were standard, and they did not fit over this mattress. I could get three corners on, but when I got to the fourth one, the corner of the sheet just kept popping off. I gave up and found some deep pocket queen-sized sheets, and those worked better. But those are the sheets I use on my bed, so I opted for a thick comforter on top of the bed and that worked well.
The firmness of the Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed was a bit too firm for me, at first, so I let out a little bit of air and that gave me the softness I was looking for. After one night on this air mattress, I noticed only a little air loss. It wasn’t enough to wake me in the middle of the night to reflate, though.
When I deflated the mattress, it took a little longer than inflation. It was about six or seven minutes. The electric pump and turning the dial the correct way helped immensely in getting the air out. I also stepped on the bed and rolled around to get all of the air out, which I’m sure looked ridiculous. It was easy to fold back up and store in the bag.
Features & Benefits
It’s hard to believe that such a comfortable, easy to use, and quality air mattress is also affordable. The number of features of this bed are incomparable – especially for the price
Construction
The way this airbed was made was meant for indoor use, but I can’t see any reason you shouldn’t use it outdoors. The vinyl on the sides and bottom are 16-gauge, which is thick, and should prevent tears and punctures. Of course, you should always take precautions and make sure sharp objects are moved out of the way of the bed. The top is made of 20.8-gauge vinyl and covered with a waterproof flocking.
Its thickness is part of the reason this airbed is so durable. The flocking gives you a softer surface, so you could sleep on this air mattress without sheets, if you’d like. The flocked surface also helps keep sheets in place, and it reduces the noise that sheets usually make on air mattresses.
Comfort
When it comes to comfort, I’m picky. I found this air mattress to be one of the most comfortable I’ve slept on. The Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed has these curved beams that provide support and comfort. It’s rated for 600 pounds, which means two average or even above average adults can easily sleep on this bed with no problem.
Air loss is a given with any air mattress, but I noticed very little with this one. After adding a little more air after the first night, I didn’t have to add any more for the duration. Just be sure you read the instructions!
Maintenance, Care & Warranty
Maintaining this air mattress is as easy as keeping it away from sharp objects. The waterproofed top helps keep the bed clean, but if you have a spill or accident, just spot clean it with a little mild soap and warm water.
Avoid putting too much weight on the bed – that means you need to make sure you’re careful to keep pets and children off the bed if you’re edging close to that 600-pound weight limit.
Unfortunately, Intex doesn’t include a warranty for its air mattresses. If you get a defective one or your airbed gives up the ghost after only a few uses, you’re stuck with a busted air mattress and you’ll have to buy a new one. Unless the store where you buy this airbed offers a good return policy. If you want to make sure you’re protected, just check the store’s return policy before buying.
You may want to read: Best Air Mattress with a Built-in Pump
Consumer Feedback
Overall, those who have bought this airbed are very happy with their purchase. Let’s take a closer look, though, at what makes this such a great air mattress – and why it gets a few bad reviews.
Durability
A couple of users likely got defective units, or used the air mattress improperly, as there were a few reports of popped airbeds. There were also a few people who had issues with valves not sealing properly. Again, this is likely the case of a defective airbed.
Most people reported that the mattress held air just fine and held up over several nights of use. One user even reported that he used it for a full year every night, and had no problems.
The majority of complaints we get from our readers are on Intex products and for that reason we don’t rank the durability as high as other brands. That being said a couple of our reviewers have had Intex air mattresses for years without issue.
Comfort
The overwhelming response from consumers about the comfort is a big two thumbs up. Whether used for one night, a couple of weeks, or even a full year, most people said the air mattress was comfortable, or at least as comfortable as an air mattress could be.
Odor
A handful of people noted the chemical smell after first unfolding and inflating, while many others said they noticed no smell at all. Those who did catch a whiff of that plasticky smell said it went away after only a few hours.
Value
You can find air mattresses as cheap as $20, or as expensive as $200, so it’s a wide spectrum. Considering what you get out of this queen-sized air mattress, many who have used this airbed believe they’re getting more than what they expected. It’s one of the most affordable queen-sized air mattresses that is also as tall as a bed and includes a built-in electric pump, making this an excellent value.
Customer Service
Intex may have one of the worst ratings for customer service of all. Even when some customers were connected with a kind representative, they’re typically of no help at all. Part of this is because there is no warranty offered with airbeds, so no matter how upset you are at getting a defective product, Intex isn’t going to help you.
Conclusion
Whether you plan to use this as a temporary bed for yourself or guests in your home, or you want to lug this along with you on a camping trip, this is a great air mattress. Keep in mind that the Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed is huge – it’s a queen-sized bed, and it’s 22 inches tall – so be sure you have the room to spare. It’s quick and easy to inflate it using the built-in electric pump, and you can adjust the air to the right comfort level. The thick vinyl offers durability and the soft flocking on top of the bed eliminates the need for sheets. If you do want to use sheets, get deep pocket sheets that are fully elasticized for a good fit.
There isn’t much I don’t like about this air mattress. The plastic smell went away after only a few hours, and I found it to be convenient and comfortable. The worst part about it is the lack of warranty, but I just make sure I buy from a reputable source that offers a generous return policy.
Related: The Best Air Mattresses, A Buyers Guide
Intex Comfort Plush Elevated Dura-Beam Airbed Specs
| Material | Type | Includes | Size | Weight | Shipping weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | Air mattress | Built-in electric pump, carrying case, flocked top | Queen – 60 x 80 x 22″ | 21 lbs. | 22 lbs. | None |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a manual pump?
Yes.
Is built-in pump available?
Yes.
How high off the ground?
22 inches.
Good option for camping?
Yes
How long is the warranty?
There is no warranty.