13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Superior inflatable mattress, December 22, 2008
I was very happy with the two beds, which I bought for a visit from my grandchildren. I especially like that it is not made from PVC plastics. It's expensive, but it's very durable, and there is no plastic next to the skin. It's simple to inflate it, though you have to buy eight large batteries for the combination pump/flashlight. (It's meant for campers.) There is no way to just plug it in somewhere, but the pump worked splendidly, and the beds stayed nicely inflated for over a week. Deflating is a little more of a chore: You must use another part of the pump for that, and it takes a longish time to get the air out. Of course, that is one reason that the bed stays inflated so successfully: The air is stopped from leaking out by a diaphragm inside the cap that seals it in, and it must be drawn out by suction. You do have to empty the air out completely, of course, or you won't be able to fold it back into the little sack that comes with the bed. Then it folds into a small package that can easily be stored.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing else like it, January 23, 2009
This review is from: Aerobed PerformaLite Inflatable Bed (Kitchen)
I have owned many PVC mattresses over the years, but committed to never buying one again for reasons explained below. We tried to find an alternative for over a year with no luck. Then we were very fortunate to stumble on this remarkable product at the REI flagship store in Denver.
This is the only product of its kind, that I'm aware of. All other inflatable mattresses are made of PVC. This is made from a rip-stop material. PVC mattresses are absolutely terrible for several reasons, and should be outlawed, as should all other inflatables made from this material. PVC is very toxic to the environment when produced, and toxic to people when used. On a more immediately practical level, PVC breaks down quickly. In my experience, every PVC mattress we've owned over the last 5 years has started to leak to the point of being unusable after about 1 year. PVC inflatables are throw-away products. However, this new mattress will not suffer the same problem, and it's backed by a 3-year warranty.
My favorite things about this mattress:
1. It's not made of PVC.
2. It's much lighter than PVC.
3. It folds much easier than PVC (it's thinner).
4. It doesn't creak or make noises like PVC.
If you're fed up with buying a new mattress every year, this is your prayer answered. Way to go Aerobed!!!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top-Notch Inflatable Bed, October 18, 2009
I was looking for a durable yet compact & relatively light-weight inflatable bed to use when camping on bicycle tours... you never know whether or not all sharp objects are eliminated from under your tent site. The Aerobed PerformaLite has met expectations after two weeks of summer 2009 bike tour camping. It comes with a nice "stuff bag" that the folded bed & pump fit into. I remove one of the batteries during storage/ transport of the "stuffed bed" in a duffle so if the pump switch is inadvertently moved to the "on" position, the pump or light will not run down the batteries. The bed quickly deflates when you stick your finger into the open air port to keep the rubber flapper valve open. I'm pleased with the bed so far; I hope it lasts many more seasons of use: then it will be worth the relatively high price.
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