Customer Reviews

Aerobed PerformaLite Inflatable Bed

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!!!

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.

I found this air mattress to be as advertised. It was quick to inflate and was also quick to deflate. It was comfortable and held its air without any slow-leaking at all. I have been camping monthly for >20 years and have seen a lot of air mattresses! One flaw though is the material may not be as sturdy as others. On the very first night of use, one of my German Shepherds pounced on the mattress (yes, and me) during the night, and his toenails pierced the mattress, resulting in deflation. However, the mattress comes with a very easy to use patch kit, which I applied in the morning, when I could see. That next night, the mattress was fully-inflated all night. The trick to avoid future German Shepherd punctures is to cover the mattress with a quilt or another unused sleeping bag, so when he steps on the mattress, his toenails can't puncture it. Of course, we try to keep the dogs off, but this way, if they do attempt to get on it, there is protection for the air mattress and a little extra bonus cushioning for me.

The mattress goes back easily into its carrying bag. The price is well-worth it. It may take a little bit of studying to figure out the pump insertion and operation initially, but once enlightened, it is so quick and not very loud at all. I definitely recommend this product.

Love this light weight bed-----esp good when need to take on plane for disaster relief work. Less bulk and weight is something I've been looking for!