What are the pros and cons of using air mattress?

If your in it with your spouse and one of you are prone to rolling in your sleep like I am you can tend to launch your partner off it during the night.

As a spare guest bed they are not bad, as your main bed I would look for other options.

I use them as guest beds and for comfy tent camping. I put a layer of 1 inch foam over the top, then a mattress pad, then sheets. Every one i’ve owned has lost air over time – and that time can be any where from an evening to a few days so make sure you have a powered inflator handy. If you are using it in your home get an electrically powered one. They are more powerful and faster. Out in the field, I’ve seen someone use a battery operated unit that worked well but took forever.

They do not last very long, even the expensive ones. You get your first ruptures after a few months.

They fold up and can be stored in a closet.

Depends on the mattress.

- Get one that is not slippery plastic. There are some (more expensive) that have a leathery or suede-like external layer. Those are better than sleeping on vinyl.

- The thicker the better.

- MAKE SURE IT IS FILLED EVERY NIGHT. They have a tendency to lose air slowly. Nothing worse than getting onto the mattress and feeling the floor.

- Electric pump, no question.

I slept on one for a year, when you’re young it’s not bad. Still have one for a spare mattress or camping.Dog claws can pop cheap ones, spring for the sturdy ones.

The biggest problem is how they transfer motion.

The biggest problem with them is if there is a substantial weight discrepancy between the individuals sleeping on it. Having said that, it beats sleeping directly on the bed of the Escalade.

@SQUEEKY2, I read your post, and I’m thinking than flinging the spouse night be a pro for some and a con for others.

I sleep alone, and it works great for me. I never liked sleeping on a flat surface. Maybe too much like a slab for me. A waterbed sloshes and makes me worry about it making me pee.
Who with the very cheapest I can get, because I am heavy, so eventually they will fail. Replacing them a couple of times a year is still much less than buying a new mattress.
I like that there are no hard spots, like clumped batting, or whatever.
I have a pump, so occasionally refilling is no problem.
The one issue I have is the new smell. They need to be laid out for a day or two to air out.

They have improved them some in regards to movement. They have separaters inside which slow air movement so there is less fling involved.

One last thing, I saw a guy riding the waves on one this week on the news. It must have been a queen size. He appeared to be having a very good time.