Many of you don’t know, but we spend a lot of our life sleeping, which is why the sleeping-related industry will never disappear.
Unlike the traditional mattresses, the folding beds are portable and only require a little space for storage. You can use one for traveling and camping or for providing the best comfort for your guests. With prices ranging from $100 to $175, folding mattresses are more affordable than the traditional opponents, so it makes sense that you keep reading for the details.
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What are the best parts of folding mattresses?
The most crucial advantage of folding mattresses is their portability and foldable design. In case you can’t figure out when a folding mattress works, here are the most common applications:
- Travel
You can use the folding mattress when traveling and don’t want to sleep in a motel or hotel bed
- Camping
No matter if you’re sleeping in a tent or not, the folding mattress is an excellent option for camping. It’s highly portable and can even fit in your backpack or the backseat of your car.
- Kid’s sleepovers
If your kids have sleepovers or some friends visiting, the folding mattress is a great option to have. You can use it as a bed or a playmat for the kids. Take a look at the models with washable covers as accidents are likely to happen when kids are playing.
- Guest bedding
Not all guests are picky and only want the luxurious mattress when sleeping in your home. A folding mattress is both comfortable and affordable, offering a good night’s sleep to your guests.
What are the typical designs and features of folding mattresses?
Any mattress that can be folded and it’s easy to carry around qualifies as folding mattress. The majority of the folding mattress present two, three, or four-folds. However, there are other common characteristics that folding mattresses share:
- Material
Most folding mattresses are made of foam, which is why they’re light and easy to fold. Only a few models feature individual layers of visco-latex, which is a hybrid material made from latex and memory foam.
- Cover
It’s typical for folding mattresses to feature a protective cover that lowers the effects of moisture. The cover is easy to remove for machine washing, with zipper for effortless on-and-off.
If you’re determined to use the folding mattress for camping, the cover should be made with waterproof and antimicrobial material, protecting against dust mites and allergens. A folding mattress for camping should also feature non-slip padding so that it doesn’t slip around on the ground.
Polyester is the most common material for covers, but bamboo and rayon can also be used.
- Size
The length and width of the mattress count, especially if you want to travel with it. Folding mattresses have the same sizing criteria as regular mattresses, but some may only come in particular sizes (twin, full, and queen). On the other hand, some folding mattresses may only come small specialty sizes.
There’s also the category of folding mattresses that come in one size only, so make sure you check before buying.
- Height
The height (thickness) of the folding mattress is shorter than that of a traditional mattress. Some people go for thicker models as they are more comfortable than the thinner opponents. With portability being fundamental for folding mattresses, it makes perfect sense that thinner mattresses are lighter and more convenient to carry around and store.
Even if the thickness varies from one brand to another, it typically ranges from 3” to 8”.
- Level of firmness
Since folding mattresses have a lower profile, they’re mostly “medium-firm” or “firm” at most. Should you like soft bedding, the folding mattress may not be your no.1 choice. You can always use a mattress topper for increasing the level of softness, though.
You can find toppers that are 3″ thick, which renders them easy to carry around and to store when not in use. The price is excellent too, with many models costing less than $100.
What’s to know when you buy a folding mattress? What things to pay attention to?
As the variety of models can easily intimidate a first-time buyer, you need to think about a couple of things before buying a folding mattress:
- Do you want memory foam or polyfoam as a material?
Material composition matters in the case of folding mattresses and polyfoam models are the cheapest option. However, they don’t take the use for a long time nor are very comfortable. If you want to splurge, you can go with a memory foam mattress, which is far more comfortable and more durable.
- What kind of cover do you want?
Should you intend to use the folding mattress for outdoor activities, you need a waterproof and antibacterial cover. As we’ve mentioned previously, it should also feature a slip-proof bottom for stability on all surfaces. Models with removable covers work better as they allow effortless cleaning.
- What size do you want?
Twin XL, King, and California King aren’t standard sizes for folding mattresses, but Twin, Queen, and Full are. You can buy smaller specialty sizes for kids and camping trips, but don’t expect to find them in any store.
- How big it is when folded up?
Since it’s a folding mattress, you will store it sooner or later, so you need to know how much space it needs when folded up. A mattress can be twice or three times as high, whereas the width may not change much. The length will also be shorter, of course.
- What’s the thickness?
The thicker the mattress is, the more comfortable and softer you will feel it. On the other hand, a lighter and thinner mattress is more convenient to carry around, so make sure you know what you value more.
- Which level of firmness do you like?
The level of firmness is various, but an 8in model feels softer than a 6in model. The latter also feels more delicate than the 4-in mattress, and you can always add a topper for increasing the firmness of a 4in mattress.
- How many folds does the mattress require?
It’s truly a personal matter when it comes to the number of folds. Some appreciate a tri-fold and even four-fold mattress, whereas others like the uniform feel of a bi-fold mattress. It’s entirely up to you.
- What’s the weight?
The majority of folding mattresses are lightweight, but some are on the heavyweight side. The majority of folding mattresses weigh from 10 to 15 pounds, but you can find models heavier than 30 pounds.
- How much money will you pay?
Even if some models are pricier than $200, you may very well find reliable options for less than $100.
- Do you get a warranty?
Warranties for folding mattresses are different between manufacturers. You can find models with a five-year warranty or models with no warranty at all.
The fair conclusion
Folding mattresses have their use in many situations, and you should do your bits and bobs before selecting your model. The choices are many, and you don’t want to end up with a lemon.
