Even if you don't ever plan on going camping, you might want to consider purchasing an air mattress for regular use in your home. It'll be helpful to have on hand when there are guests in your home and you need extra beds. Or -- because air mattresses don't have box springs -- you might even find it more comfortable to sleep on permanently! In most cases, you can use an air mattress with your existing bed frame by placing a large sheet of plywood on the frame to support the mattress.

Portability

If you're planning to move -- or simply want to rearrange your bedroom -- there's no question that an air mattress is easier to manage than any other type of mattress. Because these mattresses are very lightweight, you may not even need to deflate them in order to move them to a new location. If you are planning to move, a deflated air mattress is very easy to transport and will take up very little room in your moving truck.

Affordability

New mattresses can cost well over $1,000.00 -- but you can find a top quality air mattress for under $100. In most cases, you can purchase large-sized mattresses -- or even two separate ones -- and place them on the same bed for use. If your air mattress develops a leak, you won't have to spend hundreds on costly repairs -- all you need is some glue and a patch kit! Look for air mattresses that include these handy items in the purchase.

Comfort

While it'll take a little while to get used to an air mattress, you'll soon come to appreciate the fact that an air mattress has no springs. The air pockets that support your body won't jab into your back, or leave you feeling like you have to navigate an obstacle course to find a comfortable sleeping position. In addition, you can make the air mattress as firm or as soft as you want it -- just let out some air, or put some more in as needed. Best of all, many air mattresses today come with battery-operated pumps, so you won't blow out a lung pumping up your new mattress.

Easy to Replace

For the most part, your air mattress should last about three to five years with moderate wear. That said, even if you find that you aren't happy with an air mattress, you won't be out as much money as you would be with a regular mattress. If you need to purchase a new air mattress, you can usually find them in the camping section of any department store or at any specialty home goods store. On the other hand, if you find that you no longer want your air mattress, all you have to do is deflate it and throw it in your normal household trash.

Every year, people spend thousands of dollars looking for the best mattress for their needs, but very few consider the merits of an air mattress. Unfortunately, there are limits to what you can achieve with a traditional spring based mattress. While you may think of air mattresses as being suitable just for campers, try one and see if it will work for you on a more regular basis. Even if you aren't happy with your purchase, it won't be as expensive or as difficult to dispose of as a regular mattress.