Why To Choose A Portable Bed For Guest Room
Granted that a portable bed isn’t designed to be used 365 nights per year, but it is a product that can offer a ton of advantages in certain situations. It is a reliable replacement for an inflatable mattress, and, for some people, it can be a life-saver in plenty of situations.
Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why a person would choose to invest in a portable bed, and dig deeper until we reach the impressive portable beds that are actually worth your money.
Why Choose a Portable Bed?
The benefits of a portable bed might not be that visible, especially when you compare them with a full-sized bed paired with a comfortable mattress. However, there are advantaged to owning such a bed, and they include:
The Portability Factor
This means that the bed in question is lightweight and foldable, being easier to transport it whenever needed. If you like to go camping or if you find yourself in a situation where you have to spend a few nights sleeping in someone else’s house and they don’t have a guest bed ready for you, a portable bed can get you out of this mess.
The Price Factor
A portable bed can often be cheaper compared to an inflatable mattress. Of course, this isn’t the universal rule, as there are many factors that come into play and that determine the price of a portable bed. However, we can tell you that portable beds are way cheaper compared to their prices a few years back, so it’s absolutely worth buying one if you think there is every a possibility you might need an extra place to sleep.
The Space-Saving Factor
Sure, having a guest bedroom available for when your friends or family are having sleepovers is nice, but not everyone lives in a big house and can afford setting up a room just for the guests. With a portable bed, you can literally set up a sleeping space in minutes and, whenever the bed is not in use, you can just fold it and store it away, thus saving plenty of space that would otherwise be occupied by a regular bed.
The Additional Features
Needless to say, portable beds have come a long way from being a frame you could fold and unfold. Today, these portable beds are equipped with a lot of features that can make the sleeper’s life easier. For instance, if you want a portable bed for camping, you can find models with waterproof constructions, lightweight frames, and storage pockets for keeping your valuable at hand.
The Ease of Assembly
There are no tips and trick to setting up a portable bed. It is a matter of unfolding it when you need it and folding it back when you’re ready to store it and transport it. It doesn’t require air pumps, testing your lung capacity, hammers, nails, or whatever else is usually needed to setup up different other kinds of beds. Simple as that.
Related: The Best Rollaway Beds for Guests and Impromptu Sleepovers
Pros & Cons of Portable Beds
Just like every other product on the market, portable beds come with pros and cons, and knowing what these are will help you stay informed and make sure you spend your money on a product that you actually need. In terms of advantages and drawbacks, here are the need-to-know facts about portable beds:
Pro: They are affordable. Of course, this depends on what you compare them with. Having a portable bed for your guests is a way cheaper option compared to buying an actual bed and a suitable mattress. If you’re looking to save a few bucks and have a spot available for overnight guests to crash, portable beds are one of your most viable options, budget-wise.
Con: They are not designed for year-round use. That means that if you’re thinking of buying a portable bed to sleep on every night for a longer period of time, you will never get the same level of comfort and support that you get from a standard bed and a good mattress. Portable beds are clearly designed as a temporary sleeping solution.
Pro: They are good for travelling with kids. Imagine that you’re taking a family trip and, along the way, you crash in at a few motels. If you were to rent a room for adults and children, you would pay more for your child’s bed. With a portable bed, you will have a sleeping solution ready for your child without having to pay extra. Even more, there are some really cool portable beds designed especially for kids.
Con: Not all of them allow you to sleep in a natural position. This, of course, depends on the type of portable bed in question. If we’re talking about a bed frame that can fit a mattress on top of it, then you are free to roll around into the position you like sleeping in. However, if you opt for a camping foldable bed, you can’t possibly be comfortable when trying to sleep on your stomach, for instance. The specific type of portable bed you’re looking at might have some limitations.
Portable Bed Buying Tips
If you want to spend your money on a product that’s actually of use to you, here are some buying tips that will come a long way for those that haven’t had the need to buy such as product before:
- The most important tips that we can give you to kick off this list is to consider why you need a portable bed in the first place. For instance, if you’re going backpacking and want a portable bed as a sleeping solution for use inside of your tent, a lightweight inflatable mattress is your best option. If you’re going camping with your car, you can opt for a cot to keep you lifted above the ground and provide with a more comfortable sleeping space. Those of you that need a portable bed for at-home use can opt for a foldable base with mattress space on top of it. Knowing what your needs are will guide you towards choosing the right portable bed.
- The size of the bed is one of the first things you have to pay attention to after you’ve considered what type of bed you want. Most portable beds are suitable for one person, which means that you might have to buy two if you need a dual sleeping space. However, Queen-sized portable beds aren’t impossible to find either.
- The durability of a portable bed will depend on its construction. If you want a camping bed, you have to make sure that it has waterproof features and that it can withstand several temperature variations. Foldable bed for home use need to have a solid folding mechanism that won’t break after just a few uses. Always pay close attention to the materials and the construction of the bed.
Top 8 Best Portable Beds
Single Person Wide Folding Portable Outdoor Military Camping Cot
Granted that military-style portable beds aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing options, but they do get the job done and are more comfortable than you may think. This particular option has a weight capacity of 300 pounds and it’s made from a heavy-duty steel frame and PVC fabric that’s more breathable than you’d think. It measures 74.45” L x 26.75” W x 20.5” H and is available in a gray and a green version. It has a side bag that’s great for storing belongings you want next to you while sleeping, such as your flashlight or your phone. The included travel bag makes it easy to store and transport the portable bed.
6 Leg Camping Single Bed Cot
Here is another portable bed that makes the perfect camping companion because it’s elevated from the ground to keep you safe from cold temperatures and is designed with the very best outdoor materials. It has a powder-coated steel frame which is durable, adjustable legs, and swivel and fold feet. It measures 14.56” H x 30.7” W x 80.7” L overall and weighs 20.5 pounds, so it’s not the type of bed you’d carry around in a backpack, but it would fit very well in the trunk of the car.
Queen Airbed Cot With Frame
Coleman is a leading brand when it comes to inflatable mattresses, so we are going into the product with high hopes. But what is this product all about? It is an airbed designed for indoor and outdoor use. It has a steel frame which is fully foldable and a comfortable airbed for you to sleep on. It can support up to 600 pounds and comes with a 4D battery pump for quick bed inflation and deflation (note that the batteries are not included with your purchase). The combo comes its very own carrying bag for easier storage and transportation.
Sleepman Camping and Hiking Cot
If it’s a simple, affordable, and compact bed you’re looking for, this product brought to you by Bring Home Furniture checks all those boxes. It is available a wide range of colors, including green and pink. It is the type of camping bed that occupies little space and can serve you well if you want to avoid sleeping on the ground in the great outdoors. It has a weight capacity of 300 pounds, all of them being supported by the combination between the aluminum steel and the durable polyester fabric top. The bed measures 16” H x 24” W x 74” L when fully expanded and 5″ H x 7″ W x 37″ L when folded.
Folding Comfortsmart Deluxe Camp Cot
If you’re ready to take out your wallet and spend a little bit more on what appears to be a very comfortable foldable bed, here is an option for you. This bed is made from a steel frame that supports up to 300 pounds in weight and can fit people up to 6 feet and 6 inches in height. Measuring 15” H x 30” W x 80” L, it is a foldable bed that can easily fit in the trunk of your car, but it can also be bought for home use whenever overnight guests require a place to sleep.
Linon Home Dcor Linon Memory Foam Luxor Folding Bed
The Linon foldable bed is quite a champion when it comes to blending portability and comfort in a product that’s affordable for almost any budget. It is designed with a stainless steel frame that serves as base for a foam mattress. It measures 15.75” H x 79” L x 31.5” W and it can support a total weight of 275 pounds. When folded, the bed reveals a clamp that keeps it tightly shut for added security. The steel frame is reinforced with a wire to make it more stable and secure, thus creating a solid portable bed that’s totally worth your money.
LEISUIT Rollaway Guest Bed Cot Fold Out Bed
The LEISUIT portable bed is yet another product that combines a sturdy metal frame base with a mattress that brings together several types of foam for your comfort. The bed has a total weight capacity of 300 pounds and measures 75” L x 31” W x 14” H so it can support people with multiple body configurations. It comes with a foam mattress that measures 3 inches in height and provides a decent level of contouring, although it can’t compared to the standard 10-inch mattresses that are better for sleeping on every night.
Milliard Diplomat Folding Bed
When it comes to comfortable foldable bed, the Milliard is probably one of the models competing for the title. It is a metal bed frame with a 5-inch mattress on top designed to be more comfortable than most foldable beds out there. The steel frame has a double-reinforcement and wire support so that it can evenly distribute the weight of your body across the entire surface of the bed. When folded, the bed stands upon a set of casters with 360° swiveling for easier movement. The mattress is made from a top layer of memory foam and 4 inches of support foam. Unfolded, the mattress measures 75” L x 38” W.
FAQ
What is a portable bed called?
Portable beds can go by many different names, and a simple Google search will reveal a variety of different products that meets the requirements to be considered a portable bed. For instance, in North America, portable beds are often referred to as cots. Foldable beds are also considered portable bed, just like air mattresses that can be deflated, rolled, and stored or transported with ease.
Are portable beds comfortable?
Portable beds are designed to serve as a temporary solution when there are no larger permanent beds available for use. There are certain types of portable beds that are more comfortable than others. For instance, an inflatable air mattress is more comfortable than a foldable camping bed because it allows you to sleep comfortably in multiple positions, whereas the camping bed is more restrictive of your movement. However, foldable beds with mattresses are even more comfortable, because a mattress will always do a better job at conforming to your body compared to other types of materials.
Bottom Line
Having a portable is useful in multiple situations where either you or a guest needs an extra space to sleep. There are several types of portable beds, including inflatable mattresses, camping military beds, and foldable bed with steel frames and mattresses on top. Whatever your needs may be, there is a type of foldable bed to cover it, as long as you have to patience to scout the market in search of a product that’s capable of solving your problem.