The Aero inflatable bed: nuthin' but hot air?
Written: Jan 18 '00 (Updated Jan 18 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Deflates quickly
Cons: Cheap parts that break easily; bed does not stay firm
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| tanster's Full Review: Aero Raised Aerobed (Twin, Full, Queen) |
Boy, I had such high hopes for this product. It was advertised in a variety of catalogs right before Christmas, and I just couldn't resist getting one. What a great thing to have when people come to visit!
After all, the concept is so tantalizing -- the Aero is an inflatable bed that you can:
- inflate in about a minute
- customize to the exact firmness you like
- deflate in less than 15 seconds
- roll up in its own travel bag and take anywhere!
So how many of these claims are true?
Inflate in about a minute -- YES.
But the pump is loud; you can't inflate the Aero if people are already asleep, because you are sure to wake them up.
Customize to the exact firmness you like -- KIND OF.
The first time I used the Aero, I inflated it to its maximum level of firmness, and boy, did it feel good! Nice and firm, just like my real bed! The nice thing is, you can't overinflate the bed, so there's no danger of "blowing it up." Unfortunately, when I woke up the next morning, I noticed the bed had noticeably sagged, and felt more like an inner tube than a bed.
Deflate in less than 15 seconds -- YES.
The Aero is very easy to deflate, yup that's true.
Roll up in its own travel bag and take anywhere! -- KIND OF.
Folding the Aero bed into its own bag is definitely easy and convenient. But take it anywhere? The picture in the catalog shows a woman carrying the Aero bed casually slung over her shoulder, like a backpack. No way! The queen size bed weighs about 15 pounds, so I'd say it was about 3 times heavier than your average backpack.
But wait, there's more
The worst thing about the Aero is the cheap quality of its parts -- after using it only two times, the hinge on the air release valve completely broke off, rendering the bed totally unusable. (Unless I duct tape the valve shut every time I use the bed.)
True, the manufacturer of the Aero bed (Imaginair) does provide a 1-year warranty against broken parts, but you must ship the product to Illinois, and pay for the shipping charges yourself! Definitely not worth the trouble and expense.
I would definitely not recommend this product. I'd get a futon instead!
You can find the official Web site at www.aerobed.com.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
tanster
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Palo Alto, CA
Reviews written: 111
Trusted by: 331 members
About Me:
Happily reviewing cool gadgets and SF Bay Area restaurants since 1999. Pass the gravy, please.
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