I have one of those blow up mattresses. I've had it a few years and don't remember the brand name. I remember I didn't buy the cheapest nor the most expensive. The only people who have slept on it are kids. They said it was comfortable, but kids can sleep most anywhere, so who knows.

I have a blow up mattress too--really comfortable!

Donna (^_^)

I have an oak Futon that uses a thick standard bed-type queen sized mattress.
It makes a great sofa for a spare room that we use for sewing/storage/TV alternative/home network center.

This is just my 2 cents: I have slept on an Aerobed, and they are not as comfortable as a regular mattress, but better than a sofa or certainly the floor. When it is cold, people who sleep on them will be cold unless you put several layers of blankets or whatever under the mattress pad. The air in the mattress gets cold and transfers to the person in the bed. This keeps the sleeper warmer and gives a little more cushioning.

That said, these blow-up mattresses are probably the most economical way to sleep extra people. I wondered about futons, but I don't see them for sale often.

We have a queen-sized Aerobed, and it is very comfortable for one person, but not great for two people.

If I were currently in the market for one, I would get the Essential EZ bed. Here's a link to one place that sells it.

Here is a link that might be useful: EZ Bed

I've got a blow up bed and have slept on it. I use a mattress pad and an egg crate foam thing on it. Very comfy.
Kathy G in MI

I've slept on one of those blow up mattresses and froze my a$$ off. You have to insulate it.

had folding cots years ago but more a pita for storage than the use...

we've had colman blow-up and unless you're like my dh, 6'3" and over 200 lbs, they work nicely, plus storage is easier. if you have the spacethey do have lounge chairs that fold out into twin bed...

if you have frequent visitors look into lazy boy sofas. one of the few that don't have that aweful bar that breaks your back...

Lots of good suggestions, thanks! I was unsure just how comfortable the airbeds are.

The old metal folding cots with springs like I have used to be a dime a dozen at sale barns and thrift shops. Also came with a 4" mattress, the old fashioned ticking kind. I needed it on nights when it was too cold to sleep in the big bedroom(at that time there was no heat in there) and used it for nearly four months during the bedroom remodel this year. It was comfortable for the first two months, but after that my back really started to hurt. So, for short term use it's great; but altho it has wheels, storage is a big issue. I have it in a closet right now and it takes up alot of space even folded up.

We have an EZ bed and a regular air mattress, love them both, I took boxes from an office supply store and filled them with stuff, put a flat sheet over them and put the regular air matttres on top of it. That way it was raised up off of the floor and looked like a regular bed. Both are comfortable.