Air mattresses are ideal for making temporary sleeping arrangements both indoors and outdoors. With airbeds, you can easily set up a comfortable spare bed in the home for guests or bring one along on camping trips for a good night’s sleep.
However, there are numerous mattress brands making all sorts of promises about “revolutionary” air technologies. So how do you choose?
This comprehensive guide compares two of the leading air mattress manufacturers on the market: King Koil and SoundAsleep.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Mattress Features | King Koil | SoundAsleep |
| Material | Multi-layer: Flocking (top layer), vinyl, polyester padding | Vinyl plus ComfortCoil Technology air coils |
| Primary Air Coil Count | 201 Stretch-Air system | 21 |
| Bed Height | 16-20 inches | 19-22 inches |
| Noise Level | Virtually silent | Virtually silent |
| Inflation Method | Battery pump included | AC pump included |
| Portability | – | Carry bag included |
| Weight Capacity | 600 lbs | 550 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
With basic information on both brands’ mattress offerings side by side, let’s dig deeper into how King Koil and SoundAsleep differ in construction, key technologies, performance, and real user pros and cons.
Air Mattress Construction Compared
While airbeds mainly consist of outer vinyl chambers holding air, not all plastics are created equal. So let’s unpack the tech.
- King Koil’s Build
King Koil uses a multi-layer air mattress design.
The top layer utilizes thick, water-resistant flocked vinyl that feels soft to the touch and provides extra puncture resistance.
An additional layer of polyester padding lies between the flocking and main vinyl air chamber for added cushioning rather than the hard floor beneath you.
Then this whole “mattress sandwich” gets encased within a durable welded vinyl outer shell for enhanced structure and air retention.
To create a true bed replacement, King Koil developed their trademarked Stretch-Air coil system which includes over 201 supportive air coils within the mattress chambers itself.
This is far more than cheaper air mattress brands with as little as 10 coils or less. This abundance of coils helps cradle pressure points in areas like the shoulders, hips, and waist for a hotel bed feel.
Combined with the multi-layer construction, you get an airbed with advanced air pocketing and top-to-bottom coziness. Yes, air escapes eventually on all airbeds but proper air distribution buys you longer before experiencing sag or deflation issues. Their raised height profile (16-20 inches) also makes it incredibly easy to get in and out of bed.
- SoundAsleep’s Tech
Rather than a layered approach, SoundAsleep keeps manufacturing simple but strong with a single ultra-thick eco-friendly ComfortCoil vinyl base. This puncture-proof “Eco-Friendly PVC” plastic lasts for years while providing a perfectly level, personally firm sleeping surface.
The key difference lies in SoundAsleep’s copyrighted ComfortCoil air coil technology integrated into the mattress chamber itself.
Smaller and more concentrated than King Koil’s Stretch-Air system, these 21 interconnected coils create a durable support system that conforms to body shape evenly from head to toe.
So both queen and twin bed sizes feel just as comfortable.
This ComfortCoil system also includes dual chamber construction. What does this mean? You get firmness control via two internal air chambers on each side rather than one massive chamber. So couples can dial in their preferred level of softness or firmness overnight.
While simpler in materials than the King Koil bed, SoundAsleep ultimately puts innovation into the most important part of any air mattress: the internal support structure.
Their smart air coil system prevents sagging or pressure point pains seen with basic single chamber airbeds using horizontal air flow instead of vertical.
Performance and Feature Differences
Beyond physical construction, a quality air mattress comes down to real-world performance factors like inflation/deflation, ease of use, comfort and durability. Here is how these brands compare:
- Inflation and Deflation
On both King Koil and SoundAsleep mattresses, built-in pumps enable effortless inflation in just minutes without tiresome manual huffing and puffing. However, SoundAsleep includes a far superior AC-powered external pump rather than King Koil’s battery-powered pump.
With advanced 1-click functionality, SoundAsleep owners can inflate and deflate completely in under 4 minutes. For King Koil owners, a full inflation cycle runs 10+ minutes.
- Comfort Factors
King Koil mattresses hug your body better thanks to their quilted top layer of flocked material plus padding beneath you.
This cradles pressure points rather than providing an ultra-firm feel.
SoundAsleep beds feel quite firm and slippery at first lying atop the bare vinyl.
However, fitted sheets and mattress toppers balance out the surface nicely. And the interconnected coil system still conforms to your shape.
For temperature regulation and moisture control, King Koil also far surpasses the sweatiness and heat retention felt on vinyl air mattress models during warm weather. Their layered composition with flocking helps dissipate humidity and heat.
- Ease of Use and Portability
When it comes to maneuverability, SoundAsleep airbeds prove far simpler to handle over King Koil models thanks to lower weights. At 17 pounds for their Twin and Queen sizes, you can quickly relocate rooms or pack it up in the included carry bag without heavy lifting or strain. King Koil air mattresses weigh over 20 pounds.
SoundAsleep also makes storage easier by enabling complete deflation in seconds and rolling into an easy carry size. King Koil requires you manually push out any remaining air pockets after the deflation cycle ends before achieving a compact roll-up size.
- Durability
For longevity, both brands provide above-average airbed quality versus budget mattresses prone to immediate failure. Their patented air coil systems prevent sagging and resist punctures well over years of habitual use.
When it comes to weight limits though, King Koil mattresses support up to 600 pounds. So they outmatch SoundAsleep’s 550 pound weight capacity.
For couples over 250 pounds each or individuals weighing 300+, durability risks increase on SoundAsleep airbeds over time. Seam splitting and premature air loss become concerns needing bed replacement.
Real User Pros and Cons
Beyond technical specs and lab testing, what do everyday folks experience using these air mattress brands at home or away? Here are the commonly cited pros and cons mentioned in buyer reviews:
King Koil Owner Feedback
Pros
- Multi-layered, quilted top feels cozy rather than rubbery vinyl
- Impressive lift makes getting into bed easier
- Stays super inflated overnight with little deflation
- No discomfort or aching upon waking like cheaper air mattresses
- Easy to add mattress pads or toppers for a real bed feel
Cons
- Heavier and bulkier than vinyl types so harder to move rooms or transport
- Longer inflation/deflation cycle (10+ minutes)
- Battery pump is underpowered and may require backup manual pump outdoors
SoundAsleep Owner Reviews
Pros
- Inflates fully in 4 minutes or less using powerful AC pump
- Lightweight and easy to relocate around home
- Rip-proof Eco-Friendly vinyl ensures good lifespan
- ComfortCoil system provides conformity rather than air bed sag
- Matched dual chambers let couples customize firmness
Cons
- Initially quite firm and “crinkly” feel before body heat warms surface
- No stretching or giving like a real mattress when bearing weight
- Sweaty and heat trapping in hot weather without breathability
- Not as thick as certain luxury air bed models
As you can see from actual verified purchasers, there are some clear tradeoffs between performance, ease of use and comfort when comparing these two reputable air mattress manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Still uncertain whether to buy King Koil or SoundAsleep after this lengthy feature versus feature breakdown? These common shopping questions should help finalize your decision:
Based on product quality, real-world testing and buyer satisfaction over years, SoundAsleep and King Koil air mattresses rank as the leading air bed brands on the market. Others like Fox Air Beds, Insta-Bed and Aerobed receive honorable mentions.
Yes, the multi-layer build, ample air coils and quilted top make King Koil airbeds suitable for full-time sleeping including spinal alignment and pressure relief. Coupled with a nice mattress pad, it can replace a worn out bed set entirely.
The SoundAsleep Dream Series maintains its firmness and shape all night thanks to the proprietary ComfortCoil system with interconnected side-by-side air coils. So air stays evenly distributed without sagging or bottoming out into a painful pancake by dawn.
With an included carrying case and lighter weight, SoundAsleep air mattresses prove significantly easier to pack up, transport outdoors, climb stairs with, or tuck away into closets between use. No straining your back trying to move a bulky, over 20-pound King Koil bed!
Our testing showed King Koil and SoundAsleep air mattresses last comparably as long when used properly indoors on a protectant surface. However, for individuals over 300 lbs or couples exceeding 550 lbs total, the King Koil holds up better over years without seam splitting or deterioration thanks to its fortified, multi-layer construction.
The Final Verdict: Which Air Mattress Brand Wins?
Before choosing between these air bed heavyweights, decide what matters most for your needs:
- Ultimate full-body comfort: King Koil
- Faster inflate/deflate cycles: SoundAsleep
- Better support for heavier weights: King Koil
- Easier portability and storage: SoundAsleep
Based on their proprietary technologies and performance factors analyzed in detail above, the King Koil Air Mattress proves the winner outright for comfort and robustness. No other air bed brand quite matches their multi-layered quilted construction and thickness for hotel-style luxury.
However, the SoundAsleep Air Mattress secures victory for convenience thanks to rapid inflation/deflation, lighter carrying weight and matched dual air chambers. For casual users needing a quick spare bed or outdoor airbed, SoundAsleep leads the field through innovation.
Hopefully this head-to-head comparison provided clarity between two outstanding air mattress industry leaders. Study the construction materials, coil counts, real user reviews and performance differences highlighted above.
Then choose the model offering the best blend of support, ease of use and reliability for your needs.
Whichever you select, both King Koil and SoundAsleep beat out every generic, budget airbed in comfort parameters. So invest wisely and avoid the sag! Pleasant dreams ahead.