Additional items and accessories included with the product. This may be, in particular,
a pillow,
a mechanical or
electric pump(both varieties are also
built-in ; there are also models
without a pump),
repair kit and
bag-case. Here is a more detailed description of each option:
— Pillow. Separately made inflatable pillow (or two pillows — in double models). Such equipment is found mainly in mattresses for rest (see "Type") and is intended primarily for field conditions. Using an inflatable pillow in such conditions is more convenient than an impromptu support like a folded jacket; and when deflated, such a product takes up much less space than a traditional pillow. Also note that in some products, complete pillows are attached to the mattress and can recline, but not be removed; such attachments count as both cushions and head restraints (see "Features").
— Pump. The presence of a pump (in the delivery set or design) eliminates the need to look for it separately; and using such a device for pumping is much more convenient than inflating a mattress with the power of your own lungs — especially with large sizes and a large volume of the product. Types of complete pumps can be as follows:
- Mechanical pump. A separat...ely made pump driven by the muscular power of the user. To pump up a mattress with such a device, you will have to spend a certain amount of effort — sometimes quite a lot. On the other hand, even such a procedure is less tedious than inflation without a pump; at the same time, mechanical devices do not depend on power supplies and can be used even in complete “separation from civilization”. In addition, they are generally not afraid of moisture (although there is still no need to “bath” such a device once again).
- Mechanical built-in pump. A pump driven by the user's muscle power, built right into the mattress shell. For more on mechanical pumps in general, see above; the built-in device usually has the form of a special compartment with a set of valves hidden in the depths of the shell. Such a compartment is made of elastic materials and is compressed and unclenched during use, usually by pressing with the foot; when compressed, the air from the compartment is released into the shell, and when expanded, another portion of outside air enters the tank. The main advantage of built-in pumps is obvious: they are always at hand, you can only lose such a device together with the mattress. On the other hand, such equipment complicates the design, increases its cost and somewhat reduces reliability: a broken pump can disable the entire product, and, usually, it cannot be replaced — the entire mattress will have to be changed.
- Electric pump. Separately made pump, powered by an electric motor; as a power source, usually, an ordinary socket is used. The main advantage of this option is that no physical effort is required for pumping at all — just connect and turn on the pump; this is especially convenient when it comes to a large mattress. On the other hand, such units cost much more than mechanical ones; at the same time, without sockets, they become useless, and water ingress can disable the electric pump and even lead to electric shock. Therefore, this option is found exclusively in certain models intended for recreation (see "Type").
- Electric built-in pump. An electric type pump built directly into the mattress — usually in a shell from one of the ends. The general features of such units are described above; here we note that the built-in electric pumps of the type are also used in mattresses for rest, and they are found in them even somewhat more often than separately made ones. This is primarily due to the general ease of use: when pumping, you don’t need to mess with the connection, it’s enough to “plug the mattress into a socket” and start the process; you can lose such a pump only together with the product itself; in addition, many models provide the possibility of the pump operation not only for pumping the shell, but also for venting air from it. The main disadvantage of embedded devices compared to external ones is the relatively high cost; in addition, in the event of a breakdown, such equipment cannot be replaced separately. However, in this case, the shell usually provides a valve for an external pump, so that the mattress remains usable.
— No pump. The absence of a pump in the delivery set (or design) is typical for two types of mattresses. The first is small-sized products that can be easily inflated without a pump; most of these products have a "water" specialization. The second variety is large mattresses (mainly for relaxation) that require pumps, but are sold without them. This configuration is convenient primarily because the pump can be selected at your discretion, without relying on the manufacturer's decision; in addition, it can be useful if a suitable device for pumping is already available on the farm and there is no need to overpay for it once again.
— Repair kit. A set of accessories for minor repair of the shell. Such a kit is unlikely to cope with serious damage, but with its help it is quite possible to “heal” a small puncture or cut without having special tools and equipment at hand — even in the field. Such an opportunity is useful even for home use; and for field trips, a repair kit is highly desirable. As for the composition, almost any such kit includes patches (sometimes self-adhesive); in addition to them, the kit may include adhesives for patches, sealants for sealing seams, simple tools, etc. Note that mattress repair kits are also sold separately; however, the "native" repair kit, usually, is optimally suited for the corresponding product, while such compatibility is not guaranteed with third-party solutions.
— Bag-case. A device for storing and transporting a mattress; usually comes in the form of a soft case with handles to make it easier to carry. Most often, such an accessory is found in leisure models (see "Type"). Products of this type usually have a fairly thick shell and take up a lot of space even when deflated; the case, on the other hand, provides a very compact package; for this, compression straps can even be provided in its design. Another function of bags is to protect the product from dirt and various adverse factors (primarily ultraviolet radiation). Impromptu packaging can also be used for similar purposes; however, complete accessories are usually more convenient and functional.
The total weight of the mattress The lighter the product, the more convenient it is to carry; at the same time, thinner materials are often used to reduce weight than in similar models, which accordingly affects both the maximum load (see above) and overall reliability.
