Number of air chambers
The number of air chambers — separate compartments filled with air — is provided in the mattress design.
The simplest option in this case is one common compartment for the entire shell; however, nowadays, you can also find multi-chamber products. Most often, this arrangement is associated more with the specifics of production than with practical utility. For example, in a mattress chair (see "Type"), it is more convenient to make the main shell and backrest in the form of two separate chambers; an inflatable raft in the form of an animal (see ibid.) may have wings or fins in separate compartments, etc. However, sometimes several chambers provide quite practical advantages. So, in traditional mattresses, a separate compartment is often provided for a headrest (see "Functions and Capabilities"); this, among other things, allows you to adjust the degree of inflation and stiffness of the headrest separately, independently of the rest of the surface of the product. And in the same inflatable rafts, in addition to the main shell, an inflatable bottom can be provided — it gives the product additional rigidity.
Also note that the presence of several air chambers provides a certain degree of additional safety when used on the water: in the event of damage, the air escapes only from the damaged compartment, and the mattress remains afloat.
Dimensions (LxWxT)
Dimensions of the mattress in the working (inflated) position.
Features of the choice according to these parameters depend on the type of product (see above); the length is usually the most important. So, a mattress for rest should ideally be somewhat longer than the user's height (at least 20 cm); so most of these models are made in length
180 – 200 cm, or even
more. Bathing mattresses can be comfortably used even with a relatively short length — it can even be slightly less than the user's height; therefore, such models are generally shorter. In chair mattresses, this size often
does not exceed 180 cm — in the expectation that a person's legs may well protrude beyond the limits of such a product; and inflatable rafts are mostly made short (although there are exceptions here and there).
In turn, the width is primarily related to the number of seats. So, a width
of 80 – 100 cm or
less is only suitable for single models. Among products where this size is
100 – 120 cm, there are also double solutions — however very specific, namely, mattress chairs in the shape of a figure eight. A width of
120 – 140 cm can already have double mattresses in a classic format (including models for relaxation), but they are mainly suitable
...for people of a thin build. For larger users, larger sizes of 140 – 160 cm or more are recommended.
As for the thickness, this is generally an auxiliary parameter — it is extremely rarely necessary both for selection and for use. We only note that in mattress chairs (see "Type") this size often means exactly the thickness of the main surface, and not the size of the structure in height (the height is noticeably larger, since it takes into account the presence of a backrest, headrest and/or bending of the main surface. It is also worth mentioning that thick home mattresses are already classified in another category of goods — inflatable furniture (such products are called air beds).