Why do I keep getting holes in the seams of my air mattress?

Gear Question
1

The first time I got a hole in my air mattress, I figured it was because I overfilled it. But then, I was more careful not to fill it too much the next time, and I still woke up to a hole. Now, I haven’t added air to it for over a week, and it seemed fine until the temperature jumped to around 20°C, causing the air to expand. It felt fuller, but not overfilled, yet I woke up to a flat mattress again. Each time, the leak is at the seams where the mattress forms those Pringle-like edges.

My city’s temperature fluctuates a lot, sometimes by 20 degrees within a day. Could that be the problem? Did the warmer air cause it to overexpand? Do air mattresses not last more than a couple of weeks of regular use? I’ve used air mattresses while camping in warmer weather and never had issues like this.

2

Which brand is the mattress? It sounds like it’s low quality. Temperature swings shouldn’t cause this.

3

Sounds like a cheaply made product.

4

Landry said:
Sounds like a cheaply made product.

It could be that, or maybe I’m still overfilling it despite trying to account for temperature changes. I made sure it wasn’t too full, and it was fine for the first two days with similar temps, so I’m not sure.

5

What’s the model? You should ask the manufacturer what they think.

6

Blaze said:
What’s the model? You should ask the manufacturer what they think.

It’s an Ozark Trail Queen Air Bed from Walmart. Here’s the link: Ozark Trail Air Bed.

7

@Hayes
That makes sense. I’d return it and either get a refund or try a different brand.

8

Blaze said:
@Hayes
That makes sense. I’d return it and either get a refund or try a different brand.

Unfortunately, Walmart only offers exchanges. I’ll have to deflate this one and get a replacement.

9

@Hayes
Just so you know, Ozark Trail is a Walmart brand.

10

Blaze said:
@Hayes
Just so you know, Ozark Trail is a Walmart brand.

You’re right. I should’ve known better than to take the word of a store employee. I’ve seen Ozark Trail products elsewhere, but maybe they were at liquidation stores. Some people say Ozark Trail products are good value for the price compared to more expensive brands, but I guess that’s not always true.

11

Stop buying gear from low-quality stores like Temu. I’ve used a Big Agnes for years and never had this problem, even with cheaper Amazon knockoffs.

12

Remington said:
Stop buying gear from low-quality stores like Temu. I’ve used a Big Agnes for years and never had this problem, even with cheaper Amazon knockoffs.

This one’s from Walmart, not Temu. The first one was a different brand.

13

@Hayes
Ok, so you bought something cheap from Walmart, which is also known for low-quality products.

14

Remington said:
@Hayes
Ok, so you bought something cheap from Walmart, which is also known for low-quality products.

Nothing you’ve said makes sense. First, you assumed I was buying from Temu, and now you’re equating Walmart and Canadian Tire with low-quality brands. Not everything that isn’t top-tier should break after a few days. You’re acting like expecting something to last more than a few nights is unreasonable. Are you being deliberately ignorant?

It’s not a high-end expedition; it’s just regular use. Expecting an average product to last more than a few days isn’t irrational.