"There’s a Reason for the Itch After Camping"... Harmful Substances Found in Swiss Alpine Club Air Mattress and Others

Korea Consumer Agency Compares Quality of Seven Outdoor Air Mattresses
"Nomad (Air Bed D250)" Rated Highest for Durability
Best Value for Money: "Roticamp (Auto Pump Air Mattress Queen 220)"

With the surge in demand for camping during the autumn season, concerns have been raised as harmful substances were detected in some outdoor air mattresses.

The Korea Consumer Agency conducted tests on the presence of hazardous substances in the top seven products most frequently used by consumers. The results showed that two products-Swiss Alpine Club (Atlas Twin Airbed_Queen) and Kudi (PVC Air Mattress 25)-contained formaldehyde in the fabric parts that come into contact with the skin, exceeding safety standards. Formaldehyde is used as an additive in adhesives and detergents to prevent shrinkage and can cause allergic contact dermatitis or chronic bronchitis.

Comparison of the Top 7 Air Mattresses Used by Consumers

The products tested were selected through a survey of 500 consumers who had purchased outdoor air mattresses within the past three years. The products included: ▲Green Nature "Self-Inflating Camping Car Mat Foam Air Mattress" ▲Naturehike "NH C25 Air Mattress" ▲Nomad "Air Bed D250" ▲Roticamp "Auto Pump Air Mattress Queen 220" ▲Lukus "Balance Air Mattress Double 25" ▲Swiss Alpine Club "Atlas Twin Airbed_Queen" ▲Kudi "PVC Air Mattress 25".

Among these products, only the Swiss Alpine Club (Atlas Twin Airbed_Queen) met the relevant standards for product labeling. Regarding safety markings based on water play equipment standards, such as "Not a water play device," only the Roticamp (Auto Pump Air Mattress Queen 220) product was accurately labeled. However, all tested products failed to comply with the safety management guidelines for electrical and household products, as they omitted required information such as the manufacturing date for pumps.

Some products also needed improved safety warnings for infants and young children. Since air mattresses are filled with air and are softer than firm mattresses, there is a risk of suffocation for infants during sleep. Green Nature (Self-Inflating Camping Car Mat Foam Air Mattress), Naturehike (NH C25 Air Mattress), and Roticamp (Auto Pump Air Mattress Queen 220) lacked "Not for use by children under 3 years old" markings on the surface or only displayed the warning in English, indicating a need for improvement.

Durability: "Nomad" ... Value for Money: "Roticamp"

The Nomad (Air Bed D250) product was found to have the best durability. It received the highest ratings in both maximum contact pressure, which measures firmness, and in tensile and tear strength, which indicate resistance to external force.

In terms of convenience, Green Nature (Self-Inflating Camping Car Mat Foam Air Mattress) and Naturehike (NH C25 Air Mattress) were rated the highest. The time required to fully inflate the mattress with a pump was relatively short for Nomad (Air Bed D250) and Roticamp (Auto Pump Air Mattress Queen 220), both taking less than two minutes. These products also produced less noise during inflation.

For value for money (performance relative to price), Roticamp (Auto Pump Air Mattress Queen 220) was rated the best. Its price was 69,900 won, which was lower compared to Nomad (139,300 won) and Naturehike (83,500 won).

The Korea Consumer Agency stated, "Outdoor air mattresses come in various sizes and designs, so it is advisable to choose the product that best fits your usage environment and to carefully compare durability, pump performance, and price before making a purchase."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.