This air mattress (almost) feels like a real bed
Plus: This on-sale rug feels like a sweater ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  
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The Recommendation

July 29, 2026

Today: The most comfortable air mattress we’ve tested. Plus …

At last, an air mattress that won’t leak or sag

The Serta Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump laying in front of a sofa in a living space
Ruthie Darling/NYT Wirecutter

Yes, comfortable air mattresses do exist. One of our new favorites is a cushiony, substantial mattress that feels as close to a regular bed as it gets. Our testers loved the cushy, textured top — think: soft cushion, not bouncy castle. And it has the most efficient, convenient pump we’ve ever come across.

“It’s almost like I’m in my bed at home”→

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Plus: The 35 best host and hostess gifts

A range of hostess gifts, including Bananagrams, a glass avocado vase, a yellow pitcher, pineapple, and more.
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

If you’re staying overnight at someone’s place, you could, of course, show up with a bottle of wine. But if you’d like to bring something a bit more substantial to say thanks, we found a set of bright, boldly striped cotton napkins, a slim enamelware jug that comes in a bunch of fun colors, and more.

33 more beautiful, unexpected treasures→

More for your guests

A bed fitted with the Target Threshold 400 Thread Count Performance Sheet Set, depicted inside of an illustrated picture frame.

Cotton sheets that feel more expensive than they are

We’ve loved these light, breezy, and well-made sheets for more than a decade→

Four of our top pick bath towels, from Frontgate, Riley, Fieldcrest, and the Onsen Bath Towel.

The best bath towel

It’s the softest, plushest, and most durable we’ve ever tested→

A white sleeper sofa in a living room setting

Actually comfortable sleeper sofas

Most sleeper sofas are janky and creaky, but we found three that are actually nice to sleep on→

Muji Cotton Plain Weave Insole Slippers

Grab-and-go slippers

Make any spare room feel like a little fancier with these minimalist slip-ons→

Your daily deal: A rug that feels like a knit sweater

Rugs USA Softest Knit Wool Rug in the color Tan on top of a teal background.
Rugs USA

This cozy wool and cotton rug is excellent for living rooms and bedrooms because it has a lovely, curl-up-with-a-good-book feel. But you don’t have to be too precious with it: We’ve been testing one for years in a high-traffic basement, and it still looks fantastic.

We found it for $300 off right now→

One last thing: A gigantic Margaritaville mixer

The Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker on display next to a bottle of tequila, triple sec, and a lime within a orange colored illustrative frame.
NYT Wirecutter

To make drinks for your happy, well-rested guests, might we suggest this slightly ridiculous frozen-cocktail maker? Writer Evan Dent, who received one as a wedding gift, uses his to make crowd-pleasing batches of frosé or margs. Cheers.

“What initially seemed like a bit of a one-use plaything was suddenly a consistent source of joy”→

Independent reviews, expert advice and intensively researched deals from Wirecutter experts.

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