If I have any choice in the matter, I prefer my rollaway guest bed to elevate me off the floor supported by a flexible slat system, above a sturdy frame. In my case, and being allergy-sensitive, it is much better for me to be sleeping raised off the floor where dust and other sensitizing agents are kept at a distance.

I’ve tried out the metal-mesh-and-spring guest beds as well as the poly-deck-and-spring guest beds, and find neither very comfortable. They sag to some uncomfortable degree or another unless they have special supports at key locations. Both metal slats and wooden slats perform admirably and without sag in rollaway guest beds, and are supportive enough to allow me a good night’s sleep.

Although heavier and bulkier, and more expensive to ship, rollaway guest beds with heavy-duty frames are also much more durable and resistant to accidental damage. Personally, I think there is nothing worse than sleeping on an uncomfortable cot-type guest bed that is so cheap that you don’t dare breathe for fear that the bed will collapse or fall over.

In this class, the best bed that I’ve come across so far is the LuxurGuest Rollaway Guest Bed, which I could sleep on every night. It is such a sturdy and comfortable folding guest bed on wheels that I recommend it as the Number One choice — I haven’t seen anything better.

The memory foam folding guest bed that I found to replace the Isotonic was the MemoRest Folding Guest Bed by Absolute Comfort on Sale (absolutecomfortonsale.com). This folding foam bed is very similar to the Isotonic, but a whole lot more comfortable – and I definitely enjoyed the memory foam feel. This is a truly fabulous and compact guest bed which is available in three sizes (small, medium, and large), in contrast to the one size of Isotonic. This unit comes complete with memory foam and a sturdy cotton cover that looks durable. As with everything “foam”, this model also had some of that “new foam smell” to it for awhile. It aired out just fine.

Wanting to have my guest bed elevated above the floor, I next tried the ClassicComfort Rollaway Guest Bed model. In contrast to the folding guest beds I’d used earlier, this model sports a metal frame that put me up and off the floor, complete with springy wooden slats for extra cushion. Although there is no memory foam in this mattress, the combination of foam and innerspring, along with those wooden slats, provided a comfortable rest. The bed folded up and rolled into the closet on four wheels, which I had to attach when the bed first came out of the box. A very nice guest bed, though less compact than the folding guest beds.

Finally, I had a chance to try the LuxurGuest Rollaway Guest Bed model. This was my favorite guest bed, and it is indeed the “cadillac” of guest beds. This is by far the most sturdy, handsome, and well-built guest bed I’ve ever seen. Kind of the “hummer” or “escalade” of rollaway guest beds. In my opinion, the heavy-duty square tubular metal frame, elevating head section, headboard, and 5 ½” foam-and-innerspring mattress supported on thick wooden support slats all ads up to a luxury-class sleeper. The downside is that the bed is quite large and thick when folded up, though with the optional storage cover, I found it easy enough to roll into the corner of the room for storage. My only comment is that I’d have preferred an all-foam mattress on this bed over their standard foam-and-innerspring combination.

It was necessary, you know, because there’s only one extra bed in my house, but I didn’t want one of those saggy spring jobs. Well, after the first night, the girls really surprised me – they had an argument over who would use the new roll away guest bed. They had stayed up late talking and watching TV, and apparently they really liked the adjustable head and back elevation and the comfortable orthopedic mattress. Each of the girls wanted to sleep on that new guest bed, so I decided to let them work it out between themselves – and I think they ended up taking turns.

Now, I feel great about my holiday company coming, and having a good place for extra guests to sleep comfortably. I no longer worry about it – in fact, I’ve decided to get another LuxurGuest Rollaway. The two of them will fit nicely in my closets, and I’m also going to get the optional covers this time to help keep them from the dust.

– Elizabeth, NC