Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress Review
The Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress is an innovative solution to adding or expanding a van’s sleeping area.
I have the Front Cab Air Mattress for a 2023 Sprinter van, but the mattress is available for Ford, Ram, Winnebego, and Mercedes-Benz vans. It’s a two-piece inflatable system that uses a wireless rechargeable pump to inflate.
Despite the company stating it won’t accommodate anyone above 5’7″ / 170 cm. However, I’m 5′ 10.5″ / 179 cm and could extend on the mattress comfortably (albeit tightly). However, if I add my window shades and account for my head being lower on a pillow, it’s a bit short.
Here’s everything you want to know about the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress.
Pros and Cons
+ Packs down small enough to be easily stored away
+ Optional fitted sheet helps keep things clean
+ Available for a wide variety of vans
+ Inflates in five minutes with included pump
– Not long enough for sleepers over 5’7″ / 170 cm to fully extend (but that’sdebatable)
– Included pump is loud and only charges via UCB-A to USB-C
– No free returns
The Specs
- Weight: 13 lb / 5.9 kg
- Packed Size (in): 10 x 22
- Packed Size (cm): 25.4 x 55.9
- Material: 300D Oxford Nylon
- Sleeping length: ~5’7” / 170 cm
- Color: Gray
- Warranty: 1 year
- MSRP: $499.99
Photo Gallery
The Good
The Comfort: The Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress is much more comfortable than expected – even with it being advertised as not suitable for sleepers over 5’7″ / 170 cm. If you wanted to upgrade the sleeping area, I would suggest putting a firm, flat piece of something (like wood?) resting between the two front seats to eliminate the gap between them (where someone sleeping on the mattress could fall through).
The Compactness: I was worried the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress would take up a huge amount of space in my van and that it wouldn’t be suitable for simply leaving in the back for whenever the need to deploy it presented itself. However, the mattress packs down relatively small and can be easily stored (I recommend storing it with the sheet on – if you have one). It’s something that I’ll have no problem finding a spot for in my storage setup.
The Inflation Time: I can’t say that I’ve iflated a ton of front cab air mattresses, but the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress inflates in around five minutes and that seems reasonably quick. The bottom section takes around three minutes to inflate and the top portion of the mattress inflates in around two minutes. The included pump
The Okay
The Size: It’s no fault of the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress and instead a result of the van itself, but it’s worth pointing out the mattress doesn’t allow anyone over 5’7″ / 170 cm to lie down fully extended (kind of). If you’re taller than that and thinking this will give you an easy-to-use bed solution for your van, remember that you’ll be limited by space between the front doors of your van; in my case, a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. However, I can still fully extend (I’m 5′ 10.5″ / 179 cm) albeit with my head and feet both grazing the windows. That is to say, I can still get a good night’s sleep on the mattress and don’t need to resort to the fetal position.
The Cost: The $500 price tag of the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress isn’t exorbitant, but it also wouldn’t be considered an inexpensive purchase. It’s nearly the cost of what a comparably-sized traditional mattress costs. Fortunately, it comes with everything you need to get it functional (minus the optional top sheet). If you have the floor space, a traditional sleeping pad down the middle of the van could be a less expensive alternative.
The Noise: Unfortunately, the pump for the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress is quite loud – I wouldn’t want to use it at a campground after quiet hours. It’s not so loud that it’s going to damage your hearing, but it’s definitely loud enough that it would make having a conversation difficult. You could pre-inflate the top part of the mattress, but the bottom part needs to be inflated after you’ve parked the van since it needs to be fit in front of the driver’s seat.
The Bad
The Warranty: Luno Life offers a one-year warranty with your mattress purchase. However, they offer a lifetime warranty for an additional $20. I’m not a fan of retailers offering paid warranties for products, and it’s strange to see a product manufacturer offering similar warranty coverage. This isn’t a $5,000 computer; it’s a $500 mattress made for the outdoors. I would hope that the standard warranty would be a bit more robust. The extended warranty covers seemingly anything (including pet damage and knife punctures). It’s also worth noting the standard one-year warranty states, “All original mattress items (mattress topper, base extenders, air pump, and carrying case) must be sent back to Luno to receive a replacement mattress,” so make sure you save any unused accessories.
The Charging: The Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress comes with a wireless pump that uses USB-C to charge. Excellent. However, the pump will only charge via a standard USB-A to USB-C connection. I attempted to charge the pump with multiple quick charge USB-C to USB-C cables and none of them worked to charge the pump. If you’re like me and use C-to-C cables to charge everything, you’ll need to be sure to have an extra USB-A to USB-C cable on hard to charge the pump (there is one included with the mattress).
The Inhibiting: I didn’t know what else to title this section. but it’s basically a note on how the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress inhibits your ability to quickly start driving (maybe not a big issue if you’re in a campground but it could be an issue if you have to quickly get out of a situation elsewhere) and, to a lesser degree, your ability to open the doors. The mattress covers both of the interior door handles and you’ll have to pull up the mattress and reach your hand down to access them. Doors can still be opened from the inside, but it’s trickier than it would be otherwise.
The Returns: Unfortunately, if you decide you want to return your mattress, you’ll be charged $25 for return shipping. Any shipping charges you incurr during the mattress’s original shipping will not be refunded. Hopefully, information like this review can help make sure you know whether you want the mattress before ordeing one yourself.
Wrap Up
The Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress is a great way to increase the sleeping capacity of your van easily; or to give you a more comfortable place to sleep.
It’s made my life easier, and it’s something I have no issues keeping around to offer up to van guests when they’re in need of somewhere to sleep at our campsite when it’s raining and all they have is a tent and a car that’s too small to sleep in.
Questions, comments, or personal experience with the Luno Life Front Cab Air Mattress? Leave a comment below, or get in touch and let me know! Check out the Zpacks Duplex Zip here.
Rating + Recommendation
Summary
The Zpacks Duplex Zip Tent is a lightweight and innovative outdoor shelter for backpackers and campers. It features a unique zippered entry on both sides, enhancing convenience and ventilation while maintaining its ultralight design. The Duplex Zip offers a versatile and comfortable camping experience for those seeking lightweight adventure with its spacious interior, durable construction, and minimalistic setup.
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Weight
(5)
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Ease of Set-up
(3.75)
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Weather Resistance
(4.25)
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Durability
(3.5)
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Packed Size
(4)
Overall
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$500 and only a 1-year warranty!? No Thank You!
Honestly, it would be better if they just charged the extra $20 for the lifetime warranty without saying anything and then just offered a lifetime warranty to everyone.