Waterbed mattresses have come a long way since the simple bladder that was introduced in the 1960s. Once you determine how much movement you want in your waterbed mattress, what kind of support you need, and what style will work for you best, you can find the right mattress for your needs and budget.
Many people enjoy the feel of waterbeds, but don’t put much thought into the mattress on the bed. They don’t realize that there are different kinds of waterbed mattresses, just like there are in regular mattresses. An informed customer and can make a knowledgeable decision. Knowledge is the key to satisfaction, especially in something like a waterbed mattress that you spend up to 1/3 of your life lying on. What are the different kinds of waterbed mattresses?
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Free Flow Mattress:
This mattress is what most people think of when they think of a waterbed mattress. This is the one where the water freely flows around the entire mattress. It gives you a feeling of rocking on water, much like being on a boat. That can be a good thing to many people because the gently rocking lulls them to sleep. Some people, however, don’t sleep soundly and toss and turn, which can make it difficult for the person beside you to sleep because they are continually “riding the waves” when you turn over. Also, if there is a large weight difference between the two occupants in the mattress, then one person may be up higher than the other. Keep all of these factors in mind when choosing a waterbed mattress.
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Hydraulic Mattress:
This style of waterbed is filled with tiny little coils that are filled with water and they float on the top part of the mattress. The great thing about these coils is that they give the water mattress more stability than in a free flow mattress and help to even out the mattress if there is a weight discrepancy between two people on the mattress. If you like firmer mattresses, then you just need to find one with more coils. The more coils in your waterbed mattress, then the firmer it will be.
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Fiber-Fill Mattress:
This waterbed mattress, sometimes also called a baffled waterbed, has fiber inside of the mattress along with the water. The more fiber in the mattress, then the firmer it will be. This mattress is great if you like the feel of the mattress, but don’t want all of the waves and movement that is found in other waterbed mattresses.
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Coil Mattress:
This mattress is filled with water-filled coils. The coils, which don’t act like conventional spring coils, are held in place inside the waterbed bladder by the support system. Depending on the quality of the mattress, the coils are encased in a vinyl cover and then covered with fiber; the more fiber, the more comfortable (even for larger sleepers), and the more expensive the coil waterbed. There is often a plastic mesh cloth layered between the coils and the fiber for extra protection.
Waterbed mattresses come packaged in different ways too. You can buy the waterbed mattress bladder, lay it carefully inside a wooden frame with heater, cover it with a mattress pad, and be on your way. The other extreme is buying a waterbed that’s beautifully encased in a traditional-looking mattress frame that you can set on a foundation and be on your way with no further fuss. You can buy waterbed mattresses with different levels of motion, and support or firmness.
You can find waterbed mattresses at most mattress stores. You only need to determine what kind of mattress that appeals to you so that you will not be overwhelmed by all of the choices. A good mattress store will offer you some sort of trial period to try out the mattress, so ask if your store offers you this. It is impossible to gauge how a mattress will feel until you sleep on it for a few nights, making a trial period a good idea.
Though there are waterbed mattress manufacturers, most major mattress manufacturers also manufacture waterbed mattresses. Finding a good quality mattress is not difficult. Just be sure that you have a warranty and a trial period that meets your needs and you will be on your way to sleeping on water in no time.