Waterbed Mattress: Waveless Hardside and Softside Systems

Waterbeds are not as popular as they once were. However there is a dedicated group of people who swear by the comfort level of this sleep system. Many people like the heated water in the winter when they go to bed. Another feature is there are virtually no pressure points generated when sleeping on water. The downside of waterbeds is that some maintenance is required. You may get an occasional leak to patch or a bladder to replace.

It is my experience that people will buy a water systems because they slept on them when they were younger, changed to a more conventional mattress and have not slept as comfortably. Or they have been on water most or all their life and change from a Hardside system to a Softsided flotation system.

Traditional Hardside Water Systems

This is the basic style of water bed that comes to mind for most people. A hardside bed means that a wood frame with 8" rails around the sides help contain the water mattress. A hardside is built from the bottom with either a riser system or drawers. The riser or drawers acts as a pedestal base for the bed. On top of the base, decking is placed for support of bottom area of the mattress. Next, the 8" rail system is placed and mounted to the decking creating a “Well” for the water mattress. A typical waterbed wood frame will have a Bookcase style headboard. Inside the well of the bed is where the heater is placed. Then a stand up liner is next to collect and retain any leakage. Finally the water mattress is placed and filled.Hardside Bed Sizes (Dimensions)

SuperSingle Or Super Twin = 48x84 inches (No basic mattress equivalent)
Queen or CalQueen = 60x84 inches (Standard Queen = 60x80 inches)
Cal King = 72x84 inches. (Standard King Mattress = 76x84 inches)

Notice that the length of the above systems is all 84 inches. This is why normal sheets do not work with waterbeds. Waterbed sheets and supplies are harder to find at local retailers.

Hardside Waterbed Mattress Choices.

Free Flow MattressMost people who sleep on water started with a Free Flow or (aka Full Motion) mattress. This is what many people relate to when thinking of waterbeds. A free flow mattress is essentially a bag of water. Lots of motion and not so much body support.

Semi-Waveless or Waveless Mattress

Eventually most people will change to a waveless mattress as they get older. A waveless mattress has layers (sheets) of fiber that is inside the mattress and attached at each corner of the mattress. The fiber goes from head to toe and side to side. The fiber inside the mattress absorbs the water and reducing motion as well as being more supportive. Each sheet of fiber is approximately 1 1/4 inches thick. The more sheets of this fiber add to the mattress, the less motion and more support there is. The most waveless mattress usually has an extra foam lumbar support inserted to reduce the hammocking effect free flow mattresses have.

My experience is if you now have a basic free flow mattress, do not to go to the most waveless style mattress. These mattresses are surprising firm, with very little motion. Usually, an in between level is a good transition. It is always a good idea to lie on any mattress before you buy. However, it may be difficult to find a retailer in your area.

Where To Buy Waterbed Sheets

Softsided Flotation Systems

Soft Sided Flotation Beds

You may be surprised if you are not familiar with a Softsided Flotation beds. To look at the mattress it would appear to be a conventional mattress. The mattress sits on top of a box foundation and the mattress itself can look like a regular pillowtop mattress. The mattress top has a zipped on cover. Inside the mattress are durable foam rails much like the wood rails on a wood waterbed frame. These rails create a well for the water mattress.

WaveLess and Dual Mattresses

A basic Softside flotation system can have a semi waveless mattress inside. Upgraded systems have 2 mattresses inside the cover. A king size mattress for instance can have a left sided water mattress and a right side. You can then fill and heat each side to the comfort level of each sleeper. One side can be heated and the other side may not even have the heater turned on. The top end Floatation Systems have the dual mattresses inside and also have 3 inch memory and or latex foam overlays on each side of the bed.

These mattresses are extremely comfortable!

Another benefit of Floatation systems are you can put them on any type of bed frame. They can go into a sleigh bed, 4 poster beds, virtually any bed frame. Just make sure that your bed frame has center supports (feet) on the slats. A heavy duty metal bed frame without wheels work also.

You will use regular sheets also because the mattress is made in traditional sizes (King, Queen, full and twin).

Bottom Line:

I would not direct shoppers to water systems if they are not familiar with them; however they are a good comfortable sleep system.