#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Mattress Reviews - Summary Memory Foam Mattress Reviews Memory Foam Hybrid Reviews Adjustable Bed Base Reviews Memory Foam Density - Higher Vs Lower Memory Foam Vs Latex Sleep Number Bed Reviews Tempurpedic vs Sleep Number Mattresses and Sex Comparison Mattresses and (Back) Pain Research Mattress Warranties: What You Should Know Buying a Mattress Online: What You Should Know Returning a Mattress: What You Should Know Mattress Buyer's Guide For Large, Heavy Persons Ratings > Waterbed Reviews Waterbed Mattress Reviews and Ratings Based on 602 Actual Consumer Experiences What You Need To Know THE GOOD: Contours to body for reduced pressure points • good longevity possible • often inexpensive • largely dust mite resistant • temperature control. THE BAD: Can leak / be punctured • heavy • set up and maintenance not easy • noise and initial odor potential • possible heating expense.
THE BEDS: Waterbeds come mainly in two types: hard-sided and soft-sided. A hard-sided waterbed (more common of the two) consists of a water chamber inside a wood frame placed on a deck and platform. A soft-sided waterbed looks like a conventional bed. It consists of a water chamber encased inside a frame of sturdy foam and fabric placed on a platform. THE COMPETITION: Waterbeds tend to compete mostly with airbeds. See how waterbeds compare to airbeds and other bed types in the mattress type comparison. THE RESEARCH: This page rates only waterbed mattresses – meaning not the frame or any other aspect of the beds including liner, heater, pad, fill/drain and hose. Consumer data was gathered using an unbiased, accurate methodology. The table below shows how waterbeds as a group compare to the average mattress. Waterbeds overall have 74% owner satisfaction. Punctures / leaks are the top complaint of hardside waterbed owners. Most punctures / leaks are caused by cats, zippers, pens, pencils.
Punctures / leaks can often be easily repaired. With good maintenance, waterbeds can last for over a decade. Hardside waterbed mattresses often are $50-$400, while softside ones often cost $800-$1800. Higher priced models have more features, namely wave reduction and lumbar support. In general and compared to other mattress types, support is not a strength of waterbeds. About 15% of owners report (back) pain relief, while 9% complain that their bed causes pain. (See mattresses and pain relief for more analysis.) Also, the "hard side" of hardside waterbeds may be uncomfortable when getting on or off the bed. Waterbeds contour to the body as well as, if not better than, other mattress types. The result is a mostly even distribution of one's weight and reduced pressure points. A mattress with good motion isolation absorbs movement from spreading across the bed and keeps one's partner from being disturbed. Single bladder, free flow waterbeds perform poorly, while dual bladder, waveless models can perform fairly well.
Motion of the bed causes sea sickness-like symptoms for about 3% of owners. Waterbeds tend to have resistance to large dust mite populations because the mites cannot enter into the water chamber. This can reduce allergies for some people. No initial odor / off gassing About 17% of waterbed owners report a significant and bothersome initial odor, usually from the vinyl. Waterbeds are generally quiet if air is removed from inside; otherwise the water may be heard (swishing, sloshing). In addition, the heater may make some noise. The mattresses are more likely to sleep cold (without the use of a heater) than they are to sleep hot. For the majority of owners, the beds are viewed as no better than average on this issue. See mattresses and sex for more info. Short break in period Hardside waterbeds tend to have a somewhat faster break-in period than softside. Easy to set up A main disadvantage compared to most other mattress types. Setting up / assembling a waterbed requires considerable time and effort.
A water conditioner should be added occasionally, and the water level needs to be maintained. On the positive side, the mattress never needs to be flipped / turned. Easy to lift, handle, move Waterbeds are the heaviest type of bed and can weigh as much as 1,000 pounds whenMoving the bed is difficult and time consuming because you must drain the bed to move it. Energy use / cost Waterbeds are usually heated (at least in the winter) to prevent an uncomfortably cold sleep surface. Heating water takes significant energy and will result in somewhat higher electricity costs. The table below compares waterbed mattresses that have at least 84% owner satisfaction based on a sample of 40+ consumer experiences. The mattresses below are all suited for traditional hard-sided (wooden) waterbed frames. Blue Magic Fiber 1000 Blue Magic Fiber 3500 super single, queen, king super single, twin, full, queen, king Waveless or Free Flow 12 yrs total (3 yrs full coverage and 9 yrs prorated)