A Professional Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Waterbed
Buying a waterbed is an investment in your health and wellbeing. At Aquaglow Waterbeds, we want to remove the mystery from the process and help you tailor a sleep system that meets your exact needs. Use this guide to understand the key components of your future bed.
1. Choose Your Style: Softside vs. Hardside
While both styles offer the same high-quality hydrostatic support, the difference lies in the construction and how the water is contained.
- Softside Waterbeds: These feature a sturdy foam perimeter (or “bolsters”) that holds the water mattress in place. They look like a traditional deep-quilted mattress and are much easier to get in and out of.
- Hardside Waterbeds: These are the classic design, where a decorative wooden frame provides the structural support for the mattress.
2. Selecting the Right Size
Waterbeds come in various dimensions, but it is important to check the specific options on your chosen model. If you are opting for a hardside frame, please measure your room carefully, as the wooden surround can increase the overall footprint of the bed slightly compared to standard mattress sizes.
3. Dual Mattress Systems
For couples, we highly recommend a Dual Mattress System. This setup consists of two separate mattresses within one frame, allowing each person to:
- Independently control their own temperature via separate heaters.
- Minimize “motion transfer” when one partner moves.
- Select a different stability level (e.g., one partner may prefer a firmer feel while the other prefers more movement).
4. Understanding Mattress Stability
The unique support of a waterbed comes from the water itself, while built-in fibre layers control the movement (stability). We categorize our mattresses from Level 1 (Free Flow) to Level 5 (Extra Super Stable).
- T1000 (Free Flow): Ideal for those who enjoy the classic, gentle movement of water. With no fibre layers, it offers the most “wobbly” feel and up to 20 seconds of movement.
- T2500 (Semi-Stable): Features 4 layers of fibre to reduce movement by 50%, settling in about 8–10 seconds.
- T3500 (Stable): Our most popular balance for couples, offering 75% reduced movement and 6 layers of fibre depth.
- T4500 (Super Stable): Designed for those who want the support of water with minimal motion (95% reduced), settling in 2–3 seconds.
- T5500 (Extra Super Stable): Our most advanced stability level, offering 99% reduced movement. It feels virtually still while maintaining total pressure relief.
5. Customisation: Colour, Material, and Storage
Most of our bed designs offer a variety of finishes, stains, and materials to match your decor. Additionally, many models feature integrated under-bed storage drawers—a practical solution for maximizing space in your bedroom.
6. Precision Temperature Control
Every Aquaglow waterbed includes a high-efficiency Carbon Fibre heater. These are fully adjustable, allowing you to fine-tune the warmth of your bed at any time of year for optimum muscle relaxation and comfort.
Technical Note: Assessing Stability and Fill
To get the best performance from your Aquaglow mattress, please keep the following in mind:
- Settling Period: It takes approximately 3 months for a new mattress to fully settle. During this time, the internal fibres swell and stabilize. Assessments of motion made before this period may be inaccurate.
- User Weight: Our stability ratings are based on the intended number of users (e.g., two people for a King Size). Significant variations in the number of users will affect the stability timing.
- Optimal Water Depth: For the perfect balance of comfort and support, your mattress should be filled to a depth of 8–9 inches (203–228mm). Overfilling or underfilling can negatively impact both the lifespan of the vinyl and your sleep quality.
Whether you prefer the weightless feel of a free-flow system or the stillness of our extra-stable models, Aquaglow is here to ensure you find your perfect match.
