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Anyone had a waterbed? What was it like?

I didnt know those were still made.! My friend had one it's fun for having company over. Wierd though. They have a heater,so super warm for winter. Also they can be filled more or less to change the support. Special sheets? I cant remember.

I wouldn't buy one for every day. Guest room maybe. I like memory foam pillow tops
 
I had a full floatation one in the 80’s, it was a queen and I LOVED it! No baffles so when the cat walked across it I felt like a gentle wave go through the bed, very relaxing. Taking a warm bath without getting wet!

The con, if your with someone and their weight is real different, then somebody is gonna be sleeping on a hill - that part sucked, it was usually me that was on the hill and it hurt my back real bad the next day. So by yourself or someone the same size then good, 20 lbs difference and there will be a hill from my experience. Also, if needed to be heated up then it would take hours - like if the temp dropped one night unexpectedly then it was a bit too cool for me.

Also another con if your a drinker (I’m not, use to be) it will give you the bed spins real bad and difficult to hang a leg over the side. BTDT.
 
Good points. And if the heavier person moves a lot, it's like a tsunami wave each time they shift and you hold on to the frame for dear life. The one l tried made a sloshing sound which my aspie ears hated. Maybe it wasn't filled up enough. And getting wedged between the bed frame and the waterbed, like you stick your foot down in your sleep and get stuck. And the sheets never stayed tucked in because l would be on the waterbed itself. It felt a little to buoyant to me, you can't really snuggle down and not move, you will be constantly shifting which can be unnerving if you like solid unmovable mattresses. If it's filled completely then perhaps this is less of an issue. But make sure not to put sharp objects on it. And yes - they can leak. If you move, l guess you need a backward pump to remove water and some time.
 
yeah I was wondering how you pump the water out if you don't want it anymore. You fill it with the hose I guess.

It's just for me so a single - it's for pressure points, I'm a bit of a bed person, I'm in it a lot.
 
I had one back in the 70s for a couple of years before somebody broke in while I was in Montreal on a job and slashed it. Did horrible things to the hardwood floor in my absence. Anyway, it was the only bed I have slept on which made it possible for me to fall asleep on my back and get an uninterrupted restful night's sleep. I also believe that current water bed technology has seen some advances since then.
 
Our honeymoon night and unsuspecting, so it was a whoa from us and at the time, hubby was a smoker, so we made a joke and I cannot swim and the experience was less than pleasant. Could barely turn around; such a struggle.
 
I’ve only spent about 5 minutes on one in my life, when I was little - but I enjoyed the feeling so much that I have always remembered it! I would worry too much about leaks and feeling uncomfortable after some time, so I never got one.
 
I had one. It was too easy to slosh back and forth. I got tired of it. Also it was a little too cold.
A drain plug is provided on it for attaching to a hose for removing water, which you let go down the tub or outside.
 
One thing to keep in mind, water beds are very, very heavy. A queen sized water bed weighs about 1500 lbs when filled.
If you live on the second floor (first for Brits) of a rented apartment your lease may state that you can not have one! The ground floor may not be a problem but check your lease.
 
I'm in a small brick house - floorboards on stone supports, and it's only a single, but yeah, thanks so much for the feedback everyone.
 
Richelle-H said:
I had one back in the 70s for a couple of years before somebody broke in while I was in Montreal on a job and slashed it. Did horrible things to the hardwood floor in my absence. Anyway, it was the only bed I have slept on which made it possible for me to fall asleep on my back and get an uninterrupted restful night's sleep. I also believe that current water bed technology has seen some advances since then.
Click to expand...

I'd love to try backsleeping, I just don't find it possible in a conventional mattress - currently with side sleeping it's like pillow under the top calf and hug pillow under the shoulder, so...back sleeping appeals. You have to prop up the top part of the body with side sleeping.
 
I had a "waveless' one over thirty-five years ago. When I turned over in bed, being pregnant for my first child, I practically washed my husband over the side. I don't know about the current ones.
 
We’ve been through a lot of mattresses in the 5 years of marriage, he is 100 pounds heavier that I am, not fat just big boned and a big person and I’m a shrinking old lady. We found a Sterns and Foster bed is really nice. Still wasn’t perfect we had sore spots due to age stuff. Those gel/memory foam pads were out of the question, way too hot. We got a 3” old fashioned egg crate foam topper and that made it just right, not too soft and you don’t sink like the memory foam, memory foam isn’t friendly for those that get night sweats, it’s horrible when that happens.

I loved my waterbed, if you sleeping alone then it still could be a choice (and like @Suzette said, as long as the floor can handle it). If the cooler weather sneaks up on you then you could put an electric blanket under you...but then again, if you got a leak that would be serious bad. I rarely had the bed leak and it was easy to fix IMHO. If they still have the kits to fix holes you can do it when the bed is still full of water. Honestly, alone I slept the best in my water bed and miss it - reminded me of sleeping on a sail boat with the rocking motion.

Edited to add: The egg crate made it to where I can sleep on my back, both my hips have itis stuff in them and sometimes my back is the only way I can sleep. BTW, now days I seem to get my best sleep in a Lazy Boy with an electric heating pad for my legs (bad circulation). Those will set your head up if need be, real comfortable!
 
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Speaking of better mattresses, the best purchase we ever made was a latex foam mattress. It has great give and conforms nicely to bubble butts and pointy parts (like elbows) but is also supportive. And it's not hot! This is important since we live in the semi tropics.
 
Best to consider insurance and legal/contractual issues before purchasing a waterbed. Particularly if you are a renter, with a lease that may well prohibit their use.

Apart from the weight and load, if they should burst, such a sudden release of water can be quite damaging.
 
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My only experience with a waterbed was one that bottomed out during certain vigorous activities. Fill it up hard enough to keep that from happening and it was uncomfortable like laying on an overinflated balloon.

I'd rather go with a high quality inflatable foam mattress. I can sleep very comfortably on one a couple inches thick, like a Thermarest but I also have a memory foam version 4 inches thick. Only weighs a few pounds. If you spring a leak, you still have the foam to sleep on and it is very easy to repair. Lay a futon over it and you are in luxury.
 
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