5.0 out of 5 stars The "No Cover" option does not come with a mattress cover enclosure thing.

C. · December 23, 2019

EDIT: The secondary vinyl cover , the leak protector that goes around the waterbed, has separated from itself. i think it was a bad crimp. I tried to contact the seller but no response.After looking at various mattress materials , I decided on another waterbed. I really dislike sleeping on foams or springs, which eliminate 90% of mattresses out there.I have slept in both hardside and softside waterbeds previously (for more than 10 years) and find softside waterbeds to be easier to get in and out of. Softside waterbeds have no hard wood edges to stub a toe or shin on. I installed this by purchasing two 6-leg metal bed frames (total 12 legs) that were specifically made for softside waterbed weight. To be extra careful, I placed two 4'x8' thin sheets of smooth wood board between the bedframe and the waterbed. Ensuring that the mattress only comes in contact with a flat surface and not any screws, joints or sharp metal from the bedframe.The Foam Rails are medium-firm, you can feel them but they give with about 30 pounds of pressure. They were cleanly manufactured and fit well with each other and with the mattress.The mattress has dimples on the surface to increase surface area and decrease surface tension. This is different to all other waterbed mattresses that I've used before. Even though I have a super thick mattress pad (purchased separately) I can still feel the dimples kind of? Really does not make much difference to me, although the dual layer vinyl system (think a completely enclosed vinyl liner around the entire mattress, with its own port for air release) has a strange sensation when moving around the bed.I was hoping that this bed option came with the bottom part of the mattress enclosure at least. But it did not. It is kind of strange to just have the foam rails visually sticking out, although they do not look bad, it does not look like a regular mattress. It would be like having a pile of memory foam and then putting a mattress pad and fitted sheet around it. Like an incomplete mattress. I hope that the lack of the softside mattress cover does not affect the lifespan of the rails/mattress?I prefer a deeper fill. Even though the bed says "7 inch fill", the foam rails measure 6 inches and the instructions say to fill just below the rail surface. I can bottom out if I sit in the bed. Although sleeping on it I do not bottom out (190lbs). It is no biggie. But if you are used to 8 inch fill or deeper hard side waterbed, you may want to keep that in mind. Strobel makes a 10 inch fill softside as well.Price: Pretty good compared to other softside mattresses.Quality: Looks and feels well made. Has been holding up for nearly a month, will update if it springs a leak or if the foam deteriorates.Visual: missing the mattress enclosure makes it look incomplete.Install: Quick and easy installation. Came in two boxes, foam rails come in long 80 inch by 12 inch x12in box.Smell: No strong smell. I've had new waterbeds that smell terribly and ones that do not smell much at all. This one had the new vinyl smell lightly, but quickly dissipated.Waveless: I would say maybe it feels like 30% waveless? If you roll over, it waves for 3 seconds. I prefer between 50-100% freeflow but this is ok. Still a waterbed.What you get:King size (NOT CAL KING) softside waterbed mattress with dual layer vinyl system.Foam rails for king size (NOT CAL KING) softside waterbed mattressHeater and Fill Kit with bottle of conditioner.Nice printed visual instructions.What you don't get:The mattress enclosure skirt cover thing, that makes it look and feel like a normal king size bed.

2.0 out of 5 stars Flotation Bliss Update: Leaking

D.L.H. · July 31, 2020

Update: 12/31/2022Lasted two years. Catastrophic leak at a corner seam. No puncture, 2 year product.This is a quality product that was packed and shipped well. After 24 years of no waterbed, I’m back where I belong.It’s like floating on water, because you are floating on water.Note that this item consists of the water bladder, heater, and fill kit in one box, and the foam rails in another box.The foam rails are held together by sturdy fabric and the water mattress holds them in place.I used my four poster bed frame, along with a nine leg steel frame for support. Use my same sheets and mattress pad, and it is pure bliss.Took 3 weeks to arrive.

4.0 out of 5 stars Waveless

R.P. · July 23, 2019

Initially disappointed but I added a foam topper and its wonderful