We have come a long way from the days when mattresses were stuffed with rags, horsehair, and other materials. The invention of the innerspring mattress was heralded as a major advance in sleep systems. In the late nineteen sixties, the waterbed became all the rage. Next, the visco elastic foam mattress made headlines as the foam that was developed for NASA for use by manned space flight crews, though the material was never used for that purpose. As if we did not have enough choices when it comes to sleep systems, the airbed made its debut over twenty years ago.

When talking about airbeds, do not get confused with the flocked plastic air mattresses you purchase at the department store. Todays airbeds are every bit as comfortable, and expensive, as a quality innerspring sleep system. There are some definite advantages to the modern airbed. In fact, the airbed is competitive with the traditional innerspring mattress and the newer hybrid waterbeds on a number of points.

The modern airbed systems are very similar in design and concept to the hybrid waterbed. Both systems have the look and feel of a traditional innerspring mattress. The similarities to the innerspring mattress end there. Like hybrid waterbeds, most airbed systems start out with a foam frame. The foam frame serves several important functions, not the least of which is to hold the air chambers or water tubes. The foam provides a solid surface allowing for a sleeping surface that goes from edge to edge.

The hybrid waterbed and the airbed both offer similar types of top covers. The materials used for basic top cover found on a high quality hybrid or airbed is very similar those materials used on quality innerspring mattresses.

Airbeds have come a long way over the last twenty years. Quality is equal to or better than many high priced traditional sleep systems. It should be noted that the purchase of a quality airbed could be an expensive investment. The money spent on a quality airbed can be well worth it. Remember that we spend over one third of lives in bed. Study after study has shown the importance of getting enough quality sleep. The quality of sleep we get can affect many aspects of our busy lives, including our physical and mental wellbeing.

Both systems allow the sleeper to adjust the firmness of the sleeping surface. The airbed does have one very important advantage of its water filled cousin. A hybrid waterbed has a series of tubes filled with water. In order to achieve a uniform firmness, each individual tube needs to be filled with exactly the same amount of water and this is not an easy task.

When it comes to adjusting the firmness, airbeds have a big advantage over their water filled cousins. The basic airbed has a control connected to an air pump. The pump fills the air chamber until the desired level of firmness is reached. No such system exists for hybrid water beds and it is unlikely that a power adjustable waterbed will be on the market any time soon.

Some airbed designs utilize an air pump that is integrated into the mattress. This configuration eliminates the needs for hoses and tubes and the makers claim that the air bladder fills faster. Still other air beds come equipped with a pump that is separate from the mattress. Again, the manufacturers claim that a separate pump, since it is larger and more powerful, will respond more quickly.

Most waterbed mattresses are made of vinyl. Vinyl is has been shown to outgas a certain amount of volatile hydrocarbons. Take a new vinyl shower curtain, hang it up in the bathroom and you will notice a distinctive odor. The fact that vinyl would outgas caused several environmental agencies to mandate standards for chemical out gassing. Most waterbed mattress manufacturers chose to comply with the standards mandated by the State of California. As a result, the problem of out gassing has been greatly reduced.

All waterbeds, including hybrids, need periodic maintenance in the form adding chemical conditioners. Absent chemical conditioners, the water in the mattress is likely to become a breeding ground for bacteria and algae. Once algae get a foothold, it can be a real problem. This is particularly true in waveless water bladders that use polyester fill inside the bladder. A polyester fill mattress is useless once the algae come to stay.

In contrast to waterbed mattresses, the air bladders used in many air beds are made from latex rubber. Rubber compounds do not have the same tendency to out gas and are less prone to degradation and cracking as vinyl. Another advantage to the airbed is maintenance or really the lack of maintenance. Like any sleep system with a removable top cover, the cover should be cleaned or laundered according to the manufacturers instructions.

Both sleep systems have advantages as well as disadvantages. On balance, a quality air bed or hybrid waterbed can provide you with all the comfort you desire. There have been countless studies conducted trying to determine what type of sleep system is best. Many of these studies have concluded that the choice of a sleep system or mattress is a very subjective decision. In other words, if it feels good, than it probably is good. The important thing is to find a sleep system that is right for you and your lifestyle.

Whether you prefer an air bed, waterbed or traditional mattress and foundation, be sure to do the research before you make a purchase decision. So while the fabric may look nice and the price may be right, take the time to try out the mattress before you buy and are sure about your choice. Test drive a new mattress with the same attention you would give to test driving a new car. Your may spent a lot of time in the car but time spent in bed is important for a good nights sleep and a healthy life.