The Optima red top batteries are an Absobed glass mat technology battery.
I use Odyssey batteries that use the same tecnology. They are basically lead plates that are tightly assembled with glass fibre mat between the plates. The glass fibre is then soaked in acid gell.
Because of this tight packing and the gell soaked mat, No gassing can occur and distortion of the lead plates can not happen.
The odyssey batteries are sold and shipped as drycell batteries as they are not vented and will not leak if punctured. They are also far more tollerant than a lead acid battery to being dicharged and re-charged. Odyssey quote 400 charge/discharge cycles to 100% depth of discharge.
http://www.odysseybatteries.com/
Not cheap batteryies but the advantages and the expected life cycle I think makes them worth it.
Craig.