Purple Mattress Review

Purple Mattress Specs

How is the Purple Mattress built? 

The Original Purple Mattress is 9.5 inches thick with four layers. We’ve broke down these four layers below.

• Cover. The Purple mattress features a soft, stretchy knit cover made from a breathable blend of 30 percent viscose, 65 percent polyester, and 5 percent lycra.

• Top layer. Dramatically different from the less expensive, simpler top material often found on the top layer of older mattresses, the top layer of the Purple mattress is made of the company’s proprietary material, hyper-elastic polymer. The hyper-elastic polymer is designed to offer pressure relief like a softer material while supporting spinal alignment like a firmer material in any position you sleep. The top layer is arranged in a “Smart Comfort Grid” pattern that displaces body pressure to distribute support and comfort. The unusual honeycomb-like design prevents motion transfer so you don’t feel your sleeping partner wiggling in the night. The Smart Comfort Grid also promotes breathability, neutralizing temperatures and protecting you from overheating.

• Mid layer. Dubbed the “Comfort Layer” by Purple manufacturers, the middle layer is made from 3.5 inches of high-density polyurethane foam. Working with the top layer, the mid layer offers a transitional and compression support that can accommodate heavier sleepers.

• Bottom layer. Like the mid layer, the four-inch bottom layer is made from a dense polyurethane foam. Purple’s middle and bottom layers are denser than the base layers of many other mattresses on the market, improving the durability of the mattress and reducing the likelihood that the mattress will lose support over time.

Comfort and Firmness

The key to the exceptional comfort of provided by the Purple mattress lies in its top, Smart Comfort Grid hyperelastic polymer layer. The material and construction molds itself to cradle your pressure points while supporting your spine. Moving around the bed, you feel a unique sensation as the hyperelastic polymer grid presses down and releases quickly, absorbing motion and conforming to pressure. The experience of sleeping on Purple’s hyperelastic polymer grid is noticeably different from the sensation of sleeping on memory foam, latex, or any other mattress we’ve reviewed thus far. For some sleepers, Purple’s distinctive top layer design could take some getting used to.

A moderately firm bed, the Purple mattress provides a minimal level of sinkage for individuals under 150 pounds. Sleepers under 130 pounds may find they do not place enough pressure to collapse the Smart Comfort Grid, causing them to float, rather than sink into the mattress. On the other hand, sleepers heavier than 150 may notice more of a sinking or hug sensation. But don’t worry — because of the elasticity of the top layer material, the Purple mattress can sink under the pressure points of average and heavier sleepers without affecting the support and comfort provided in other parts.

Support

Though Purple cradles your pressure points like a softer mattress might, it can support spinal alignment like a firmer mattress. The hyper-elastic polymer Smart Comfort grid places minimal pressure on muscles, tendons, and ligaments, but supports the natural curves of your spine. The grid responds quickly to your body, allowing your shoulders and hips to sink slightly while remaining firm under your back.

For back sleepers, this means your spine is aligned and lumbar region supported even as the grid slightly collapses under your hips. For side sleepers, the mattress does a good job redistributing pressure from the shoulders and hips while continuing to keep your spine straight. Stomach sleepers should note whether the grid is collapsing under the weight of their hips, which could result in improper spinal alignment often felt in your lower back.

Depending on your sleep style and previous mattress, you may find the experience of sleeping on Purple strange or even uncomfortable for the first few nights. The hyper-elastic polymer grid supports body parts that other types of mattresses might not, so you may feel the mattress on your ribs and lower back for the first time. Your body should get used to the mattress after a few days; Customers have reported improved posture and reduced back and neck pain after using Purple mattress after a brief initial adjustment period.

Sizing and Pricing

Firmness, Trial, Warranty

Purple Mattress Ratings

Edge Support

The Purple mattress does not feature reinforced edging or design elements to offer edge support, which can cause sinkage when you sit or lie on the edges of the mattress. Lack of edge support means the mattress could be insufficient to support heavier users who sleep or sit on the edge of the bed.

How does it handle motion? Is it responsive? 

The Purple mattress is fairly adept at isolating motion. Ideal for couples, the mattress absorbs the movement of a partner so you aren’t bothered as you sleep.  Note that some Purple reviewers do report that they can feel their partner climbing into and out of bed with the Purple mattress.

As far as responsiveness, the Purple mattress’ hyper-elastic polymer grid responds quickly to applied pressure while instantly bouncing back into its original shape when pressure is released. The Purple’s bouncy, responsive surface means you can move around the bed and change positions easily. The hyper-elastic polymer provides pressure relief without being restrictive like an older, low-quality foam. While slow-to-respond older foam mattresses may require a little extra energy to roll around on, the Purple allows relatively effortless position changes.

Does it regulate temperature? Does it sleep hot?

Around one in 10 adult sleepers struggle with “sleeping hot”, the experience of overheating during the night that can lead to discomfort and disrupted sleep. Memory foam mattresses in particular tend to retain more body heat, contributing to this problem. To improve sleep quality, hot sleepers require a cooling or temperature neutral mattress.

Thanks to its unique material and design, Purple earns the honor of being one of the coolest mattresses we’ve reviewed. Purple’s hyperelastic polymer offers virtually zero temperature retention. Meanwhile, the honeycomb-like, grid construction allows for better airflow and breathability than traditional mattress materials. These two features combined create a temperature neutralizing effect that let you sleep cool at night.

Is there a smell?

When a new mattress is first unboxed and removed from its plastic, most brands experience “offgassing” odor as chemicals are released as gas into the air.  When Purple is taken out of its packaging, the foam contents release a faint, slightly sweet “new mattress” scent. Users report that the smell disappears within a day or two.

How durable is it?

As Purple has only been around since 2016, we can’t know for sure how the mattress will perform over three, five, or ten years. However, the ultra-durable hyper-elastic polymer material used in the top layer combined with the high-density foam base layers suggest the mattress will stand the test of the time.

More complex and of higher quality than that of many competitor mattresses, the design of Purple’s top comfort layer suggests above-average durability. The Purple mattress features an advanced polymer-based, buckling gel grid construction for its top or “comfort” layer, which is the layer that typically breaks down and softens the quickest.

Similarly, a high-density foam base typically minimizes softening and support loss over time. Purple’s denser-than-average middle and base layers, combined with its high-quality top layer suggest the bed could last over six years.

What Do Purple Customers Think?

Who is the Purple Mattress best suited for?

Purple touts itself as “built for every body”, even heavy ones. That said, the mattress may suit certain types of sleepers more than others.

• Back sleepers. A solid option for back sleepers, the Purple mattress conforms to your spinal curves while supporting the back and neck.

• Side sleepers. For sleepers who sleep in their side, the Purple mattress allows the hips and shoulders to sink deeper in the mattress for pressure relief while supporting the spine.
• Average- to large-size sleepers. The Purple mattress is best suited for average- to large-size sleepers, who tend to agree the mattress is able to remain supportive while conforming to their pressure points.

On the other hand, stomach sleepers should note whether the grid is collapsing under the weight of their hips, which could result in improper spinal alignment. In addition, lighter weight sleepers who do not create enough pressure to cause the grid to fold beneath their pressure points could experience excessive firmness or pressure.

Purple Mattress Review – Conclusion

With its clever construction and pioneering hyper-elastic polymer material, Purple mattress is making waves in the mattress industry. The one-of-a-kind mattress gets top marks in nearly all categories, boasting above-average comfort, support, firmness, motion isolation, and cooling. The mattress also comes with free delivery and a 100-day, no-fee, money-back promise. If you do decide to return your purchase, the company will even remove the Purple mattress from your home for free.

The biggest drawback with the mattress for some sleepers might be the adjustment period. Because Purple feels so different from memory foam, latex, and other traditional mattress materials, it may take some getting used to. If you can make it through the adjustment period, however, you may be rewarded with improved posture and reduced back pain.