If you’re shopping online for a foam mattress, the Puffy and Purple mattress brands are worth your consideration. Both companies are relative newcomers to the industry, and their mattresses have proved popular with customers looking for an affordable foam mattress.
Founded in 2017, Puffy produce the Puffy mattress which is a memory foam option well-designed for people with lighter bodyweights, especially if you weigh under 130 lbs. Purple began trading in 2015 and offer a gel memory foam mattress suitable for most body weights and sleeping styles. While both companies have since produced further models, in this article we will compare the original mattresses from each brand.
The Puffy and Purple mattresses have several features in common, so many of our readers struggle to choose between the two. The key differences between the two brands are what will ultimately help you decide which is best for your individual needs. We’ve gathered all the key information you need to understand what differentiates both mattresses to help make the choice as easy as possible.
Puffy vs. Purple Construction
Both the Puffy and the Purple mattress are made using conforming memory foam, which is great at offering pressure relief to joints. However, there are also some key differences between the two brands which you should be aware of.
Puffy Mattress Construction
Base layer
The bottom 6-inch layer of the Puffy mattress is made of very dense foam. This helps to give stability to the mattress and allows it to provide adequate support for your back and joints, keeping your spine in good alignment.
Temperature-resistant comfort layer
The first of two comfort layers in the Puffy mattress is made from 2-inches of temperature-resistant foam. This material helps to prevent excessive temperature build up in the mattress, which is a common problem with memory foam beds. It also has the ability to conform to the shape of your body, reducing pressure.
Gel memory foam comfort layer
The top layer of foam in the Puffy mattress is made of gel memory foam. The advantage of memory foam infused with gel is that it has the ability to wick heat away from your body, helping you to stay cool and comfortable. It also molds perfectly to the shape of your sleeping form, making it comfy and cosy to sleep on and also further reducing painful pressure on joints.
Polyester cover
The Puffy mattress’ cover is made from polyester and can be removed using a zip. This means that you can wash it when needed to help keep your mattress fresh and sanitary.
Purple Mattress Construction
The Purple mattress is 9.25 inches thick, which makes it on the thinner side in comparison to standard foam mattresses. Like the Puffy mattress, it has a 3-layered construction, although the actual materials used and their relative thicknesses are different. The mattress is put together as follows:
Base layer
The base layer of the Purple mattress is 4 inches thick and made of dense foam to provide support to your back and joints and keep the mattress stable. Although this is on the thin side for a base layer, it still provides adequate support.
Comfort layer
The middle layer of the Purple mattress is made from 3.25 inches of polyfoam. This provides a transition between the supportive base layer and the upper layer. It provides a good level of pressure relief and can conform to your body shape.
Smart Grid top layer
The top 2-inch layer of the Purple mattress is what differentiates it from its competitors. This layer is made of gel-infused memory foam made using Smart Grid technology. This means that the foam is manufactured in open columns which compress under your body weight while allowing greater air circulation than regular foam. This means that the mattress provides especially good pressure relief while keeping you cooler due to the increased breathability and cooling gel.
Which Mattress is Firmer?
Mattress firmness is usually measured on a sliding scale of 1-10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. It’s important to select the correct mattress firmness for your body type and sleep position because you won’t otherwise be able to sleep comfortably. While many people mistakenly believe that a soft mattress is more comfortable, the truth is that most people will sleep best on a medium to medium-firm mattress because it provides the right level of support.
The Puffy mattress scores 5 on the firmness scale, making it a medium mattress. This is a bit softer than the industry average for memory foam beds. This means that it provides a good level of support while being flexible. This makes it most suitable for people with lighter bodyweights of around 130 lbs, although it may well be comfortable for weights up to 230 lbs. Individuals who are significantly heavier than this may find that the mattress isn’t supportive enough to feel comfortable.
The Purple mattress is the firmer of the two options. It is rated as medium firm, which is also sometimes referred to as ‘universal comfort’. This means that this firmness should suit most body types and sleeping styles comfortably. If you’re not sure which firmness you need, a medium firm mattress is generally a good bet.
However, it’s also important to remember that selecting the right mattress often comes down to what you personally find to be comfortable. If you’re not comfortable, you won’t sleep well, so take this into account if you already know that a particular firmness feels good for you.
Which is More Suitable for my Sleeping Position?
Many people are unaware that the position they sleep in makes a big difference to which mattress they choose. This is because different sleeping positions put strain on your body in different ways, so you need a mattress which can support you and relieve pressure correctly. Otherwise, you could end up with aches and pains in the morning.
The Puffy mattress is highly suitable for side sleepers because it is the softer of the two options. Side sleeping can cause pressure to build up uncomfortably in your hips and shoulders if your mattress is too firm. A medium mattress gives you the support you need for your back but has enough softness to mold closely to the side of your body while you sleep, reducing pressure and hopefully easing any aches and pains. Back and front sleepers, especially those weighing more than 230 lbs, may not find the Puffy mattress supportive enough.
The Purple mattress generally suits any sleeping position very well. This makes it a good option for combi-sleepers (people who change position during the course of the night) and couples with differing sleeping styles, as both people’s sleeping positions will be well-accommodated.
Which Mattress Should I Choose for Joint and Back Pain?
Both mattresses are very good options for people who suffer with joint and back pain, including those with diagnosed conditions such as arthritis. This is because they both provide a good level of support for your back due to their dense polyfoam base layers. Both mattresses also have the ability to mold to the shape of your body which eases pressure on aching joints and may help with pain relief.
Front and back sleepers with back pain may find the Purple mattress more suitable because it provides firmer support, helping to keep your spine in as healthy an alignment as possible as you sleep. Although the pressure relief provided by both mattresses is roughly equivalent, the Smart Grid technology used in the Purple mattress may just give it the edge.
That being said, side sleepers with hip or shoulder pain in particular may find the Puffy mattress is better at relieving their discomfort. This is because the extra softness helps to relieve some of the pressure in these areas.
Which Mattress Sleeps Cooler?
Sleeping cool is an important factor for many mattress shoppers. This is because overheating in bed can be very uncomfortable and stops you getting a good night’s sleep. This can be even more of an issue if you have a medical condition that makes night-time overheating more likely, for example if you are going through the menopause.
Regular memory foam mattresses tend to trap heat and sleep warm. This is partly because memory foam isn’t especially breathable, but also because the material allows your body to sink in which can cause heat to accumulate. Fortunately, mattress companies are ingenious with the ways they have found to address this issue.
The Puffy mattress sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam thanks to the gel layer, which helps to wick heat away from your body while you sleep and makes the layer more breathable. The mattress cover is also breathable and very thin, allowing you to get the full benefit of the gel layer. In general, the Puffy mattress is a good choice for those that sleep hot.
The Purple mattress, however, may just pip the Puffy to the post when it comes to sleeping cool. It also utilizes gel memory foam to help keep you at a neutral temperature. However, the Smart Grid formation of the memory foam in the upper layer also creates air channels which allow air to circulate freely. This additional feature is good at helping any excess heat to escape while you sleep.
Puffy vs. Purple Mattress Price Comparison
If you’re on a tight budget, overall cost is likely to be a major factor when it comes to choosing an affordable gel mattress. These two mattresses are both reasonably budget-friendly, although there are cheaper options available.
When it comes to price, there’s very little to separate the Purple and the Puffy mattress. The Purple is currently retailing on the company website at their regular price of $1099 for a queen size. This price includes a free eye mask and sheet. The Puffy mattress normally retails for $1150 for a queen, just a fraction more expensive. However, Puffy are offering a promotion at the time of writing where customers can get a queen size for $850 and a free pillow.
It’s worth shopping around to see whether third-party retailers are offering a lower price than the retailer’s websites or waiting until regular sales periods to see if you can get money off (if you’re happy to wait, that is.) If you buy through a third party, make sure that you are happy with the terms and conditions as these may vary.
Both Puffy and Purple offer monthly financing arrangements if you qualify and don’t have the funds to pay for your mattress outright. Make sure that you understand the repayment schedule and are happy that you can afford the instalments before you make a financial commitment.
Sleep Trials
Sleep trials are very important if you’re buying a mattress online. This is because they allow you to try out the mattress for a set period and return it if you’re not happy, which removes the risk. Warranties are also important because they provide you with protection if your mattress has a manufacturing fault.
When it comes to sleep trials, there is very little to separate the two mattresses. Puffy offer their customers a 101-night sleep trial, which is pretty standard in the industry, and you can return whenever you like during this time. Puffy try to donate all returned mattresses to local worthy causes. Purple’s sleep trial is just one day lest at 100 nights, and also allow you to return your mattress at any point during this period for a full refund. They will also allow you to part exchange it for a Purple Hybrid mattress if you wish. The hybrid model is more expensive, so you will have to pay the difference.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that it takes around 30 days for your body to get used to sleeping on a new mattress, so both companies suggest that you give it at least this amount of time before deciding to return, although you aren’t obliged to.
Warranties
Puffy offer the most generous option of the two mattresses when it comes to warranty. In fact, they offer a ‘lifetime’ warranty. It covers dips or sagging in the mattress exceeding 1.5 inches and problems related to the zip and cover.
If you notice a fault within the first 10 years of buying your mattress, Puffy will provide you with a new one. After 10 years, Puffy offer their customers a ‘Quick Sleep’ solution where you can keep the faulty mattress and also get a new one for half price. Bear in mind that the warranty won’t be valid if you don’t follow the manufacturer’ guidelines for supporting your bed, and you won’t be covered for ordinary wear.
The Purple mattress comes with a 10-year warranty, which is standard for mattresses. It covers dips or sagging deeper than 1 inch and other manufacturing errors affecting the foam such as splits. The cover isn’t included in the warranty. Instead, it comes with its own 2-year warranty. Your warranty won’t apply if you don’t follow Purple’s mattress support guidance.
Neither the Purple nor the Puffy warranties are transferrable, which means that it doesn’t stand if the mattress changes hands, i.e. it is only valid for the original purchaser.
Puffy vs. Purple Certifications
Both the Puffy and the Purple mattress come with the Certi-Pur certification, so there’s nothing to separate them from this point of view. This certification provides customers with peace of mind that the mattresses are:
- Manufactured without the use of ozone depleters
- Made without hazardous flame retardants
- Heavy metal free
- Formaldehyde free
- No regulated phthalates
- Emit insignificant quantities of VOCs
Shipping Information
Puffy offer free delivery to customers in the USA and Canada. Bear in mind that you will need to pay an additional charge if you live in Hawaii or Alaska. Puffy don’t currently offer delivery overseas.
Puffy mattresses have bed-in-a-box packaging, which means that the bed is rolled, compressed and packed into a small box. This makes it quick and cheap to ship and is relatively easy to move around. Mattresses are delivered through Fed-Ex, usually within 3-5 working days. Delivery to Hawaii, Alaska and Canada can take longer.
Purple also offer free bed-in-a-box delivery to the USA and Canada. Customers who live in Hawaii, Alaska and Canada have to pay an additional delivery fee. You can expect to receive your mattress within 5 working days, although citizens of Hawaii, Alaska and Canada may have to wait a little longer.
Where to Buy
Both the Puffy and the Purple mattresses are available to buy online via their company websites. They are also stocked by some online retailers such as Amazon. While shopping for a mattress online may appear to be a risk, the sleep trials offered by Purple and Puffy give you peace of mind that you can return your mattress if it doesn’t suit you.
If trying a mattress out instore before you buy is important to you, the Purple mattress is sold in some bricks-and-mortar stockists. However, local availability may vary. You can find out whether any of your local mattress stores currently stock Purple mattresses by checking here: https://puffy.com/apps/help-center
Which Mattress Should I Choose?
Now that you understand how the Purple and Puffy mattresses compare to each other, it’s time for the all-important question- which mattress is best for me? We believe that both mattresses are great products that provide good value for money given their features and quality. However, there are various factors that may make one more suitable than the other for your personal needs. To make the choice easier, we’ve explained below in simple terms which type of sleeper suits which mattress.
Choose the Puffy if:
You are a side sleeper with a light body weight
The Puffy mattress is a medium option, which makes it more comfortable for lighter individuals who sleep on their sides. This is because the mattress allows you to sink in more comfortably, removing pressure on your joints, than a firmer mattress.
You want a mattress that conforms closely to your body
The Puffy mattress is particularly good at molding to your body shape, giving a deep hug sensation when you sleep on it. Many people find this type of mattress soft and cosy to sleep on.
You want a longer warranty
Both the mattresses in this article come with a warranty likely to last the expected lifespan of the mattress in any event. However, if a longer warranty is important to you, Puffy’s lifetime warranty is as good as it gets.
Choose the Purple if:
You’re a combi-sleeper
The Purple mattress is medium-firm, making it an excellent option for combi sleepers or couples who sleep in different positions. This is because a medium-firm mattress should feel comfortable in any position.
You have a higher body weight
People who weigh more than 230 lbs need more support, and this makes the Purple mattress a good option for them, especially if they sleep on their back.
You want the benefits of Smart Grid technology
The Smart Grid technology used in the Purple mattress is a real selling point and makes it stand out. If you are interested in the conforming benefits and breathability of Smart Grid gel foam, the Purple is a good choice for you.
The bottom line
Choosing between two similar mattresses can be confusing, especially in such a crowded online market. Both the Puffy and the Purple mattresses are great, affordable gel memory foam mattress options. Hopefully, this article has helped you to understand what sets the two apart from each other and given you an idea of which will suit you better.
Buying a mattress is a major investment. It’s also the single most important thing you can buy to help improve your sleep. The right mattress can help you feel more rested and reduce pain and discomfort, while the wrong one could wreak havoc on your sleep. For this reason, we always recommend doing plenty of research before investing a significant amount of money in a new mattress to make sure you’re making the right choice for you.
