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Tom’s Guide
Technology
Rachael Penn

Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Classic Memory Foam: Which boxed mattress should you buy in Labor Day sales?

The Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom.

The Puffy Cloud and Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress are good choices for people shopping the Labor Day sales for a sink-in, contouring mattress to reduce pressure points across the body. Both brands now have a live Labor Day mattress sale with discounts of up to $1,350, plus free shipping within one to two days – handy if you need a new mattress urgently.

The Nectar Classic Memory Foam is the new and updated version of the Nectar Memory Foam which is one of our top recommendations for the best mattress of 2024 for all sleepers and budgets. The Nectar Classic is up to 40% off at Nectar Sleep right now, with a queen size discounted to $649 (was $1,387). 

The Puffy Cloud is a luxurious all-foam model endorsed by the American Chiropractor Association. Our early test data shows that it has great motion isolation too, making it a good choice for side and back-sleeping couples who normally wake each other up by being too restless in bed each night. Today you can save up to $1,350 on the Puffy Cloud at Puffy, with a queen reduced to $1,049 (was $2,399).

In this Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Classic mattress comparison piece we look at how they compare in terms of price and benefits, value for money, support and comfort, and other key areas to help you make the right choice for your sleep and budget.

Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress: Key differences

Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress: Price & trial

  • A queen size Nectar Classic is on sale for $649
  • A queen size Puffy Cloud is on sale for $1,049 with $600 of free bedding
  • Both mattresses come with a lifetime warranty and free returns

Puffy and Nectar Sleep make some of this year's best memory foam mattresses that we've tested in-house. In terms of value for money, both offer a lot for the price. There is a $400 difference between them with the Puffy Cloud costing $1,049 for a queen size vs $649 for a Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress. However Puffy closes the gap with $600 of free bedding (sheets, pillows and a mattress protector) with every Puffy Cloud purchase.

This month's Nectar mattress sale is offering up to 40% off the Nectar Classic, which is a saving we see every month so there's no rush to jump on this Nectar Mattress Labor Day sale as we predict it will still be there after Labor Day has ended. 

The Puffy mattress sale is one we've seen before too, so you can also take your time when deciding whether to shop this deal or not. Compared to other all-foam luxury mattresses the Puffy Cloud discount is excellent; one of the biggest you'll find.

Puffy and Nectar Sleep each offer lifetime warranty with their best-rated mattresses in a box with proper sleep trials too. However the Nectar Sleep mattress trial is much longer at 365 nights compared to Puffy's 101 nights. Both are ample though – it takes the body 30 nights on average to get used to a new support system, so even a 101 night trial is above and beyond what you need.

Both brands offer a lifetime warranty, plus free shipping and returns.

Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Memory Foam mattress: Materials & design

  • Nectar is a 12-inch mattress with three internal layers
  • Puffy Cloud is a 10-inch layer with four internal layers
  • Both mattresses are an all-foam construction

The 10" Puffy Cloud has three internal layers, beginning with a soft-touch polyester cover that’s hypoallergenic and stain resistant. You can unzip the cover to machine wash it, which is rare with US mattresses. Underneath the cover is a climate fiber layer to help regulate temperature so that you don't overheat while sleeping (a real problem with cheaper memory foam beds).

(Image credit: Puffy)

Next is a layer of Puffy’s cooling gel memory foam, followed by a transition layer of responsive, pressure reliving polyfoam. At the bottom is a six-inch layer of high-density foam to help stabilize the mattress, paired with a grip base cover to prevent the Puffy Cloud from sliding around. Puffy uses Certi-PUR US certified foams in its mattresses, meaning they're free from harmful chemicals and heavy metals. 

The 12" Nectar Classic Memory Foam has the same amount of layers as the Puffy Cloud, starting with a cool-touch fabric cover. While technically it can be removed, Nectar advises against removing it and to instead spot-treat stains. (It's therefore important to invest in a good quality mattress protector to safeguard your mattress against stains, spills, dust mites and more.)

The first internal layer of the Nectar Classic is one-inch of therapeutic gel-infused memory foam to aid temperature regulation. This is followed by a three-inch transition layer and an eight-inch ActiveSupport base layer for stability.  

Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Memory Foam mattress: Comfort & support

  • The Puffy Cloud has a medium-firm feel (6 out of 10 on the firmness scale)
  • The Nectar Classic is also a medium-firm mattress
  • Both mattress have a thick base layer for stability and support

When it comes to comfort and support, both the Puffy Cloud and the Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress offer a medium-firm feel. Each mattress is made using premium-feel foams that offer a range of benefits including temperature rregulation and contouring comfort. 

Our knowledge of how the Nectar mattress feels in real life is based on our Nectar mattress review and testing (we'll be reviewing the Nectar Classic Memory Foam soon). 

If the Nectar Classic has a similar feel then you can expect it to be on the slightly firmer side of medium-firm, making it a better mattress for heavy people compared to the softer Puffy Cloud.

That also means you won't sink-in as much on the Nectar Classic compared to the Puffy Cloud. The Nectar uses therapeutic memory foam to provide pressure relief along your neck, shoulders, back and hips. The Dynamic Response Layer does all the heavy lifting in terms of back support and spinal alignment.

(Image credit: Nectar Sleep)

All-foam mattresses deliver excellent motion isolation compared to other types of mattress, though we know from testing that this year's best hybrid mattresses are also capable of stopping motion transferring from one side of the bed to the other. Motion isolation is a key feature for couples when bed-sharing, so you'll achieve much deeper and less disturbed sleep on the Puffy Cloud and the Nectar Classic.

Despite having the same firmness rating, our early tests tell us that the Puffy Cloud is softer then the average medium firm mattress. Because it's a softer feeling contouring foam bed we believe it would make an excellent mattresses for side sleepers who need pressure relief along the shoulders, hips and knees. This softness starts with the climate fiber layer which adds extra cushioning and continues with the pressure relieving foam. 

However, back and combination sleepers will find it a comfortable surface to sleep on too, especially since the foams used are so responsive, making it easy to move around and change positions. Heavier sleepers or those who sleep exclusively on their stomach may find the Puffy Cloud too soft and could end up feeling stuck, or their hips may dip down into the mattress. This could cause lower back pain.

Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Memory Foam mattress: Temperature control

  • The Puffy Cloud has a Climate Fiber Layer for extra air circulation
  • Both mattresses have gel-infused layers for extra cooling
  • The Nectar has a breathable cooling top layer 

Since both of these mattresses are made using all-foam, they're always going to be a little warmer than a hybrid or innerspring alternative. However, the Puffy Cloud uses climate fiber to increase airflow around each layer, plus cooling memory foam to dissipate excess heat. 

The Nectar Classic Memory Foam by comparison uses a cooling cover that wicks away moisture and excess heat, plus there's a layer of gel-infused memory foam to further regulate temperature.

If you’re a really hot sleeper then you may be better off looking at our guide to the best cooling mattresses instead, since they will contain the latest cutting-edge mattress tech for cooler, sweat-free sleep.

Puffy Cloud vs Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the Puffy Cloud mattress if...

✅ You're a side sleeper: The Puffy Cloud has a softer, contouring feel to relieve pressure relief around the neck, shoulders and hips – all big impact points when you sleep on your side.

✅ You like soft beds: Our testers enjoyed sleeping on the Puffy Cloud and say it's on the softer side of medium firm, though not as soft as the AS3 by Amerisleep (see our Amerisleep AS3 mattress review).

✅ You share with a restless sleeper: The Puffy Cloud isolates motion well, which mean it will stop your partner's tossing and turning from waking you up from sleep.

Buy the Nectar Classic mattress if...

You're on a budget: As well as being $400 cheaper than the Puffy Cloud, the Nectar Classic is one of the best affordable mattresses of the year. And you still get a lifetime warranty (same as Puffy) and year's sleep trial (vs Puffy's 101-night trial). 

You're a combi sleeper: The Nectar Classic suits all sleep styles although side and back sleepers should find it the most comfortable. It's a great choice if you're a combi sleeper too as the responsive foams cradle your every move. 

You share with a restless partner: Whether it's you or your partner thats a restless sleeper, the Nectar Classic is also designed to deliver great motion isolation.

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