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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Rachael Penn

Purple vs Puffy Cloud:Which boxed mattress is right for your sleep?

The image shows the Purple mattress on the left and the Puffy Cloud mattress on the right .

Purple and Puffy Cloud are both boxed mattresses that offer exceptional pressure relief for side and back sleepers.  But whilst these two mattresses have a lot in common, some differences could sway your decision on which one to buy.

This year's best mattresses for all sleepers focus on offering great pressure relief, and the Purple and the Puffy Cloud are no different, thanks to their medium-firm feel. But whilst the Puffy Cloud has an all-foam construction, the Purple uses a combination of foam and their own proprietary GelFlex® Grid. 

So in this Purple vs Puffy Cloud comparison we are going to compare the price, design, support and performance to see which of these bed-in-a-box mattresses is right for you and which offers the most pressure relief. Both brands also offer regular mattress sales so we'll be sure to advise the best time to buy to get the most value for your money. 

Purple vs Puffy Cloud mattress: Price

  • Both are boxed mattresses
  • A queen Purple is $1,499 (MSRP) with a 100-night trial and free bedding bundle
  • A queen Puffy Cloud is $2,399 (MSRP) with a 101-night trial and free bedding bundle

When at full MSRP Puffy Cloud is significantly more expensive than Purple. However, whilst we are used to seeing Purple run regular promotions, they don’t have an evergreen sale so you will have to wait for major holiday events like Labor Day, Black Friday or Memorial Day to see around $200 off these mattresses. 

Purple do however offer free gifts with their mattress purchases and right now there’s a free sheet set worth $169 included whenever you buy a mattress from the Purple range. There’s no current sale at time of writing this so a queen Purple mattress will cost $1,499. 

Puffy Cloud however do have an evergreen sale so you never have to worry about paying full MSRP for their mattresses and can expect to see up to $1,350 in savings. Puffy Cloud also throw in free bedding bundles with any mattress purchase so you really do get a lot for your money. Right now, with the code SEPTSALE a queen will cost you $1,049 (was $2,399) making it significantly cheaper than the Purple. You also get a free bedding bundle worth $600 which includes two pillows, one free protector and a free sheet set. 

Both mattresses offer a generous sleep trial and warranty period. You can expect a 100-night sleep trial with Purple whilst Puffy gives you an extra day to make your decision with a 101-night free trial. The warranty with Purple is 10-years, which will most likely see you through the life of the mattress, but Puffy Cloud offers a lifetime warranty so you know you'll be covered. 

You can also expect free shipping and returns with both of these mattresses. Puffy Cloud expect you to try your new mattress for at least 30 days before initiating a return whilst Purple ask you to try it for a minimum of 21 days. 

Purple vs Puffy Cloud mattress: Materials and Design

  • Both mattresses use foam layers
  • The Purple is 9.25” tall with four internal layers
  • The Puffy Cloud is 10” tall with four internal layers

Whilst both of these mattresses use foam within their construction, the Purple has a twist. Purple uses 2 inches of Purple GelFlex Grid, which is flexible, durable and gives a gel-like feel when you add pressure. This is a proprietary material made using a hyper-elastic polymer which instantly adapts to your body to provide all-over cushioning and outstanding pressure relief, especially in the hips, shoulders and knees. 

The GelFlex grid also helps with temperature regulation as it has plenty of open-air channels that allow air to move freely throughout the mattress so hot sleepers won’t find they overheat at night. The breathable SoftFlex cover also helps keep the temperature low and allows the grid layer to contour your body whilst still offering some level of firmness and support. Beneath the GelFlex layer you’ll find two layers of polyurethane foam, a 3.5” comfort layer and a 4” base layer. These foam layers work together to help the mattress adapt to your various sleeping positions as well as providing additional cushioning and support. 

(Image credit: Purple)

The Puffy Cloud also has four-internal layers but it’s made up of an all-foam construction. Starting off with the hypoallergenic and stain-resistant cover which is not only soft to the touch but also breathable so it’ll help to promote better airflow.  

Because all foam mattresses tend to get hot, this mattress also has a thin, climate fiber layer which is a soft felted piece of material designed to help cushion but also increase the air circulation so heat doesn’t get trapped within the foam layers. 

There is then a 2-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam, that will cradle your body, giving your muscles and joints extra cushioning. The gel foam also works to disperse heat, so for sleepers who get warm, this is good news. 

The next layer of foam is a 2-inch cloud comfort pressure relief foam, this has been designed to keep your back and spine in perfect alignment, offering just the right balance of cushioning pressure relief and support. Finally a layer of firm core support foam helps to stabilize the mattress and isolates any motion making it a good choice for couples. 

(Image credit: Alex Temblador)

Purple vs Puffy Cloud mattress: Comfort and Support

  • Purple mattress is good for side, back and combination sleepers
  • Puffy Cloud is better suited to back sleepers
  • Both mattresses have a medium-firm tension

There’s no denying it, both of these mattresses are extremely comfortable. And for back sleepers, they both offer the perfect blend of comfort and support. The Purple does stand out thanks to its innovative Purple Grid. This flexible layer can adapt to effortlessly to different sleeping positions thanks to its bouncy and responsive feel. 

The Purple mattress is a medium-firm bed and our professional testers for the Purple mattress review found its pressure-relieving capabilities make it ideal for side and back sleepers or anyone who suffers from back and joint pain. The Purple GelFlex grid collapses under pressure areas such as the shoulders, hips and knees whilst keeping the rest of the body supported. This means you’ll feel that cradling feeling from the moment you crawl under the sheets.  

(Image credit: Purple)

The Puffy Cloud is also a medium-firm mattress but with the perfect balance of softness and support. Its all-foam construction and our Puffy Cloud mattress review found that it was perfect for back sleepers although side sleepers will also find that this offers a good amount of support. Like the Purple, stomach sleepers may find that it’s a little too soft to match their needs. 

The soft cover and felted fiber layer on the Puffy Cloud works well with the adaptive memory foam that will contour your body without the traditional “hug" feeling you get with memory foam that can often leave you feeling like you’re stuck. 

In terms of motion isolation, both mattresses do a really good job. In our Purple mattress review, our tester thought that the GelFlex grid did a good job of isolating any motion. And the Puffy Cloud, because of its all-foam construction, limited motion transfer, making it a great choice for couples. 

Both mattresses could perform better when it comes to edge support, which isn’t great news for anyone who likes to sit or lie close to the edge of the bed. However, that is a challenge that is pretty common when it comes to foam mattresses, so it’s to be expected with both of these beds. 

(Image credit: Future)

Purple vs Puffy Cloud mattress: Temperature regulation

  • Purple GelFlex Grid has open channels for more airflow
  • Puffy Cloud has a climate fiber layer
  • Both mattresses have a breathable cover

When it comes to the best cooling mattresses, we often see hybrids taking the lead. But both of these mattresses do a good job of keeping the temperatures in check. For a start, one thing they both have in common is a breathable cover. The Purple uses a blend of polyester, viscose and lycra which is soft, breathable and stretch. 

The cover for the Purple has been designed to allow it to move with the Purple grid so keeps sleepers cool by promoting good ventilation. Puffy Cloud use a hypoallergenic, polyester cover that is not only breathable but also stain resistant, although that shouldn’t be a replacement for one of the best mattress protectors.

(Image credit: Purple)

The cooling properties continue to the layers in both mattresses. The Purple Grid used in the Purple mattress has an open structure which allows for excellent airflow. The open grid design naturally prevents heat from getting trapped within the layers so you should never find that you overheat with this mattress. 

The Puffy Cloud also does a good job with its felted layer of climate fiber which promotes additional airflow and layer of gel-infused memory foam which doesn’t get as hot as regular foam. 

Whilst neither bed will suit very hot sleepers, because it’s the very nature of foam beds to retain heat, most sleepers will be able to stay at a comfortable temperature overnight with these beds. If you often experience night sweats or hot flushes, then opting for one of the best hybrid mattresses or a specialist cooling bed may be a better choice. 

(Image credit: Puffy)

Purple vs Puffy Cloud mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the Purple if...

You switch positions at night: This mattress is bouncy and responsive thanks to its use of the Purple GelFlex grid. So it's perfect for a range of sleeping styles, and especially for combination sleepers who may move around a lot at night. 

You have back or joint pain: The hyper-elastic polymer grid that contours to your body without sinking offers great pressure relief.

You prefer a slightly firmer feel: Whilst the Purple is a medium-firm, you won't sink in to it like other foam beds so it does have a slightly firmer feel. 

Buy the Puffy Cloud if...

You like sink-in softness: The Puffy Cloud offers a plush, memory foam feel making it perfect for those who like a softer sleep surface.  

You want a washable cover: The Puffy Cloud has a removable cover so you can machine wash it to keep it fresh. 

You're on a budget: Puffy Cloud are always on sale meaning you can get a Puffy Cloud for less than the cost of a Purple. 

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