Expert Verdict
Purple disrupted the mattress industry with a material that was genuinely different from anything else on the market. The Hyper-Elastic Polymer grid, invented by brothers Tony and Terry Pearce, uses a buckling-column gel structure that collapses under pressure points while remaining supportive everywhere else. This creates a unique feel that is neither memory foam nor innerspring, with exceptional airflow that keeps sleepers cool. Founded in 2015, Purple has grown rapidly by offering an alternative to the foam-dominated bed-in-a-box market.
The Purple Grid is the core technology. The grid structure allows air to flow freely through the mattress, preventing the heat retention that plagues memory foam. When pressure is applied, the grid walls buckle to cradle the body, then spring back when pressure is removed. This creates a floating sensation that many users find more comfortable than sinking into foam. The company offers the original all-foam Purple, the Hybrid with pocketed coils, and the Hybrid Premier with thicker grid layers for enhanced pressure relief.
Purple's marketing is bold and memorable, using the raw egg test to demonstrate pressure relief by showing eggs not breaking under body weight. The company has expanded into pillows, seat cushions, and other products using the same grid technology. The mattresses are made in the United States, and the company offers a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty.
The trade-off is the unique feel, which is polarizing. Some users love the floating sensation, while others find it too different from traditional mattresses. The grid can also create a slight bounce that disturbs light sleepers, and the polymer material has a distinct smell initially. Edge support is weaker than innerspring competitors. For hot sleepers, those with pressure point pain, and anyone who has not found comfort in foam or spring mattresses, Purple offers a genuinely different solution that works for many who had given up on good sleep.
What stands out
- Unique gel grid technology
- Exceptional temperature regulation
- Excellent pressure relief
- Distinctive float feel