Sleeping on the Purple's top-of-the-line mattress for 6 months has almost completely resolved my back pain — but if you don't like soft mattresses, look elsewhere

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• The Purple Hybrid Premiere Mattress keeps my body cool, cradled, and comfortable.
• The mattress is on the expensive side, starting at $1,999, but Purple offers a 100-day risk-free guarantee and a 10-year limited warranty.
• It features the brand's trademark "Purple Grid" technology to keep you cool and supported while you sleep — it's done wonders for my back pain.
• The Premiere is softer than the entry-level Purple mattress and it limits motion transfer very well.

Over the last few years, I have been on a mission to design the most comfortable bed imaginable. There are many things I have learned in the process — ranging from, yes, you should splurge on a high-quality mattress protector to no, the best sheets are not necessarily the most expensive.

However, the most important component of mastering the perfect sleeping situation undoubtedly involves the foundation of your bed — the mattress.

I have tried out many of the popular mattresses in recent years, ranging from the Emma and the first-generation Purple to the Avocado (which I'm currently testing). When it was time to choose a mattress for the new King sized bed we purchased over the summer, I decided to give the latest installment of the Purple mattress a shot, the Purple Hybrid Premiere.

What is the Purple Mattress?

What sets this brand's products apart from the competition is its trademark "Purple Grid" technology, which the company claims took "years and over 30 patents to perfect." It serves as a top layer for all of the Purple mattresses, and adapts to your body while keeping it cool, comfortable, and supported. The cooling characteristic it offers stems from the grid-like design that serves as open-air channels.

Purple offers three different models: the Purple Mattress, The Purple Hybrid, and Purple Hybrid Premiere. There are a few key differences between them. The first is that the original and hybrid models offer 2 inches of the brand's trademark Hyper-Elastic Polymer, sleep surface while the third is available in both 3- and 4-inch options. The biggest difference between the original and the hybrid? The original is a foam base, while the other two offer "responsive support coils." What does all of this mean? Each mattress feels a little different, in terms of feeling and responsiveness.

The Purple Mattress, which is the most pocket-friendly starting at just $599, is basically a firm, no-frills mattress. The mid-range model, nearly double the price, starting at $1,174, is also on the firmer side but offers a little more support and airflow. The most expensive model, the Purple Hybrid Premiere is obviously the most luxurious, basically cradling your back for a weightless sleeping experience.

I have tried both the entry-level Purple mattress as well as the Purple Hybrid Premiere with 4 inches of zero gravity float. This review is focusing on the latter, though I will discuss both for comparative purposes.

The Hybrid Premiere consists of layers. The top layer is a cover, made out of a breathable blend of polyester and spandex. The next layer, as I discussed above, is the brand's trademark hyper-elastic polymer, which provides comfort. Then, there is a transitional layer, a poly foam blend, that separates the grid from the supportive coil layer of the mattress.

Setting it up

Most Purple mattresses are rolled up, wrapped in plastic, and shipped to your home free of charge. It is always a bit shocking to see how such a large mattress has the ability to compress and roll up the way it does — especially this one because it is so thick. But it is nonetheless amazing, as you can simply drag it to the room it belongs in, open up the packaging, and watch it expand into a thick, plush, sleeping surface.

Because the Hybrid Premiere is so heavy — a Queen weighs around 168 pounds — you'll need movers to bring it in and set it up. But don't fret — the movers are included in the price of the mattress. They will also remove your old mattress free of charge.

My review

I slept on The Purple Mattress for about a year. While it was a decent sleeping experience, the mattress was a little too firm for my liking. To make it a little more cushiony, I had to add a Linenspa Mattress Topper. However, if you do really enjoy a firm, no-frills sleeping experience, and want a cooling mattress, this is a great option.

As I mentioned before, the Hybrid Premiere is the softest and most expensive of Purple's offerings — and one of the first thoughts that came to mind when I lay down on it was, "this is the most comfortable mattress I have ever experienced."

As someone who has struggled with back pain most of my life, having a pressure-relieving mattress was always something I wanted. And this totally fits the bill. Your body doesn't exactly sink into it as you would expect of a soft mattress, but instead, it lightly cradles it in all the right spots — your hips, shoulders, etc. — providing you with both support and that softer-feeling experience. This makes it a great option for side sleepers.

I also tend to sleep hot. Purple promises that all their mattresses are cooling, and I have found this to be accurate.

Now, onto the grid-like experience. The first night I slept on the mattress, I didn't have a mattress pad on it. While some people might enjoy the squishy, honeycomb gel grid trademarked by the company, it felt a little strange to me. However, once I placed a mattress pad on it — Brooklyn Bedding's Luxury Cooling Mattress Protector — it smoothed things to my liking. Purple does have its own mattress protector, but I haven't tried it.

Another huge sleeping issue for me is motion transfer, as my husband weighs more than 225 pounds and is a restless sleeper. At one point when we were sleeping on an old, cheap mattress, I started sleeping in the guest room because I would get woken up every time he moved.

The first Purple we tried helped things out a lot, but the Hybrid Premiere was a true game-changer. If he is on one side of our King-size bed and I am on the other, I can't feel him move the majority of the time.

Cons to consider

So far, I have mentioned all the pros of this mattress. The biggest drawbacks? Well, first of all, the price.

The model I tested retails for anywhere from $2,349 for a Twin XL to $4,848 for a Split King — so it isn't cheap. While it is definitely on the more expensive side for a mattress, it really is an amazing sleeping experience. However, if you have a budget, it might be too expensive.

If you don't like a soft mattress, you won't enjoy the Premiere and may prefer Purple's other models instead. You can also check out our many other recommended mattresses in our guide.

The bottom line

I have been sleeping on this mattress for more than six months, and I have never been happier. I said to my husband the other day, "Remember when I used to always complain about my back hurting?" While I can't say that this amazing mattress is totally responsible for that pain relief, I'm confident it's a big part of it. I would recommend this mattress to anyone who has a luxury mattress in their budget.

Like most other mattress brands, Purple offers a "100-Night No Pressure Guarantee" — meaning if you don't love it, you can return it free of charge.

If you like a softer mattress, need limited motion transfer, and have the budget to spend more than $2,000 on a mattress, then this is a great option. But if you prefer a more firm mattress or you're on a budget, you should consider the cheaper entry-level Purple mattress or one of our other top mattress picks.

Pros: Comfortable and supportive, good for side sleepers, breathable and cooling, limits motion transfer, has a 100-night risk-free guarantee.

Cons: The price may be prohibitive for many, not great if you like a firmer mattress