About Purple#

Purple is an American mattress brand founded in 2016 that has achieved significant brand recognition in the UK through viral marketing — most famously the "raw egg test" video demonstrating the grid's pressure-relief properties. The brand's unique selling proposition is its patented Hyper-Elastic Polymer grid, which is unlike any other mattress material on the market.

The Purple Grid: how it works#

The Purple Grid is a three-dimensional grid structure made from a non-toxic polymer material. Unlike foam (which compresses uniformly across a surface) or springs (which push back against pressure), the grid is designed to do something different: the vertical walls of the grid structure buckle and collapse under concentrated pressure points (like shoulders and hips), while remaining firm under distributed weight (like the torso and legs). The result — in theory — is simultaneous pressure relief and support without the trade-off that other materials require.

The grid is also air-permeable: approximately 50% of the grid's cross-section is open air, which Purple claims makes it significantly cooler than foam alternatives. The polymer material is also temperature-neutral — it doesn't respond to body heat the way memory foam does, so it doesn't soften and create the "sinking" sensation.

Range overview#

  • Purple Original: The entry model. A 5 cm grid layer over a two-layer foam base.
  • Purple Plus: Adds additional foam beneath the grid for more progressive support.
  • Purple Hybrid: Pocket springs replace the foam base. The grid comfort layer over a spring base is Purple's most versatile option.

Who benefits from the grid technology?#

The Purple Grid is particularly beneficial for:

  • Hot sleepers who find all foam alternatives too warm (the grid genuinely sleeps cooler than foam)
  • Those who want genuine pressure relief without the slow-sinking feel of memory foam
  • Combination sleepers who want quick response to position changes
  • Back and side sleepers of average weight (the grid's buckle-under-pressure mechanism works most effectively within a certain weight range)

Limitations to consider#

  • The grid has a distinctive feel that some people love and others find unusual. There is no equivalent to try in a UK showroom — the 100-night trial is essential.
  • Heavier sleepers may compress the grid enough to reduce its differential-response benefit.
  • The polymer material can make the mattress surface feel slightly "wobbly" when sitting on the edge.

Our verdict#

Purple's grid technology is genuinely innovative and delivers on its core promise of cool, pressure-relieving sleep without foam's trade-offs. Whether it's better than a quality hybrid depends on your priorities. For hot sleepers and those who dislike the memory foam feel, it's worth the 100-night trial. For those who prefer a traditional mattress feel, the unusual texture may take significant adjustment.