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PurpleFlex Mattress Review
Sleep Foundation
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The PurpleFlex mattress is a firmer version of the classic Purple mattress. It provides much of the same performance and breathability but with more pushback and support for stomach sleepers and heavier people.
- Strong support for people over 130 pounds
- Sleeps cooler than other foam beds
- More affordable than other models from Purple
- May be too firm for side and back sleepers under 130 pounds
- Doesn’t relieve pressure as well as other memory foam models
- Hard to change sleep positions on
The PurpleFlex is the firmest and most affordable mattress offered by Purple, a Utah-based mattress-in-a-box brand known for its patented GelFlex Grid. The GelFlex Grid is a buckling column gel that’s made from hyperelastic polymer that’s engineered to adapt to body movements and promote airflow.
The PurpleFlex Mattress consists of just two layers — 2 inches of the GelFlex Grid material and a sturdy polyfoam base. Our testing team rated it firm (7) on our 10-point mattress firmness scale.
Below, we break down how the PurpleFlex Mattress performed in our test lab and explore its materials and construction, as well as why they matter. We’ll also discuss which types of sleepers we think are best suited for this bed based on scores from our in-person testing trials.
SMART MATCHING
Is the PurpleFlex Right for You?
Use the filters below to see how well the PurpleFlex lines up with your unique needs. We'll also give you a couple other recommendations based on your answers.
TEST LAB RATINGS
How the PurpleFlex Scored
Motion Isolation7.0/10
The PurpleFlex’s GelFlex Grid layer is designed to adapt to movement and prevent motion transfer. If you’re a light sleeper or you share a bed with a partner or a pet, this may be an important feature to think about. But while the PurpleFlex does isolate motion, it doesn’t do it quite as well as many traditional memory foam mattresses that conform more closely to sleepers’ bodies.
Logan Foley, Executive Product Director: “I sleep with dogs, plural, and this bed did a decent job making sure I couldn’t feel their movements.”
Pressure Relief5.5/10
The PurpleFlex offers decent pressure relief for sleepers over 130 pounds, but it’s not ideal for people lighter than that. If you compare it to a typical memory foam mattress, the PurpleFlex doesn’t hug the body much. It also has a relatively thin comfort layer, and its firm (7) rating means sleepers won’t sink very far into the mattress. Side and back sleepers under 130 pounds may find the mattress doesn’t relieve pressure well enough to prevent hip or shoulder pain.
Jeremy Klein, Product Testing Manager: “The firm feel and thin comfort system don’t have enough cushioning to provide the deep pressure relief some side sleepers like.”
Temperature Control7.0/10
While memory foam mattresses tend to retain body heat, the geometric grid pattern of the GelFlex layer allows plenty of room for air to flow. The polyester cover is also breathable, making it a great choice for hot sleepers.
Mary Fenton, Head of Product Content: “The GelFlex does what it’s designed to do — allow more airflow than other foams. It’s a good choice for hot sleepers who like foam beds.”
Edge Support6.5/10
Because of its reinforced polyfoam perimeter, the PurpleFlex has better edge support than many foam mattresses. Edge support is key for anyone who sleeps on the side of the mattress or has trouble getting out of bed.
Still, foam compresses under a person’s weight. We found that the edges of the PurpleFlex still sank to some degree when we tested them. For anyone who has mobility issues, the firm version of the Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress might be a better fit.
Jeremy Klein, Product Testing Manager: “If you sit right on the edge, you’ll notice some sagging, but it’s not so much that you’ll roll out of the bed if you like to sleep on the side.”
Ease of Movement5.0/10
Despite the GelFlex Grid’s design, our testers thought moving around on this bed was a bit tough. If you like sleeping “in” a mattress, you’ll like its feel, but if you want a more responsive bed, you might prefer the Restore Hybrid. Ease of movement is especially important for people with mobility issues or sleepers who frequently change positions during the night.
Mary Fenton, Head of Product Content: “Even though this bed is billed as responsive, I found it kind of restrictive and hard to move on.”
Durability6.0/10
The PurpleFlex Mattress should hold up slightly longer than the average bed, as the hyperelastic polymer used for its proprietary GelFlex Grid withstands wear and tear longer than foam. That being said, this is a relatively low-profile bed, and the polyfoam will likely wear down over time, resulting in soft areas and sagging that could affect comfort after six to seven years.
HANDS-ON TESTING
Testing Team Takeaways
To test the PurpleFlex Mattress, we had three people on our testing team take the bed home and try it out for one week. Here are their initial observations.
Mary Fenton
Head of Product Content · Combination · 150 lbs
Combination · 150 lbs
“The PurpleFlex was a decent fit for me. Since I’m a combination sleeper, I need something that works well in every position. Even though it was a little hard to move around on, I felt pretty supported the whole time.”
Jeremy Klein
Product Testing Manager · Side · 160 lbs
Side · 160 lbs
“I’ve come to expect Purple mattresses to sleep cool, and this one didn’t disappoint. It doesn’t have as much airflow as a hybrid, but I didn’t overheat when I used it.”
Logan Foley
Executive Product Director · Side · 140 lbs
Side · 140 lbs
“This bed was kind of a miss for me. My hips and shoulders get sore easily, and I just didn’t get as much pressure relief as I would have liked.”
Who it Fits
Fit by Sleep Position and Body Weight
Sizes, dimensions and weights
Side Sleepers
In general, side sleepers need both cushioning and structure to stay supported and comfortable. The GelFlex Grid comfort layer has a responsive, firm (7) feel that’s a good fit for side sleepers weighing more than 130 pounds. However, our testers under 130 pounds said the mattress felt too firm and allowed pressure to build up in their hips and shoulders.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers generally need an even sleep surface that supports the lower back while cushioning the rest of their body. Our back sleepers over 130 pounds felt that the PurpleFlex did a reasonable job of achieving this balance of support and cushioning. Those under that weight noted that the mattress felt a bit too rigid.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers can have a hard time finding a mattress with enough spinal support. If a mattress is too soft, their midsection can sink and cause their spine to curve. According to our tester feedback, the PurpleFlex is best for stomach sleepers over 130 pounds. Because it’s only 2 inches thick, the comfort system doesn’t compress much, so stomach sleepers aren’t likely to sink into the dense polyfoam base. However, our team members under 130 thought it was a bit too firm.
Construction
Inside the PurpleFlex
Cover
Polyester
Comfort Layer
Buckling column gel
Support Core
Polyfoam
Other Purple Beds You May Like
Purple Mattress
8.3/108.3/10 · $799 – $1,798
Foam · Medium Firm (6)
Purple Hybrid
8.8/108.8/10 · $1,899 – $3,798
Hybrid · Medium Firm (6)
Purple Rejuvenate Mattress
8.3/108.3/10 · $4,495 – $8,990
Hybrid · Medium (5)
Purple Restore Mattress
8.6/108.6/10 · $1,845 – $3,690
Hybrid · Firm (7)
Buying It
Trial, Warranty, and Delivery
Availability
You can purchase the PurpleFlex Mattress from Purple’s website or Amazon. Purple mattresses are also available at a variety of retail locations across the U.S., including dedicated Purple showrooms.
Shipping
If you order through Purple’s website, the PurpleFlex ships for free to the contiguous U.S. and for a fee to Hawaii and Alaska. The mattress arrives compressed and rolled inside a plastic tube.
Additional Services
Though Purple has White Glove delivery available for some models, it doesn’t extend to the PurpleFlex.
Sleep Trial
The PurpleFlex Mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial.
Warranty
The PurpleFlex carries a 10-year limited warranty that covers certain manufacturing or material defects including indentations greater than 1 inch and splits and cracks.
Mary is a product-content marketer who applies a pedigree in journalism, human-centered design, and cultural trends to inform strategy. Prior to Sleep Doctor, Mary led editorial and creative at ESPN and Rad Power Bikes. She likes to build and grow things, and break and fix things, and only sometimes in that order.