Leesa vs. Purple: The Ultimate Mattress Face-Off

09/10/2024

Ben Trapskin

I have carefully studied and evaluated many mattresses, sheets, pillows, duvet inserts, comforters, sleep gadgets, and adjustable beds for over a deca... Full Bio

Finding Your Perfect Match in the Leesa vs. Purple Mattress Face-Off

When it comes to choosing between the Leesa vs. Purple mattress, many people feel overwhelmed given both brands’ reputations for high-quality, bed-in-a-box products. Here’s a quick rundown if you’re in a hurry:

Leesa:
Feel: Balanced foam
Price: More affordable with discounts
Best for: Lightweight side sleepers
Purple:
Feel: Firm-yet-squishy gel
Price: Higher, but financing options are available
Best for: Back and hot sleepers

Both mattresses cater to different sleeper needs and preferences, capable of significantly boosting your sleep quality.

I’m Ben Trapskin, creator of Yawnder. I’ve explored countless mattresses, including Leesa and Purple, to help you make an informed choice. Let’s dive into more detail.

Key Similarities Between Leesa and Purple

When comparing Leesa vs. Purple, you’ll find they share several key similarities that make them both popular choices in the mattress world.

Bouncy and Responsive

Both Leesa and Purple mattresses are known for being bouncy and responsive. This means they quickly adapt to your movements, making it easier to change positions during the night. Whether you’re tossing and turning or just adjusting your sleep posture, these mattresses won’t leave you feeling stuck.

Firmness

In terms of firmness, Leesa and Purple are quite close. They both fall into the medium-firm category, with a firmness rating of around 6.5 out of 10. This level of firmness suits a wide range of sleepers, providing a balanced mix of support and comfort.

Great Customer Service

Another similarity is their excellent customer service. Both companies have built strong reputations for being responsive and helpful. Whether you have questions before purchasing or need assistance during the trial period, you can count on both Leesa and Purple to provide top-notch support.

Trial Period and Warranty

Both Leesa and Purple offer a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. This allows you to test the mattress in the comfort of your home and ensures long-term peace of mind. If you’re not satisfied within the trial period, you can return the mattress hassle-free.

Free Shipping and Returns

Finally, both brands provide free shipping and returns. This makes it easier to try out these mattresses without worrying about additional costs. The convenience of having a mattress delivered to your door, with the option to return it if it doesn’t meet your expectations, is a significant advantage.

These similarities make both Leesa and Purple solid choices. However, it’s the differences that will likely determine which mattress is the best fit for you.

Key Differences Between Leesa and Purple

Materials

Leesa uses a combination of memory foam and latex-like foam in its construction. The top layer, LSA-200 foam, is designed to be both soft and responsive. This provides a balanced foam feel that many sleepers find comfortable. Underneath, there’s a layer of memory foam for pressure relief and a core support layer for stability.

Purple, on the other hand, features a unique hyper-elastic gel polymer grid, known as the GelFlex® Grid. This grid stays firm and supportive until pressure is applied, at which point it collapses to provide targeted pressure relief. It’s a very different material compared to traditional foams and offers a distinct feel.

Gel Grid vs. Foam Feel

The gel grid in the Purple mattress is what sets it apart. It offers a unique squishy, yet supportive feel that many describe as “floating” on the mattress. This grid design allows for better airflow and temperature regulation, making it a cooler option for hot sleepers.

In contrast, the foam feel of the Leesa mattress is more traditional. It’s soft and allows you to sink in slightly, but it’s also responsive enough to prevent you from feeling stuck. This balanced foam feel is more familiar to those who have used memory foam mattresses before.

Price

When it comes to price, Leesa tends to be more affordable. This makes Leesa a great option for budget-conscious shoppers who still want a high-quality mattress.

Purple, with its innovative materials and construction, comes at a higher price point. However, many users find the investment worth it for the unique comfort and durability it offers.

Breathability

Breathability is another area where these two mattresses differ. The Purple mattress, with its open-grid design, allows for excellent airflow. This helps to keep the mattress cool, making it a good choice for those who tend to sleep hot.

Leesa is also breathable, but not to the same extent as Purple. The foam layers can trap some heat, although the LSA-200 foam is designed to be more breathable than traditional memory foam.

These key differences between Leesa and Purple can greatly influence your decision. If you prefer a traditional foam feel and are looking to save some money, Leesa might be the right choice. However, if you want a cooler sleep experience and are willing to invest a bit more, Purple’s innovative gel grid could be worth it.

Leesa Mattress Construction

The Leesa Original Mattress stands at 10 inches tall and is made up of three distinct foam layers. This construction is designed to offer a balanced feel with a mix of comfort, support, and responsiveness.

Layer Breakdown

LSA-200 Foam (2 inches):
The top layer is 2 inches of proprietary LSA-200 foam. This foam combines the qualities of memory foam and latex, providing both softness and bounce. It’s designed to offer pressure relief without making you feel stuck in the mattress. This makes it easier to move around and switch positions during the night.
Memory Foam (2 inches):
Beneath the LSA-200 foam is a 2-inch layer of contouring memory foam. This layer adds to the pressure relief, especially around the shoulders and hips. It adapts to your body shape, providing a hugging sensation that many sleepers find comfortable.
Core Support Foam (6 inches):
The base layer consists of 6 inches of Core Support Foam. This high-density foam serves as the foundation of the mattress, offering durability and overall support. It ensures the mattress maintains its shape over time and provides a stable surface for the layers above.

Cover

The mattress is encased in a soft, breathable cover made of a polyester-viscose blend. While the cover doesn’t significantly affect the feel of the mattress, it helps with overall breathability and comfort.

Key Features

Balanced Foam Feel: The combination of LSA-200 foam and memory foam gives the Leesa a balanced foam feel. You get the contouring benefits of memory foam without feeling like you’re sinking too much.
Medium-Firm: The mattress is rated as medium-firm, around 6.5/10 on the firmness scale. This makes it versatile for various sleeping positions, particularly for back and side sleepers.
Pressure Relief: The memory foam layer excels at providing pressure relief, making it suitable for people who experience discomfort in their shoulders and hips.
Support: The Core Support Foam layer ensures long-term durability and maintains the mattress’s structure.

In summary, the Leesa Original Mattress is thoughtfully constructed with layers that work together to provide a comfortable and supportive sleep experience.

Purple Mattress Construction

The Purple mattress stands out with its innovative construction, combining unique materials to deliver a distinct sleep experience. Let’s break down its 9.5-inch build:

Three Layers

Purple Smart Comfort Grid: The top layer is 2 inches of the proprietary Purple Smart Comfort Grid. This hyper-elastic polymer grid is both firm and squishy. It’s designed to provide excellent pressure relief and support. The grid’s open channels promote airflow, helping to keep you cool throughout the night.
Plush Comfort Foam: Beneath the grid is 3.5 inches of Plush Comfort Foam. This layer adds a bit of softness and contouring to the mattress, ensuring that it feels comfortable while still offering support.
Polyfoam Base: The foundation of the mattress is a 4-inch polyfoam base. This layer provides stability and durability, ensuring the mattress maintains its structure over time.

Additional Features

SoftFlex Cover: The cover is soft and thin, designed to improve the comfort of the mattress without affecting its overall feel. It also promotes breathability, contributing to a cooler sleep environment.
CertiPUR-US Certified: All foam layers in the Purple mattress are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they are made without harmful chemicals and meet rigorous standards for performance and durability.

Key Takeaways

Pressure Relief: The Smart Comfort Grid aims to distribute your body weight evenly, reducing pressure points, especially around the shoulders and hips.
Breathability: The open channels in the grid and the breathable cover help regulate temperature, making it a great choice for hot sleepers.
Durability: The polyfoam base ensures long-term durability, maintaining the mattress’s shape and support over the years.

The Purple mattress’s construction is designed to offer a balance of comfort, support, and cooling, making it a versatile option for various sleeping positions.

Firmness and Feel

When comparing the Leesa vs. Purple mattresses, both are rated as medium-firm, scoring around 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. However, the feel of each mattress is quite unique due to their different materials and constructions.

Leesa Mattress

Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)

Feel: The Leesa mattress has a balanced foam feel. This is thanks to its three-layer construction, which includes a top layer of LSA-200 foam, a middle layer of contouring memory foam, and a base layer of core support foam.

Support: The Leesa provides good support for back sleepers and average weight sleepers. The memory foam layer helps in contouring the body, providing adequate support to the spine and pressure points.
Pressure Relief: The memory foam layer offers excellent pressure relief, especially for side sleepers. However, it might be too firm for lightweight side sleepers, who may find it pushes against their shoulders.

Purple Mattress

Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)

Feel: The Purple mattress has a unique feel due to its Purple Smart Comfort Grid, which is a hyper-elastic polymer grid. This gives the mattress a firm-yet-squishy feel that is quite different from traditional foam mattresses.

Support: The Smart Comfort Grid provides excellent support for back sleepers and stomach sleepers. The grid adapts to the body, giving support where needed without excessive sinkage.
Pressure Relief: The grid design also allows for great pressure relief, especially for heavier side sleepers. The grid flexes under pressure points like hips and shoulders, providing comfort without losing support.

Weight-Dependent Feel

Both mattresses offer a medium-firm feel, but the experience can vary depending on your weight.

Lightweight Sleepers: May find the Leesa to be more comfortable due to its softer memory foam layer. The Purple might feel a bit firmer for them.
Average Weight Sleepers: Both mattresses should feel comfortably supportive. The choice depends on whether you prefer the traditional foam feel of the Leesa or the unique grid feel of the Purple.
Heavier Sleepers: Might prefer the Purple for its better support and minimal sinkage. The grid structure provides adequate support without making you feel “stuck.”

Motion Transfer and Edge Support

When it comes to motion transfer and edge support, the Leesa vs. Purple comparison reveals some key differences that could make or break your sleep quality, especially if you share your bed with a partner.

Motion Isolation

Leesa excels in handling motion transfer. Thanks to its memory foam layer, the Leesa mattress absorbs movements effectively. This means if your partner tosses and turns, you’re less likely to feel it. One test showed that a glass of water placed on the Leesa remained undisturbed even when pressure was applied nearby. This makes Leesa a strong contender for couples who don’t want to be disturbed by each other’s movements .

On the other hand, Purple uses a hyper-elastic gel polymer grid that, while excellent at offering support and comfort, isn’t as effective at isolating motion. This grid structure, while innovative, allows some movement to transfer across the mattress. If motion isolation is a top priority, you might find the Leesa more suitable.

Edge Support

Edge support is crucial if you often find yourself sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed. Here, Purple has an advantage. Thanks to its durable gel grid and robust construction, Purple offers better edge support. This is essential for providing a secure feel and preventing that “roll-off” sensation.

In contrast, Leesa has been noted to have weaker edge support. Testers found that they sank too far into the mattress when sitting on the edge, which might be a drawback if you need a stable surface for getting in and out of bed .

Partner Disturbance

Given its superior motion isolation, Leesa minimizes partner disturbance more effectively. If you or your partner are light sleepers, this could be a game-changer. The memory foam layer in Leesa absorbs and dampens movements, making it less likely you’ll wake up from your partner’s nighttime activities.

Purple, while not as proficient in motion isolation, offers robust support and durability. If edge support and a longer-lasting mattress are more important to you, Purple might still be the better choice.

Secure Edges

Purple‘s gel grid and multiple layers provide a more secure edge experience. You can sit or sleep near the edge without feeling like you’ll slide off. This can be particularly beneficial for those who use the full surface of their mattress.

Leesa, while comfortable and supportive in the center, lacks the same level of edge stability. This might be a consideration if you frequently use the edges of your bed.

In summary, if motion isolation and minimizing partner disturbance are your priorities, Leesa stands out. However, for better edge support and a secure edge feel, Purple takes the lead. Your choice will depend on what aspects matter most to you in a mattress.

Who Should Pick Purple

Choosing the right mattress can make a big difference in your sleep quality. If you’re considering the Purple mattress, here are some key reasons why it might be the best fit for you:

Back Sleepers

Purple is an excellent choice for back sleepers. The mattress features a unique gel grid that provides targeted support. This grid collapses under heavier parts of your body like your hips, while staying firm and supportive under your back. Marten, a 230 lb staff writer, noted that he felt great support and body alignment when back sleeping on the Purple mattress. This ensures you maintain a neutral spine position, reducing the risk of back pain.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers often struggle with mattresses that are too soft, causing their hips to sink and spine to misalign. The Purple mattress is firmer and more supportive, making it ideal for stomach sleepers. According to Marten, the Purple mattress kept his hips from bowing in, providing the necessary support for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Heavier Side Sleepers

Heavier side sleepers will appreciate the Purple mattress for its ability to provide pressure relief without bottoming out. The gel grid collapses under pressure points like shoulders and hips, offering great comfort and support. Marten found that the Purple mattress felt softer to him than to lighter individuals, thanks to his ability to activate the gel grid more efficiently. This makes Purple a top choice for heavier side sleepers.

Hot Sleepers

If you tend to sleep hot, the Purple mattress could be a game-changer. The gel grid design promotes airflow, making the mattress highly breathable. According to customer reviews, many users experience fewer issues with overheating on the Purple mattress. This feature makes it one of the best options for hot sleepers.

Long-Term Investment

The Purple mattress is built to last. The hyper-elastic gel polymer used in the grid is highly durable, promising many years of use. If you’re looking for a mattress that will stand the test of time, the Purple is a smart investment. It also comes with a 10-year warranty, which is standard in the industry but speaks to its durability.

In summary, the Purple mattress is ideal for back and stomach sleepers, heavier side sleepers, and hot sleepers. Its durable construction also makes it a great long-term investment. If these factors align with your needs, the Purple mattress could be the perfect choice for you.

Who Should Pick Leesa

If you’re a lightweight side sleeper, the Leesa mattress could be your best bet. Its medium-firm feel (rated 6.5/10) offers just the right amount of softness and support for lighter individuals. The mattress’s top layer of LSA-200 foam provides a plush yet responsive feel, making it easier to move around without feeling stuck. This foam layer is followed by a contouring memory foam that cradles your body, offering excellent pressure relief on your shoulders and hips.

For those who prefer a balanced foam feel, the Leesa mattress is designed to provide a harmonious blend of comfort and support. Unlike traditional memory foam mattresses that can make you feel like you’re sinking in, the Leesa offers a more balanced sensation. As one reviewer noted, “The comfort layer on each feels really nice and gives pretty readily with a press of the hand, but most of my torso seems to sink directly into the support layer.”

Affordability is another strong point for the Leesa mattress. Priced lower than many of its competitors, it provides excellent value for money, especially when discounts are factored in. According to one Quora user, “If both mattresses sound like they could be to their liking, people could save money by choosing the Leesa.”

In summary, the Leesa mattress is ideal for lightweight side sleepers, those who enjoy a balanced foam feel, and budget-conscious shoppers. Its combination of comfort, support, and affordability makes it a compelling choice for a wide range of sleepers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Leesa vs. Purple

Who are Leesa competitors?

Leesa faces stiff competition in the mattress market. Some of its main rivals include Saatva, Casper, and Eve Sleep. Each of these brands offers unique features and benefits:

Saatva: Known for its luxury innerspring mattresses, Saatva provides excellent support and durability. It’s a great option for those who prefer a more traditional mattress feel.
Casper: A pioneer in the bed-in-a-box market, Casper offers a variety of mattress models with Zoned Support™ technology, which provides targeted pressure relief and spinal alignment.
Eve Sleep: This UK-based brand focuses on creating comfortable and supportive foam mattresses with a bounce. Eve Sleep is known for its high-quality materials and affordability.

Is Purple mattress cooler than memory foam?

Yes, the Purple mattress is designed to sleep cooler than traditional memory foam mattresses. This is primarily due to its unique GelFlex® Grid technology. The grid structure promotes airflow, allowing heat to dissipate more effectively. According to Forbes, the Purple Mattress is particularly good at keeping you cool, making it an excellent choice for hot sleepers.

What mattress is equivalent to a Purple?

If you’re looking for a mattress similar to the Purple, the Nolah Original Hybrid is a good alternative. Both mattresses offer a medium-firm feel and excellent pressure relief. The Nolah Original Hybrid features a combination of foam and pocketed coils, providing a balanced feel that’s comparable to the Purple’s innovative grid structure. While the firmness levels and support are quite similar, the Nolah Original Hybrid might be a better fit if you prefer a more traditional mattress feel with the benefits of modern materials.

For more detailed comparisons, check out our full reviews on Yawnder and Purple Mattress Review.

Conclusion

Choosing the right mattress can significantly impact your sleep quality and overall well-being. When it comes to the Leesa vs. Purple debate, both mattresses offer unique benefits custom to different sleep preferences.

Yawnder provides expert reviews and in-depth comparisons to help you make an informed decision. Whether you’re a back sleeper looking for firm support or a side sleeper seeking a balanced foam feel, our detailed guides can help you find the perfect mattress.

Leesa is an excellent choice for those who want a comfortable, balanced foam feel without breaking the bank. It’s particularly suitable for lightweight side sleepers who need gentle pressure relief.

Purple, on the other hand, is ideal for hot sleepers and those who need a mattress that adapts to various sleeping positions. Its innovative GelFlex® Grid ensures optimal airflow and support, making it a long-term investment for diverse sleep needs.

To explore more options and read expert reviews, visit our Yawnder Mattress Collection. Make an informed choice and improve your sleep quality today!