After sleeping on a purple mattress for 5 years, I have no regrets

After five years on the Purple Hybrid Premier 3 mattress, I had to trade it in for a different bed. However, I have a lot of thoughts about my time with this mattress and a few things to consider when you’re reviewing the bed itself.

One thing I loved about this mattress is the unique feel. All Purple mattresses have a Purple GelFlex Grid that helps relieve pressure. This patented cushioning technology gives this bed a comfortable feel like no other.

Before I dive into the details, it’s important to mention that the Purple bed I slept on for five years is no longer available. Purple has revamped its entire line, but it’s still worth talking about my sleep experience on this particular mattress, as some of the new Purple beds have a similar feel.

First impression

When someone first tries a Purple mattress, they have a strong reaction one way or another. Some people immediately fall in love with the feel, while others find it too strange — mainly because the Purple Hybrid Premier mattress (or any other Purple bed, for that matter) is likely unlike any bed you’ve tried in the past, thanks to the Purple GelFlex Grid.

When I first tried the Purple Hybrid Premier mattress, I thought, “This is so comfortable. I’ve never tried anything this comfortable and I really want to sleep on this thing.” Five years later, you get used to the feel and the Purple bed feels more like a responsive, comfortable mattress.

The solidity and feel of the Purple Hybrid Premier 3

Feeling

When we talk about Purple beds, we start with the patented comfort layer Purple GelFlex Grid.

Over the years that I have slept on this bed, the name has changed several times, but the material has remained the same. This stretchy, soft, responsive material is almost like a Dr. Scholl’s insole. It is essentially Purple’s bread and butter and has a unique feel that may take some getting used to when you first sleep on the bed.

Firmness

The Purple Hybrid Premier 3 only came in one firmness option. When my team and I tested it, it was around medium, which works well for me since I’m more of a side and back sleeper. However, Purple recently revamped its mattress line to offer more choices.

Now when you try out a new Purple Restore mattress, you can choose between soft or firm.

Who is the Purple Hybrid Premier best suited for?

Sleeping position

I generally fall asleep on my side, but often wake up on my back or side. Rotating between sleeping positions on a Purple mattress feels effortless, which means I experience fewer disturbances during the night. The Purple Hybrid Premier accommodated both sleeping positions thanks to its medium firmness level.

Body type

I’m on the heavier side, which means I found the Purple Hybrid Premier 3 to be a bit softer than a medium. This worked well for me because I’m a side sleeper, and side sleepers generally prefer softer beds. My sleeping partner, on the other hand, is more of a stomach sleeper, and even though they’re lighter than me, they developed some mild back pain over time and would have been better off with a slightly firmer mattress (which is what we have). This just goes to show how subjective firmness can be.

Purple Hybrid Premier Performance

Motion isolation

The responsiveness of the Purple mattress is something I have always enjoyed, as I am a side and combination sleeper. That being said, it is not something my sleep partner loved, as my tossing and turning would sometimes wake him up in the middle of the night. However, I would not say that this was due to the mattress’ inability to isolate motion. The responsiveness is just something you have to deal with if you are someone who tosses and turns a lot during the night. If that is the case and your partner is a light sleeper, a memory foam bed that keeps you from tossing and turning might be a better option.

Temperature

Purple likes to talk about how well these beds regulate temperature on their website. There aren’t any Purple beds that our test team would classify as “active cooling,” but thanks to that GelFlex Grid material, Purple beds sleep in a temperature-neutral way.

I slept on it for several hot summers and didn’t really have any temperature issues. I still had to turn on the air conditioning in my bedroom when it got super hot in July and August, but the bed regulated the temperature just fine. I think that’s something you’ll like about a Purple bed if you buy one for yourself.

Sustainability

Purple also likes to emphasize the sustainability of its mattresses, and I agree with that to a certain extent.

The GelFlex material is the most durable. Unlike some foams, I don’t see that stuff degrading over time. The rest of the bed had the same components that you find in most other mattresses, like coils and foam, and those will break down over time. However, I didn’t notice it in the five years that I’ve slept on this mattress. The warranty is 10 years, so I didn’t expect to see any durability issues after just five years. I think the GelFlex Grid material would hold up well until at least the 10 year mark.

Final thoughts

I have no real complaints about the Purple Hybrid Premier 3. I slept great on it for a long time and we are swapping it out, mainly because my partner wants to try something different. Finding a mattress that works for two different types of sleepers is a challenge and it can take a lot of trial and error to find one that works for both people.

I haven’t experienced any lingering aches or pains during the entire five-year period that I’ve slept on the Purple Hybrid Premier 3. I’m not someone who generally has aches and pains, but it’s worth noting that I still haven’t experienced any back pain, despite being in my 30s. I think that has less to do with the mattress itself and more to do with the firmness level working well for me and my personal sleep preferences.

My body adapted to the unique feel of the Purple bed in no time. Most mattress brands offer a minimum 100 night trial period, which Purple does. I recommend taking advantage of that trial period to try out a Purple mattress and see if it’s right for you.

It’s the end of an era for me and my partner, but we’re excited about the new Purple mattress line. Our CNET sleep experts have thoroughly tested and reviewed Purple’s new line, so be sure to check out those reviews and videos if you’re interested in one of the new beds.