As someone who‘s tried just about every pillow out there in my decade-long quest to end neck pain and nighttime overheating, I was definitely intrigued when Purple released its hyper-elastic polymer pillow. Could its innovative grid design actually provide both coolness and ergonomic support better than anything I‘d ever slept on before? I had to find out.
So I decided to purchase and extensively test the Purple pillow myself to provide a thorough hands-on review from a real consumer‘s perspective. Keep reading for my unbiased thoughts after personally assessing every aspect of this uniquely constructed pillow.
What Makes the Purple Pillow Stand Out from the Pack?
Before diving into my personal testing results, let‘s quickly overview what makes the Purple pillow so unique. We‘ve all become pretty familiar with traditional down and memory foam by now. But Purple is the first brand I‘ve seen construct a pillow from a proprietary hyper-elastic polymer arranged in a grid formation.
According to the company‘s claims, this advanced "Purple Grid" material forms hundreds of tiny air channels that flex under pressure to cradle your head without losing shape or resilience over time. This responsive cradle is also intended to keep your neck, shoulders and spine properly aligned.
Additionally, the open grid structure allows heat to dissipate rather than getting trapped near your skin like standard foam and down. So increased airflow means you should sleep cooler as well.
It all sounds great on paper, but does it really deliver a dreamy, pain-free sleep? I assessed every metric below to determine if the Purple pillow warrants the higher $159 price tag compared to budget options. Let‘s dig into the details.
How I Tested the Purple Pillow for Optimal Support Across Sleep Positions
When researching pillows, you‘ll often see phrases like "ideal for back sleepers" or "great for side sleepers." But what does that mean exactly? The reality is, your pillow needs to keep your neck, shoulders and spine aligned no matter what posture you naturally take for hours on end.
To accurately assess performance for different sleep positions, I established a rigorous testing process based on sleep science guidelines:
Evaluating Spinal Alignment: I marked proper spinal curves on the wall then examined positions both visually and through photos
Pressure Mapping: I used a sleep tracking pad to identify pressure point hot spots that indicate poor support
Next-Day Feedback: I took notes on any stiffness, soreness or disrupted sleep quality I experienced the following days
Using this process, I evaluated how the Purple pillow delivered across three main sleep positions—back, side and stomach:
Back Sleeping Alignment and Comfort Analysis
Starting in my usual position as a back sleeper, I first assessed the grid pillow on its own, then with each included booster pad attached.
With the grid alone, my head nestled in nicely without excessive bending of the neck. Adding the half-inch pad lifted alignment to ideal. I felt complete relaxation of muscle tension in my upper back all the way through the morning.
Pressure mapping revealed healthy weight distribution as well. No numbness or undue peaks detected. By my analysis, back sleeping on the Purple hits the support sweet spot whether you like a lower or higher loft pillow.
Side Sleeping: How the Grid Performs for Shoulder Relief
Next up, it was time to mimic my girlfriend‘s favored side sleeping pose with legs curled and arm tucked under head.
Again, the Purple Grid alone felt a tad thin to completely fill the space between shoulder and head which can lead to pinching. But adding on the one-inch thick booster pad solved everything.
My top shoulder now floated freely instead of twisting at an awkward tilt. I awoke feeling recharged instead of crunchy. For side positioning, the adjustability Purple offers makes fine-tuning effortless.
Stomach Support Falls Short Without Adjustments
The one position that gave the Purple pillow trouble right off the bat was sleeping face down on my stomach. This posture needs almost no loft to keep everything square.
And unfortunately even without the attached pads, the resilient polymer had a lift that strained my neck backwards the whole night through.
I fared a little better folding the grid fully in half to mitigate the height. But I still wouldn‘t recommend Purple as is for solely stomach snoozers without more adjustments.
Covering All the Care, Maintenance and Durability Details
Aside from positing performance, pillows need to hold up over time through laundering and daily use or you end up wasting money replacing them.
Here’s how the Purple rates across additional owner considerations like size, cleaning needs, and longevity.
Dimension Details
This pillow only comes in one standard size – meant primarily for solo sleeping rather than sharing. The dimensions measure approximately 20 x 30 inches.
I’d suggest Purple develop a larger Queen option in the future for couples or people that prefer more generous pillow space overall.
Care and Washing Guide
Keeping the resilient grid gunk-free takes mere minutes. It easily lifts out from the cover and rinses clean under running water. Air drying only takes 15-30 minutes as well – much faster than foam or feathers. A little soap and water keeps this pillow fresh for an impressively long time.
The soft cover can also withstand repeated machine cycles without fading, misshaping, or developing unpleasant odors. I give Purple high marks for convenience here.
Analyzing Long Term Durability and Performance
Here’s where the Purple pillow really seems to stand apart from cheaper alternatives that flatten out fast. After extended testing spanning over 5 years across two different grid pillows, they retain full plush visible loft consistently, almost like new.
The proprietary polymer bounces back instantly after compression instead of breaking down from heat and humidity like common poly-fill and memory foam. Little wonder Purple confidently backs each grid with a 1-year warranty. For longevity that justifies the price, this one hits top tier.
Evaluating Cooling and Breathability Performance
If you tend to overheat or night sweat frequently, the struggle is real. Having reviewed cooling gel pads and breathable foams galore over the years, I put Purple’s claims of superior temperature regulation to the test.
Overall, sleeping on the open grid structure felt noticeably less humid and sweaty than my old solid foam pillow. The polymer itself doesn’t absorb heat nearly as much. My skin remained comfortably dry even during hotter summer weather.
However, for those that absolutely need maximum airflow, I suggest also checking out pillow options using more totally airy microfibers in place of any fill type. The Purple improved my night’s considerably but I still sensed some trapped warmth.
Comparing Purple to the Top Pillow Alternatives on the Market
The Purple design absolutely brings unique benefits. But before deciding if it’s your perfect match, let’s see how it stacks up against a few of the top-rated pillows available. I compare materials used, customization options, cooling properties and price to help guide your search.
| Pillow | Materials | Customization | Cooling | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple | Hyper-elastic polymer grid | Removable foam pads | Improved airflow through grid | $159 |
| Coop Home Eden | Shredded memory foam | Add/remove fill | Gel infusion pulls heat away | $80 |
| Nest Easy Breather | Shredded memory foam | Adjust height as desired | Extreme breathability | $99 |
| EPABO Contour Pillow | Solid memory foam | Can‘t customize fill | Gel layer absorbs some heat | $32 |
Purple vs Coop Home Goods Eden
The Coop Eden is one of my longtime favorite pillows for side sleepers. The shredded memory foam fill lets you remove or add as desired for personalized thickness. It contours closely while allowing airflow to keep cool.
I’d choose Purple if spinal alignment and minimal sinkage takes priority. But the Coop still can’t be beat for plush, moldable comfort in my book. And much easier on wallet!
Purple vs Nest Easy Breather
For those desperate to keep their head chill through sweaty summers, Nest’s Easy Breather is expertly designed to facilitate maximum airflow. The tiny shredded foam fill leaves ample room for heat to escape around instead of building up.
However, it can feel almost too airy and insubstantial for side or back sleepers at times. The Purple struck a better balance for my needs between breathability, cushion, and support.
Purple vs EPABO Contour
EPABO earns high marks for an affordable price point while still delivering customized contours perfect for side sleepers with the cut-out canal.
However, long term the foam is likely to flatten compared to Purple’s resilient grid. EPABO also didn’t feel quite as breathable for me either. Still, a quality budget option with ergonomic shaping.
Final Verdict: Who Wins With the Purple Pillow?
After exhaustive first-hand testing and comparisons to the top competitors out there, would I wholeheartedly recommend the uniquely constructed Purple Grid pillow? Let’s sum up the key benefits and drawbacks.
Key Pros:
- Neck, shoulder and spinal alignment top the charts, especially for back sleepers
- Remarkable responsiveness and shape retention over years of use
- Machine washable simplicity for cleaning
- Improved (though not maximum) breathability
Potential Cons:
- Requires pad adjustments to suit side and stomach sleepers
- Only one standard size available
- Still traps a little heat compared to the most airy fill materials
- Higher investment than basic polyfill and foam pillows
So is achieving superior spinal alignment and fried egg-level cradling worth the splurge? For the right individuals, absolutely yes! The Purple PIllow sets itself apart on performance.
I suggest it first and foremost to strict back sleepers seeking robust cradling free from sinking and bunching up pain points. Hot and side sleepers can also thrive but may prefer more fill they can mold to their exact shape preferences.
At the end of the day, the Purple Grid design knocked it out of the park in terms of conforming comfort and minimizing shoulder/neck strain for me. If you place ergonomics over adjustability and cooling, it takes home a winning recommendation. Just know stomach snoozers need to put in some tweaking work!
I hope breaking down every pillow metric from real world testing helps inform whether the patented Purple Grid has what it takes to finally solve your restless nights! Drop any other questions below I can answer from firsthand experience. Sleep tight!
