Purple Pillow Review

If you love the brand’s extremely well-received Purple Mattress or you want a taste of what they have to offer, one of the Purple pillows might be right up your alley. Whether you’re looking for something more traditional, or you want to give the pillows that utilize Hyper-Elastic Polymer a try, Purple has a few options for you to choose from.

In this review, we’ll reveal our thoughts on the three different Purple pillows; Purple Pillow, Purple Harmony, and the Purple Plush Pillow. Continue on below in our Purple pillow review to learn more about them and why you might (or might not) want to spend the extra money on one.

Honest Purple Pillow Review

Purple Pillow Construction And Design

Before we go over the exact construction in our Purple pillow review, we have to point out that it weighs in at a whopping 10 lbs. This is the heaviest pillow that we reviewed to date and, to be candid, it’s too heavy.The pillow has an uncompressed loft of about 3.25”, but when you lay your head on it, the loft drops to about 2.75”.

The pillow itself is made of a proprietary, gel-like material called Hyper-Elastic Polymer. You will see this on all Purple mattresses and it is the reason that so many people are flocking to Purple products.

Hyper-Elastic Polymer has a number of advantages and disadvantages:

• It is responsive and makes switching sleeping positions very easy at night.
• It also has a slinky, malleable feel to it, which makes moving the pillow around very difficult.
• It also requires no fluffing, which means the Purple Pillow remains the same height and shape all night long. This is one of the main marketing points that Purple uses when they promote this pillow. It’s a durable pillow that has a blend of pressure relief and support.

The Hyper-Elastic Polymer material is also laid out in a grid format, as you can see in the image below. This helps with airflow, which we’ll discuss more in a minute.

The Purple Pillow is a single-sided pillow, meaning you are not supposed to flip it. On the bottom are zippers, which is how you open up the pillow so that you can wash the cover (more on this in the FAQ section below).

The other thing that’s worth noting with the pillow is the powder that coats the Hyper-Elastic Polymer material. Purple says this is non-toxic and 100% safe. You can read about it on Purple’s blog. I don’t want to make a big deal out of this since it’s apparently entirely benign, but it just makes a mess if you do remove the cover. We aren’t concerned about it from a health perspective, but having to clean up the powder irked us a little.

Again, according to Purple, the powder is completely safe, but it makes a mess. So, the moral of the story is if you do want to wash the cover of the Purple Pillow, make sure to move it outside first.

The Purple Pillow Feels Unique

It feels like you’re laying on a softer, gel/rubbery material. It’s comfortable and pretty neat, but it’s certainly not for everyone. If you want a more traditional pillow—like say, the Helix Pillow—then you will undoubtedly not want to get the Purple Pillow.

However, if you’re open to something new and you’re intrigued with the responsive, supportive, pressure relieving nature of the Purple Pillow, who am I to stop you? Just know that it’s unlike any other pillow out there (in a good or bad way, depending on your personal preferences).

Purple Pillow Sleeping Styles

Back Sleeping

We think back sleeping is the most optimal position for the Purple Pillow. In fact, in most of the graphics on Purple’s website, they showcase back sleepers in particular.

There’s a real chance some heavier sleepers won’t find it tall enough for back sleeping, but this is definitely the most ideal position for the pillow.

Side Sleepers

For side sleepers, the Purple Pillow is a possibility, not a sure thing. We think it will be nice for petite side sleepers, but if you have a medium or large frame, you might consider purchasing one of the boosters to increase the loft.

Slumber Yard team member Matt slept with the Purple Pillow and said that the pillow (absent the boosters) was simply too thin for sleeping on his side. For reference, Matt is 6’ 0″ and weighs about 190 lb.

Stomach Sleepers

We feel pretty confident in saying that the original Purple Pillow is not designed for stomach sleepers. The pillow doesn’t compress enough to sleep comfortably on your stomach, unless you have a large frame. For medium and petite folks, the pillow just doesn’t flatten enough and therefore it sort of kinks your neck.

Generally, we would advise you to hug the edges of the pillow if you’re dead-set on sleeping on your stomach, but in this case, you don’t really have that option. The perimeter edges of the pillow are reinforced and offer even less compression.

Original Purple Pillow Price

The pillow isn’t cheap, but it’s also not what we would consider egregious. With an MSRP of $109, the Purple Pillow is (quite a bit) more affordable than the TempurPedic TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Pillow, but more expensive than the Lull Pillow.

As far as coupons go, you can find them on the official Purple coupons, promo codes, and discounts page located here.

Having said that, the best way to save on the Purple Pillow is to keep an eye out for bundles. If you’re already considering purchasing one of the Purple Hybrid 2/3/4 mattresses, for example, they will typically bundle in the pillow for free. So, while this is not a discount per se, it is a way to save money on the entire purchase.

This, of course, only works if you are interested in purchasing a Purple mattress. If you’re just looking at the pillow, you generally won’t find any discounts or deals on Purple.com for the pillow specifically.

Original Purple Pillow Review Verdict

There’s plenty to like and dislike. We imagine that 50% of people will be all about this pillow and the other 50% will conclude that it’s definitely not for them. We think a majority of stomach sleepers won’t like it, smaller side sleepers might enjoy it, but back sleepers looking for a supportive but unique feel will like this pillow the most.

One of the best features of the Purple Pillow is the fact that it is a cooling pillow. It does a fantastic job of regulating temperature. It doesn’t have any active cooling technologies, but since the Hyper-Elastic Polymer is constructed in a grid format, it allows for plenty of airflow.

The grid format allows air to circulate in and limits how much the pillow will heat up. Technically, this is not a cooling pillow, but it nonetheless definitely belongs on the short list of pillows for hot sleepers.

Purple Plush Pillow Review

For you sleepers out there who really just want a fluffy, down-like pillow, check out our Purple Plush Pillow review. We also have a convenient video review where you can let Kelsey fill you in on all the details.

Purple Plush Review Video

Construction Of The Plush Version

The Plush Pillow looks like a little cloud on your bed because of white and fluffy design. The cover material is made of 60% lyocell and 40% nylon. It’s soft and naturally moisture-wicking and feels slightly cool. It’s definitely one of those pillows where you can flip it over in the middle of the night to get to the cool side.

The fluff inside the pillow is very similar to the eidertech fill in their Purple Blanket in that it’s fluffy and bouncy, but it’s actually new technology called “Smart Fluff.” Smart Fluff is made of interlocking denier poly fiber puff balls.

It then has zippers on both sides of the pillow that allow you to close the pillow up for added firmness, open it up for optimal softness, or experiment with something in between. The standard pillow weighs 3.6 lb and the king is 4.4 lb.

To clean the Purple Plush Pillow, throw the whole thing in the washing machine and use cold water on the gentle cycle. To dry, tumble dry on low heat. Purple recommends throwing some tennis balls in there as well, which helps to fluff the pillows up a bit and dry them quicker (thanks for the tip, Purple).

Loft Of The Purple Plush Pillow

Loft refers to how tall the pillow is, compressed or uncompressed. These measurements are a little different because we have so many options between the pillow being zipped up, completely unzipped, and all the other options in between.

So the loft of the pillow is the same at 8” tall uncompressed, whether it’s zipped or unzipped. But then while it’s zipped up, the pillow has less room to flatten out (which is why it feels firmer), making it 2.5-3.5” tall while compressed. While the pillow is unzipped, the fluff has more room to spread out, so it ranges from 2-4” tall while compressed.

We realize this doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but it actually does feel a little different while laying your head on it.

Purple Plush Pillow Dimensions

The dimensions of the standard size pillow are roughly 26” x 18”. A standard size pillow case should fit on these pillows just fine, and also make for easier cleaning and more cohesive bedding. The dimensions of the king size are 35″ x 16.5″ so you’ll definitely need a king size pillow case

Purple Plush Sleeper Styles

Because the firmness of this pillow is adjustable, we think almost anyone will be able to get comfortable, but remember that getting comfortable and keeping the spine aligned has a lot to do with your body size, as well.

Back Sleepers

As a general rule of thumb, back sleepers need a little bit of loft so that their head is properly supported to keep their neck in line with the rest of their spine. Because of this, we’d say back sleepers might want to unzip their pillow for a softer feel and less loft.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers typically need a little extra loft to keep their spines aligned while on their sides. The head needs to be supported so that the nose is in line with your belly button. Side sleepers might want to keep their Plush Pillow zipped up so that it’s firmer and the loft stays higher even with their head’s weight.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers are similar to back sleepers, except their necks are usually turned to the side so that they’re not face down. The key here is to keep the neck in line with the spine, so you’ll probably want a softer pillow with less loft. Again, this will have a lot to do with your body type.

Sleeping Temperature

Some people like to sleep on the cooler side, and we get that. We already mentioned how the material of this pillow is slightly cooling and moisture-wicking, but we want to discuss airflow, as well.

If you look closely, the material inside of the zippers that holds the fluff in is a mesh-like material that has holes in it. When both sides of the pillow are unzipped, you can expect to have better airflow through the pillow because it lets the fluff become more airy, which literally gives more room for airflow.

On the other hand, when the pillow is zipped up, the pillow probably won’t be quite as cool. So if you tend to sleep hot and need all the cool-down you can get, we recommend you go for the softer option this pillow offers and unzip the sides.

Purple Plush Pillow Price

We’ve reviewed some expensive pillows on the Slumber Yard, like the $170 TempurPedic TEMPUR Cloud Breeze Cooling Pillow, and we’re happy to say that the Purple Plush Pillow is highly affordable by comparison.

The standard size pillow retails for right under $50, and the king is about $65, but we’ve seen them offer a two-for-one sale in the past. That means two pillows for just $49. Believe us when we tell you this is a steal. You check current promotions on Purple.com.

Purple Plush Pillow Review Verdict

We’re big fans of most of Purple’s products around here, and we’re excited to add the Purple Plush Pillow to our lineup of approved items. It’s fluffy and comfy, and we love all the customization options for different firmness levels and airflow. And because you can customize your firmness level, we think almost any sleeper type will be able to get comfortable and properly support their spine.

Besides all that, we’re actually pretty surprised and impressed by the price. We think if you’re looking for a quality pillow, this is it.

Purple Harmony Pillow Review

The folks over at Purple call their Harmony pillow the “best pillow ever made” and even spent a year and a half perfecting it. While there are a lot of great pillows on the market, we aren’t going to lie—the second we unboxed this pillow we were pretty impressed by the innovative design.

Purple Harmony Pillow Video Review

Purple Harmony Pillow Construction

The Purple Harmony Pillow is manufactured here at home in the good ol’ US of A, and is constructed with a hypoallergenic Talalay latex foam core.

Surrounding the latex foam is Purple’s “360° Purple Grid Hex” for added cushion and support, and this is where the Purple Harmony Pillow stands out.

The material is made out of the brand’s “Geluxe Hex Grid,” a.k.a. their signature Hyper-Elastic Polymer, a gel-like substance meant to provide second-to-none support for your head and neck. The two materials harmoniously together to provide a restful sleep, which is where we’re guessing the brand got the name.

The honeycomb looking hexagonal grid can be seen and felt since it’s sewn into the pillow’s mesh cover (similar to the OG Purple Pillow’s cover) and it sort of feels like a Dr. Scholl’s shoe insert or a jelly toy you used to play with as a kid. The core is hand wash only, but the cover is machine washable, which we love because it makes cleaning up spills or drool puddles super easy.

Harmony Pillow Loft

Purple made two different loft options for the Harmony Pillow; the standard model and the Harmony Pillow Tall. The standard model has a loft of about 6.5” uncompressed, and about 3” compressed (when your head is laying down on it).

The Harmony Pillow Tall has a loft that’s about 1.5-2” taller than the standard model, and is about 4.5” when it’s compressed. While this might not seem like a huge difference on paper, in reality, that extra inch and a half or so is the difference between a supportive and unsupportive pillow for some people.

Purple Harmony Pillow Feel

Laying our head on the Purple Harmony pillow felt really nice—it almost feels like your head is weightless or just floating there. It’s soft, but not in a fluffy way like Purple’s Plush Pillow, and it’s definitely supportive too. It’s also a particularly responsive and springy pillow, which can be credited to both the bouncy latex foam and Hyper-Elastic Polymer.

Purple Harmony Sleeping Positions

Since Purple offers two different loft options, we think this pillow would be accommodating for just about anyone, but make sure you choose the most appropriate model.

Standard Purple Harmony Pillow is best for petite side sleepers, and stomach and back sleepers with an average build.

Purple Harmony Pillow Tall is an ideal pillow for average to heavy side sleepers, and any heavy individual in general. Regardless of your sleeper type, we’d say a heavy person who weighs around 250 lbs + should opt for this model to benefit from its extra loft and support.

Does This Pillow Sleep Cool?

On Purple’s website, they refer to the Pillow’s cover as “cool-to-the-touch,” and although it’s moisture-wicking, we wouldn’t necessarily say this rings true. The GhostBed Pillow, for example, actually feels cold when you press your hand up to it, and we don’t get that same sensation from this pillow.

With that being said, the airflow is impeccable thanks to the grid’s hexagons that create 1500 little air pockets. So it may not sleep as cool as the Original Purple Pillow, but it definitely sleeps cooler than most pillows out there.

Harmony Pillow Price

We have good news and bad news. The good news is, the price for the standard Purple Harmony Pillow and the Harmony Pillow Tall are both exactly the same. Bad news is, the price is pretty steep and will cost you around $160 on Purple’s website.

We mentioned how we thought the this pillow was luxurious, and the price certainly reflects that sentiment. It’s one of the pricier pillows we’ve seen come through our doors.

If you’re somebody on a ramen noodle diet, this pillow isn’t very realistic for you. For those of you who want to invest in their sleep and have the funds to drop over $150 on a pillow, however, we think it may be worth it.

Purple Harmony Pillow Review Verdict

If you’re able to justify the price of this pillow, it’s definitely the most luxurious model from their catalog and one of our favorites. It’s a good option for sleepers who’re looking for something different than the traditional down feeling you get from Purple’s Plush Pillow, but a little more conventional and accommodating than the Original Purple Pillow. We won’t dub it the greatest pillow that has ever existed like Purple seems to have done, but it’s considered a top-favorite among some of our Slumber Yard members because of how luxurious and supportive it is.

Which Purple Pillow Is Best For You?

• The original Purple Pillow is made from the same material as the Purple mattress, and is temperature neutral with great conformity. The original Purple Pillow remains the best choice for back sleepers who need greater neck support. 
• The Purple Plush Pillow is a different case altogether, as it is filled with a polyester down-like material that makes the pillow more traditional. The Purple Plush Pillow also has a pair of zippers that allows users to adjust the loft of the pillow so it can be firm or soft, depending on the users’ wish. Lastly, as the most affordable option, we think it’s the most accommodating.
• The Harmony Purple Pillow falls somewhere between the two in terms of support, and is best for those looking for a luxury, breathable sleeping experience. It contains the same revolutionary Hyper-Elastic Polymer from the Purple mattress, but contains an additional Talalay latex support layer. 

In terms of cost the Purple Plush is definitely the most affordable of the three, priced around $49. The new Harmony Purple Pillow is more than three times as expensive, at $159, and the original Purple Pillow is the midpoint option at $109.

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  JD Christison

  Combo Sleeper

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  Jack Reynoso

  Combo Sleeper

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  Dillon Payne

  Combo Sleeper

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  Dillon Lopez

  Combo Sleeper