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This article has been written by the site owner Dan Cartwright – a mattress testing expert who has been testing products and writing online reviews since 2015 to help buyers make the best purchasing decisions for their needs.
Puffy describe their mattresses as like sleeping on a cloud.
But what does this actually mean – are Puffy’s mattresses firm or soft?
Well, I’ve personally slept in both the Puffy Original and Puffy Lux Hybrid mattresses, and put them through several tests and experiments – here’s what I discovered:
Puffy’s mattresses feel quite soft. The Puffy Lux Hybrid feels softer than its advertised ‘medium’ level of firmness due to its deep layers of adaptive memory foam. The Puffy Original feels firmer than the Puffy Lux Hybrid but softer than you would expect for a medium-firm mattress due to the adaptive gel memory foam.
However, how Puffy’s mattresses will feel to you will depend on your body weight, body type, and preferred sleeping position.
That’s why I’ve put together this post that tells you if the Puffy Original and Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel firm or soft to you based on your unique sleeping style.
Ready to buy? Check out my reviews to learn more and get $300 OFF your chosen model. Click here for my Puffy Lux Hybrid review, and click here for my Puffy Original review.
Puffy Mattresses Feel Softer Than Advertised
The Puffy Original is advertised as a medium-firm mattress but based on my experience of sleeping in it, it feels more like a medium-soft mattress because the gel memory foam is highly adaptive and provides a degree of sinkage that makes the mattress feel softer than you would expect.
The Puffy Lux Hybrid is advertised as being a medium firmness mattress, but it felt more like a soft mattress to me because the deep layers of foam allowed me to sink much further into the materials and provide an enveloping feel.
In summary, I would say go for the Original if you want a firmer but adaptive feel, and the Lux if you want a softer mattress with a deeper, more contoured feel.
More details below:
The Puffy Original: Firmer – But With an Adaptive Feel
As you can see from the video above, I have personally slept in the Puffy Original mattress and run several comfort and performance tests on it – so I know what it feels like to sleep in this mattress.
The Puffy Original mattress feels both soft and firm at the same time – the softness is apparent when you first lie on the mattress, with the firmer feel coming through as you sink more deeply into the materials. This creates a soft yet supportive feel that’s perfect for sleepers under 230 lbs.
However, how soft or firm the Puffy Original will feel depends on your body weight, body type, and dominant sleeping position.
Based on my own personal experience of sleeping in the Puffy Original and my extensive knowledge derived from testing mattresses over many years, here’s a more accurate analysis of how the Puffy Original will feel for you based on your sleeping style:
Font Sleepers – Firm Support But Soft Where It Matters
If you are a front sleeper under 230 lbs, then the Puffy Original’s medium-firm feel and higher density support foams means that the mattress will support you as you sleep on your stomach whilst the softer adaptive memory foam top layer will alleviate the pressure on your ribcage, knees, and elbows for deeper comfort.
However, it’s worth noting that if you fall into the 200 -230 lbs range, then the Puffy Original will likely feel softer to you because you are putting more weight on the materials and will therefore sink more deeply into the foam – resulting in a closer, more contoured feel.
I personally don’t like sleeping on my front in general because it hurts my shoulders, but I was able to sleep on my stomach for longer in the Puffy Original due to its adaptive properties.
Back Sleepers – Firm With Good Pressure Relief
If you are a back sleeper under 230 lbs, then the Puffy Original will have a firmer feel to it with just enough ‘give’ in the upper comfort layer to take away the pressure on your shoulder blades, hips, and spine.
Again, as you move closer to the 230 lbs mark, the Puffy Original will start to feel softer due to the greater amount of weight being placed on the materials.
Sleeping on my back was my favorite position in the Puffy Original because I felt that it kept my spine well-aligned without being too firm.
Side Sleepers – Fairly Firm But Softer on the Shoulders and Hips
If you are a side sleeper in the 150 – 230 lbs range, then the Puffy Original will feel somewhat firm but with just enough softness around the shoulders and hips to keep you comfortable.
If you weigh less than 150 lbs and you are a side sleeper, then the Puffy Original may feel a touch on the firm side – in which case the Puffy Lux Hybrid will be the better choice thanks to its deeper, more contoured feel.
Lightweight Sleepers – Feels Firmer for Sleepers Under 150 lbs
If you weigh less than 150 lbs, then the Puffy Original will feel firmer because you are naturally putting less weight on the mattress and so there will be more pushback.
However, the adaptive gel memory foam top layer means that you should still feel comfortable in the Puffy Original because the foam softens to allow you to sink into the materials so that your weight is distributed more evenly across the mattress to help move the pressure away from your joints.
But if you are worried about the Puffy Original being too firm for you, then I would recommend upgrading to the Puffy Lux Hybrid because the more enveloping feel of the memory foam layers will help to dissipate your weight even more and increase comfort.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Feels Softer Over 200 lbs
If you weigh more than 200 lbs then the Puffy Original will feel softer because you are putting more weight on the materials and the resulting compression will cause you to sink more deeply into the foams.
You should still feel comfortable in the Puffy Original if you weigh less than 230 lbs – if you weigh more than this, then you may find that the foams sink in too much and then the mattress paradoxically begins to feel firmer as you hit the denser support foam in the support layer.
For this reason, I would recommend a firmer mattress with a pocket coil spring core like the DreamCloud if you are a front or back sleeper over 230 lbs because the mattress is more resistant to sinkage.
Edge Sleepers – Too Soft
If you sleep very close to the edge of the bed, then the Puffy Original will feel too soft because there is no edge support.
Therefore, you should switch to the Puffy Lux Hybrid if you are an edge sleeper and still want amazing pressure relief because it has reinforced edges.
However, based on my testing, I recommend the DreamCloud as the best mattress if you’re an edge sleeper because the edge support consists of reinforced coils to prevent sagging.
Combination Sleepers – Firm Enough to Move Around In
If you are a combination sleeper under 230 lbs that switches positions often during the night, then despite this being an all-foam mattress, the medium-firm level of firmness and the denser support foams provides enough push-back to allow you to move without getting bogged down in the materials.
Granted, the heavier you are, the more challenging it will be to shift positions due to the extra weight you are placing on the materials.
If you are a combination sleeper over 230 lbs, then I recommend a hybrid mattress with more bounce like the DreamCloud, Avenco, or Noa to aid with better movement.
Skinny Sleepers – Firmer But Reduces Pressure Points Via the Adaptive Foams
If you have a body fat percentage of less than 15% then the Puffy Original will likely feel firmer to you than if you had a body fat percentage greater than 25% – simply because you will be more sensitive to pressure.
However, the adaptive gel memory foam means that you can still be comfortable in the Puffy Original because the foam will mold itself to your body shape to alleviate pressure on your bones and joints.
But for maximum pressure relief as a skinny sleeper, I would recommend the Puffy Lux Hybrid over the Puffy Original because the foams offer deeper contouring to really soften the points of contact with the more angular regions of your body.
Plump Sleepers – Feels Softer
If you have a body fat percentage greater than 25% then the Puffy Original will feel softer to you because the increased amount of padding that you have will naturally create a closer and more contoured point of contact with the materials.
This may actually work in your favor if you are a side sleeper because your shoulder and hip joints won’t be as prominent and so they will be less prone to pressure points.
However, if you are a warmer sleeper, then you may find that having a higher body fat percentage is a negative thing when sleeping in the Puffy Original because the closer contouring may make you feel too hot and sweaty.
In which case I recommend a more breathable mattress like the DreamCloud.
Athletic Sleepers – Feels Firmer But Provides Good Pressure Relief
If you have an athletic build with a lower body fat percentage and more muscle mass, then the Puffy Original will feel firmer to you due to the more angular shape of your body.
However, the adaptive foams will help to soften the pressure on the more prominent regions of your frame to keep you comfortable.
But if you have wide shoulders and/or a very athletic build, then I would suggest upgrading to the Puffy Lux Hybrid because it offers a more contoured feel that will accommodate your physique more precisely.
The Puffy Lux Hybrid: Softer – With a Deep Contoured Feel
As demonstrated in the video above, I have spent plenty of time sleeping in the Puffy Lux Hybrid and putting it through several tests, so I know what this mattress feels like.
The Puffy Lux Hybrid feels much softer than advertised – the medium level of firmness combines with the pocket coil core to provide adaptive support in any sleeping position, whilst the deep layers of memory foam in the upper layers provide the soft and adaptive feel.
The final feel of the Puffy Lux Hybrid will depend on your body type and sleeping style, as described below:
Font Sleepers – Feels Soft But With Enough Support up to 230 lbs
If you are a front sleeper under 230 lbs, then the Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel softer than the Puffy Original due to its deeper layers of foam, but the pushback provided by the springs means that there’s still enough support to keep your hips in the correct alignment and avoid back pain.
However, if you are approaching the 230 lbs mark or are heavier, then I would err on the side of caution and go for the DreamCloud because the upper comfort layers aren’t as enveloping – so there’s even less chance of you getting back pain.
Back Sleepers – Soft But Supportive
If you are a back sleeper under 230 lbs, then the Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel soft when you initially lie on it, and then you will feel the firmer support kick in as the foams settle down in response to your body weight and pressure.
This means that the Puffy Lux Hybrid is ideal if you are a back sleeper – I personally love feeling the foams wrapping around my body to alleviate the pressure on my arthritic joints and sore muscles from exercise.
Side Sleepers – Soft on the Hips and Shoulders for Pain Relief
If you are a side sleeper under 230 lbs, then the Puffy Lux Hybrid is ideal because the deeper layers of memory foam will conform around your hips and shoulders to remove the pressure points that typically cause discomfort when sleeping on a firmer mattress in this position.
I personally love the Puffy Lux Hybrid because it soothes the arthritic pain in my shoulders that typically keeps me awake at night in most other types of mattresses.
If you are a side sleeper over 230 lbs, then things get a bit trickier because you may need more support – in which case the DreamCloud is a fair option.
Lightweight Sleepers – Soft Enough to Provide Pressure Dissipation
If you are a lightweight sleeper under 150 lbs, then the Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel soft because the deep layers of adaptive memory foam will allow you to sink more deeply into the materials when compared to the Puffy Original and other firmer mattresses.
This means that the pressure will be released from your joints in all sleeping positions to allow for a more comfortable night’s sleep.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Too Soft Over 230 lbs
If you weigh more than 230 lbs then you will likely find the Puffy Lux Hybrid to be too soft.
This is because the deeper layers of foam in conjunction with your heavier bodyweight may create too much of a sinking feeling that could compromise your posture.
In which case the DreamCloud is a viable alternative if you weigh more than 230 lbs.
Edge Sleepers – Firmer Support
If you sleep near the edge of the bed, then the Puffy Lux Hybrid is going to feel firmer than the Puffy Original because the Lux has reinforced foam in the edges whilst the Original has no edge support at all.
This means that the Puffy Lux Hybrid is a viable option for edge sleepers under 230 lbs – but I would advise that you consider the DreamCloud if maximum edge support is a priority for you.
Combination Sleepers – Softer and Harder to Move in for Heavier Weights
If you are a combination sleeper, then the Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel softer than the Puffy Original due to its deeper foam layers and therefore will likely feel more challenging to move around in if you weigh between 200 and 230 lbs or more.
Therefore, I would recommend the DreamCloud if you are a combination sleeper that’s on the heavier side due to the greater bounce and better mobility.
Skinny Sleepers – Soft With Good Pressure Point Relief
If you have a body fat percentage under 15% then the Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel soft and comforting on the more angular regions of your body when compared to the Puffy Original and firmer mattresses.
Plump Sleepers – Very Soft and May Be Too Warm
If you have a body fat percentage over 25% then the Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel much softer and may be a bit on the warm side because the materials will mold to your body very precisely and impede airflow.
Therefore, the DreamCloud will likely be a more breathable alternative for you – I found it much cooler to sleep in.
Athletic Sleepers – Soft and Soothing With Good Support
If you have a lower body fat percentage with a fair amount of muscle, then the Puffy Lux Hybrid will feel soft and supportive whilst also helping to soothe the aches and pains from exercise.
I’m always sore from Thai boxing and doing weights, plus I have arthritis in my shoulders, and the Puffy Lux Hybrid provides the most amount of pressure relief out of any mattress that I’ve tested.
That’s why I always come back to sleeping on the Puffy Lux Hybrid after I’ve done testing other mattresses for my reviews.
Conclusion: Expect a Softer Feel
Both the DreamCloud and the Puffy Original have a medium-firm feel.
However, having slept on both, I personally found that these two mattresses felt very different – the DreamCloud felt much firmer because it has a pocket coil core whilst the Original has an all-foam design with a more adaptive top layer.
And whilst the Puffy Lux Hybrid is advertised as being only slightly softer than the Puffy Original, I found the Lux to be much softer and more adaptive due to its deeper memory foam layers.
Click here to find out if the Puffy Original is a good mattress or not.
Dan is the founder and head content creator at Bedroom Style Reviews.
He has been working as a professional online product reviewer since 2015 and was inspired to start this website when he ended up sleeping on a memory foam mattress that was too soft and gave him backache.
Through in-depth research and analysis, Dan’s goal with this website is to help others avoid such pitfalls by creating the best online resource for helping you find your ideal mattress, bedding, and bedroom furniture.
Dan is a qualified NVQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor with 6 years’ experience helping clients improve their health through diet, exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.
He also holds several college and university-level qualifications in health sciences, psychology, mathematics, art, and digital media creation – which helps him to publish well researched and informative product reviews as well as articles on sleep, health, wellbeing, and home decor.
Dan also has direct personal experience with insomnia, anxiety, misophonia (hypersensitivity to sounds), and pain from both acute and long-standing sporting injuries – he enjoys writing insightful articles around these subjects to help fellow sufferers of such conditions.
Learn more about Dan here.