Puffy Original Mattress Review – We Tested It (Save $300)

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.

I have now been sleeping on the Puffy Original mattress for more than 30 nights continuously.

This means that I now have a better idea of how this mattress feels after the break-in period has passed and I’ve also run a series of tests and experiments to give me a better idea of how this mattress will feel for a range of body weights, body types, and sleeping positions.

So who is the Puffy Original mattress best suited for and is it worth the money?

The Puffy Original is worth the money if you are a front, back, side, combination, or skinny sleeper under 230 lbs that sleeps alone or as a couple because the design is best suited to these sleeping styles. Edge sleepers should avoid the Puffy Original due to the lack of edge support.

But what if you are trying to decide between the Puffy Original and the Puffy Lux Hybrid – which mattress is the best?

The Puffy Lux Hybrid is better than the Puffy Original for side sleepers, edge sleepers, couples, skinny sleepers, sleepers with a lower body fat percentage, and sleepers with pressure-based pain like sciatica. The Puffy Original is the better choice for saving money.

Click here to read my full Puffy Lux Hybrid mattress review and save $300.

And if you don’t like the Puffy Original, what is the best alternative?

The best alternative to the Puffy Original mattress is the DreamCloud for heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs, edge sleepers, and sleepers that need to stay cool thanks to its hybrid design, reinforced edges, and breathable materials.

Click here to read my full DreamCloud review and save $200.

Puffy Original Mattress Review – Personally Tested

You can watch my Puffy Original video review above to see me test the mattress and share my thoughts on what it’s actually like to sleep in the mattress.

To summarize my findings, I think that the Puffy Original is ideal for all sleeping styles under 230 lbs except edge sleeping.

The all-foam design, medium firm-feel, and adaptive gel memory foam top layer combine to create a mattress that’s great for couples and single sleepers alike by providing excellent pressure relief, support, and movement suppression.

However, the lack of edge support and all-foam design means that sleepers over 230 lbs, edge sleepers, and warmer sleepers should consider the DreamCloud mattress because it guards against sinkage, has reinforced edges, and is more breathable.

If you are deciding between the Puffy Original and the Puffy Lux Hybrid then – based on my own experience of sleeping in both mattresses – I would say that the Puffy Lux Hybrid genuinely offers better pressure relief, motion isolation, and edge support that will better suit couples, side sleepers, skinny sleepers, or those with pressure-based pain conditions like sciatica.

Otherwise, the Puffy Original offers a more affordable solution for those that are happy with a mattress that’s well-rounded.

Check out the rest of my Puffy Original mattress review below for more details – click the red buttons to buy the mattress and save $300 now.

Recommended For

• Front and back sleepers – if you are a front or back sleeper under 230 lbs then the medium-firm feel and progressive density of the adaptive foams will help to keep you in good posture whilst also alleviating pressure on the more prominent regions of your body for excellent comfort.

• Side sleepers – if you sleep on your side and weigh less than 230 lbs then you will find that the gel memory foam top layer molds to your unique body shape to help dissipate the pressure on your shoulders and hips whilst keeping your spine correctly aligned.

• Couples – if you sleep as a couple then you will find that the foam does an excellent job of isolating movement so that you don’t disturb each other and the lack of springs means that the mattress is silent.

• Lighter weighted sleepers – if you weigh less than 150 lbs then the adaptive foams will allow you to sink more deeply into the top layer of the mattress so that it doesn’t feel too firm.

• Skinny sleepers – if you have a lower body fat percentage then the adaptive gel memory foam will alleviate the pressure on your bones and joints to avoid pressure based-pain.

• Combination sleepers – even though this is an all-foam mattress, the layering of the foams and the medium-firm level of firmness does provide some buoyancy so that you can switch positions quite easily if you weigh less than 200 lbs.

• Sleepers with pressure based pain – if you have a condition like sciatica, arthritis, back pain caused by disc problems – or any other condition where lying down on a firm surface causes discomfort – the adaptive gel memory foam of the Puffy Original may help to reduce the pressure that’s making the pain worse at night.

Not Recommended For

• Edge sleepers – if you hug the edge of the bed or sleep very close to it at night then the lack of edge support may cause you to roll out. Go for the Puffy Lux Hybrid if you want better edge support plus deep pressure relief, or the DreamCloud for the best edge support with a firmer feel.

• Heavy weight sleepers over 230 lbs – if you weigh more than 230 lbs then there’s the risk that you’ll sink too far into the Puffy Original. In which case you should consider the DreamCloud for a deeper profile and more support.

Pros

• Blends support and pressure relief – although the Puffy Original is a medium-firm mattress, the adaptive gel memory foam top layer means that it still provides pressure relief that will suit side sleepers but also give enough support to front and back sleepers too.

• Lighter than other mattresses – the all-foam design and 10″ profile means that the Puffy Original is significantly lighter and easier to move around when compared to the heavier hybrid mattresses that I’ve tested.

• Buyer protection – the 101-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty means that you can test out the mattress risk-free (a full refund is available if you need it) and you’re covered against defects too.

Cons

• May feel warm for some sleepers – although I wouldn’t say that the Puffy Original sleeps ‘hot’, I did find that it made me feel a bit warmer at night when compared to the more breathable hybrid mattresses that I’ve tested. If you sleep cool or neutral this shouldn’t be an issue but if you want maximum cooling capabilities then I recommend the DreamCloud instead.

Specs

The table below summarizes the key specifications of the Puffy Original so you can quickly see what type of mattress it is:

Performance

The table below summarizes how the Puffy Original performs in the categories that are most important relative to general comfort:

Puffy Original: Detailed Analysis

In this section, I have provided a detailed analysis of the specifications, design, material distribution, sleeping position, and body type suitability of the Puffy Original mattress to give you a better idea of how this mattress will feel for you.

1: Specifications

Below is a more detailed explanation of what the key specifications of the Puffy Original mean for you:

• All foam – the all foam design means that the Puffy Original is great for couples because it dampens movements very well and is silent. However, the all-foam support core means that heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs may sink too far into the mattress.

• Medium-firm firmness – the medium-firm firmness means that the Puffy Original does have some pushback to it so that you don’t feel like you’re being swallowed up by the mattress. However, due to the gel memory foam in the top layer, the mattress does have an adaptive feel so that it won’t feel too firm; even if you are a lighter weighted sleeper.

• Non-flippable – the layering of the foams means that you can’t flip the Puffy Original over; try rotating the mattress 180 degrees once every 3 months to help avoid indents and sagging.

2: Design

As you can see in the picture below, I have unzipped my Puffy Original mattress and cut away the fire sock so that you can see the different layers – below is an explanation of what influence each section will have upon its performance and comfort:

Comfort Layer: Gel Memory Foam (2″)

The uppermost layer that you will be in contact with is 2″ of slower response gel memory foam.

This means that the mattress will conform and adapt to the exact contours of your body more precisely than a higher-density polyfoam topped or regular upholstered spring mattress typically would.

This means that the Puffy Original can provide great pressure relief that will remove discomfort from the more angular regions of your body that will especially suit side sleepers, lighter weighted sleepers, and sleepers with a lower body fat percentage.

The gel component is there to help with heat dissipation and temperature control.

I personally found that this layer really helped to remove the pressure on my bones and joints.

Transition Layer: Polyfoam (2″)

The polyfoam transition layer is denser and less responsive than the gel memory foam.

This is a good thing because it stops you from sinking too far into the materials and therefore gives the mattress some ‘lift’ so that you won’t feel like you’re being swallowed up by the materials as you try and change position.

Support Layer: High Density Polyfoam (6″)

The high-density polyfoam layer acts as the support core for the Puffy Original to keep you in good posture.

Due to the absence of any springs, this means that the mattress tends to have less ‘bounce’ to it but this also means that the mattress is silent and isolates motion very well – so you won’t have to worry about noise and feeling your bed partner moving around as much.

The only downside here is that if you are over 230 lbs, you may find that you sink too far into the materials.

The spring core of the Puffy Lux Hybrid can give you more support if required, but the DreamCloud is the best option if you are a heavier weighted sleeper over 230 lbs.

3: Sleeping Position Suitability

The Puffy Original mattress will feel different depending on your dominant sleeping position and your body weight.

The table below summarizes how the Puffy Original will likely feel for the main sleeping position and body weight range combinations:

Front Sleepers – Good Support for All But the Heaviest Stomach Sleepers

If you tend to sleep mainly on your stomach, then the Puffy Original mattress is surprisingly supportive for all but the heaviest sleepers that weigh more than 230 lbs.

Lighter-weighted front sleepers under 150 lbs will love the feel of the Puffy Original because you will be able to sink into the gel foam far enough so that the pressure is dissipated away from your joints.

And if you have a lower body fat percentage then the gel foam will also help to alleviate the pressure points on your ribs for deeper comfort.

I personally find it difficult to sleep on my front in most mattresses due to the arthritis in my shoulders.

However, I was actually able to sleep on my stomach for an extended period in the Puffy Original thanks to the slightly firmer feel that kept my back well supported and adaptive gel memory foam comfort layer that allowed me to sink in just far enough to take the pressure off my shoulders.

Back Sleepers – Great Support and Pressure Relief

If you sleep on your back, then the Puffy Original will likely feel comfortable for you up to 230 lbs and maybe even beyond – although I would recommend a thicker mattress with coils in it like the DreamCloud Hybrid for heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs so that you don’t sink in too far.

I personally found that sleeping on my back was the most comfortable position in the Puffy Original due to the support and pressure relief it provides on my back and legs.

Side Sleepers – Excellent Pressure Relief

If you sleep mainly on your side then the gel foam layer will allow you to sink in just enough to alleviate the pressure on your shoulder joints whilst the firmer polyfoam in the transition layer works with the denser support core to keep you in good posture.

Sleeping on my side in the Puffy Original was surprisingly comfortable – I expected my arthritic shoulders to hurt too much in this position but this wasn’t the case.

I would say that as a side sleeper you should feel well supported up to around the 230 lbs mark, at which point you may need a mattress with more support to avoid excessive material compression.

Combo Sleepers – Fairly Easy to Move Around In

If you switch positions often during the night then you should be able to do this fairly easily if you weigh less than 200 lbs.

Mobility may become a little more challenging if you weigh between 200 lbs and 230 lbs and beyond the 230 lbs mark, you will almost certainly find it harder to switch positions smoothly without getting bogged down in the foam.

This is because all-foam mattresses are notoriously difficult to move around in because they tend to lack the pushback and bounce of mattresses that contain springs.

However, I personally found that the Puffy Original performs much better in this area when compared to the other mattresses that I’ve tested due to the medium-firm feel and the progressive layering of the foams that increase in density the deeper into the mattress you go.

This means that I was able to switch positions relatively easily.

However, if you want to maximize mobility then I recommend the DreamCloud due to its superior bounce and responsiveness.

Edge Sleepers – Poor Edge Support

If you tend to hug the edge of the bed as you sleep then the Puffy Original isn’t the best choice because the lack of edge support and all-foam design means that the edge of the mattress compresses too much and may lead to roll-off.

Instead, I would recommend the DreamCloud if you are an edge sleeper due to its reinforced edge support that has coils to provide more pushback and stability.

4: Body Type Suitability

The Puffy Original mattress will feel different depending on your body type, as described below:

Slight Build – Very Good Pressure Relief

If you have a body fat percentage lower than 15% then although the Puffy Original will have an underlying firm feel, it will also feel soft and supportive.

This apparent paradox is possible because although the top gel memory foam layer conforms to the contours of your body to alleviate pressure and give a soft feeling, the firmness of the denser foams beneath bleeds through to help keep you in good posture.

This is great news if you are a ‘skinny’ sleeper because the more prominent regions of your body won’t feel like they are being aggravated by the top layer of the mattress (which is really common with regular spring mattresses).

Average Build – Softer but Still Supportive

If you have a body fat percentage between 15% and 25% then the Puffy Original will feel softer but still retain good support and mobility without feeling too suffocating.

Soft Build – Closer Contouring

If your body fat percentage is greater than 25% then the Puffy Original will feel softer and the materials will hug closer to your body.

This means that you’ll still get excellent pressure relief and support, but the materials will contour more closely to your body – this might be an issue for you if you’re a warmer sleeper and want to stay cool (try the DreamCloud instead for more breathability).

Athletic Build – Good Pressure Relief

If you have a body fat percentage under 15% and more muscle mass then you will find that the Puffy Original does a good job at alleviating the pressure on your more prominent regions whilst also contouring to accommodate your athletic build.

Puffy Original: In-Depth Testing Results

To better understand how the Puffy Original mattress performs for a wider range of sleeping styles beyond my own 5’8″ 180 lbs frame, I ran a series of experiments.

The summary below explains how the Puffy Original performed in the key areas that contribute to a comfortable mattress.

And you can see me performing the tests first-hand in the video above.

1: Good Central Support

I tested the support of the Puffy Original by lying on different parts of the mattress in the front, back, and side sleeping positions.

I felt well supported in all positions despite the all-foam design and I’d expect this support to extend up to the 230 lbs mark for all sleeping positions for other sleepers.

You may even feel well supported if you are heavier than 230 lbs – especially if you are a back sleeper – but I would express caution if you are a front sleeper.

In which case you may wish to consider a hybrid mattress with more pushback and contoured support – such as the DreamCloud.

2: Poor Edge Support

Although the Puffy Original has good general support, the edge support really lets this mattress down due to its all-foam design and lack of reinforced edge support.

This was evident immediately when I sat on the edge of the mattress and when I lied down on the edge of the mattress.

This is bad news if you’re an edge sleeper that hugs the edge of the bed at night because you may roll out.

However, if you tend to sleep closer to the middle of the mattress then the lack of edge support shouldn’t be too much of an issue – just don’t spend a lot of time sitting on the edge of the mattress since this may lead to sagging or indenting.

If you are an edge sleeper and you want a mattress with deep contouring but better edge support then the Puffy Lux Hybrid is a good option because it has reinforced foam around the edge of the mattress.

However, if you need much better edge support then the firmer DreamCloud Hybrid is the best option.

3: Very Good Pressure Relief

The biggest selling point of the Puffy Original is the pressure relief that it provides thanks to the adaptive gel memory foam top layer.

I tested this by lying in the Puffy Original mattress in the front, back, and side sleeping positions and waiting to see how long it took for me to feel enough pressure that I needed to turn over.

I was able to stay in the back sleeping position the longest, and then it was a split between the front and side sleeping positions.

However, I have painful arthritic shoulders which makes the side and stomach sleeping positions generally uncomfortable in most mattresses – although the Puffy Original is definitely one of the more comfortable mattresses that I’ve tested in this regard.

But if maximum pressure relief is your priority, then I highly recommend the Puffy Lux Hybrid because this has the best pressure relief of any mattress that I’ve ever tested.

The arthritic pain in my shoulders feels like it’s melting away when I sleep in the Puffy Lux Hybrid.

4: Good Mobility

All-foam mattresses are known for being very difficult to move around in because they compress so easily and lack the pushback that comes with hybrid and spring mattresses.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Puffy Original is relatively easy to move around in and switch positions due to its layered foam design.

But if you weigh more than 230 lbs then I would recommend looking for a mattress with more buoyancy and pushback – the DreamCloud is the best option based on my testing.

5: Good Motion Isolation

Motion isolation refers to the degree to which a mattress is able to prevent the feeling of movement in other areas of the mattress.

This is important if you sleep as a couple because you don’t want to get woken up by your bed partner moving around.

I personally found the motion isolation of the Puffy Original to be quite good – I wasn’t able to feel my bed partner moving around much.

This is due to the all-foam design that soaks up shock waves very well.

However, the Puffy Lux Hybrid has the best motion isolation out of all the mattresses I’ve tested due to its deeper profile, thicker foam layers, and independently encased coils that dissipate movement very well.

6: Silent

Because the Puffy Original is made entirely out of foam, there are no squeaky springs to worry about.

If you do hear any noise, then it will likely be coming from your bed frame – see my guide to fixing a squeaky bed for resolving this.

7: A Good Mattress for Couples

The Puffy Original is a good mattress choice for couples that have compatible sleeping styles.

This is because the mattress is silent and isolates movement fairly very well.

By ‘compatible’ I mean that both of you need to be comfortable sleeping in this type of all-foam mattress.

For example, if you are both back sleepers under 230 lbs.

If you aren’t compatible in your sleeping styles then a mattress with a ‘split firmness’ can solve this issue in many cases.

8: Sleeps a Touch on the Warm Side

I’m naturally a very warm sleeper – so I’m sensitive to mattresses that cause overheating.

And whilst I wouldn’t say that the Puffy Original sleeps hot, I did notice that it felt less breathable than some of the other mattresses that I’ve tested.

This makes sense because the all-foam design will naturally trap heat more than a hybrid spring mattress will.

However, Puffy has included gel beads in the memory foam to offset the heat retention properties of the foam.

So I would say that unless you live in a hot climate, are a warm sleeper, or have a higher body fat percentage (which will decrease breathability due to the materials conforming more closely to your body) then the Puffy Original will be ok for you.

But if you need to maximize breathability to sleep cool, the best option is the DreamCloud based on my personal experience.

9: Low Chance of an Allergic Reaction

I have hay fever and a dust mite allergy.

But I didn’t notice any kind of reaction when I slept in the Puffy Original.

So if you have allergies then I wouldn’t expect this mattress to cause you any problems.

10: Provides Good Pressure-Based Pain Relief

The adaptive nature of the gel memory foam top layer allows the Puffy Original to provide a good degree of pain relief where the discomfort is caused by pressure points.

For example, the Puffy Original may be able to help alleviate sciatica by reducing pressure on the sciatic nerve or reduce back pain that’s caused by pressure on the discs.

I personally found that that the arthritic pain in my shoulders was reduced because my shoulders could sink more deeply into the materials.

11: Minimal Off Gassing

Unlike many of the cheaper bed-in-a-box mattresses, the Puffy Original didn’t smell of chemicals when I unboxed it.

This is likely due to the certified foams that are free from harmful chemicals.

But if you do notice an odor upon unboxing, leave your windows open for a few hours and the smell should go away.

12: Unlikely to Sag in the Middle

Due to the high-density foams that make up the support and transition layers, I think that the Puffy Original has a low chance of sagging or developing indents.

However, the risk of sagging increases towards the edge of the mattress due to the lack of edge support – so my advice would be to avoid sitting on the edge of the bed for long periods.

13: Lifespan of at Least 5-7 Years

All-foam mattresses don’t tend to last as long as high-quality hybrids due to the lack of robust spring support.

But thanks to the high-quality foams, I’d expect the Puffy Original to last a good 5-7 years with the right care – so make sure to rotate the mattress 180 degrees every 3 months to distribute the weight and limit the risk of sagging and indents.

14: Good Value for Money

The Puffy Original offers great value for money because the high-quality materials make for a long-lasting mattress at a price that’s competitive with the rest of the market.

Key Information

Below is a summary of the key information regarding the Puffy Original mattress.

Sizes and Prices

The prices and sizes for the Puffy Original in the US without a discount are as follows (click the button below to save $300):

101 Night Sleep Trial

The 101-night sleep trial allows you to test out the Puffy Original mattress for up 101 nights to ensure that you like it – a full refund is available if you need it for any reason.

Lifetime Warranty

The lifetime warranty means that you can get a replacement or a repair of your mattress if it’s defective.

Comparisons

Below is a short comparison summary of how the Puffy Original stacks up against some of the alternative mattresses that I’ve reviewed.

Click the links to read any of the more detailed reviews if it sounds like any of these other mattresses are better suited to your needs.

Puffy Original v Puffy Lux Hybrid

The Puffy Lux Hybrid is my top-rated mattress overall at the moment (it’s the mattress that I currently sleep on).

You can think of the Puffy Lux Hybrid as a legitimate upgrade to the Puffy Original – you get better pressure relief, better support, more motion isolation, reinforced edge support, and a thicker profile to help support more weight.

This means that you should upgrade to the Puffy Lux Hybrid if you are a side sleeper, an edge sleeper, have arthritis (or other painful conditions like fibromyalgia, sciatica, or back pain), weigh between 200 lbs and 230 lbs, or sleep as a restless couple that needs to maximize motion isolation.

However, if you don’t want to spend as much money then the Puffy Original will suffice for front, back, side, and combination sleepers under 230 lbs – but edge sleepers should go for the Puffy Lux Hybrid or the DreamCloud (see below).

Click here to read my full Puffy Lux Hybrid review and get $300 off.

Puffy Original v DreamCloud

The DreamCloud is also a medium-firm mattress but it has a firmer and less adaptive feel with more bounce and better edge support when compared to the Puffy Original.

This means that the DreamCloud is better suited to front, back, combination, edge, and heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs.

Whereas you’ll be more suited to the Puffy Original if you are under 150 lbs, have a lower body fat percentage, and/or sleep on your side.

Click here to read my full DreamCloud mattress review and save $200.

Puffy Original v SweetNight Twilight

The SweetNight Twilight is a hybrid zoned mattress with a quilted pillow top.

This means that if you require more edge support, more bounce, and a cheaper mattress then the Twilight is a great choice for front, back, and side sleepers under 230 lbs.

However, I’d say that the Puffy Original has the edge over the Twilight for couples because its all-foam design means that it’s quieter and isolates movement just a touch better.

Click here to read my full SweetNight Twilight review and get 15% off now.

Conclusion: Ideal for Sleepers Under 230 lbs

Based on my testing and experiments, I would say that the Puffy Original is a great mattress for all sleeper types under 230 lbs – except edge sleepers.

Click the button below to order your Puffy Original mattress and save $300 now.

Image Attribution and Licencing

All images were taken for BedroomStyleReviews.com – copyright LiveWell Media LTD; all rights reserved.

Dan

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.