No matter your weight, finding a mattress that is both properly supportive and comfortable is key. We sleep for almost a third of our lives so the right mattress can really work wonders.
If you are on the heavier side, you need to keep a few things in mind. First, you want a mattress that can support your weight. A softer all-foam mattress might not be able to handle weights over 300 lbs. Second, you want a mattress that is durable and won’t break down after only a few years.
Well, us larger people are in luck. The Saatva HD and New Purple (the Purple 4 in particular) are both very supportive, durable mattresses that should be a good match for heavier people. That being said, these two mattresses are a better match for different types of sleepers.
Which one of these mattresses is right for you? Read on for my full comparison.
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Key Similarities
- They are both supportive mattresses and can support heavier people.
- These are both hybrid mattresses that contain coils.
- Both mattresses are quite breathable.
- They are both durable mattresses made of high-quality components.
Key Differences
- The Saatva HD is taller than the Purple 4.
- The Purple 4 is a softer mattress than the Saatva HD.
- These mattresses contain some very different materials.
- The feel is very different. Saatva HD features a pillow top while the Purple 4 has a firm, yet supportive gel feel.
- The Saatva HD is more affordable than the Purple 4.
Saatva HD Construction
- The mattress is 15.5″ tall.
- The organic cotton cover is tufted and quilted with comfort foam.
- The top layer also contains Guardin, an antimicrobial fabric treatment.
- The next layer is zoned Talalay latex foam. It is also ventilated.
- Below this is a layer of memory foam then support foam.
- Finally, the support layer contains 12.5 gauge tempered steel coils.
Read the full Saatva HD mattress review
Purple 4 Construction
- This mattress is 13″ tall.
- The top layer is 4” of a hyper-elastic gel polymer. It creates a gel grid.
- Then, you have a 0.5” transition foam layer.
- Below that, there is a 7.5” layer of individually wrapped coils.
- On the bottom, there is 1” of a foundational foam.
Read the full Purple 4 mattress review
Construction Differences/Notes
- The Purple’s gel grid is one of the most unique comfort layers you will find in a bed-in-a-box mattress. It works in a very interesting way in which stays completely flat until you apply enough pressure. Once this happens, that specific area will collapse while the rest of the mattress is unaffected.
- The Saatva HD features zoning in two areas. First off, the Talalay latex layer has five zones. This varies the firmness across the surface of that layer, making it firmer and softer under certain areas. There is also zoning in the coil layer which makes the center of the mattress firmer than the rest.
- Both the Saatva HD and the Purple 4 should be a good match for larger people. The Saatva HD is designed specifically with larger people in mind. The multiple layers of high-density foam and high-grade coils are made to offer support for much heavier weights. The Purple 4, on the other hand, has a very thick layer of their proprietary hyper-elastic gel polymer. It will also provide comfort and support for heavier people.
- The Saatva HD and Purple 4 are both breathable mattresses. That being said, the Purple is going to be even more breathable. Just looking at the gel grid, you can see that there is a huge amount of room for air to flow through. Overall, the Purple 4 shouldn’t trap heat, and should be a temperature neutral sleeping surface.
- Again, these should both be durable, longer-lasting mattresses. They both feature some very durable mattresses that shouldn’t sag under those heavier weights. However, the gel grid is just a bit more durable than the materials you find in the Saatva HD. Both mattresses should last for a very long time, but the Purple 4 could last even longer.
Firmness/Feel Differences
When we talk about mattress firmness, it is often subjective. For instance, a much lighter person might lie on the Purple 4 and think that it is very firm. On the other hand, a heavier person could lie on a soft memory foam mattress and find it to be too firm.
However, as a larger person, I can give my personal experience with these two mattresses. Lying on the Saatva HD, the mattress feels close to an 8/10, firmer-than-average. I am 230 lbs, and people who are in the 300 to 500 lb weight range could press further into these top layers and find it to be softer than I did.
Lying on the Purple 4, the mattress feels like a 5.5/10, softer-than-average. The mattress feels firm at first, but then collapses under my butt when I am on my back, and under my shoulders and hips when I am on my side.
Here is how I felt sleeping on the Saatva HD:
- I feel no lack of support when I am back sleeping on the Saatva HD. This is a very supportive mattress overall and the zoning in the latex and coil layers provides extra support near my lumbar area. At the same time, my hips sink into the plush top layer.
- When I move to my side, I am feeling some firmness on my shoulders and hips. It is not uncomfortable per se, and I think much larger people will feel better pressure relief than I did.
- Lying on my stomach, I feel completely supported. I feel even support across my entire body so that I stay in a healthy, neutral spinal alignment.
Here is how I felt sleeping on the Purple 4:
- Starting on my back, I only feel my hips sink into the gel grid. The mattress continues to support my lumbar area as well as the other parts of my body.
- Moving to my side, the Purple 4 is a great match for me. The gel grid only collapses under my shoulders and hips so I feel almost no pressure at all. In fact, the Purple 4 gives me an almost weightless feeling.
- Sleeping on my stomach, I feel like the mattress supports me across my entire body. I will say that I think much heavier people, like those between 300 and 500 lbs, might not feel quite the same support.
In terms of feel, these mattresses are very different. The Saatva HD has a pillow top hybrid feel similar to what you find on the original Saatva or WinkBeds mattresses. That being said, it is much firmer.
The Purple 4 mattress has a unique feeling that is honestly difficult to describe. It has a squishy, gel-like quality that creates a firm sleeping surface. At the same time, it is very pressure relieving and collapses under the heavier parts of your body.
See more of what I thought of Saatva HD’s firmness and feel in the video below.
Now, see what I thought of the Purple 4’s firmness and feel.
Motion Transfer Differences
Motion transfer is always important to consider if you sleep with a partner. You basically want to know whether your partner’s movements will disturb you during the night. Also, you want to make sure you aren’t disturbing them!
To test out the motion transfer on both these mattresses, I used a glass of water. I placed the glass of water on top of both mattresses and then pressed into the other areas of the mattress.
During these tests, I definitely saw less disturbance in the water on the Purple 4. I saw a fair amount of disturbance with the Saatva HD.
This leads me to believe the Purple 4 isolates motion better than the Saatva HD and could be a good mattress for couples.
See how the Saatva HD handles motion transfer in the video below.
Now, compare this to the Purple 4.
Edge Support Differences
Edge support is also worth considering if you sleep with a partner or want to sleep close to the edge of your mattress. Basically, when you sit near the edge or lie down near the edge of a mattress, will you feel secure in this position or will you feel like you are going to fall off?
Between these two mattresses, the Saatva HD has much better edge support. The mattress barely collapses when I sit near the edge. Also, when I lie down near the Saatva HD, I don’t feel like I am going to roll off the mattress.
You can see the edge support differences in the photos below.
Pick Saatva HD If…
- You are a much heavier stomach sleeper. While both of these mattresses are very supportive, the Saatva HD should offer better support for people between 300 and 500 lbs who sleep primarily on their stomach. The zoned construction and firmer layers should ensure that your hips don’t bow in whatsoever.
- You are looking for the more affordable mattress. Both the Saatva HD and the Purple 4 are premium mattresses that cost over $2000. That being said, at full price, the Saatva HD costs $500 less than the Purple 4. If you can’t decide between these two mattresses, picking the Saatva HD could save you some money on your purchase.
- You like a hybrid mattress with a pillow top. The Saatva HD is a hybrid mattress that contains very supportive coils, high-density foams, and tufted top layer that is quilted with comfort foam. If you have had success with hybrid mattresses and like a bit of that plush pillow top feel, the Saatva HD should be a good choice.
- You prefer a firmer mattress. Between these two mattresses, the Saatva HD is definitely firmer. Whether you just like the feel of a firmer mattress or have even greater support needs, the Saatva HD should work for you.
Pick Purple 4 If…
- You are a heavier side sleeper. Larger side sleepers can sometimes have a difficult time finding a mattress that is comfortable enough for them. However, the Purple 4 should be a good match. It has 4” of hyper-elastic gel polymer that should relieve most pressure on your shoulders and hips while ensuring you don’t bottom out and hit the support layers beneath.
- You are looking for an extra durable mattress. While these are both very durable mattresses, the Purple 4 should be the more durable. The hyper-elastic gel polymer is one of the more durable materials we have seen on a mattress. It shouldn’t sag, even after years of use.
- You are a hot sleeper. If you often find yourself waking sweating in the middle of the night, your mattress could be to blame. Between the two mattresses, you have less chance of overheating on the Purple 4. There is so much room for air to flow through the gel grid so the mattress shouldn’t trap too much heat. It should be a temperature-neutral mattress that doesn’t make you sleep hot.
- You prefer a softer mattress. While lighter people might find the Purple 4 to be too firm, larger people should agree that the Purple 4 is a very soft mattress. Whether you sleep on your side or just prefer some more give with your mattress, the Purple 4 should be the way to go.
Overall
If you keep your weight and sleeping position in mind, you shouldn’t have too much trouble deciding between the Saatva HD and Purple 4. The Saatva HD is a better match for much heavier stomach sleepers and those who like a firmer, pillow top mattress. The Purple 4 should work for heavier side sleepers and those who like a softer mattress. Please leave any questions you have about the Saatva HD and Purple 4 in the comment section below.
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