WinkBed Plus vs Purple Plus: Which mattress for heavy people is better for back pain?

In this WinkBed vs Purple comparison, we’re looking at whether the WinkBed Plus or Purple Plus is the best choice for heavier sleepers with back pain. And although both mattresses are hybrids, Purple’s unique GelFlex grid means that the design under the covers is markedly different.

These luxury hybrids are amongst the best mattresses on the market for all sleepers, with plenty of features to offer support and comfort. But how do the two mattresses compare to each other, and will one offer better support to heavier bodies?

Here we’ll look at both mattresses in more detail, comparing price, design, support and temperature regulation to help you decide which mattress is right for you. Let’s get started…

WinkBed Plus vs Purple Plus Mattress: Price & Trial

• WinkBeds has an evergreen $300 discount on the WinkBed, meaning you can buy it at any time of year for the same price
• Purple tend to save its most generous discounts for major sales events but you will see flash sales and discounts throughout the year
• WinkBeds offer a lifetime warranty to Purple’s 10 years

The WinkBed Plus is one of the best hybrid mattresses you can buy, but it does come with a premium price tag. However, evergreen WinkBeds mattress deals mean that you’ll never pay full MSRP for this mattress, with $300 off all sizes year round. The WinkBed Plus is more expensive than the standard WinkBed though and you’ll pay $1,699 (MSRP $1,999) for a queen size as opposed to $1,499 for a queen in the standard three firmness options (soft, luxury firm, firm).

In contrast, it can be hard to predict Purple mattress sales, which aren’t ubiquitous like the WinkBed. Major discounts tend to be reserved for the big holiday events, like the upcoming Presidents' Day mattress sales, but you will see flash sales and discounts popping up through the year. Currently, Purple is offering $400 off all sizes of the Purple Plus, which takes a queen size down to $1,499 (MSRP $1,899). This is one of the biggest discounts we see on this mattress, so it’s well worth taking advantage of. Like the WinkBed though, this is still a luxury mattress.

Extras wise, the WinkBed offers a 120-night trial to the Purple’s 100 and both brands offer free shipping. However, you will get a lifetime warranty with the WinkBed, whereas Purple only offer 10 years.

WinkBed Plus Mattress: from $1,349 $1,049 at WinkBeds
An evergreen $300 off sale means that you’ll never need to wait for a major sales event to purchase the WinkBed Plus, with a queen always selling for $1,699. This is good value for one of the best luxury mattresses specifically designed for heavier bodies, and you’ll also get a 120-night trial, lifetime warranty and free shipping and returns.

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Purple Plus: from $1,499 now $1,099 at Purple
The Purple Plus rates highly for its unique feel and support for joint pain. Purple sales don’t come along all that often, so it’s worth snapping the mattress up when it’s discounted. Right now, there’s $400 off in the January flash sale, taking a queen down to $1,499. You’ll also get a 100-night trial, 10-year warranty and free delivery and returns.

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WinkBed Plus vs Purple Plus Mattress: Materials and Design

• The WinkBed Plus is 13.5” high and has an anti-sag foam and a latex support layer for extra durability
• The Purple Plus is 11” high with the brand’s unique GelFlex grid
• The WinkBed has a dedicated lumbar support system

The WinkBed is designed slightly differently depending on which version you go for, but we’re concentrating on the Plus version here. Our top pick in our best mattresses for heavy people round-up, the WinkBed Plus is capable of supporting individual sleepers weighing up to 450lbs (or a combined weight of 900lbs). Starting with a breathable Tencel cover, the WinkBed Plus uses a layer of anti-sag foam at the top to provide optimal support for sleepers over 250lbs.

Up next is a layer of seven-zoned latex with an open cell design to draw heat away from the body along with a layer of pressure-relieving foam for support and more temperature regulation. The mattress is supported by a layer of individually wrapped coils, with reinforced edges for more support. The WinkBed Plus also has the brand’s patented 3-Step Back Relief System and LumbarLayer that helps to keep the spine aligned and provide extra support for the lower back, helping to prevent back pain.

The Purple Plus has a softflex knit cover, like it’s cheaper cousin the Purple Original, one of our best mattresses in a box picks. The cover is breathable and designed to optimize the GelFlex grid below it. As you might have guessed, the grid layer is directly below the cover and the mattress has 2” of this proprietary gel-like elastic polymer that magically manages to be both soft and firm where you need it to be.

There are also thousands of holes in this layer to help keep the mattress breathable. Next up is a layer of edge support foam to increase support, followed by a layer of ultra-comfort foam for pressure relief and support. The mattress is finished off with 3” of base support foam for stability. However, the Purple Plus isn’t specifically designed for heavier bodies and its maximum weight capabilities are lower at 300lbs for a single person and a combined weight of 600lbs for two.

WinkBed Plus vs Purple Plus Mattress: Comfort & Support

• The WinkBed comes in four different firmness options, but we’re concentrating on the Plus version for heavier sleepers which is rated at 8/10
• We rated the Purple Plus at 6/10 around the arms and legs, and 7.5/10 for the spine and lower lumbar areas
• Both mattresses offer excellent lumbar support

Both the WinkBed Plus and Purple Plus feature in our best mattress for back pain round up, offering plenty of support for those with back pain. Although we tested the luxury firm version of the WinkBed in our WinkBed mattress review, it shares the brand’s 3-step Back Relief System and LumbarLayer that’s also found in all four firmness options.

For heavier sleepers, this dedicated system will help to keep the spine aligned and provides extra support where it’s needed in the lower lumbar region. The zoned latex support layer in the WinkBed also adds to this support and we feel that the WinkBed Plus is the overall winner when it comes to helping ease back pain in heavier sleepers.

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That’s not to say that the Purple Plus won’t help ease back pain, but it won’t support quite as much weight as the WinkBed, and this could be a consideration. In our Purple Plus mattress review we found that the mattress was soft under the arms and legs, while firm around the spine and the lower lumbar areas. Overall, the Purple Plus is firmer than you might expect, although you’ll still get plenty of cushioning comfort alongside the firmer support and pressure relief. The unique feel of the grid isn’t for everyone but, if you get along with it, you could find this the perfect mattress for easing away aches and pains.

WinkBed Plus vs Purple Plus Mattress: Temperature Regulation

• Both mattresses offer good temperature regulation
• The WinkBed uses a breathable cover, breathable latex, gel-infused foam and coils to keep air moving through the mattress
• The Purple Plus’ grid layer is full of thousands of cooling air holes, along with a breathable layer of foam

During testing, the WinkBed did a good job of keeping sleepers cool. A breathable Tencel cover helps to absorb and wick away moisture and the foam is gel-infused to help with cooling. Well-spaced coils also help to keep air flowing around the mattress. The Plus version also uses naturally breathable latex and WinkBeds use an open cell foam design to maximize heat transfer away from the body.

The Purple Plus offers exceptional cooling, thanks mainly to the thousands of cooling air holes in the GelFlex grid layer. There’s also a layer of higher density foam in the Plus than in the original Purple mattress (which features in our best cooling mattress round up), which Purple say is 2-3 times more breathable. One of our testers said it was the most cooling mattress they’d ever slept on, and we would recommend it above the WinkBed Plus if you do sleep particularly hot.

WinkBed Plus vs Purple Plus Mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the WinkBed if…

✅ You’re of a heavier build: The WinkBed Plus is our top pick for heavier bodies, with its anti-sag foam, latex layer and banded together coils that offer extra durability. Supporting up to 900lbs of combined weight, it should suit the vast majority of heavier sleepers.

✅ You share your bed with a restless partner: The WinkBed offers excellent motion isolation, and you shouldn’t be disturbed by any movement overnight.

✅ You experience back pain: The WinkBed offers fantastic pressure relief and a dedicated system to help support the spine and prevent any back pain from building up.

Buy the Purple Plus if…

✅ You sleep hot: The Purple Plus offers superior cooling with its breathable foam and grid layer with thousands of tiny air holes. Our testers felt cool and comfortable throughout the night.

✅ You experience joint pain: The Purple Plus offers firm support where it’s needed around the spine and the lower lumbar region, doing a particularly impressive job of easing joint pain.

✅ You want a mattress that can accommodate all sleeping positions: The unique feel of the Purple Plus grid means that the mattress flexes with your sleeping position and provides the right amount of firmness however you sleep.