I’ve slept on more mattresses than any one person should. For nearly a decade, it’s been my job to trial new models and write about them. Throughout my career I learned what I like and what I don’t. My preferences are soft and fluffy, which was the dream for me. Then I moved in with my partner who likes firm mattresses. Instead of ending our relationship, I suggested we throw out his old rock and start testing some more mattresses “for work.” Sure, it was for work, but I had fluffy alternative motives in mind.
I took us on a three-year journey of mattress testing; it was hard to find our sweet spot. We sampled a couple of choices that made us happy for a short period of time, but nothing equally satisfied us. Seven months ago I switched us to the Puffy Monarch mattress. Immediately, it was the first time we both said “yes.” It was the perfect time too, I was eight months pregnant and sleep was hard to come by.
I wanted to wait at least half a year to write this review, because time spent on a mattress really does matter. I can confidently say, the Monarch has exactly what we were both looking for. It’s the perfect mattress for a couple who’s never on the same page, and here’s a full breakdown on why.
Puffy Monarch Mattress
Cons
- Super heavy
- Thick mattress makes it hard to fit some sheets
- Size might be too big for some bed frames
| Mattress Height | 16″ |
|---|---|
| Weight | 132 Pounds |
| Available Sizes | Twin XL, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King |
| Trial Period | 101 Nights |
| Warrenty | Lifetime |
How does the Puffy Monarch mattress feel?
Mattress companies are, quite literally, full of fluff. Website jargon can be confusing—how are you suppose to know what “Medium Plush,” means? In this case, it gives you super soft sink-in feel, but without making you feel like your mattress is 20 years old and giving you zero support. The plush topping hugs and wraps your body with a layer of cushion, which is often key for side sleeping.
Like most hybrid mattresses, this one is made up of a multi-layer construction system. Puffy says there are 12 layers to the Monarch, from the alpaca wool layers (that keep you cool) to a pressure relief layer, and, the core of it all, the old-school style coils. While I’m not a sleep scientist, I can say it feels like the mattress has a million layers. The coils are what stand out. You can tell there’s something sturdy inside, and that’s what is lacking in a lot of other models these days. I think the direct-to-consumer mattress world went through a phase of hyped-up, affordable memory foam options, and now people are finding out those don’t offer long-lasting support. Here, all the layers seem to symbiotically work together so you have true pressure relief all while feeling you’re on a cloud.
Unpacking the Puffy.
The Monarch comes rolled up in a box and weighs 132 pounds. There is no chance I could have handled setup alone. In fact, because I was eight months pregnant, we had a neighbor help us set it up. The thing is heavy. Unroll it on your bed frame (not the floor), cut open, remove the plastic, and let it off-gas. Off-gassing is when a compressed mattress often let out a slew of chemicals and smells when expanding. A lot of people asked me how the off-gassing was. The Monarch didn’t have much of an off-gassing process because Puffy is CertiPUR-US certified, meaning it is made without harmful chemicals. It was ready for sleep a few hours later. Aside from it being large and difficult to move around, it was as easy of a setup as you’ll get with a mattress in a box.
My biggest hang up.
My biggest hangup with this mattress speaks to how much I love it as well. The only thing I don’t like is how big the mattress is itself, it doesn’t quite fit right in our bed frame. Our bed frame, a good-looking one I really love, always sounds like it’s about to give under the robust weight and size of the Monarch. When faced with a decision between the bed frame I love and the Puffy Monarch, we’re choosing to keep the mattress. That’s how serious this is.
How is the motion transfer?
Another problem my partner and I have is how different we sleep. My partner sleeps on his back and barely moves throughout the night. I move all around, especially postpartum. He is a light sleeper, and before we had the Puffy my chaotic sleeping often woke him up throughout the night. We both have noticed how much less we feel each other in the night, him even more than me. Because the layers are thick and there are so many of them, movement gets lost and doesn’t transfer throughout the night.
What type of sleeper is the Monarch good for?
I feel more qualified than ever to answer this question. Most of my life I have been a great back sleeper, and that’s something I’m really thankful for. The Monarch is great for back sleeping. I feel plush support hugging my shoulders and lower back, all while getting firm support where I need. But where the plush-ness really came in for me was during the last few months of my pregnancy. During the second and third trimester, it’s recommended you sleep on your side, which at first was a huge struggle for me, but the Monarch made it easy. I could feel my pressure points sinking in and getting the support they needed. The option to sleep comfortably both ways is another thing that makes this a great choice for two different types of sleepers.
My final verdict.
I will not be replacing this mattress anytime soon. I think it might be war in our household if I decided to try something else.
I’m not going to act like this mattress is cheap, but in my opinion it’s just right price. Sure, you can easily find a mattress for $1,000 these days, but they are often flimsy, only foam, don’t offer support, and you’re back to square one in a year or two. Then there are luxury mattresses delivered to you via freight truck. They can range from $6,000-$8,000. Here though, the Puffy Monarch offers you a sweet-spot in the world of mattresses. Costing around $2,000-$4,000, depending on the size, you get exactly what you pay for: luxury that’ll last.
And a final note, I have to mention that my parents came to visit us, and we let them sleep in our bed. (As you should for your parents!) The next morning they asked me for the link to the mattress and bought one for themselves. One night, and they were hooked. You can’t get a better endorsement.
Puffy Monarch Mattress
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