We’ve written about Nugget alternatives before, but now we’re going to take a look at a new Nugget alternative contender: The Figgy.  In a comparison of the Figgy vs. Nugget, which play couch should you buy?

If you haven’t heard of the Figgy, it’s newer to the rapidly growing play couch scene (within the last year or two).  Play couches to a certain extent have been around forever, but when much of the world experienced a “stay at home” order in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, play couches (and the Nugget in particular) exploded in popularity.  Kids are playing at home more, and the Nugget ended up being a great solution for parents.

But with the popularity of the Nugget, the demand far exceeded supply and parents everywhere were left fighting for Nuggets.  Whenever they would restock, they would sell out within seconds.  They’ve since increased production capacity and have begun selling more again, but the increased demand has opened the door to new options such as the Figgy.

Let’s compare the two and see what’s right for you.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links.  See affiliate disclaimer at the bottom of the page.)

The Figgy vs. the Nugget: Which Play Couch is Better?

We’re going to examine a few different aspects of each play couch and talk about the differences between the two.

[This post was updated: October 2022]

Cushion Configuration

At first glance, both the Figgy and Nugget look very similar, but they have quite a few differences in their features.

The Nugget consists of two triangular pillows, a thinner foldable, foam cushion, and a thicker, foldable foam cushion.  Occasionally the Nugget allows you to buy extra pillow packs.

The Figgy consists of four base cushions (all the same size) and 2 rectangle cushions.  There is an optional add-on for a wedge cushion, which is a triangular pillow similar to (but not exactly the same as) the Nugget pillow.

While the base for both is essentially 4 square cushions, there is one important difference between the Nugget vs. the Figgy: The Nuggets 4 cushions are paired together so that each set of two are connected and can be folded.

The Figgy, on the other hand, has its four cushions connectible via velcro.  This allows you to separate them if desired, which cannot be done with the Nugget. 

We were originally skeptical that a velcro connection would be strong enough to withstand the type of play that these play couches typically experience, but after trying it for ourselves, we found the velcro to be super strong.  It’s actually hard to pull apart once you’ve connected it.  

Overall, we are giving an edge to the Figgy due to the added versatility of the different shaped cushions (triangle and rectangle) as well as the ability to separate the base cushions.

Winner: The Figgy

Additional Features

This is where the Figgy stands out, because it was built with the Nugget in mind (i.e. the creators looked for ways they could improve upon the Nugget).  

For this section, the Nugget is really our “base” for comparison, so relatively speaking, it has no additional features.  That’s not a bad thing and doesn’t take away from its quality, but it’s simply a “what you see is what you get” situation.

The Figgy, on the other hand, has a couple of interesting features that you might not realize at first glance:

• Waterproof liners – The Figgy actually has two covers on its foam blocks.  Beneath the top cover is a 2nd layer – a waterproof liner.  This protects the foam blocks from spills and other accidents.

• Zipper cover – Instead of the zipper handle just sticking out (like you would expect), the Figgy cover has little pockets to slide the zipper into.  It hides the zipper to prevent it from making contact with your kids or scratching your walls.  

In our opinion, the zipper cover is nice but rather insignificant as a feature.  The waterproof liner, however, is a really useful additional feature that the Nugget doesn’t offer (yet).  For that reason, we give the Figgy the advantage in this category.

Winner: The Figgy

Reliability/Quality

We’ve tested both the Nugget and Figgy and can honestly say that there doesn’t appear to be a discernable difference in quality.  Both appear to be made of very high quality materials and can withstand the force of kids climbing, jumping, etc.  

The outer cover on both feels very soft and durable.  The inner foam pieces always bounce back into shape after being compressed.

Although the Figgy is relatively new and the Nugget has been around for years, our experience so far leads us to believe the quality is similar and we really can’t give an edge here to either the Figgy or the Nugget.

Winner: Tie

Colors

Without a doubt, this is where the Nugget shines.  The company behind the Nugget has done an excellent job creating a collection of colors that give parents so many options.  They also sell covers separate from the Nugget itself, so you can buy extra covers and change the color of your Nugget whenever you want (or have a spare cover for the times when one is being washed).

From a marketing perspective, their approach to colors has been genius, giving each a unique and memorable name.  It’s not a yellow Nugget – it’s “Saturn.” It’s not a dark gray Nugget – it’s “Harbor.” The list goes on and on.  At any given time, they have around 15 colors available, and they frequently introduce new colors (and occasionally retire old ones).  

Furthermore, the colors aren’t just “kid friendly” but they are colors that go well with a variety of interior decors – the Nugget is something you wouldn’t mind keeping out in your family room.

The Figgy originally launched with two colors – gray and navy. However, they have been slowly expanding and now offer a green (mint) and darker pink (magenta) as well.  

While I do see the Figgy to continue improving here and adding new colors as time goes on, we have to give the edge to the Nugget here simply based on the variety available.

Winner: The Nugget

Price

To compare price, we really have to look at the base model for both the Nugget and the Figgy.  

One of the basic Nugget colors (Koala, Submarine, or Blackbeard) sells for $229.

The base model for the Figgy retails for $279.  You can add an additional wedge piece for a total of $329.

Looking at an apples-to-apples comparison, the Nugget has the clear edge on price. However, if the extra features of the Figgy are important to you (I think the waterproof liner is important to a LOT of parents) it’s worth the extra $50 over the Nugget.

We’ll see as time goes on how prices may change; it is possible that as the Figgy ramps up production, they will be able to achieve a lower price point.

(Side note: For extra cover sets, both the Nugget and Figgy are $99.)

Winner: The Nugget

Availability

At the time of this writing, both the Figgy and the Nugget appear to be shipping within a matter of a few business days.  This could change at any moment (especially during the holiday season!), however, so it is best to check it out for yourself.

Click here to check availability for the Nugget.

Click here to check availability for the Figgy.

Winner: At this moment, it’s a tie.

Bottom Line: Which should you buy?

This is a tough one.  The Figgy has some really interesting features that the Nugget doesn’t have, it’s available sooner (as of this writing), and its quality appears to be on par with the Nugget.

The Nugget is a little simpler, but offers a better selection of colors and has been around for a few years with thousands of happy parents and kids. 

With that said, we have tried both pretty extensively at this point and we are giving the edge to the Figgy at this time.  It’s not that we don’t love the Nugget – we do.  But we’ve found that The Figgy does everything the Nugget does and more.  At this point the only reason to go with the Nugget over the Figgy is if there is a particular color you want that the Figgy doesn’t offer.  

But, as we said above, the Figgy seems to be coming out with new colors, so I wouldn’t be surprised if, over time, they will also have a great selection of covers to choose from.

Winner:  The Figgy (Check out the Figgy’s site for more information.)

Regardless of which one you go with, check out our post about the best Nugget accessories – any of these would go great with a Figgy or a Nugget!

We will continue to update this review to the extent anything changes.