Casper Mattress Review

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Casper launched in 2014 and they are one of a number of mattress start-ups in recent years. They’ve made a bit of a splash in the industry and have received widespread media coverage. The Casper mattress is a combination of three types of foam, including memory foam, and it is delivered directly to your door in a vacuum sealed package. Consumer ratings are fairly good to date and most owners like how easy it is to setup and feel it is good value for money. However some folks find it too firm and also report that delivery can be slow.

Consumer Ratings
A very recent analysis of customer reviews provides the ratings shown in the table below. Ratings on the manufacturer’s site are not provided here but there are quite a few should you wish to look.

Owner Insights
Customer reviews have yielded the following list of Casper Mattress pros and cons. Insights, advice and key comments from owners are also provided below.

PROS
- Reasonably good customer service
- Very easy to setup
- Often reduces aches and pains
- Motion transfer is limited
- Very little odor
- 100 night trial period

CONS
- Some feel it is too firm
- Limited edge support
- Can sleep a bit hot
- Delivery & returns not always prompt

You can read more Casper customer reviews on Amazon if you wish.

Probably the most common consumer complaint regarding the Casper mattress is that it is too firm. Some folks post that they have called Casper customer service and are told to give the mattress some time to “wear in” and soften. This works in some cases but doesn’t in others. We have seen the mattress described by owners in many terms including the following:

"Hard as a rock"
"Like sleeping on the floor"
"Like sleeping on bricks"
"Way too firm"

And, on a softer note,
“Like sleeping on a very firm marshmallow”

The fact is that some people like a firm mattress and others do not (side sleepers probably find the firmness more of an issue than others). Several owners have tried adding a mattress topper in an effort to add more “give” to the mattress. In some cases this seems to help but in most cases it doesn't fix the problem.

There is supposition among a few owners that the following is true:
- Smaller people (e.g. 110 lbs or less) find the mattress uncomfortably firm/hard
- Slightly larger people (e.g. 130-200 lbs) find the Casper to be just right
- Heavier folks (e.g. > 200 lbs or more) find the mattress offers too little support
Now, this is food for thought but there are also many instances of both smaller people and larger people really liking their Casper mattress. So one’s size and weight may not be a determining factor and it may simply be down to what one is used to.

Those who find the mattress too firm often complain of joint pain and uncomfortable sleeping sessions. While, not surprisingly, those who find it comfortable often report that it eases joint pain and even alleviates hip, back, neck, etc. problems. However we should point out that we’ve seen these kinds of comments with many different memory foam mattresses, so this is really nothing new or special. Memory foam offers a level of body support many people haven’t experienced before, and one not typical of an innerspring mattress.

Another trait of memory foam mattresses is their tendency to sleep hot. Many manufacturers have air cooling channels, or gel beads or some other manner in which to keep the mattress cool. The Casper uses a synthetic latex foam with a breathable, open-cell design to keep you cool. Open-cell foams allow for better cooling than closed-cell foams. The following describes the two foams:

- Open-cell foam is like a bath sponge. Air can enter and exit the foam (see image below).
- Closed-cell foam is like the sole of a running shoe. There are air bubbles inside the foam but air cannot enter or exit the foam.

Some folks report that the Casper sleeps hot but most indicate that the mattress is fairly good at regulating temperature and that it maintains a comfortable temperature.

As with all good memory foam mattresses, motion transfer in the Casper is limited. This is very much more noticeable if you are used to an innerspring mattress. Limited motion transfer is an advantage if your partner moves around quite a bit while sleeping.

One of the things Casper seems to have focused on is its customer service. Several owners point out that when talking to a Casper customer service representative on the phone, they are polite and helpful. In addition, they are not pushy (something that one will often encounter in a mattress store).

The company also makes it fairly easy to order online. Delivery is direct to your door and the setup is very easy – essentially unbox the mattress, unwrap it, then place it on the frame. However there are quite a few reports of delivery delays.

Casper also offers a trial period during which you can sleep on the mattress and “test it out”. If you don’t like it they will pick it up and provide you with a refund. Most folks who request a refund report that the company picks up the mattress within a week or so and they get their money refunded. However we would be remiss if we didn't mention that there are reported incidents of folks having to call Casper again and again to get the mattress picked up. Also it seems common for Casper to try and change your mind about returning a mattress by asking if you would be willing to try a mattress topper that they will send you free charge. Some take it and some don’t but in most of the cases we have read it doesn’t make a great deal of difference.

With respect to value for money, a number of folks feel that the Casper is very well priced. This is indeed the case if you compare it to similar large brand name memory foam mattresses like Tempurpedic who manufacture one of the best known memory foam mattress on the market today. However there are other less well-known brands that provide memory foam mattresses for the same or less than the Casper. Some that we feel are worth considering include:
- Dynasty Mattress
- Sleep Innovations

Details and Specifications
The Casper mattress is manufactured in the USA with materials from both the USA and Belgium. Within the USA components are made in North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Georgia and New York City.

The mattress carries a 10-year limited warranty – which you can see here. It also has a 100 day return policy (what Casper refers to as a “100 night trial”). The company policy is if you don’t like it for any reason - during the first 100 days - they will pick it up for free and give you a full refund.

The Casper mattress is comprised of 3 main layers:
- Layer 1: Latex Foam. This is synthetic Dunlop latex foam (open-cell) and it provides cooling, bounce, and some support. This layer is 1.5 inches thick and has a density rating of 3.3 lbs/ft3.
- Layer 2: Memory Foam. This layer is designed to provide comfort and support. This layer is 1.5 inches thick and has a density rating of 4.0 lbs/ft3.
- Layer 3: Support Foam. This is poly foam and it helps prop up your body. This layer is 6.5 inches thick and it has a density of 1.8 lbs/ft3.

This all adds up to 9.5 inches but we have always seen the mattress marketed as 10 inches. When we asked customer service about this minor discrepancy they said that they provide a little room for mattress expansion in their sizing.

Casper has gone the extra mile when it comes to ensuring their foams are environmentally safe and non-toxic. Their Support Foam and Memory Foam (layers 2 and 3) are both Certi-PUR certified. According to the Certi-PUR website, certified foams are:

You can read more about Certi-PUR here if you like.

The top layer, or Latex Foam layer, is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class 1 certified. This essentially means that the foam has been tested for harmful substances. You can read about this certification and their general testing criteria here.

Also, the Casper mattress does not contain flame retardant chemicals. Instead it is wrapped in a flame retardant sock which, in the event of a fire, will melt and ensure that there is insufficient oxygen available to burn the mattress.

The mattress is designed to sit on most any surface as long as there is sufficient support – see image below.

The mattress also comes with a removable Polyester/Polypropylene Zipper Cover. Having a removable cover is nice as it can easily be washed.

In terms of size and weight, a Queen Casper mattress weighs 71 lbs. In the box with all the packing material the Queen weighs 80 lbs. A King size Casper on the other hand weighs 91 lbs and is 100 lbs boxed.

Casper presently ships to both the USA and Canada via UPS. All mattress sizes are shipped in a 20" X 21" X 41” box which also contains setup and maintenance instructions. The mattress is able to fit into such a compact box because it is compressed and vacuum sealed. Upon breaking the vacuum seal the mattress expands to its full size in a matter of minutes. Casper says that shipping generally takes 2-5 days.