7.2
Casper Original Mattress
Like
- Zoned memory foam makes it softer where you need it
- Sleeps cooler than other 100% memory foam mattresses
- Excellent motion isolation
- Budget-friendly
- Ideal for most sleeping positions
Don’t like
- Feels more like you’re sleeping on top of the mattress, rather than sinking into it
- Not enough support for anyone over 230 pounds
And now, with over 175 players in the online mattress market, Casper is still one of the top direct-to-consumer choices. But shopping for a mattress online can be tricky. That’s why I put the Casper Original — the company’s most popular model — to the test. In this Casper mattress review, I break down all the features of the bed and who it’s best suited for.
Looking for a new mattress? Aside from our Casper Original mattress review, we’ve also got recommendations for the best mattress for stomach sleepers, the best mattresses for side sleepers and the best mattresses for back pain.
First impressions
The Casper Original mattress arrived just like any other mattress in a box. It was tightly wrapped in two layers of plastic and needed to be cut open and left to expand until it was ready for testing. I lifted the rolled up mattress onto my platform bed frame, carefully took the plastic off and let it expand. One thing I noticed right away was that it didn’t have an off-putting smell that some memory foam mattresses can have, so I didn’t feel the need to leave my windows open to let it air out, which was a plus.
It did look a little lackluster though. There was nothing especially plush or appealing about it, although the cover felt soft to the touch. I didn’t want to judge it on looks alone though, so I left it to expand for the rest of the day and got to the real testing later.
When I first slipped into bed, I didn’t have that “ahhh” moment that you get with plush, soft mattresses. I positioned myself on my back and rather than sinking into the mattress, I felt like I was lying on top of it. The longer I lay there, though, the more comfortable it became. When I laid down on the mattress I felt the foam cradle around my body, alleviating my pressure points and giving a sort of feeling of weightlessness that helps take the edge off.
After several minutes, I turned over to my side and the mattress started to adjust accordingly. Memory foam typically has a delayed response time, but in my Casper Original mattress review I found it responds much faster to pressure than the typical material. After a few seconds, the foam filled in and contoured my body. I did also notice it was softer near my shoulders, a feature of the Zoned Support that’s integrated into the middle layer.
Video: Casper Original mattress review
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the Casper Original mattress.
Casper mattress firmness and feel
What does Casper feel like?
While completing this Casper mattress review I slept on the bed exclusively for 15 days and, like any mattress, it had its pros and cons. I felt incredibly comfortable lying on my back and stomach, but I could only spend so much time lying on my side before I felt like I had to change positions. If I slept on my side too long, I would wake up with tingling arms — a sign that the mattress may have been just a little too firm for me personally. However, I see a lot of side sleepers enjoying this mattress if you weigh over the 150 pound range.
How firm is the Casper mattress?
I would rate the Casper Original mattress around a five or six out of 10 on the firmness scale. That means that it’s a medium to medium-firm mattress, and offers a pretty balanced feel. While the mattress felt soft to the touch and definitely had some sink to it, it still gave that sleeping on top of the mattress feel.
I’m more of a soft or medium-plush mattress kind of person, but if you like firmer mattresses — or you’re a back or stomach sleeper who’s been experiencing back pain on your current mattress — the Casper Original is a good choice for you.
Casper mattress construction
As far as construction goes, the Casper Original is pretty basic, although there are some additional touches that you don’t see with all memory foam mattresses. The mattress is 11 inches tall and built of three memory foam layers. All of the foams are certified by the CertiPUR-US program, which means they’re made without ozone-depleting chemicals and they have low emissions of volatile organic compounds.
- The base layer is a standard high-density polyurethane memory foam that supports your body weight and the rest of the mattress to prevent sinking or sagging. Since this layer provides the foundation for the whole mattress, it’s the thickest layer.
- The middle layer is a zoned memory foam that’s separated into three distinct sections designed to alleviate pressure on your shoulders and cradle your hips for proper spinal alignment. This layer is softer under the shoulders and firmer around the hips, waist and lower back.
- The top layer is also polyfoam, although it’s thinner and a more breathable foam than the base layer, thanks to thousands of perforations that allow air to circulate and heat to escape.
Everything is wrapped up in a knit polyester blend cover that feels soft and stretchy, almost like a jersey material. And, as an added bonus, it’s made from recycled bottles — 57 of them, to be exact — so you can sleep more soundly knowing that the mattress is at least a little sustainable.
Casper mattress performance
Motion isolation
Because the original Casper mattress is all foam and no springs, there’s no bounce at all. If you sleep with a partner who tosses and turns at night — or a large German Shepherd mix who likes to jump on and off the bed seven times a night — you’ll have absolutely no issues here. In fact, this Casper mattress is so good at isolating motion that it could probably be the poster child for those “jumping on the bed near a wine glass” commercials.
Edge-to-edge support
Thanks to the thick, high-density foam base, the Casper Original has some decent edge-to-edge support, but memory foam mattresses will always fall short of coil or hybrid mattresses in this department. If you sleep on the extreme edge, the mattress will cave a little, but you won’t feel like you’re going to roll off.
Temperature
Unlike other 100% memory foam mattresses that trap heat, the Casper Original was engineered with temperature regulation in mind. The top memory foam layer has thousands of perforations that circulate air, so rather than absorbing your body heat and throwing it back to you, that heat and humidity is dispersed away from you and released. Casper calls this Airscape technology, a trademarked term. But does it work?
In comparison to other traditional memory foam mattresses, yes. The Casper Original did seem to sleep a tad bit cooler. While I wouldn’t say that it felt noticeably cool to the touch, like the Ghostbed Luxe, it didn’t turn into a sweat box, and that was good enough for me. Granted, I sleep pretty cool in general, so overheating isn’t an issue I run into a lot, but my boyfriend, who sleeps like a furnace on full blast, also felt toasty and warm, without waking up sweating.
Durability
To determine the durability of a mattress, we look at a bed’s different materials and the quality of its construction. Casper is an average, three-layer foam mattress and should last around seven years (depending on how well you take care of it). That means your mattress should be rotated every six months, deep-cleaned once a year and free of bad spills. For a more durable and supportive mattress, I’d opt for the Casper Hybrid. It has a steel coil layer in the bottom of the mattress that’s stronger than Casper Original’s foam layer.
Off-gassing
You know that lingering smell in a new car? You’ll notice a similar odor when you open your bed-in-a-box mattress from its packaging. It’s a result of the manufacturing process and compressing the bed inside of a box, so it’ll need to be aired out for about a day or two after unboxing. It should dissipate after a few days, and you can also open a window in your bedroom to help circulate fresh air.
Who is the Casper mattress best for?
Like any mattress, the Casper Original isn’t for everyone, but depending on your preferred sleeping position and body type, it might just be the ideal mattress for you.
Sleeping position
The original Casper mattress is best suited for back, stomach, side sleepers or combo sleepers — people who frequently shift between back and side sleeping. While the zoned support does offer some extra give near the hips and shoulders, it can still be a little too firm for petite side sleepers under 150 pounds, resulting in shoulder pain and numbness and tingling in your arms and hands. However, for most side sleepers, it’s going to be a comfortable mattress.
Body type
Because it’s only made of foam, the Casper Original is best suited for those who weigh 230 pounds or less. Casper mattresses don’t have an official weight limit, but in general heavier people need more support in the form of coils or innersprings, which also help ensure that the mattress doesn’t break down as quickly.
Foam-only mattresses, like the Casper Original, tend to compress to a greater degree than hybrid mattresses or latex mattresses, so if you weigh more than 230 pounds, you may notice that the mattress sinks down and feels even firmer, which isn’t ideal especially since it’s on the firmer side to begin with. Casper does offer a hybrid model, however, which is made with steel coils and more supportive for heavier individuals.
Price
Casper mattress pricing
| Size | Measurements (inches) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38×75 inches | $895 |
| Twin XL | 38×80 inches | $995 |
| Full | 54×74 inches | $1,195 |
| Queen | 60×80 inches | $1,295 |
| King | 76×80 inches | $1,695 |
| Cal king | 72×84 inches | $1,695 |
