REVIEWED

Why are people obsessed with Casper mattresses? I slept on one for three years to find out

David Kender
Reviewed.com
Why are people obsessed with Casper mattresses? I slept on one for three years to find out.

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If you’re shopping for a new mattress, you’ve probably had to wade through an ocean of jargon, opinion, and about a million photos of people smiling as they recline on—let’s face it—identical-looking, spongy white rectangles. I’ve been there, too.

As traditional retailers like Mattress Firm and Sears disappear, online purchasing has only gotten more prevalent. And while shop-at-home convenience and money-back guarantees are a huge draw, I had a hard time distinguishing the actual differences between all the mattress-in-a-box brands like Leesa, Tuft & Needle, Purple, Nectar and others.

But after reading reviews until my eyes watered, I took the plunge and purchased a Casper mattress (available at Amazon for $895). That was over three years, and here’s what I can tell you as a Casper owner: I'm satisfied.

(Note: In the interim since I bought my Casper, the team at Reviewed began in-depth mattress testing. Collectively, our favorite is Nectar, which was praised for striking an ideal firmness/softness balance. However, I still love my Casper, which only serves to further underscore the subjective nature of mattress reviewing. Comfort is king, after all, and I’m sleeping just fine.)

Shopping for a new mattress usually starts at 3 A.M., sleepless and in the dark.

I complained about our old mattress for at least two years before I did anything about it. Waking up achy after a night of tossing and turning on a squeaky old bed, throwing another “We really oughta’…” onto a pile of empty threats before heading for the shower.

How many times did I hear Marc Maron or one of the countless other podcasters extol the virtues of a Casper mattress before I finally took a chance? Too many, in retrospect.

I bought a Casper mattress over three years ago, but it took about a year before I realized just how much I liked it. How did I finally know? Because I stopped thinking about mattresses altogether—truly the hallmark of a mattress doing its job.

Mattresses are unique among the things we own. We spend more time with them than any other consumer good (except perhaps our phones), yet we really only consider them when they’re either brand-new or when they’re utterly failing.

There are undoubtedly better mattresses out there. Oprah sleeps on a $100,000 bed. I do not sleep on a $100,000 bed. I sleep on an $800 bed and I'm very happy. Here's why. 

Unboxing a Casper mattress is an event unto itself

If owning a Casper mattress is blessedly unmemorable, getting one delivered sure makes an impression. Unlike traditional mattresses, it comes rolled up like a spring-loaded burrito. At 70 pounds (for the full size), it’s about twice as heavy as the mattress we were replacing and proved comically difficult to get up the stairs.

Unboxing it was just plain fun. Casper clearly put a lot of thought into designing the experience—right down to the little letter opener-style knife to slice open the shrink wrap without damaging the mattress. We just had to make sure the mattress was in position on the bed frame before we cracked it open.

The final cutting away proved, thankfully, less explosive than anticipated. Rather, the mattress unfurls and expands as it takes its first deep breath in your new home. Just thinking about it makes me want to go home and crawl into bed for a quick nap. (Keep reading. I'm just resting my eyes.)

Sure it looks small, but that box is CRAZY heavy. Still worth it, though.

Tough to argue with a 100-day return policy

The extended money-back guarantee—a 40-day trial period when I bought mine, and now up to 100 days—was ultimately the factor that got me to click “buy.” I figured that takes a fair amount of confidence from a manufacturer.

If you pause to think about it, they can’t resell a used mattress. Plus they have to spend cash on a delivery team just to pick it up from your house—there’s no way you’re going to put this thing back in the box yourself.

The best mattress in the world? Probably not. But the right one for me.

I can say with certainty that Pinocchio’s in Harvard Square and Otto's are tied for the best pizza in Cambridge, MA because I’ve had pizza from every joint in the city. I’m an authority. 

I cannot say that Casper is the best mattress in the world for precisely the same reason. I haven’t slept on every mattress in the world. This is also why I’m not going to bore you with a bunch of facts about foam density or how it stacks up against Purple, Tuft & Needle, and other new-school mattress companies that have sprung up. I can read the spec chart as well as anyone, but I can’t testify to their actual differences. (Update: the rest of the Reviewed team has begun testing mattresses.)

I’m speaking purely from personal experience. But in my defense, I always do my homework and I’m pretty opinionated about products. Also, my satisfaction with Casper seems to be in good company amongst the mattress nerds.

Retailing at $950 for a Queen-size, Casper is in the mid-tier price bracket, and certainly a step-up from the cheap-o I was sleeping on before. I purchased the Full-size ($800) and only paid a little more than I did for my iPhone—I don't rely on that to keep my vertebrae in their right place, do I? Some things are worth investing in.

Verdict: I bought a Casper and then I stopped thinking about mattresses. Don’t you wish you could say the same? 

What are the different kinds of Casper mattresses?

When I purchased three years ago, Casper only offered one variety of mattress, available in all the usual sizes. Since then, the line has expanded to include additional mattresses options, as well as pillows, bedding, bed frames… even a dog bed.

The original Casper mattress is still sold today and is simply called The Casper, and starts at $595 ($995 or less for a queen). It's the most popular model they sell. You have the option for all-foam or a hybrid of foam and springs for an additional $100.

The Wave is the upgrade model. Starting at $1,295 ($2,395 for a queen), it costs significantly more but promises more layers, more support, and a cooler night's rest for hot sleepers.

The Essential is the starter model. From $395 ($600 for a queen), it’s slightly thinner and has the fewest layers.

Where to try or buy a Casper

Casper was formerly an online-only business, which was a huge part of its appeal. You got to skip the hellscape of a traditional mattress store and try out the mattress in your own home for over three months.

Now, however, there are several options for seeing a Casper in-person before you buy. There are a select number of Casper Sleep Shops (see store locator), little boutiques that focus solely on Casper products. Target, an investor in Casper, also floors them in many locations. West Elm used to carry them, but it appears that they're now partnering with Leesa.

All retailers charge the same price for Casper mattresses, including Amazon. If you see a suspiciously low sale price, double-check that it's not some weirdo selling you a used mattress. All legit retailers should also offer the same 100-day return policy.

Get the queen-size Casper mattress at Amazon for $895

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Prices are accurate at the time this article was published, but may change over time.