Casper continues to reinvent itself every year to stay ahead of the trends in the bed-in-a-box space. Recently, the company updated its entire mattress line with a new look, materials, and comfort options. The Nova Hybrid is a new softer alternative, while the Element is a budget-friendly solution. The Wave Hybrid, Casper Original, and Original Hybrid received makeovers for better performance and eco-friendliness.

Casper sent me the Original Hybrid for free to test. Here’s what it was like and how the newer model compares to its predecessor.

Specs

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Foto: Source: Casper

In addition to individually-wrapped springs, the Casper Original Hybrid has three layers of foam. The top "Airscape" layer is made of perforated breathable foam designed to promote airflow for a cooler sleep. The foam conforms to your body to relieve pressure. The memory foam middle layer offers zoned support for targeted relief - softer under the shoulders and firm around the waist, lower back, and hips. And the base provides a firm border around the coils for better edge support.

All of the foam used in the Original Hybrid is CertiPUR-US certified and is made without ozone-depleting materials. Also, the cover is made of lycra, rayon, upcycled cotton, and recycled polyester (which is partially composed of recycled bottles).

There are brick-and-mortar Casper stores in every major city nationwide. So, if you want to try one of its mattresses before you buy, you can schedule a 30-minute sleep trial. Also, over 1,000 Target locations sell Casper mattresses in the United States.

Set-up process

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Foto: Source: Casper

Set-up is fairly straightforward and uniform across all Casper mattresses. You open the top of the large box, where you will find a manual that gives you basic guidance in unboxing your mattress. The whole process took about five minutes.

Since they have the added heft of metal coils, hybrid beds tend to be heavier than their all-foam counterparts. And, the Original Hybrid is no different weighing in at 91 pounds and pushing 100 pounds with its packaging. Still, it's lighter than other hybrids I've tested, which helped with moving it around. However, it did seem to bend easily so repositioning and rotating it was not effortless. I strongly recommend having a friend help you with the unboxing process.

If you'd like professional help, you can choose an in-home setup. Under normal circumstances, Casper will set up your bed in the room of your choice for a fee. The company also removes the packaging along with your old mattress and/or foundation if you want. At the time of this writing, the in-home setup is suspended due to COVID-19.

Casper mattresses are meant to be used with supportive foundations. The company recommends its line of bed frames, but I used a cheap Zinus base, and it worked fine.

What makes the mattress stand out

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Foto: Source: Casper

The only way to find out if a mattress is right for you is to sleep on it. Experts recommend giving it 14 nights, and the mattress companies usually suggest at least 30 nights. Because of this, a risk-free home trial is essential. Fortunately, you can try out Casper's mattresses for 100 nights.

If you don't like your mattress, you can contact Casper during the trial period and let them know. The company will coordinate with a local charity or recycling center to come to remove it. Within two weeks, you will get a full refund. And, they don't take any restocking, shipping, or other hidden fees out of your refund.

Right off the bat, I was impressed with the attractive appearance and comfortable feel of the bed. I also liked that it had some good bounce to it.

The Casper Original Hybrid is slightly firmer than your average mattress. This makes it ideal for back and stomach sleepers. And, I did find that sleeping on my stomach was more comfortable than my side, but sleeping on my side wasn't bad. I'm a heavier person so extra support is a must. Firmer mattresses are also better for people who suffer from chronic back pain. I have intermittent lower back issues, and while testing this mattress, there was no pain.

The Original Hybrid does an okay job of removing heat for a cool sleep. I'm a hot sleeper, and during testing, I didn't feel particularly cool or hot. Though after getting up to go to the bathroom in the night, I could still feel some trapped body heat when I returned. This is in contrast with the previous version of the Hybrid, which did a better job of dissipating heat.

But, the new Original Hybrid has the upper hand when it comes to edge support. While the older generation had good edge support, there was still a fair amount of give on the sides. This was especially pronounced when I was sitting on the edge putting my socks on. With the new Hybrid, I can lay on the very edge of the bed and not feel like I am going to fall off, and the sagging is minimal when I sit on the side. This also makes it easier for me to get out of bed in the morning.

The Original Hybrid and all Casper mattresses are backed by a 10-year limited warranty. The company will either fix or entirely replace your bed if it exhibits physical flaws, manufacturing defects, deterioration, or major indentations. For the warranty to be valid, you must use your mattress "normally," handle it properly, and use a supportive foundation.

Cons to consider

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Foto: Source: Casper

The Original Hybrid has poor motion isolation. In addition to my own subjective experience, I tested the mattress by placing a 12-ounce can of pop on the mattress and dropped a 15-pound bowling ball from above the bed so it landing 12 inches from the can. The can stays upright on mattresses with excellent motion dampening. With the Original Hybrid, the can fell over every time, even when I moved the impact point to 18 inches away. This is consistent with my testing of the previous generation.

Right away, I noticed the "new bed smell" commonly found in foam mattresses when they are first removed from their vacuum seal. For this reason, I recommend unboxing mattresses early in the morning so you can give them time to expand and air out before bedtime. Unfortunately, this was not enough for the Original Hybrid, which needed a few days to get rid of its odor.

The bottom line

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Foto: Source: Casper

I was impressed with the new version of the Casper Original Hybrid. I liked it even more than its predecessor. Despite the poor motion dampening, the firm support helped my back and the bounce helps with mobility. And, when pets or my wife start to crowd me, the edge support keeps me on board. I would have liked to have seen better heat dissipation, but the bed didn't sleep too hot.

Should you buy it?

I like to answer this by thinking about whether I'd buy the mattress. I'd strongly consider it. It's slightly firmer than I generally like, but firmer is better for my on-again-off-again back pain. I'd recommend this option if you are a stomach or back sleeper, back pain sufferer, or if you are a heavier individual who likes to sleep on your side. However, I'd suggest a bed with better motion isolation if you sleep with someone who moves around and jostles you awake in the night.

Still, the price is reasonable for a hybrid mattress, and Casper offers buying options that start at 0% APR.

What size should you get?

Your size, your sleeping partner's size, and your bedroom will determine which mattress is ideal for you. The Twin should work for you if you sleep on your own and are smaller. If you sleep alone, consider the Twin XL if you're tall and the Full if you're bigger. Go with a Queen, King, or Cal King if you share a bed with someone or just want a lot of room. Your average couple will fit on a Queen. But, go with a King or Cal King if you're bigger. I share a bed with my wife and our dog. We usually sleep on a King, but I tested the Original Hybrid in Queen, and it felt a little crowded.

What are your alternatives?

Of Casper's new mattresses, I was not a fan of the high-end Wave Hybrid. I'd suggest the all-foam Casper Original if you want a bed that is closer to average firmness and sleeps cooler. If you're younger and pressure relief isn't a concern, you might be able to save a few dollars if you go with the less dynamic Element. And, if you're looking for soft luxury and don't mind spending more, the Nova Hybrid is a great choice.

Lastly, if you want to steer clear of Casper or just see what else is out there, check out our guide to the best mattresses. The guide is based on rigorous testing of dozens of models.

Pros: 11 inches thick with three pressure-relieving foam layers and supportive coils, great for back and stomach sleepers, terrific edge support, 100-night risk-free trial

Cons: Failed motion transfer tests, took a while for the new bed smell to dissipate