In 2014, Casper introduced its first product: A memory-foam mattress that customers could buy online and have shipped directly to their homes.
The product spawned $100 million in sales its first year, attracted the attention of high-profile investors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Adam Levine, and inspired copycat startups trying to tap into the direct-to-consumer mattress trend.
Now, three years later, Casper has built its first new mattress since its launch: the Casper Wave.
The new mattress is the work of months of research on the part of Casper’s product team, led by cofounder and chief product officer Jeff Chapin. The Wave features better ergonomics, newer technology – and a higher price.
Here’s what it’s like.
The Casper Wave was inspired by Casper's European customers. When the company launched in Germany last summer, "it was very clear to us very early on that Germans almost universally like a much firmer mattress than we sell here in the US," Chapin told Business Insider.
In the process of "firming everything up" for European buyers, the company learned a lot about ergonomics, specifically how the spine, shoulders, and hips should be positioned while you sleep.
Those changes led to a brand-new product, the Casper Wave. It's Casper's first new bed in three years.
There are two main changes to the Wave: Better support for your shoulders, and better support for your hips. Casper used a silicone polymer to help hold up the hip area and provide better support for the lower back. The new mattress will also let your shoulder sink deeper into the mattress, which allows your spine to stay straighter.
The Wave also has a new foam layer on top, which will have a "really plush, kind of liquid-y feel" when you lay on it, Chapin said. Plus, it'll keep you cool while you sleep.
Chapin compared the new, firmer bed to a Birkenstock sandal: The contouring of the shoes needs to be just right since the sole is so hard. Thick, soft soles, on the other hand, are much more forgiving — just like a soft mattress.
Here's what the Wave looks like when you separate all the different layers.
And here it is once it's assembled.
The new product meant new materials and a new supply chain for Casper, though. While it's original bed cost $950 for a queen, the Wave costs about double that.
The new product will cost $1,000 for a twin, $1,650 for a full, $1,850 for a queen, and $2,250 for a king.
"Because it's a lot of new things, we had to piece together this really complex supply chain," Chapin said. "It is a more expensive product - it costs us a lot more to make. In the grand scheme of mattresses, it's not absurdly expensive, but it is more expensive than where we've been."
But Chapin thinks the price is reasonable for people who need a high-quality mattress. "Yes it’s more expensive, but if you have a backache, your set of options for what to do are all expensive," he said. "You can go get massage therapy, go to a chiropractor, go to an orthopedic doctor and get surgery. And so if that’s an issue you have, I think this thing appeals to you."
Chapin thinks the new mattress could also appeal to anyone who's focused on performance, whether it's athletic performance or work performance.
But at the end of the day, the Casper Wave is for anyone who just wants to sleep better. "I’m really excited for it — It’s just really comfortable," Chapin said.
The Casper Wave is available everywhere in the US starting Tuesday.