There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
The Product on Trial
Casper's Wave Hybrid Mattress with Snow Technology
The Tester
Bridget Clegg, an apartment dweller in need of a new mattress for two sleepers who run hot
The Brief
When I bought my first mattress, it was 2011 and I did it the old-fashioned way—at a Sleepy's storefront in Manhattan with delivery help from my mom and our old minivan. It held up well this past decade, but it was beginning to bulge at the sides, and the top layer of Tempur-Pedic memory foam had a little too much sink to it.
When researching a replacement, I knew I wanted a cooling mattress on the firmer side, since my boyfriend and I share a full-sized bed and need every inch of space to stretch out comfortably. Casper's latest product on the market, the Wave Hybrid with Snow Technology, fit the bill with its promise of cooling technology, zoned support to accommodate both a side and stomach sleeper, and its apartment-friendly bed-in-a-box delivery.
Pros
- Great for side sleepers
- Amazing motion isolation
- Cool to the touch
Cons
- Mediocre edge support
- Expensive
Key Specs
| Height | 13 inches |
|---|---|
| Trial Period | 100 nights |
| Firmness Level | Medium-high |
The unboxing was equal parts easy and amazing, as it unfurled in under 5 minutes on top of the bed's platform. There's a small amount of off-gassing with a faint smell that lingered for about a week before completely going away. The quilted top layer felt soft and inviting as it puffed up to its full size.
The firmness level is as advertised — a medium-high level of support with memory foam that adjusts around your body after a moment of a firmer hold. As a side sleeper, I appreciate that there are three zones of support built into the mattress: the softest around the upper body, with firmer zones around the lower back and edges. My shoulders and hips can sink in just enough to align my neck and spine with my pillow. The multiple layers of memory foam sitting atop encased springs allow me to rest more comfortably on my side for a longer period of time without an achey shoulder. While the mattress’s border supports my weight while lying down, the 13-inch-tall mattress caves in more than I’d like it to when I’m sitting upright on the edge.
I was highly impressed with the motion isolation of this mattress. There’s no wave-like bounce for my boyfriend when I roll over to get into my comfy spot, and I barely notice when he sits up and gets out of bed before me in the morning.
As other reviewers will tell you, the mattress is cool to the touch, though not as intense as cooling gel pillows I’ve tested. Casper built all the cooling technology bells and whistles into this mattress, with layers of breathable polyurethane foam, thermal bands of flexible graphite and 78 gel pods to make airflow possible in a memory foam mattress. Although the brand recommends skipping any mattress protector to get the most out of the Snow technology, I still use a thin mattress protector under my sheets and reap the cooling benefits. On hot nights this summer, I never felt that heat was rising up from the mattress like I did with my old Tempur-Pedic.
The only major downside is the price tag. From our list of best cooling mattresses, the Casper Wave Snow is $1,500 more than the next most expensive, and $3,800 more than the cheapest cooling mattress on the list. On Casper's site, the Snow Technology is an add-on to the Wave Hybrid Mattress that will set you back $500. That money will get you gel pods, perforated foam and other airflow measures for a premium cooling mattress experience.
The Closing Argument
There is nothing like starfishing in the middle of this mattress to send you right to sleep at night or make you not want to get out of bed in the morning. In the past 90 days that I’ve been sleeping on the Casper Wave Hybrid mattress I’ve noticed that I can stay in one sleeping position longer because of the smart zoned support, and I don’t wake up with a sore body because of it. No matter the weather, I can get cozy and stay cool for a full night's sleep. If you're sick of feeling like your mattress is a heat trap, the additional Snow Technology will keep the air flowing and temperatures regulated.
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Bridget works on all things photo and design for BestProducts.com. Since she spends her days looking at every product under the sun, she occasionally finds a cool home, beauty, or DIY item that she really thinks you should know about.
