The Casper Wave mattress is the newest member of the Casper family of high-quality bed-in-a-box mattresses for ordering online.

After the rip-roaring success of the original Casper mattress (released in 2014), this Casper Wave mattress review examines the effects of the company’s R&D department introducing a new foam layer and a few other innovations to the original design.

This new layer, with its soft, velvety feel is designed to help you “melt away” but still offers the advanced support below.

The mattress aims to mirror the contours of your body, with “targeted firmness in zones around your back and hips for ergonomic spine alignment”.

In short, it’s a higher-end offering than the original.

But how does it compare to the others on the market – in particular, its older brother and other higher-end mattress offerings?

Is it worth the significant price hike to the original Casper mattress?

This Casper Wave mattress review will help you answer these questions and more as you determine if it’s right for you.

Like all mattresses we review, we’ve tested it rigorously and provided some personal opinions on its quality and suitability.

But if, like some people, you’re still nervous about purchasing a mattress online, you can try the Casper Wave for 100 days and receive a full refund if you decide it’s not for you.

Pricing & Dimensions

  • Twin: Price: $1,095 USD, Dimensions: 39” X 75” X 12”
  • Twin XL: Price: $1,195 USD, Dimensions: 39” X 80” X 12”
  • Full: Price: $1,695 USD, Dimensions: 54” X 75” X 12”
  • Queen: Price: $1,995 USD, Dimensions: 60” X 80” X 12”
  • King: Price: $2,395 USD, Dimensions: 76” X 80” X 12”
  • Cal King: Price: $2,395 USD USD, Dimensions: 72” X 84” X 12”

Product Overview

What we liked:

  • Breathability – a cool sleep with good airflow through the mattress, aided by the upper Flo foam and latex layers
  • Body conforming pressure relief – high-quality memory foam provides a nice gentle hug of the body
  • Medium firmness – the ‘sink’ is designed to suit most people
  • Comfort – velvety-soft top layer adds a luxurious comfort to the mattress
  • Spinal alignment – the contour cuts aid in alignment of the spine
  • Hyper-targeted support™ – precise support exactly where you need it
  • 100-day trial period – makes it kind of risk-free to buy
  • Free shipping & returns – everything is included in the price you see

What we didn’t like:

  • Lack of edge support – as is often the case with a bed-in-a-box, the edges and corners are not particularly strong
  • One-mattress-fits-all – there are no options to customize
  • Awkward to move – no side handles make it awkward to move for some people
  • Support level may vary – despite the claims, heavier people may find the mattress too soft

About the manufacturer

casper wave logo

It’s no surprise that the Casper founders have started to introduce new mattress offerings to the market.

Four years after the original Casper launched and proceeded to take the online foam mattress world by storm, they’ve taken the first step into higher-end mattresses.

The original Casper was supposed to be the “perfect mattress for everyone.” The new mattress doesn’t offer the same promise – perhaps because of the significant increase in price.

In entering the higher end of the bed-in-a-box market, the company has set itself up to compete against Leesa and its higher-end offering, the Sapira.

We may be seeing a trend here, where the more basic mattresses are followed up with premium offerings in a higher price bracket.

However, expect the same mattress-ordering approach, which simplifies the entire purchasing experience. Like the original, it’s also designed and assembled in the USA.

There are Casper showrooms in New York and L.A – and you can see some pictures of the New York showroom towards the end of this review.

With the generous trial period and returns policy, most buyers don’t find it necessary to try before they buy but it’s still interesting to check out the stylish showrooms.

How we put it to the test

When reviewing mattresses, we use our standardized Sleep Scouts methodology to ensure a balanced, unbiased and consistent review.

Learn more about how we rate mattresses here.

The basics: An overview

First observations: the unpacking experience

As with every ‘order-online’ mattress we’ve received, the Casper Wave arrived compressed in a vacuum-sealed bag.

Also in keeping with most bed-in-a-box mattresses, it started inflating to full size as soon as the vacuum seal was broken.  This time, we were ready for it – unlike last time!

A pleasant surprise was the limited off-gassing – very little of the strong chemical odours that accompany most foam mattresses.

The other thing we quickly noticed (and were expecting after unpacking quite a few of these order-online mattresses over the past couple of years) was the lack of side straps. If you’re setting the bed up alone, this might make it a little awkward.

At 109 pounds unpacked, it’s slightly heavier than the original Casper mattress. This, again, was expected because of the extra foam layer.

It would still be considered of below-average weight for a mattress of this quality and size, though.

The Materials

How exactly is the Casper Wave mattress constructed?

For starters, there are FIVE layers of foam – count them!

Following are more details about each layer in the mattress:

  • Layer 1 – Flo Foam (1 inch): This one-inch-thick top layer of proprietary Flo foam is very soft. It provides pressure-relieving comfort but remains quite cool to the touch.
  • Layer 2 – Latex Foam (1.5 inches): A second layer of hypoallergenic latex foam that brings coolness and breathability to the mattress, as well as providing ‘bounce’.
  • Layer 3 – Visco Elastic Memory Foam (1.5 inches): This high-density responsive memory foam layer provides further pressure relief. You’ll find it provides a comfortable “hug” around your body but doesn’t overheat because of the latex layer above.
  • Layer 4 – High Resiliency Foam with Polymer Network (1.5 inches): High resiliency foam provides support and is an effective “transition layer” between the comfort layers above and the full support layer below. The polymer (gel) network is designed to support hips and prevent sinkage, helping you maintain a healthy sleeping position.
  • Support Foam with Contouring (5.5 inches): This high-density polyurethane support foam at the base of the mattress provides both strength and durability. The contouring is designed to help sleepers maintain spinal alignment.

Topped off with a soft, woven cover, you can see that this careful blend of the finest foams has been chosen to maintain body-hugging comfort without the problem of over-heating while you sleep.

How did the other features measure up?

Sinkage

One of the Casper Wave’s main innovations, when compared to its predecessor, is its Hyper-Targeted Support™.

This is designed to improve your sleep experience by mirroring your body to provide “targeted firmness in zones around your back and hips for ergonomic spine alignment”.

For shoulders, precision contouring is meant to help “alleviate pressure and further align your entire core”.

Firmness

casper wave firmness

Our summary of the kettlebell test resulted in an overall firmness rating of 6.5/10, meaning that the Casper Wave will suit most people of average build.

Summary for different sleeping positions

The addition of the new foam layer certainly provides a soft, velvety feel to the top of the mattress and the contour cuts do help relieve pressure and support spinal alignment.

  • Back sleeping: The Casper Wave is comfy for back sleepers as long as you’re not used to a greater degree of firmness from your mattress.
  • Side sleeping: Side sleepers will discover a gentle hug that should prevent them from having to turn over too often during the night to relieve pressure.
  • Stomach sleeping: As long as you’re not expecting a really firm mattress, this should be fine for most stomach sleepers.
  • Sitting: Not the most comfortable mattress for ‘side sitting’ due to the lack of edge support – if you intend to sit for long periods, choose a more traditional spring mattress!

Breathability

We’re happy to report that the Casper Wave takes temperature regulation to a whole new degree.

The combination is just about perfect for a cool sleep: the first two foam layers offering excellent breathability and heat-wicking, with open-cell foams diverting excess heat away from your body and helping you stay cool all night.

These layers are positioned above the memory foam, which retains heat more readily.

If you enjoy sleeping under layers of bedding, the airflow through this mattress will keep you from over-heating.

Motion transfer

casper wave handprint

Like with most bed-in-a-box mattresses, motion transfer is not something you’ll have to worry about with the Casper Wave.

It absorbed all the tossing and turning we could throw at it. A couple should love it, especially if one is a restless sleeper.

Durability

As ever, this is almost impossible to predict. It’s a new mattress on the market with no user history to call on.

If you’re spending a couple of thousands of dollars on a mattress, you’d expect it to last 10 years – and we can’t see any problems with this, judging from the quality that we experienced.

And, anyway, the 100-night free trial can help you judge for yourself, while the 10-year warranty should provide peace of mind.

The Sleep Scouts standout feature

Extraordinary support meets indulgent comfort. It’s the best of both worlds.

The standout feature of the Casper Wave mattress has to be its Hyper-Targeted Support™.

This unique combination of contour cuts and a gel network provides extra support and firmness at 36 specific points on the mattress, especially along the spine, hips, and shoulders.

This works in tandem with the softer comfort layers above to provide a luxurious feel to the mattress.

There’s no doubt about the pressure-relieving qualities that this provides. It’s certainly a step up from the original Casper mattress (and most other standard bed-in-a-box mattresses) in this respect.

Bottom line: Who should buy this product?

Casper has raised the bar with its new Hyper-Targeted Support™ system.

It’s like adding a really high-class feature to the standard online mattress-ordering model: and it can still be vacuum-packed and delivered to your door in a box within a few days.

This makes the Casper Wave an ideal mattress for someone who is comfortable spending a little more to get a lot more in terms of comfort and support.

It should suit people of most body weights between 120 and 250 lbs. Expect a cool, conforming, and supportive mattress that should be with you for the next decade.

It’s especially recommended for couples, who may more easily be able to justify the higher price point than the original Casper mattress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the casper wave warranty?

The Casper Wave mattress comes with a 10-year limited warranty.

This applies to any of the standard defects and deterioration that do not result from improper use or handling.

What does the warranty cover?

Deterioration causing the Mattress to have a visible indentation greater than one (1) inch that is not associated with an indentation or sag which results from use of an improper or unsupportive foundation or adjustable bed base. Normal wear requires that a Mattress be continuously supported by a matching foundation or adjustable bed base with a proper bed frame sufficient to support the collective weight of the Mattress and foundation.

  • Any physical flaw in the Mattress that causes the foam material to split or crack, despite normal usage and proper handling.
  • Any manufacturing defect in the zipper assembly of the Mattress Cover.

What it doesn’t cover?
  • A normal increase in softness of the foam pressure-relieving material which does not affect the pressure-relieving qualities of the Mattress.
  • Comfort preference.
  • Physical abuse or damage to the structure and/or cover material, including but not limited to, burns, cuts, tears, liquid damage, or stains; provided, that the defect is caused by such abuse or damage.
  • Replacement of any non-defective pieces in the Casper sleep system (for example, if you purchase a mattress with multiple components and only one component is defective, then we will only replace the defective component).
  • Any mattress (whether manufactured by Casper or not) sold by resellers who are not authorized retailers.
  • Mattresses sold “as-is”, “preconditioned”, “reconditioned”, “used”, “comfort return”, “returned”, “previously owned”, or any other similar wording indicating that the Mattress is not “new” or of “first quality”, or has previously been purchased or used by another consumer.

What is the returns policy?

With the generous 100-night trial period for the Casper Wave mattress, you can decide yourself whether it’s right for you.

There are usually few returns of Casper mattresses. Those that do come back are generally donated to charity or recycled.

If you decide that the mattress isn’t what you’re looking for, Casper provides a full refund and makes arrangements to remove the mattress from your home.

How long does it take to arrive?

Your Casper Wave mattress will take 1-2 business days to process, and another 1-5 business days in transit. You’ll receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number as soon as it’s left the warehouse.

What is the price of shipping?

Shipping is free with all Casper mattresses.

Where do they deliver to?

The United States, Canada and selected countries in Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the UK currently).

Who removes the old mattress?

At present, Casper only offers disposal options for previously owned mattresses in their in-home delivery and setup markets.

However, there’s a good chance you can donate your mattress if its condition is not too bad. Check if the Salvation Army will pick it up and repurpose it, or if your city provides bulk recycling pick-up.

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