I've tested all of Casper's new mattresses and I wouldn't recommend the Wave Hybrid because of its poor motion isolation, breathability, and edge support

• After testing all five of Casper's new mattresses, I wouldn't recommend the Casper Wave Hybrid.
• It was ultimately a little too firm for my preferred side-sleeping position, didn't dissipate heat well, and lacks the edge support and motion isolation properties ideal for couples sharing a bed.
• The Casper Wave Hybrid starts at $1,495 for a Twin and comes with a 100-night risk-free trial and a 10-year limited warranty.

Casper is a startup darling for comfortable and reasonably-priced mattresses and bedding accessories. We've tested and reviewed all of its mattresses, named them as some of the best picks in our various buying guides, and more.

I tested all five of its new mattresses this spring and summer (you can see some of the reviews here and here), and despite my previous positive experiences with the brand, I can't recommend its latest version of the high-end Wave Hybrid Mattress. I tested a Queen-sized mattress, and the lack of motion isolation and edge support combined with poor heat dissipation left me unimpressed. For something as expensive as this, I expected a much more well-rounded mattress.

Specs

As a hybrid, the Wave Hybrid features individually-wrapped spring coils meant to aid in airflow for a night of cooler sleep, provide support, and to give a little lift.

Additionally, there are five layers of foam. The topmost layer is made with a cooling gel and the second layer has tiny holes to help release body heat and hot air, and prevent overheating. The ergonomic zoned support of the third layer helps aligns your spine with added firmness around the lower back, waist, and hips and a softer feel by the shoulders. The fourth layer works with the third layer to offer zoned support by using gel pods. Finally, the base layer surrounds the springs to provide additional edge support.

All of the foams Casper uses are CertiPUR-US certified, which means no ozone-depleting materials or other hazardous chemicals are used in the making of the foam. And environmentally-friendly materials are used to make the cover, including recycled bottles.

Though many retail locations are closed or have different operating hours due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Casper has stores in every major city in the United States. Under normal circumstances, you can schedule a 30-minute sleep trial, so we suggest calling your local store for availability and additional info. You can also find Casper mattresses in more than 1,000 Target stores across the US, but we'd advise calling ahead first.

Set-up process

In non-pandemic times, you could pay a flat fee for Casper to hire a local delivery company to set up your mattress in the room of your choice and remove any packaging, along with your old bed, with them. Unfortunately, the in-home setup is not currently available.

The manual way isn't actually that difficult and you should be able to set the mattress up with the help of a family member or partner. The box with the mattress inside weighs 120 pounds so help is a must. The unboxing process is straightforward and took me about five minutes. Casper provides instructions to guide you through the process, but you probably won't need them.

Like all beds-in-a-box, the Wave Hybrid had a "new bed smell" that I don't particularly enjoy so I gave it time to air out and expand before I put sheets on it. By bedtime about 10 hours later, the bed was fully expanded and the odor had dissipated.

You can use the Wave Hybrid with any bed frame. Casper recommends choosing one of its own, but my cheap Zinus bed frame worked just fine.

My review of the Casper Wave Hybrid

The only way to truly know if a mattress is right for you is to sleep on it for at least 14 nights to break it in — after you've read the reviews and done your research, of course. Fortunately, Casper provides a 100-night risk-free trial with all of its mattresses. If you find the Wave Hybrid doesn't suit your needs, Casper will arrange for a charity or recycling center to come to pick it up. You will then receive a full refund within two weeks.

The Wave Hybrid is a little firmer than your average firm mattress. I generally prefer to sleep on my side, but I felt more comfortable sleeping on my stomach because of the firmness level. In this position, I felt pressure relief and I didn't wake up with stiffness at any time during the testing period. Though I don't personally sleep on my back, firmer mattresses tend to be a better option for back sleepers, so I think the Wave Hybrid would appeal to back sleepers as well.

Speaking of the back, I suffer from chronic lower back pain that rears its ugly head every few months or so. I've found it tends to flare up when I exercise excessively and sleep on an unsupportive mattress. While testing the Wave Hybrid, I did exercise excessively — running and lifting weights every morning to cope with the pandemic — yet, my back did not act up at all and I'd like to think that the mattress served me well. Check with your doctor or chiropractor if you're in a similar situation for expert advice.

The Wave Hybrid and all Casper beds are backed by a 10-year limited warranty. If you handle your mattress properly, use it normally, and sleep on it with a supportive foundation, you are eligible for free repairs or a replacement in the event your bed has major indentations, deterioration, manufacturing defects, or physical flaws.

Cons to consider

I am a hot sleeper, and the Wave Hybrid did not help. Usually, when I go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, my body heat dissipates from the mattress before I get back, which helps me fall asleep again. The Wave Hybrid trapped the heat and was still warm by the time I got back in bed, causing me to toss and turn as I tried to find a cool, comfortable position. If you like being hot while sleeping, then this might be a positive for you but I didn't enjoy it.

The edge support of the Wave Hybrid is also poor. Whenever I was close to the edge, I felt like I was going to fall off. This makes it a bad option if you share a bed with someone who crowds you and can also make it harder to physically get out of bed in the morning. The side also sagged significantly when I sat on the mattress to put on socks.

The motion isolation was good in some spots but not so good in others. I test motion transfer by dropping a 15-pound bowling ball from about four feet above the mattress so that it lands a foot away from a 12-ounce can of soda. If the can stays upright, it's a good indicator that the bed has good motion isolation. If the can falls over, the motion isolation is poor. The results varied depending on where the can and impact point were on the mattress, which tells me the motion dampening is so-so. And in my subjective experience, I could easily feel when my wife moved around in the bed and when my rat terrier hopped on.

The mattress is quite heavy and unwieldy because of its foam construction. A Queen tips the scales at 111 pounds and it bends easily so it's hard to pick up and move around. It might be feasible if you have a partner to help, but when it comes time to rotate the mattress (once every three to six months) or if you are relocating, it's a pain to move.

The bottom line

Overall, these cons outweigh the benefits of the Wave Hybrid. I found myself looking forward to finishing testing and moving onto something else. Still, it might appeal to some consumers.

Should you buy it?

At more than $2,300, the Wave Hybrid is one of the most expensive mattresses I've tested, and for my personal needs, wouldn't be able to justify spending that kind of money on it. As someone who's tested more than 25 mattresses for various reviews and buying guides, I'd usually make the case that expensive mattresses are often higher-quality and durable — you get what you pay for. But that wasn't necessarily the case here.

However, there may be some specific use cases where the Wave Hybrid might be a good fit.

Since the edge support and motion isolation leave a lot to be desired for couples, the mattress might be better for people who sleep alone and don't have to worry about an antsy sleeping partner. The heat dissipation is also inadequate, so consider this mattress if you tend to get cold at night and want something that will hold onto your body heat. And if you're a back and stomach sleeper, you might actually prefer the above-average firmness level here for added support.

If you fit into all of these categories and can afford a luxury mattress, the Wave Hybrid might be right for you.

What model should you get?

Twin, Twin XL, and Full mattresses are generally for people sleeping alone. Twin is best for smaller individuals. If you're tall, Twin XL is better. And Full is ideal for larger folks. If you plan on sharing a bed with someone, go with a Queen, King, or Cal King. Queen is for your average couple. If you and your bed buddy are bigger, try a King. Tall couples will benefit from a Cal King.

I always test Queen mattresses since that is the most popular size, but I usually prefer a King when sleeping with my wife, dog, and full-body pillow. My wife and I are both slightly bigger than average.

What are your alternatives?

Casper has five mattresses available and I'd recommend all of them except the Wave Hybrid. If you are looking to save money, the Element is a great solution for couples. On the luxury end of the spectrum, the Nova Hybrid was my favorite with its plush softness and cool touch. The Original has a budget-friendly price, great heat dissipation, and impressive pressure relief, and the Original Hybrid offers firm support and outstanding edge support with a combo of foam and innersprings.

Our guide to the best mattresses also features our top picks based on rigorous firsthand testing.

Pros: 100-night risk-free trial, 13 inches thick with five foam layers and supportive coils, made with eco-friendly materials, 10-year limited warranty

Cons: Poor edge support, traps heat, not ideal for side sleepers, heavy, inconsistent motion isolation