Casper Nova Mattress Review

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This Mattress Could be for You If:

• You’re a side sleeper.
• You suffer with painful pressure points.
• You weigh 200 pounds or less.
• You like a plush sleep surface.
• You’ve struggled with excessive heat in plush memory foam products in the past.
• You have mobility issues but would like to enjoy memory foam hug.

Today, we’re taking a look at the brand new Nova mattress by Casper. If you like a plush mattress, suffer with pressure points and enjoy the memory foam feel without excessive sinkage, keep reading. We’ll break down everything you need to know and suggest other products if certain metrics aren’t right for you.

About Casper

Casper was one of the first companies to produce a bed-in-a-box. Launching back in 2014, they’ve had a lot of time for development, and they offer a mattress for just about any need. Their current lineup includes:

• Casper Nova Hybrid
  • Viable option for people under 200 pounds and side sleepers

• Casper Original
  • Excellent choice for combination sleepers who like the memory foam feel without the excessive heat buildup

• Casper Original Hybrid
  • Great for stomach sleepers or anyone who likes a firm sleep surface with excellent edge support

• Casper Element (formerly Casper Essential)
  • Nice fit for customers on a budget or who are shopping for a child or lightweight user

• Casper Wave
  • Perfect fit for people weighing 250+ pounds

As you can see, Casper has come a long way since the development of their flagship product. It was designed to meet the needs of the average person. Six years of research and development later, we can see they’ve been hard at work expanding their lineup to meet the needs of a very broad range of customers.

How’s the Nova Mattress Feel?

Memory foam gained popularity due to its incredible ability to contour the unique curves of the body and reduce pressure points. However, it gained notoriety due to excessive heat buildup and sinkage. Casper did an awesome job balancing these pros and cons in this particular layer lineup.

I love how the two bouncier Airscape™ foams in the top of the lineup give me that little extra boost when I change sleep positions, and the two-pronged zoning approach found in layers two and three provide highly targeted support based on where we carry the most weight.

Not Ideal for Those Over 200 Pounds

Casper products don’t have weight limits from a durability standpoint. However, when it comes to comfort, plush mattresses aren’t for everyone. If you weigh more than 200 pounds and/or sleep on your stomach, the Nova mattress isn’t going to be the best fit, and I’d suggest you explore some of their other options we detailed above.

If you’re under 200 pounds, like to sleep on your side and struggle with pressure points, plush is often the way to go.

• The coils do a nice job countering the multiple foam layers in the comfort zone.
• Layer lineup does a great job balancing comfort and support.
• Zoned Support™ Pro adds support in the hips and provides pressure relief in the shoulders. If you suffer from shoulder pain, this may be a great pick.

Back Sleeping

For back sleepers, I think you’ll appreciate the extra support that works to keep your lumbar spine properly positioned. However, if you weigh more than 200 pounds, you will start to lose the benefits of the zoning as you’ll be sinking more deeply into the support zone.

Side Sleeping

If you’re a side sleeper, the plushness of this product combined with the incredibly thorough zoning could be the perfect solution.

Stomach Sleeping

The plushness of the Nova mattress isn’t a good fit for people who sleep primarily on their stomachs. If this is you, I’d urge you to check out Casper’s Original Hybrid model.

Casper Nova Firmness & Contour Testing

Now, this is all pretty subjective, so let’s substantiate what we’ve discussed on the feel of this mattress with a look at our firmness and contour testing results.

Looking at this chart, you can see Casper’s Nova mattress is closer to the bottom of the list, and this is because it’s plush. Firmer products are nearer to the top.

If you’re looking for a firm mattress, the Casper Hybrid is number one on this list, so that could be a great fit. As for the Nova mattress, notice the blue, red, and yellow lines progress very steadily. Each color represents an additional 25 pounds of force applied to a constant surface area, and these results tell a couple of things:

• The zoning is working to provide even distribution.
• Sleepers can expect a good balance between support and comfort.

These results are very reflective of the subjective data points we covered, making the Casper Nova mattress one to consider if you weigh less than 200 pounds and are primarily aside and/or back sleeper.

Casper Nova Layer Lineup

We like to kick things off with a look at the layer lineup so you can understand how things work before we dive into other aspects like motion transfer, breathability, and edge support.

The Cover

The cover is actually pretty unique. Not only is it new plush-soft material, but it’s also made with recycled materials. Believe it or not, each cover is made of up to 70 recycled bottles. The end result is a soft, stretchy material with the elasticity needed to snap back into place. The knit fabrics stretch four ways, and this really allows you to engage with the foams beneath.

Comfort Zone

The layer lineup kicks off with a one-inch layer of Airscape™ foam. Although it’s plush, it’s super responsive to aid in mobility and keep you from feeling stuck in the mattress. The small holes incorporated into the design promote good airflow, and we’ll look at heat-regulating properties in a few minutes.

Layer two consists of more of Casper’s proprietary Airscape™ foam. It’s 1 ½ inch thick and focuses on zoning for proper spinal alignment. You can see the material is a different color in the middle where the hips are positioned. Here, it’s slightly firmer for added lift. The top and bottom of layer two where the head and legs are positioned are a little softer. It, too, is perforated to keep you sleeping cool.

I like that Casper saves the 2 ½ inch memory foam component for layer three. Since there are only 2 ½ inches separating you from the memory foam, you can still enjoy the contour, but the Airscape™ foam keeps you from sinking excessively. This layer works with the targeting in layer two with Zoned Support™ Pro technology. It’s designed with seven ergonomic points around the shoulder, hips, waist, and lower back.

Casper Nova Hybrid Support Core

The primary support of the Nova mattress is found in the fourth layer with the six-inch pocketed coil system. Like most innerspring mattresses, it works to provide the feeling you’re lying on top of the mattress surface, not into it.

This can be a difficult achievement in a plush product, so if you’ve had trouble with excessive sinkage in plush mattresses made entirely of foam, this may be a better material lineup for you. You can see the springs are surrounded by a firm border of edge support foam to aid in mobility and support the framework.

Finally, the layer lineup ends with a one-inch layer of high-density polyfoam, making the Nova mattress as a whole 12 inches thick.

Heat Transfer Capability

Some people hear “memory foam” and think “hot sleeping.” That used to be true, but things have changed. Over the years, innovative manufacturers have come up with all kinds of tactics to keep memory foam products sleeping cool. In the case of the Caper Nova mattress, these tactics are especially important since plusher products offer more hugs, thus typically sleeping warmer. There are three components that work together to keep this product sleeping cool:

1. Both layers of Airscape™ foam are perforated. These small holes allow for air to flow and breathe through the memory foam in layer three.
2. The memory foam has thousands of tiny holes for breathability.
3. The innerspring core layer is highly breathable by design.

To put it to the test, we examined heat transfer and compared the results with other mattresses we’ve tried out. The Casper Nova mattress performed around average, so, unless you have a notable issue with hot sleeping, I think you’ll be comfortable with this product. Anyone who wants to enjoy memory foam comfort without overheating should consider the Nova hybrid.

Casper Nova Performance Testing

Edge Support

A supportive edge makes a big difference. When lacking, it’s harder to get out of bed, and those who sleep close to the edge are at a higher risk of falling out of bed when lacking. If you have a sleep partner or are planning to purchase a small size like a twin, edge support is super important.

With the Nova mattress, there are two things working to keep you well supported on the edge:

1. Innersprings typically offer great support.
2. The edge support encasement foam that surrounds the innersprings is very firm and supportive. It acts to reinforce the innersprings, aid in mobility, and prevents you from falling out of bed.

When I sit on the edge, I don’t sink in much past the foams, and this shows how well the innerspring/encasement combo works. The corners are often compromised when it comes to edge support, especially in mattresses made entirely of foam. You can see I’m well supported. It’s really easy to get out of bed, and I attribute this ease in mobility to the combination of bouncy innersprings and strong encasement foam. In terms of edge support, Casper Nova should be sufficient for the average person.

Motion Isolation

I like to touch on motion transfer after edge support for a specific reason. The two components often have an inverse relationship. Strong edge support often means innersprings, and this can mean more motion is transferred across the sleep surface.

On the other hand, products made entirely of foam often do a great job keeping the mattress stable at the cost of compromised edge support.

There are measures that can be taken to balance these conflicting components. For the Nova mattress, there are three main tactics employed:

1. The innersprings are individually wrapped, so activity on one side is not as noticeably transferred to the other.
2. The use of memory foam helps absorb a lot of the impact.
3. The placement of the memory foam directly atop the innersprings creates a very direct strategy to balance bounce and shock absorption.

You can see how this strategy works for yourself in the video above when I drop a 20-pound medicine ball next to another of equal weight. While the resting ball moves a little bit, the effect of the impact is minimal. Sleep partners can enjoy a very even balance of edge support and motion transfer with the Casper Nova mattress.

Durability Expectations

Does the Nova mattress offer a good value? In my past experience with Casper products, prices were reflective of quality, so let’s take a moment and determine if Nova meets those same standards.

I was a little disappointed that I was unable to get information on foam densities as this is how we gauge durability in this material type. However, I was able to get the coil count, and this makes up half the mattress thickness, so let’s take a look at what it tells us.

• In a queen mattress, we like to see a coil count of 800.
• The Nova Hybrid queen mattress has 616 coils.
• Since the foam encasement takes up innerspring space, this must be accounted for:
  • Foam Encasement Area
    • Area= Length x Width
  • Length on side= 80”
  • Length top and bottom=60”
  • Width= 3.5”
  • Sides= 80” x 3.5” = 280 square inches
  • Top and Bottom= 60” x 3.5”= 210 square inches
  • Total Foam Encasement Area = 490 square inches
  • Full mattress= 80” x 60”= 4,800 square inches
  • 490/4,800 = 10%

• The foam encasement makes up 10% of the base area. Ten percent of 800 is 80, so we’d like to see 720 coils for excellent durability.

Based on this, we can deduce there is a slight durability compromise in the coils. However, serious concerns don’t come up until we get down into the 400 coil count range. With the proper care, you should get at least seven to eight years of good use out of your Nova mattress if you weigh between 100-200 pounds.

Maintenance, Protection, Care and Warranty

All Casper mattresses are rated to last at least 10 years with a 10 year, a full-replacement warranty which includes sagging. Many warranties are prorated and don’t cover sagging, so this is excellent news. My advice would be to take good care of your Nova mattress. This includes:

• Rotating 180 degrees every three to six months
• Hand washing the cover
• Using a mattress protector

Cost

Thinking of buying the Casper Nova Hybrid? Here’s a breakdown of the cost:

Size	Price
Twin	$1,166 CAD
Twin XL	$1,346 CAD
Full	$1,616 CAD
Queen	$1,886 CAD
King	$2,246 CAD
California King	$2,246 CAD

Casper offers financing through PayBright with interest rates as low as zero percent. White glove delivery is available if you don’t feel like setting it up. They even offer the chance to earn rewards! As a customer, you get a link to share with friends. For every friend who makes a purchase:

• They save $75
• You earn a $65 Amazon gift card

Who We Recommend the Casper Nova Hybrid For

We’ve covered a lot here today, so let’s wrap things up and decide if the Casper Nova hybrid mattress is the one for you. This product sleeps cool considering the use of memory foam, and the level of responsiveness provided by the polyfoams and innerspring unit makes moving around and getting in and out of bed easy. It’s a great fit for:

• Side sleepers
• Those who suffer with painful pressure points
• Those weighing 200 pounds or less
• Those who like a plush sleep surface
• Those who’ve struggled with excessive heat in plush memory foam products in the past
• Those with mobility issues who would like to enjoy memory foam hug

Casper Nova Hybrid: Our Final Verdict

If you like a plush sleep surface that doesn’t skimp on proper support, I really think you’ll be a big fan of the targeted zoning in both the second layer of Airscape™ foam and the memory foam. This goes a long way in preventing pressure points by softening areas like the shoulders while boosting support for problem areas like the lower back.

If you’re looking for a firm mattress or weigh more than 200 pounds, this isn’t going to be for you. I’d suggest you check out some great products we’ve tried out that’ll be a much better fit. It also isn’t going to make the cut for people who like to sleep on their stomachs.

With that being said, if you’re a side sleeper who suffers from pressure points and needs a soft sleep surface without compromising on support and ease in mobility, the Casper Nova might be just what the doctor ordered. If this sounds like you, Casper offers a 100-night sleep trial, so you do get the chance to test it out before your decision is final.