When it comes time to purchase a new mattress, it can be overwhelming and time-consuming when faced with the range of options that are available. Do you purchase a coil spring mattress that has been tried-tested-and-true for years gone by or do you branch out into the unknown with a latex mattress? Perhaps a memory foam mattress or an air bed is catching your interest because of the rave reviews that accompany top brands. There are even hybrid mattresses – mattresses that feature more than one type of material in the construction to maximize the contouring and support felt by the sleeper.
One such mattress is the Casper Original Mattress, a succulent hybrid of latex and memory foam that invokes the feeling of a hug when you sink into the supportive ridges created by your own body weight.
Another type of mattress that is gaining popularity among the masses are beds that offer a different level of firmness and support on the opposing sides of the bed or mattresses that can be changed to an overall firmness with the push of a button. One brand that will sound familiar that offers this type of optional comfort levels is the Sleep Number Mattress.
So, what makes these mattresses both extremely popular but on different sides of the variety scale? Let’s break them down, layer by layer, to find out.
A Breakdown of a Sleep Number Mattress
Construction of a Sleep Number Mattress
A revolutionary mattress, the Sleep Number series of mattresses uses modernized technology combined with airbed support to allow the sleeper to choose their level of firmness. An ergonomic hand-held remote allows the sleeper to control the amount of air being pumped into the mattress and gives an easily read digital display of number control to determine how firm the mattress currently it.
The numbers of the Sleep Number Mattress can go as high as 100 to provide a deeply firm mattress. With an entire line of revolutionary Sleep Number Mattresses, today we are going to concentrate on the Classic Line’s c4 comfort mattress.
First Layer – Comfort Layer
The first thing that is noticed about the Sleep Number mattress is the three inch thick layer of comfort foam. This layer is designed to cradle the body, similar to a memory foam mattress and allows for just enough give to provide comfort without allowing the sleeper to “sink” into the mattress.
Using a thick layer of comfort foam allows the sleeper to fully relax into a natural position that will reduce any unnecessary or unwanted pressure from the body. The natural position of the body, combined with the body weight distribution provided by the thick comfort layer, will encourage spinal alignment and total support.
Second Layer – Air Chambers
Following the comfort layer is six full inches of air chambers surrounded by a protective coating and lined with organic materials to soften the Sleep Number Mattress for the sleeper. This layer is where air is pumped into the mattress via a specialized air pump mechanism to control the level of firmness the sleeper prefers.
Using the accompanying air control remote, the sleeper can control how much air is placed into this layer of the Sleep Number Mattress and release air when needed for maximum comfort.
This layer will support the mattress as a whole as well to allow the comfort layer described above to return to its original shape and condition after body weight is removed from the mattress.
Firmness of a Sleep Number Mattress
The Sleep Number Mattress is one of the only mattresses to not be classified as a firmness rating, as dictated by the generic scale. Rather the Sleep Number Mattress allows the sleeper to determine their preferred firmness level by offering revolutionary technology that controls air flow into the mattress to pump up the support levels.
The Sleep Number Mattress uses numbers on the digitized remote control from 0 to 100; with 0 being no air placed inside the mattress for firmness and 100 being the same as a mattress having a rating of 10 on the firmness scale – so like a rock.
The Sleep Number Mattress can have each side of the mattress at a different level in firmness, so it fully satisfies each sleeper in the bed to their preferred levels of firm support. As the sleeper controls the firmness levels, the Sleep Number Mattress is suitable for any sleep position, front, back or side. The thick comfort layer reduces any motion transfer felt throughout the mattress and provides a firm but cradle of contouring support.
Feel of a Sleep Number Mattress
The air chambers that exist in the Sleep Number Mattress can’t even be felt by the sleeper thanks to the soft and cushiony comfort layer. This layer provides the sleeper with a cradle of softness that brings to mind the feel of memory foam.
Contouring around the body, the sleeper will experience a slight sinking or cradling sensation when laying in the Sleep Number Bed for the first time and with the air chamber layer below it’ enjoy a cool sleeping surface throughout the night.
Unique Features – Sleep Number Mattress
Sleep Number Technology
The Sleep Number Mattress is one of the only trusted mattresses that allows for the sleeper to control the firmness level, instead of the other way around where you are told the firmness level of the mattress. Some brands come close but not quite as effective as Sleep Number by producing mattresses that differ in firmness levels depending on the side of the mattress that is facing the sleeper. These mattresses can be cumbersome and bulky, however, for one person to flip and situate back into the proper position.
The Sleep Number Mattress uses an ergonomic hand-held remote control to allow the sleeper to increase the pressure within the mattress and release it as desired. The Sleep Number Mattress has advanced technology to allow for differing numbers and differing levels of firmness on either side of the mattress, so your bed partner can set their own preference instead of matching yours.
The only downside to this technology is that when the Sleep Number Mattress is placed at a significant difference, a trench can appear in the center of the mattress and create an uncomfortable night of sleep. This is due to one side of the bed being raised higher than the other but it should disappear the closer in numbers each side of the mattress gets.
A Breakdown of a Casper Original Mattress
Construction of a Casper Original Mattress
Known as a hybrid mattress, the Casper Original Mattress combines differing types of foam to a height of 10 inches that support the body during slumber. As an online Canadian company, the Casper Original Mattress offers minimal motion transfer and deep comfort. Using a combination of memory foam and latex foam layers, supported by transitional layers, the Casper Original Mattress is one of the leading mattresses for pain relief.
Top – Mattress Cover
With a blend of soft, silky and stretchy materials, the Casper Original Mattress comes complete with a pre-attached mattress cover. This cover will pull double duty on your mattress, as it provides miniscule air flow channels to increase breathability and temperature control while also providing a barrier against common household germs and allergens. After significant time of daily use, a mattress can start to show signs of aging with rips or stains, but a mattress cover will prevent those signs from occurring until the mattress truly is nearing the end of its usefulness.
The mattress cover provided on the Casper Original Mattress can be removed at home for laundering and can be washed in your washing machine; just ensure you follow the instructions fully to prevent shrinkage or damage to the cover.
First Layer – Latex Foam
The Casper Original Mattress starts off its four layers with a layer of latex foam that offers sleepers cushiony bounce to prevent stiffness in the body from slumber. With one and a half inches of latex foam, it also features microscopic air flow channels to promote a healthy level of breathability. This high level of breathability that comes from the latex foam combined with the mattress cover regulates the internal temperature of your Casper Original Mattress, allowing the sleeping surface to stay cool and dry throughout even the warmest of nights.
Second Layer – Memory Foam
Keeping with the foam layers that offer maximum support and comfort, next up in the Casper Original Mattress is a one and a half inch thick layer of memory foam. This layer has the single purpose of support and comfort, using memory foams natural retention abilities to provide a contouring experience each time the sleeper relaxes their body weight into the mattress.
This layer will spread the sleepers’ body weight evenly throughout the mattress, allowing for pressure relief and cradling comfort throughout slumber.
Third Layer – Zoned Support Layer
The third layer that makes up the Casper Original Mattress is a transitional layer of blended foam, or as the Casper Brand deemed, the Zoned Support layer. This layer is constructed out of a blend of polyfoam. Using a varied firmness level depending on the section of the mattress you happen to be placing your body weight, this layer ensures that superb support is there.
This superb support comes from how a softer blend of polyfoam material is used at the tops and end of the mattress (think where the head and toes would rest when stretched out to full height) with a firmer blend of poly foam used from the middle of the Casper Original Mattress to the bottom (think where the hips down through the legs would naturally rest). With a variety of support and firmness levels, this layer ensures that pressure is only applied to the areas that have a positive response while reducing pressure to the areas that respond negatively.
Fourth Layer – High Density Support Foam
The final layer of the Casper Original Mattress is also the fourth layer in its construction and it features a seven inch thick layer of high density support foam. This dense foam supports the overall mattress as a whole and will encourage the Casper Original Mattress to return to its original condition after each use.
The high density of this layer will prevent the sleeper from sinking too far into the latex and memory foam layers while preventing said layers from touching the floor or other support system in place.
Firmness of a Casper Original Mattress
When classifying mattresses as firm or soft or somewhere in-between; a generic scale is used using numbers from one through to 10. The lower numbers of the classification scale will match with soft mattresses as the higher numbers rate mattresses on the firmer side.
The Casper Original Mattress currently holds a company rating of seven, classifying this mattress as firm. Firm mattresses tend to suit sleepers who sleep primarily on their front or their backs but if a side sleeper were to use this mattress, they could add a layer of foam between the cover and the first layer to increase softness.
Feel of a Casper Original Mattress
The first thought when placing your skin on the Casper Original Mattress is how smooth and cool the mattress cover feels, thanks to its blend of materials that open airflow channels. With a crisp white cover, the Casper Original Mattress has an undeniable appeal with its fresh and inviting nature.
While placing body weight on the mattress, the hugging sensation of foam is unmistakable and allows the body to fully relax into a position that allows for proper alignment.
Unique Features – Casper Original Mattress
Dual Polyfoam Layer – Zoned Support
The Casper Original Mattress recognizes the fact that people need a variety of firmness and pressure, depending on the area of the body, to truly have a relaxing and restoring slumber. Using a blend of transitional polyfoams (latex, memory, comfort, etc.), this mattress will have softer sections that focus on comfort in the areas that benefit the most (head and shoulders) and transitioned into firmer sections in the middle of the mattress. This revolutionary tactic is called Zoned Support and is used by Casper in each of their mattress models.
Using transitional firmness levels allows for the body weight of the sleeper to be spread out over the area and utilizes it to provide pressure relief or add pressure, depending on the section of the body to offer lasting pain relief.
Which One To Get
Sleep Number Mattress
A revolutionary and unique mattress, the Sleep Number Mattress is available online or in-store for consumers today. This mattress combines thick comfort foams with airbed technology to provide a comforting, contouring mattress in a firmness level you choose. With its remote controlled air chambers, the Sleep Number Mattress can be adjusted however the sleeper pleases, with each side of the mattress controlled by a separate air chamber. This allows for the sleeper and their partner to change the firmness levels to their own desires, leaving them to enjoy a peaceful and result night of slumber.
With 100 nights to test out, break in and determine your firmness level before losing the chance of a full refund; the Sleep Number brand understands that a new mattress as unique as this one takes times to determine if it is the best fit for the sleeper.
Once you have decided to keep your Sleep Number Mattress, you are covered by the trusted Sleep Number 25 year warranty, which allows for repair and replacement on everything from the remote controls to the air chambers themselves.
Casper Original Mattress
With multiple layers of foam, one that provides a variety of support in the areas you need it the most, it is no wonder that more people are looking into the Casper Original Mattress as their next mattress purchase. At an overall height of 10 inches, this mattress can be used as the mattress, foundation or platform all on its own but can be used with any type of support system as per your decorative preferences.
An online bed-in-a-bag, the Casper brand guarantees consumers an uninterrupted 100 nights of trial to determine if the Casper Original Mattress is right for them. With no obligations and no fuss, if in 100 nights you feel the Casper Original Mattress isn’t the best fit for your needs, simply contact the customer service department at their toll-free number or online and arrange for a pickup service at your earliest convenience.
If you say yes to your Casper Original Mattress and you know that this mattress is the one to provide a deep sleep night after night while reducing residual aches and pains; then you are protected by their 10-year warranty.
Sleep Number VS Casper Original Comparison
| Sleep Number – Classic c4 Smart Bed | Casper Original | |
|---|---|---|
| Layers Used | 2 layers
|
4 layers
|
| Height | 9 inches | 12 inches |
| Firmness | Varies | Firm |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal |
| Breathability | High | High |
| Trial Period | 100 nights | 100 Nights |
| Warranty | 25 years | 10 years, limited |
| Pricing (Queen) | $1,699.00 USD with monthly payments available |
$795.00 USD with monthly payments available |
| Shipping | $89.99 | Free across the US and Canada |
Conclusion
If a person is going to spend about a third of their life in bed actually sleeping, shouldn’t it be in comfort? Every person has the right to a peaceful night of sleep to restore and repair the body, boost brain functions and even out their overall mood. They have the right to sleep peacefully without night sweats or aches and pains upon waking. The mattress that you choose should provide just that to you and it also is exactly that – your choice. Think of what you want in a mattress and take your time to find the one that suits these needs.
Consult every source of information regarding the type of mattress you are interested, from family/peer recommendations to healthcare professionals to sleep experts to online forums dedicated to testing new mattresses once they hit the market. Choose wisely, sleep well, and live your best possible life.