This Casper mattress helps relieve my lower back issues with its firm feel and strong edge support

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• The Casper Original Hybrid Mattress has outstanding edge support and the firmer-than-average feel supports my back.
• It currently starts at $591 for a Twin and comes with a 10-year limited warranty and a 100-night risk-free trial.
• Read more about how we test and review home and kitchen products.

As our resident sleep reporter, I've tested dozens of mattresses, including almost every mattresses available from bed-in-a-box startup Casper.

Each mattress has its benefits, but one of my favorites is the Casper Original, which comes in an all-foam version and a hybrid version. We reviewed the all-foam Original mattress here, but if you're not a fan of all-foam mattresses, you might appreciate the Original Hybrid more.

Specs

In addition to individually-wrapped springs, the Casper Original Hybrid has three layers of foam. The top "Airscape" layer is made of perforated breathable foam designed to promote airflow for a cooler sleep. The foam conforms to your body to relieve pressure. The memory foam middle layer offers zoned support for targeted relief - softer under the shoulders and firm around the waist, lower back, and hips. And the base provides a firm border around the coils for better edge support.

All of the foam used in the Original Hybrid is CertiPUR-US certified and is made without ozone-depleting materials. The cover also is made of lycra, rayon, upcycled cotton, and recycled polyester (which is partially composed of recycled bottles).

There are brick-and-mortar Casper stores in every major city around the nation, though stores have implemented some changes due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, so we suggest calling ahead. You can also visit certain Target locations that sell Casper mattresses, but we suggest calling ahead as well.

Setup process

Setup is fairly straightforward and uniform across all Casper mattresses. You open the top of the large box, where you will find a manual that gives you basic guidance in unboxing your mattress. The whole process took about five minutes.

Since they have the added heft of metal coils, hybrid beds tend to be heavier than their all-foam counterparts. And, the Original Hybrid is no different weighing in at 91 pounds and pushing 100 pounds with its packaging. Still, it's lighter than other hybrids I've tested, which helped with moving it around. However, it did seem to bend easily so repositioning and rotating it was not effortless. I strongly recommend having a friend help you with the unboxing process.

If you'd like professional help, you can choose an in-home setup. Casper will set up your bed in the room of your choice for a fee. The company also removes the packaging along with your old mattress and/or foundation if you want.

What makes the mattress stand out

The only way to find out if a mattress is right for you is to sleep on it. Experts recommend giving it 14 nights, and the mattress companies usually suggest at least 30 nights. Because of this, a risk-free home trial is essential. Fortunately, you can try out Casper's mattresses for 100 nights.

If you don't like your mattress, you can contact Casper during the trial period and let them know. The company will coordinate with a local charity or recycling center to come to remove it. Within two weeks, you will get a full refund. And, they don't take any restocking, shipping, or other hidden fees out of your refund.

Right off the bat, I was impressed with the attractive appearance and comfortable feel of the bed. I also liked that it had some good bounce to it.

The Casper Original Hybrid is slightly firmer than your average mattress. This makes it ideal for back and stomach sleepers. And, I did find that sleeping on my stomach was more comfortable than my side, but sleeping on my side wasn't bad. I'm a heavier person so extra support is a must. Firmer mattresses are also better for people who suffer from chronic back pain. I have intermittent lower back issues, and while testing this mattress, there was no pain.

The Original Hybrid does an okay job of removing heat for a cool sleep. I'm a hot sleeper, and during testing, I didn't feel particularly cool or hot. Though after getting up to go to the bathroom in the night, I could still feel some trapped body heat when I returned.

But, the Original Hybrid has the upper hand when it comes to edge support. I can lay on the very edge of the bed and not feel like I am going to fall off, and the sagging is minimal when I sit on the side. This also makes it easier for me to get out of bed in the morning.

The Original Hybrid and all Casper mattresses are backed by a 10-year limited warranty. The company will either fix or entirely replace your bed if it exhibits physical flaws, manufacturing defects, deterioration, or major indentations. For the warranty to be valid, you must use your mattress "normally," handle it properly, and use a supportive foundation.

Cons to consider

The Original Hybrid has poor motion isolation. In addition to my own subjective experience, I tested the mattress by placing a 12-ounce can of pop on the mattress and dropped a 15-pound bowling ball from above the bed so it landing 12 inches from the can. The can stays upright on mattresses with excellent motion dampening. With the Original Hybrid, the can fell over every time, even when I moved the impact point to 18 inches away.

Right away, I noticed the "new bed smell" commonly found in foam mattresses when they are first removed from their vacuum seal. For this reason, I recommend unboxing mattresses early in the morning so you can give them time to expand and air out before bedtime. Unfortunately, this was not enough for the Original Hybrid, which needed a few days to get rid of its odor.

The bottom line

I was impressed with the Casper Original Hybrid. I liked it even more than its predecessor. Despite the poor motion dampening, the firm support helped my back and the bounce helps with mobility. And, when pets or my wife start to crowd me, the edge support keeps me on board. I would have liked to have seen better heat dissipation, but the bed didn't sleep too hot.

I'd recommend this option if you are a stomach or back sleeper, back pain sufferer, or if you are a heavier individual who likes to sleep on your side. However, I'd suggest a bed with better motion isolation if you sleep with someone who moves around and jostles you awake in the night.

Still, the price is reasonable for a hybrid mattress, and Casper offers buying options that start at 0% APR.

Lastly, if you want to steer clear of Casper or just see what else is out there, check out our guide to the best mattresses. The guide is based on rigorous testing of dozens of models.

Pros: 11 inches thick with three pressure-relieving foam layers and supportive coils, great for back and stomach sleepers, terrific edge support, 100-night risk-free trial

Cons: Failed motion transfer tests, took a while for the new bed smell to dissipate