Nolah vs. Casper
Product
Firmness
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Product
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Product
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Key Similarities
- Both are all-foam mattresses that are 10 inches thick.
- Both offer cooling solutions and should be fairly breathable.
- Both use a proprietary foam for comfort.
- Similar price range.
- Both offer free shipping and generous sleep trials.
Key Differences
- Nolah is softer than the Casper by a noticeable amount.
- Nolah has 3 foam layers, while Casper has 4.
- Nolah has a thicker support layer.
- Casper has a transition layer between its two top comfort layers and its base layer.
- Casper has a layer of memory foam for added pressure relief and body contouring.
- Nolah offers a longer trial period of 120 days, compared to Casper’s 100 days.
Nolah Construction
The picture below shows how the Nolah mattress is constructed. Here’s a breakdown:- The cover is a thin, very soft and breathable viscose that doesn’t affect the overall feel of the mattress significantly.
- The top layer is 2 inches of a proprietary “AirFoam,” which is said to relieve pressure better than memory foam while also ensuring people will sleep cool.
- Below the AirFoam is is 1 inch of latex-like Avena foam, which is highly durable and provides some bounce.
- The base support layer is 7 inches of 1.8 lb. density poly foam, which is a pretty typical base layer for foam mattresses.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Casper Construction
- A lightweight premium fabric makes for a stretchy, breathable cover that also doesn’t noticeably affect the feel of the mattress.
- The top layer is 1.5 inches of a latex-like specialty polyfoam the company. This material has small holes for breathability — Casper describes the material as “open-cell” — and has good bounce.
- The next layer is 1.5 inches of 3.5 lb. density memory foam, which helps the mattress conform well to the curves of your body. This layer provides good pressure relief and helps the mattress contour to the precise curves of the body.
- The third layer is a “transition layer” of 1.5 inches of polyfoam with a 2.5 lb. density. This layer is supposed to help ensure even weight distribution and ease the transition from the comfort layers to the firm support layer.
- The base layer is 5 inches of polyfoam with a 1.8 lb. density, the same used in many other bed-in-a-box mattresses.
Casper Original Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Construction Differences/Notes
- I expect the durability of the mattresses to be about equal, but I would perhaps give Nolah the slight edge.
- Nolah has a softer top layer with more give, and is softer overall than Casper.
- Casper has a transition layer on top of a thinner base layer.
- Both mattresses should be breathable and sleep cool throughout the night.
- Casper will have more bounce than the Nolah.
Firmness/Feel Differences
Casper is a little firmer than average, but you can push into it about as much as you can the Nolah if you put enough pressure. But Casper springs back more quickly and forcefully. Watch the videos below to see the similarities and differences illustrated. Overall, I would say the Nolah is softer than the Casper.Motion Transfer Differences
Both absorb pressure well, meaning they don’t easily transfer motion. That makes each a good option for couples. Nolah has a bit of an edge here, though, because it sinks so much that it doesn’t really transfer motion at all. If you bounce around enough on the Casper, the person next to you will feel it a bit. Watch these videos to see for yourself.Pick Nolah If:
- You are a side sleeper — Nolah’s softness make it great at absorbing pressure so you can sleep comfortably on your side.
- You like sinking into your mattress — Nolah has a quicksand-feel to it, meaning is has a lot of give, so you’ll sleep “in” it more than “on” it
Pick Casper If:
- You are a stomach or back sleeper — Casper’s firmness and zoned support construction make it a good option for people who sleep on their stomach or back.
- You prefer established companies — Casper has weathered a good amount of press attention and redesigned its flagship mattress a few times. If you prefer a company that has a more developed track record, go with Casper.