Casper Dream Max Hybrid Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	Casper Dream Max	Average
Overall Score	8.68	8.56
Price (Queen)	$2,495	$1,339 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	9.0	8.7
Sinkage – Depth	2.41″	2.15″
Sinkage – Feel	Deep	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.1	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	9.26 m/s²	8.80 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.7	8.9
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.6 sec.	0.9 sec.
Bounce – Height	12.73″	9.50″
Bounce – Feel	Very High	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	8.4	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	4.00″	4.05″
Edge Support – Lying	Good	Good
Sex – Score	9.7	8.4
Pressure Relief – Score	9.0	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	4.5″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	13.5″	12.0″
Off-Gassing – Score	4.7	8.2
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	19 days	6 days
Company – Score	8.5	8.6
Trial	100 nights	176 nights
Warranty	10 years	25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Casper Dream Max Different?

The Casper Dream Max Hybrid has slightly better overall performance than average but also a higher price tag. Compared to the average hybrid, the Casper Dream Max Hybrid costs 86% more—over $1100 more than the average for a queen mattress.

Advantages

Advantages to the Dream Max Hybrid include slightly better cooling performance, faster material response time, slightly less sitting edge sinkage, and a thicker overall profile (13.5″ compared to a 12.0″ average).

Neutral Factors

This mattress has slightly deeper signage than average, but still within the moderate range. Bounce levels are also a bit of a preferential factor. In our test, this mattress measured 34% more bounce than average.

Although bounce is generally a neutral factor, at this high level, you will want to make sure that you really want a bouncy mattress before opting for the Casper Dream Max.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages include a higher level of motion transfer—5% more than average. This mattress also has a longer off-gassing period, 19 days compared to a 6-day average.

The Casper Dream Max Hybrid has excellent cooling. During our tests, I felt no significant level of heat retention around my body.

The mattress does a great job of providing ample airflow and avoiding heat retention, helping to keep the mattress feeling cool.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

The mattress utilizes a 4.5” foam comfort layer that sits atop a 6.0” pocketed coil support layer. The pocketed coils help cooling by providing an air gap and by simply having less material in which heat could be retained.

The foams used within the mattress all look and feel high quality. The top 4.5” comfort foam layers have an open and airy design, which aids in breathability.

In addition, the 2.0” poly foam layer within the core of the mattress is zoned, which has the side effect of providing an additional air gap layer.

While the Casper Dream Max Hybrid isn’t quite as cool as Casper’s Snow and Snow Max, for most sleepers I still expect it to be sufficiently cool.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

The Casper Dream Max has a deep level of sinkage. In our pressure point sinkage tests, we measured a sinkage depth of 2.41”. This is 0.26” more sinkage than the average of 2.15”.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

Notably, the Dream Max utilizes a zoned foam in the core of the mattress and these foams make a substantial sinkage difference. The center of the mattress has a little more firmness and support compared to the head and foot.

As a result, we only measured 2.41” of sinkage in the center. However, the head and foot have deep zoned cuts into the foam.

These cuts create more sinkage, resulting in 2.61” of sinkage at the head and 2.91” of sinkage at the foot of the mattress.

This type of sinkage profile and zoning design can be beneficial for many side sleepers, provided you prefer a deeper sinkage and a dramatic body contouring hug.

However, many back and stomach sleepers will simply find this deep and pronounced sinkage dynamic fails to provide adequate support. For most back and stomach sleepers I would recommend the Casper Snow Hybrid or a different mattress.

The Casper Dream Max has a low level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 9.26 m/s². This is 5% more motion than the average of 8.80 m/s².

The combination of a softer feel, thick 4.5” layer, and limited 6.0” pocketed coil layer, all help to keep motion transfer held to a minimum.

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we see the highest motion from 0 to 0.16 seconds. Motion declines rapidly thereafter, but it’s not until 1.06 seconds that we return to near zero levels of energy.

Mattresses with the least motion are able to disperse all energy within 0.3 seconds. Suffice to say, the Dream Max isn’t at that level. Nevertheless, it’s not bad by any stretch and I expect most sleepers will find motion to be satisfactory. 

The Casper Dream Max has a very fast material response time. In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.2 seconds and a fully recovered response time of 0.6 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

These measurements are 0.21 and 0.32 seconds faster than their averages, respectively.

Despite the thick 4.5” comfort layer and poly foams that feel like memory foam, the mattress still does a nice job of quickly rebounding back to shape. A fast response ensures the mattress is easy to move around on and sleepers won’t feel stuck in the mattress.

The Casper Dream Max has an extremely high level of bounce. In our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 12.73”. This is 3.23” more bounce than the average of 9.50”.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

The mattress allows for a deeper level of sinkage due to the softer foam comfort layer. However, the sturdy 3.0” foundational foam and 6.0” pocketed coil layer rebound a significant level of energy, resulting in the very high bounce.

This extra bounce isn’t ideal for motion transfer, where we measured a moderate level of motion. However, the high bounce is greatly beneficial for sex performance and ease of movement.

While 12.73” is a bit higher than the bounce level I ideally like to see, it’s still held to a reasonable level. I expect most sleepers will be fine with this level of bounce.

Edge support is good for both lying and sitting on the Casper Dream Max. In our sitting edge support tests, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 4.0″. This is 0.05” less sitting sinkage than the average of 4.05”.

Notably, our sitting edge sinkage test is conducted in the center mattress. This is where the Dream Max has the greatest level of support.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

While sitting at the head and foot of the mattress there is significantly more sinkage, to the point the edge simply isn’t supportive and there is a collapse of materials. This is due to the fact that the head and foot utilizes a zoned foam that is designed for more sinkage to help improve side sleeping.

Lying edge support is good, but far from amazing. The softer feel and dramatically zoned foams in the head / foot create a sinkage depth that doesn’t feel supportive when along the edge of the mattress.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

The mattress uses a perimeter edge support, which definitely has a positive impact. That said, it isn’t enough to overcome the challenges created by the softer feel and zoned foams.

The Casper Dream Max has excellent sex performance. The greatest boon is simply the very high level of bounce. The additional bounce helps keep partners in a natural rhythm. Furthermore, the 4.5” comfort layer creates ample pressure relief and good cooling.

While the edge support leaves something to be desired, at least at the head and foot of the mattress, as long as you focus your amorous efforts in the center third of the mattress you should find it good enough.

How Do We Determine Sex Score?

The best mattresses for sex have high bounce, good edge support, quiet materials, and good pressure relief and cooling.

These 5 factors make up the NapLab sex performance score.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	10	Extremely High
Edge Support	20%	8.8	Good
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	9.0	Excellent
Cooling	5%	9.0	Excellent

The Casper Dream Max Hybrid has excellent pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant level of pressure point build-up. The mattress is quite comfortable.

The combination of high-quality materials, a 14.0” profile, convoluted foam creating zoned support, and a firmer non-convoluted poly foam in the center of the mattress work in harmony together.

This mix of materials allows the body to gradually sink down, transitioned by the thicker than average 4.5” comfort layer (average thickness being 4.1”).

The zoned layers of foam create extra support where most sleepers weigh more, allowing the spine to achieve a more neutral alignment. This is especially beneficial for side sleepers. Overall, I expect most sleepers will find the pressure relief to be more than satisfactory. 

Off-gassing on the Casper Dream Max is terrible. It was strong right out of the box. The mattress smelled for 19 days.

The longer than average off-gassing period is possibly the result of the phase change spray on coating. In addition, the specific foams used seem to be prone to more smell in general.

Casper’s company terms and conditions are pretty typical compared to what we see across the industry. They offer a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty on any of their mattresses.

Comparing all mattresses tested to date, the average trial length is 164 nights so Casper’s trial is shorter than average. That being said, 100 nights should still be enough time for you to properly decide if you like the mattress or not.

How Do We Determine Company Score?

The company score takes a look at factors that may influence your experience with the mattress.

Factors include length of the trial period, warranty, shipping / return costs, and country of origin.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	8.0	100 nights
Warranty	10%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	10	$0
Trust	50%	8.0	Good
Country of Origin	0%		USA

The Casper Dream Max Hybrid has a soft feel, with a firmness of 4.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

This is just a touch softer than a true medium feel mattress.

The Casper Dream Max Hybrid has excellent support. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions.

The support layer includes a 6.0” pocketed coil unit that sits atop a 3.0” support foam layer.

With 9.0” of support materials the Dream Max is notably thicker than the average support layer, which is 7.8” thick.

The greatest concern I have with the Dream Max is simply the firmness level. The Dream Max is only available in a single firmness, which comes in at a 4.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

This puts it between a soft and a medium firmness. At this firmness, it’s ideally suited to the needs of many side sleepers. However, back and stomach sleepers, especially heavier-weighted bodies, are more likely to find that it’s too soft to create the proper level of support.

As a result, I recommend this mattress mostly for side sleepers and less so far back and stomach sleepers.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe
250-300 lbs.	No	Yes	No

Design

The Casper Dream Max is a hybrid mattress with a 13.5″ profile. It has a soft feel. This mattress uses zoned materials to emphasize a different feel in various parts of the mattress.

With Casper’s new lineup, launched in March 2024, the Dream represents Casper’s basic hybrid option, while the Dream Max is a considerable step up.

Materials

This mattress is made up of a combination of foam and coils. There are three layers of foam, and two support layers. From top to bottom, the layers include:

• 1.0” poly foam
• 1.5” poly foam (zoned)
• 2.0” poly foam (convoluted)
• 6.0” pocketed coil
  • 3.5″ wide / 6.0″ tall edge support foam wraps around the perimeter 
• 3.0” support foam

The Cover

The cover of the Casper Dream Hybrid is a thin, knit-blend that has good stretch and breathability. There is no tufting for added loft or contour, giving the mattress a modern feel.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is made up of three layers of foam. The top layer is a 1.5″ poly foam with a continuous feel across the whole surface of the mattress.

The middle layer is a 1.5″ zoned poly foam. This layer is split into 3 sections at the foot, mid, and head of the mattress. The section in the middle is slightly firmer, with slightly softer feels measured at the heat and foot of the mattress.

This type of zoned foam is designed for increased support in the middle of the mattress, which can be beneficial for sleepers who struggle with pressure relief or spinal alignment.

The bottom foam within the comfort layer is a 2.0″ poly foam (blue). It has deep convoluted cut-outs in the head, foot, and center of the mattress. These cuts allow airflow and create a more neutral spinal alignment (especially for side sleepers).

The Support Layer

The support layer beneath the foam layers includes a 6.0″ pocketed coil layer as well as a 3.0″ high-density support foam. These two materials work together to provide 9.0″ of support and stability to the mattress.

Product Evolution

Casper originated in 2014 with its launch of the Casper all-foam mattress. In 2019, Casper hybrids entered the chat and models continued to be added until it hit max capacity in 2023.

In early 2024, Casper discontinued their entire mattress line and launched 5 brand new mattresses.

Prior to this rework, there were 4 Casper hybrids:

• Casper Original Hybrid
• Casper Nova Hybrid
• Casper Wave Hybrid
• Casper Snow (still available; however it has a new design)

Of these four, the Casper Dream Max Hybrid appears to be most similar to the Casper Nova Hybrid, marked by its softer feel and convoluted zoned foam.

Casper’s 2024 lineup includes:

• Casper One – all foam, most basic, least expensive
• Casper Dream – least expensive hybrid
• Casper Dream Max – higher performance hybrid
• Casper Snow – least expensive, cooler hybrid
• Casper Snow Max – higher performance, cooler hybrid

As of January 2024, Casper has updated the fire barrier of their mattresses, including the Casper Dream Max Hybrid. The previous fire barrier, which contained fiberglass, has now been updated to use a Rayon fiber-based product instead of the traditional fiberglass.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Casper Dream Max is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses for high-performing alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Casper Dream Max mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.

Disclosure – Derek Hales has a history with Casper that some may view as relevant to his reviews of Casper products. In 2016, Casper Sleep sued Derek Hales in federal court over his reviews of its products. In 2017, the lawsuit ended with a settlement. See here for more information.