The search for the perfect pillow can leave you feeling a little like Goldilocks. Some are too soft, some are too hard, and very, very few are just right. With its innovative pillow-in-pillow design, the Original Casper Pillow guarantees the ideal blend of softness and support, a promise we put to the test over the course of several sleeps. When it comes to pillows, we know that every factor matters, from the shape to the fill distribution to the material and texture. Read on for our detailed verdict on the Original Casper Pillow.
Material: Soft and breathable
Launched in 2014, the Casper Mattress Company quickly developed a cult following for its memory and latex foam mattress, which is delivered to customers’ doors compressed in a surprisingly small box. The company has since brought its innovative touch to other sleep products, including the Original Casper Pillow, a unique pillow-in-pillow design which consists of a supportive inner pillow and fluffy outer pillow. The backbone of the construction is a 2-inch gusset that runs along the sides of the pillow to allow for better neck alignment and to keep the polyester microfiber fill evenly distributed. The fill is encased in a polyester fabric lining and 100-percent cotton cover that makes this pillow soft and breathable. Designed in the United States and assembled in China, this pillow comes with a 1-year limited warranty against defects in material and workmanship. Much like Casper’s acclaimed mattress, the pillow arrives at your door compressed neatly in a cylindrical package. Upon opening, the pillow quickly fluffed up into a plump, somewhat-square form. Right off the bat, the pillow gives off an air of luxury that would be at home in a five-star hotel. The quality continues inside, with the pillow’s polyester microfiber fill making an excellent imitation of real down. This could be a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about down pillows. As side sleepers who typically use a firm memory foam pillow, we were initially put off by the super fluffy feel of this pillow. But after we unzipped the Casper’s fluffy outer pillow to reveal a denser inner pillow, we were more hopeful for a well-supported night’s sleep. We were impressed with the clever design that aims to make this pillow suitable for sleepers of all positions: side, stomach, and back. The pillow looks and feels very luxurious, making seem worthy of its higher price tag just based on appearance and material quality alone. Of course, when it comes to pillows, comfort and support reign supreme, so the real test came when it was time to tuck ourselves into bed at night. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the pillow delivered a lot more loft and support than expected. The inner core of the pillow prevented our heads from sinking straight through to the mattress, while the outer fluff amped up the comfort factor. Casper notes that each fiber cluster is individually blown into the pillow cover, an advanced process that makes the pillow resistant to clumping. Casper recommends fluffing your pillow often (daily, if possible) to keep it looking and feeling fresh. The pillow’s fill is specifically designed so that it can be revived and returned to its original puffiness with just a quick fluff. We found that the fill was indeed evenly distributed, allowing the pillow to retain its shape throughout the night while still being highly malleable and responsive to our shifting needs. In the end, we enjoyed several good nights’ sleep with this pillow, and never woke up with any unexpected pain or stress. As sleepers who prefer a memory foam pillow, we’re not completely converted—yet. We found the outer pillow to be a little too fluffy and didn’t like the way our head sank down into it, even though the inner core prevented our head from hitting the mattress. Since we slept so well on this pillow, though, we’re going to continue to test it out to see if it’s truly right for us.
Texture: Cool and comfortable
The outer covering of this pillow is 100 percent cotton, with a beautiful and soft percale weave. Percale allows for added breathability and optimal airflow, which means you’ll always be sleeping on the “cool side” of the pillow. Since memory foam is notoriously warm, the cool factor is a big selling point for us. The Casper’s material not only performs well but also feels soft and high-quality, with double-stitched seams adding to its strength and durability.
Washing: Quick and easy
The Casper pillow is made up of two parts, which makes it easier and faster to wash and dry than your average pillow. We followed the instructions to separate the outer and inner pillows and wash them in the washing machine with cool water and a mild detergent on the gentle cycle. Casper recommends running the rinse cycle twice and tumble drying the pillows on low heat with dryer balls or clean tennis balls. (We used the latter.) The pillows washed well and seemed just as full and fluffy when we popped them out of the dryer and zipped them back together. We also found that the Casper dried faster than some of its competitors.
Price: Good bang for your buck
The Casper is not the cheapest pillow on the market, nor is it the most expensive. At $65, we think it’s appropriately priced and delivers good bang for your buck. It’s definitely a bit of a splurge, but we’re of the camp that a good night’s sleep is one of the best and most impactful things you can invest in.
Competition: Premium down vs. affordable down alternative
Parachute Firm Down Pillow: If you’re willing to pay up (to the tune of $130) and you prefer a firmer pillow than the Casper, or one that uses real down, then Parachute’s firm down pillow just might be the pillow of your dreams. It’s worth checking out, especially since it comes with a 90-night trial period similar to Casper’s own. DreamNorth PREMIUM Gel Pillow Loft: If you have a limited budget or are looking to furnish a guest bedroom, DreamNorth offers a pack of two Premium Gel Pillows for just $35. While this set delivers on price and quality materials, we did find it was ultimately lacking the same support provided by Parachute and Casper—so assess your firmness needs before you purchase. The Casper is an excellent option for stomach, side, and back sleepers alike. As long as you’re not looking for an exceptionally firm pillow, we think you’ll enjoy it.
