Casper Sleep Element Pro, Queen,Light Grey

Mattresses are mammoth beasts that are unwieldy and difficult to move around. One of the great things about foam mattresses is that, when new in box, they are much easier to handle than a traditional mattress. The Casper Sleep Element Pro ships rolled up and boxed. The weight (88lbs King) is within the range for your UPS delivery person to be able to drop off at your door step. The box is very sturdy and has handle cut outs that make moving it an easier task. My mattress arrived with the box in excellent shape. It is heavy duty enough to withstand the shipping process.The box did not indicate which end should be opened, so I chose the bottom. When I opened the bottom, there was a set of instructions and registration information. I guess I picked the right end...I was quite proud of myself. After sliding the rolled up mattress out of the box, I discovers another set of instructions on the top of the box. Pretty cleaver of Casper. No matter which end you open, you picked the right end.The mattress is vacuum packed in plastic and then rolled up in more clear plastic. I set the mattress at the end of the bed and pulled the plastic to unroll the mattress burrito. The vacuum packed mattress is folded in half and has to be unfolded dark side/zipper side down. At this point, I have been unpacking the mattress without any help. One person can do this without an problems. However, if you are setting the mattress up with a bed skirt, a second person would be helpful. The final step is cutting the sealed plastic and pulling it off the mattress. Once you cut the vacuum plastic, the mattress instantly starts expanding.The instructions didn't mention any time frame that I should wait before using the mattress. In fact, the instructions made it sound like the mattress was ready to use immediately. I checked out Casper's website and I confirmed that, yes, the mattress is ready to sleep on once it expands. I then took the mattress for a test drive. My initial opinion was that the Casper might be too soft for my liking. I finished putting the bed together. One thing that surprised me was that I didn't notice any odor from the mattress. I actually had to put my nose into the mattress to smell anything. The mattress smelled no different than a new clothing item might have. It was not overbearing or unpleasant. Eight hours later when it was time for bed, I gave the mattress its first real test.This time the mattress felt firmer than it did initially. I was quite pleased with this as I mentioned I prefer a firmer mattress. I had a very nice night's sleep and have continued to have very restful nights since setting up the mattress.Then only thing that I am having difficulty with is the thickness of the mattress. This mattress is about 10" thick while my previous mattress was 14" thick. I find the Casper a little more difficult to get in and out of because of the smaller thickness. Also, most bedding these days are designed for thicker mattresses. While they fit smaller ones like the Casper, you have a lot of extra material to tuck under. This isn't a deal breaker. I am sure I will get used to this difference in time. But, initially, it is very noticeable.Overall, this is a great mattress and I can highly recommend it. This is a quality mattress. I don't know how long it will hold up, but given its quality, I feel it will last me a good number of years. If you are looking for a new mattress, I suggest you look very seriously at the Casper Sleep Element Pro.

Everything about the packaging and unpacking of the Casper Sleep Element Pro was perfectly standard in comparison to all the mattresses I have gotten for the last few years. I would love to see one of those "mattress squishing" machines when it compresses and rolls a mattress for boxing - I just wouldn't want to get caught in one. It's pretty amazing how a full size mattress can be compacted into a (relatively) easy to handle box.I'm not a young body-builder, but I got the box inside, even up the staircase and into my bedroom by myself. It is heavy and unwieldy, but doable. Then the fun of unboxing and unwrapping starts. I got the plastic-wrapped mattress onto the bed and carefully removed the plastic. That is the tricky part, because it is way too easy to slice your mattress when trying to run a scissor blade or other sharp pointed implement under the plastic. I have done it before, and I can only tell you to be really careful at this point. Your mattress is going to be folded in half and then rolled. When the plastic is loostened it is going to start expanding - big time. So be ready to position it as it does.As for the finished product - I left it alone all day to do any more stretching and expanding it felt like doing. Also, I wanted to air out the slightly synthetic smell it came with. By bedtime, and with sheets and pillows and blanket in place, I was happy to sink in and toss around to see how I was going to get along with my new mattress. I am a side-sleeper, so my hipbones can be problematic with a traditional spring-filled mattress. I felt the difference right away. The layer of memory foam conformed to the hills and valleys of my form without making me sink into a deep layer of skin-suffocating froth. There is just enough of a layer to serve the purpose, but the overall sleep quality is still firm enough to be about perfect.I will see how this mattress stands up to the test of time and update with any extreme positives or negatives. I promise. Looking at the price of this mattress may make you wince a little - it did me - but if it stays this comfortable, and I have a better quality of sleep as a result, I gotta say it's worth it.