My name is Ben Trapskin, and I founded Yawnder with a simple mission: to help people achieve better sleep through informed choices. My interest in sleep health isn’t just professional—it’s personal.
In my mid-30s, I struggled with severe sleep deprivation, getting only a few hours of rest each night. The impact on my physical and mental health was profound. It wasn’t until I sought help from medical professionals that I learned just how critical quality sleep is for overall well-being. Once I restored my sleep, my daily life, energy levels, and focus improved dramatically.
That experience ignited my passion for sleep science and the mattress industry. As a former librarian with 13 years of experience, my career revolved around helping people find reliable information. I took that same research-driven mindset and applied it to the confusing world of mattress shopping.
Like many, I went through multiple frustrating mattress-buying experiences—purchasing three different mattresses in just two years, each failing to provide the comfort and support I needed. I quickly realized I wasn’t alone. Many shoppers face the same challenge: navigating a crowded market filled with misleading claims and marketing hype.
This inspired me to deep-dive into the mattress industry, testing products firsthand and identifying brands that truly deliver on their promises. Unlike many mattress review sites that prioritize profits over honesty, Yawnder is built on transparency, real testing, and unbiased insights. My goal is to save you time, money, and frustration by cutting through the noise and guiding you to the best sleep products.
Most of the mattresses I review are queen-size, which aligns with consumer preferences—according to a 2016 Better Sleep Council report, 47% of Americans sleep on a queen mattress, followed by 25% on a king. While I provide detailed insights on comfort, firmness, and performance, I always encourage shoppers to consider their personal sleep preferences when making a decision.
At Yawnder, your sleep matters, and I’m here to help you make the best choice for restful nights and better days.
Sleep Sherpa is Now Yawnder!
That’s right—SleepSherpa.com has rebranded to Yawnder.com! While our name has changed, our mission remains the same: to help you sleep better so you can live better.
Our San Diego showroom—formerly known as the Sleep Sherpa Online Mattress Showroom—is now Yawnder San Diego, still serving the community with expert sleep guidance and a curated selection of top-rated mattresses and sleep products.
Why the Change?
We’ve evolved beyond just mattress reviews. Yawnder represents our expanded commitment to helping you achieve truly personalized sleep solutions. Our new name and website reflect our vision of providing deeper insights, expert recommendations, and a more user-friendly experience.
What Yawnder Offers:
- A Personalized Sleep Quiz – Identify your sleep challenges and find the right mattress for you.
- Expert Sleep Recommendations – Based on real testing and data-driven insights.
- A Guided Sleep Program – Practical steps to improve your sleep quality.
- Comprehensive Sleep Resources – Articles, tips, and reviews to help you make informed decisions.
- A Sleep-Focused Community – Connect with experts and fellow sleepers for advice and support.
Our redesigned website is more than just a rebrand—it’s built to make your sleep journey easier and more effective. Whether you’re searching for the perfect mattress, improving your sleep habits, or just exploring the science behind better rest, Yawnder is your go-to resource.
Welcome to Yawnder—where better sleep begins.
Advancing Mattress Testing with Expert Engineers
At Yawnder, we believe that objective, data-driven testing is the key to providing honest and reliable mattress reviews. To take our reviews to the next level, I’ve partnered with two highly skilled engineers to develop proprietary testing tools and methods. Their expertise allows us to go beyond subjective opinions and provide measurable insights into mattress durability, comfort, and performance.
More details about our testing methods can be found on our Testing Page.
Meet the Engineers Behind Yawnder’s Testing
Chris Monti
Chris Monti is an experienced engineer with 13 years of expertise in designing, analyzing, and testing complex systems for the aerospace and consumer electronics industries.
✅ Education:
- B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering, Boston University
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona
✅ Industry Experience:
- Spent 9 years in aerospace, designing and conducting military-grade durability tests (MIL Specs, ASTM).
- Developed testing systems for equipment subjected to extreme environments—from the wings of fighter jets to tank gun barrels.
- Transitioned to consumer electronics in 2012, where he engineered impact and stress tests for smartphone components—many of which endure more extreme conditions than military hardware.
Chris also applies his testing expertise to reviewing drones at HalfChrome.com.
Elroy Pearson
Elroy Pearson is an MIT-trained, multi-disciplinary engineer with 20 years of experience in R&D, prototyping, and automation.
✅ Education:
- B.S. in Computer Engineering, Utah State University
- Minors in Computer Science and Finnish
- M.S. in Media Technology, MIT Media Lab
- Specialized in holographic video display architectures, optics, and microfabrication.
✅ Industry Experience:
- Led holographic optics and data storage system development.
- Created innovative optical devices for mobile technology.
- Developed custom automation, robotics, and microfluidic sensors at AbbVie (Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company) to enhance scientific research.
- Founder and Chief Innovator at Depthsight Innovations, a prototyping consulting firm.
Elroy’s diverse expertise ensures that Yawnder’s testing methods remain cutting-edge, precise, and truly innovative.
The Yawnder Mattress Showroom: A Pioneer in Online Mattress Testing
The Yawnder Showroom was established in 2016 as the first-ever online mattress showroom in the U.S.. What started as an experiment with 8 online mattress brands has since grown into one of the most comprehensive mattress showrooms in the country.
- 2017: Expanded to double its size, offering even more mattress brands.
- 2023: Now featuring over 40 carefully selected mattresses in our San Diego location.
Why Visit the Yawnder Showroom?
- 🛏️ Touch & Feel Before You Buy – Experience mattresses in person before making a decision.
- 🗣️ Real Customer Feedback – We listen to what shoppers love (and don’t love) to improve our recommendations.
- 🏆 Curated Selection – We focus on brands that deliver real comfort, durability, and value—not just marketing hype.
Transparency & Product Review Disclaimer
Yawnder is committed to honest, unbiased reviews. While many of the products or services featured on this site are provided to us free of charge, this does not influence our recommendations.
Some of the links on our site are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. However, we only recommend products that:
✔️ We have personally tested
✔️ Meet our rigorous review standards
✔️ Provide genuine value to our readers
This disclosure is made in accordance with the FTC’s guidelines on endorsements (16 CFR, Part 255).
Contact Yawnder
I’d love to help you find the best mattress for your needs! If you have any questions or need a personalized sleep product recommendation, please contact us.
📍 Yawnder is headquartered in San Diego, CA.
