Bear Hybrid vs. Bear Mattress Comparison

Bear beds comparison quick synopsis

• Like most bed-in-a-box companies, Bear offers customer-friendly policies. Its beds come with free shipping, free returns, a 100-night trial period, and either a 10- or 20-year warranty.
• The Original Bear and Bear Pro mattresses are made entirely of foam. The Bear Hybrid, on the other hand, is made of both coils and various layers of foam.
• All three Bear mattresses use Celliant technology within their covers. Celliant is an infrared textile that harnesses your body’s natural energy to promote restful sleep.
• Feel is a key difference between the three Bear mattresses. The Original Bear mattress has a responsive memory foam feel. The Bear Pro has more of moderate foam feel, and the Bear Hybrid has a comfortable pillow top feel.
• The Bear mattresses also differ in terms of firmness. The Original Bear, in our opinion, is the firmest bed in the lineup (~6 to 7 on scale). The Bear Pro is a little softer than the Original, and finally, the Bear Hybrid lands closer to the middle of the firmness scale (~5 on scale).
• Regardless of which Bear mattress you select, you’ll feel comfortable and properly supported in all sleeping positions. It doesn’t matter whether you spend the majority of the night on your side, back, or stomach.
• Given the Original Bear and Bear Pro consist entirely of foam layers, we think these two beds are best people with lower or moderate weights. For people with higher body weight, we’d recommend going with the Bear Hybrid and its 8-inch pocketed coil support framework.
• Bear follows a “good-better-best” pricing model. The Original Bear is the cheapest bed out of the bunch, followed by the Bear Pro, and finally, the Bear Hybrid rounds out the lineup. In the grand scheme of things, though, all three Bear mattresses are considered a good value.

Original Bear mattress review

Bear Original mattresses are good for:

• budget shoppers
• people who like memory foam

Details:

• free shipping and returns
• 100-night trial period
• 10-year warranty
• made in the United States

Bear mattress budget price point

Compared to the average bed-in-a-box, the Bear mattress is considerably more affordable. Below is a table that outlines MSRP by size:

Plus, Bear is a big believer in sales and promotions. You can almost always find some sort of coupon code or discount. With the Original Bear mattress, you can normally expect to receive at least 15 to 20 percent off come checkout.

That would bring a Queen size down below the $700 mark, which is an absolute steal. Be sure to check the green discount box on your screen for current pricing and promotions.

3-layer foam design

The Bear mattress follows a fairly simple construction. The bed uses three different foam layers that total 10 inches thick.

Considering the bed’s price point, you really can’t expect much more. Here’s a quick summary of each layer, starting from the bottom:

• High-density support foam functions as the foundation for the entire bed.
• Responsive transition foam acts as a soft yet supportive buffer between the top and bottom layers.
• Graphite-gel memory foam is the proper comfort layer of the bed. It’s infused with graphite to help disperse heat away from your body as you sleep.

Encasing the three layers of foam is a breathable Celliant cover. We discuss the benefits of Celliant in more detail later in the review, but for now, we’ll just tell you that it’s designed to increase energy levels, aid in recovery, and promote restful sleep.

The cover is technically removable, but the company strongly recommends that you refrain from doing so. There’s really no reason to, anyway, unless it somehow gets stained.

In that case, you should just spot clean the cover with warm water and a mild detergent. Just so you’re aware, this is how you clean the covers of most mattresses, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary. We’ve only come across a handful of beds that actually have machine-washable covers.

Lastly, we should mention that all Bear mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified. In simple terms, this means the foams contained in the beds meet strict health and environmental standards.

In other words, Bear mattresses are safe to sleep on and don’t contain any toxic chemicals.

Feel and firmness analysis

Considering its top layer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Bear mattress has a memory foam feel. For those of you who aren’t familiar with memory foam, let’s quickly review what it feels like.

Essentially, it’s a soft foam that adapts to and remembers your body’s shape. Some people like to describe the feel of memory foam as a gentle hug, meaning the foam sort of wraps the curves of your body. The Bear mattress definitely falls in line with this description, but it also differs in two key areas.

First, the memory foam the Bear mattress uses is more responsive and fluffy than traditional memory foam. As a result, you really won’t feel all that much resistance when attempting to switch between sleeping positions.

With some memory foam beds, individuals often feel as if they’re stuck in the top layers. Luckily, that’s not the case with the Bear mattress, which is good news for combination sleepers who tend to move around a lot during the night.

Moving on, the Bear mattress is also slightly firmer than what you’d expect the standard memory foam bed to be. We think it rates somewhere around 6 to 7 on the firmness scale.

Please keep in mind, firmness is always a moving target. Our rating above is based person with a moderate body weight, but for people with lower or higher body weight, it may feel different.

For example, people with higher body weight will likely think the bed lands closer to a firmness rating of 5, while people with lower body weight may think it belongs closer to a rating of 8.

Accommodating for all types of sleepers

Although the Bear mattress lands on the firm end of the scale, we still think it’s a good option for all types of sleepers. That includes people who primarily sleep on their side, back, or stomach.

Side sleepers will find the top layer of memory foam very satisfying since it will mold to their hips and shoulders. At the same time, back and stomach sleepers still receive the necessary support under their lumbar region to ensure they maintain healthy posture throughout the night.

Also, as we mentioned earlier, combo sleepers will like the bed as well since they won’t sense any resistance when trying to switch between positions. All in all, it’s just a very accommodating mattress.

Bear mattress review verdict

It’s difficult to poke any holes in the Bear mattress (metaphorically speaking, of course). Sure, maybe it’s not the most luxurious mattress ever, but that’s not what Bear was aiming for here.

Bear wanted to create a universally accommodating memory foam bed for an affordable price, and by all accounts, the company did just that.

At under $700 for a Queen size after discounts, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more complete memory foam bed on the market.

Bear Pro mattress review

Bear Pro mattresses are good for:

• people who just want a comfy foam mattress
• all sleeping styles

Details:

• free shipping and returns
• 100-night trial period
• 10-year warranty
• made in the United States

Bear Pro pricing and discounts

Think of the Bear Pro as an upgraded version of the Original Bear mattress. Accordingly, the bed carries a slightly higher price tag.

With that said, the Bear Pro is actually not all that expensive if you look at the big picture. It’s right there in line with other popular foam beds like Casper, Puffy, and Leesa.

The MSRP for the bed ranges from around $900 for a Twin to $1,300 for a King. Again, though, you likely won’t pay full MSRP since Bear is so aggressive with promotions.

You’ll likely save 10 to 15 percent come checkout, which would drop a Queen size well below $1,000. Locate the green box on your screen to check the current discount.

Premium foam construction

The Bear Pro has a slightly more complex design compared to the Original Bear mattress. The bed uses four distinct layers that total 12 inches thick. Here’s a quick rundown of the different layers, working from bottom to top.

• High-density support foam serves as the foundation for the mattress.
• Responsive transition foam is supportive foam that gives the bed some cushion.
• Gel memory foam is the secondary layer that provides deep pressure relief for sleepers.
• Copper-infused foam is proprietary comfort foam that’s obviously infused with copper.

As you can see above, the bottom three layers of the bed are the exact same as the Original Bear mattress. The only difference between the two is the new copper-infused top layer.

The copper acts as a thermal conductor in the bed to help pull heat away from your body. In addition, copper is also naturally antimicrobial, meaning it helps fight against bacteria.

The cover on the Bear Pro mattress also contains Celliant, just like the cover on the Original Bear mattress. Again, we’ll save the discussion around Celliant for later in the review.

For now, all you need to know is that the cover is technically removable and that you’ll care for it in the same way as the Original Bear’s cover.

For the sake of being thorough, you should also know that the foams inside the Bear Pro carry the same certifications as the Original Bear mattress (i.e., they’re safe to sleep on).

Bear Pro firmness rating

Despite the fact that the Bear Pro mattress essentially follows the same construction as the Original Bear, we actually think it’s slightly softer. How or why, you ask?

Well, really the answer lies in the top layer of copper-infused foam. This layer ultimately makes the Bear Pro feel just a tad bit more delicate.

We think the mattress drops anchor right around 5 to 6 on the firmness scale. In other words, it’s not overly soft or excessively firm.

Just a reminder, firmness ratings are subjective. It largely depends on your height, weight, and body type. People with higher body weight will likely think the Bear Pro belongs closer to 4 on the firmness scale, while people with lower body weight will likely think it belongs closer to 7 on the scale.

Overall feel of Bear Pro

Since memory foam is used as the secondary comfort layer in the Bear Pro, you really don’t feel it all that much. Instead, you’ll feel more of the copper-infused foam, which makes sense given the order of the two layers in the bed’s design.

As a result, we think the Bear Pro has more of a fluffy, moderate foam feel overall. This basically means you won’t quite feel as if the bed is molding or adapting to your body as much as the Original Bear mattress.

Regardless, it’s an extremely comfortable bed. Our team members here seem to really like it.

In fact, a lot of consumers actually prefer mattresses that have more of a moderate or standard foam feel as opposed to beds with a deep memory foam feel.

It really just boils down to your personal preference.

Suitable sleeping positions for Bear Pro

Like the Original Bear mattress, we think the Bear Pro is a great option for all types of sleepers. The bed finds a nice middle ground between comfort and support.

Side sleepers will like the pressure-relieving characteristics of the top memory foam/copper foam combination, while back and stomach sleepers still receive the crucial support they need.

Combination sleepers will also find the bed satisfying. The top layers are fairly resilient and responsive, making it easy to switch between positions.

Bear Pro mattress review verdict

The Bear Pro checks almost every box. The mattress is priced competitively, it’s suitable for all sleeping positions, and its firmness profile is quite amiable.

Plus, we think the vast majority of consumers out there will enjoy the bed’s fluffy, moderate foam feel.

Bottom line: If you’re not entirely sure what kind of mattress you want or you simply just want to play it safe with an all-around solid bed, you should strongly consider the Bear Pro.

Bear Hybrid mattress review

Bear Hybrid mattresses are good for:

• people who want a pillow top mattress
• all sleeping positions

Details:

• free shipping and returns
• 100-night trial period
• 20-year warranty
• made in the United States

Bear Hybrid is more expensive but still affordable

The Bear Hybrid is the most luxurious mattress the company offers. Naturally, it’s also the most expensive mattress the company offers. To keep things in perspective, though, it’s still priced fairly affordably.

In fact, the Bear Hybrid is actually cheaper than comparable beds like the Leesa Hybrid, Tuft & Needle Hybrid, and GhostBed Flex. Thus, we actually think it’s a pretty good value.

The MSRP for the Bear Hybrid ranges from around $1,100 for a Twin to $1,700 for a King. Not to beat a dead horse, but remember, Bear regularly offers discounts. There’s a very high likelihood you won’t end up paying full price.

We’d say, on average, expect to receive 15 to 20 percent off the mattress. With that kind of discount, you’re looking at less than $1,200 for a Queen size. Make sure to double-check the green box on your screen to see current pricing and promotions.

High-quality hybrid design

From a construction standpoint, the Bear Hybrid is by far the company’s nicest bed. The mattress is made of five different layers that total 14 inches thick.

Below is a short synopsis of each layer, starting from the base of the bed:

• High-density support foam is the thin layer of dense foam that acts as a foundation for the coils.
• 8-inch quantum edge coils are individually pocketed innerspring coils that serve as the true support foundation for the mattress.
• Responsive transition foam is the same layer found in the other Bear mattresses.
• Premium comfort foam is soft foam that provides additional relief.
• Hypersoft cooling gel foam is a type of memory foam that acts as the proper comfort layer in the bed. It’s designed to allow for more airflow than traditional memory foam.

Wrapping the various layers is a hand-quilted Celliant fiber top that is nonremovable. It gives the bed a premium look and feel that you won’t find with the standard bed-in-a-box.

As far as the benefits of Celliant, we have an entire section dedicated to this subject coming up shortly.

Moving on, not only is the Bear Hybrid CertiPUR-US-certified, but it’s also Greenguard Gold-certified by UL. This is one of the most difficult certifications to attain in the mattress industry.

There are only a handful of beds that meet the criteria. In short, the certification means the Bear Hybrid meets the world’s most rigorous, third party emissions standards for exposure to chemicals and pollutants like formaldehyde, phthalates, and VOCs.

Firmness estimate for Bear Hybrid

In our opinion, the Bear Hybrid is the softest bed the company makes. We rate it around 4 to 6 on the firmness scale. Please keep in mind that softness doesn’t necessarily correlate with support.

Simply put, the Bear Hybrid mattress provides plenty of reinforcement.

Additionally, please note firmness is a very intimate subject. Your height, weight, and body distribution affect how beds feel.

To cut to the chase, people with higher body weight will find the Bear Hybrid a little softer (maybe ~3 to 4 on firmness scale), while people with lower body weight will find it feels a little firmer (likely around ~5 to 6 on scale).

What the Bear Hybrid mattress feels like

Although the Bear Hybrid does technically incorporate memory foam in its construction, the bed overall has more of a soft pillow top feel thanks to its quilted Celliant fiber topper.

You still get the pressure relief benefits from the memory foam below, but the topper sort of inhibits the foam from molding to your body.

As a result, the bed feels more like a super comfy mattress you’d find in a luxury hotel. I guess one way we’d describe it is that it feels like you’re lying on a stack of plush yet supportive pillows that are sitting on top of coils.

I know that may sound a little odd, but it’s actually super comfortable. In fact, Jeff on our team likes the bed so much, he chose it as his nightly mattress.

Ideal sleeper types for Bear Hybrid

Just like the other beds from the company, we think the Bear Hybrid is ideal for sleepers in all positions.

The memory foam and pillow top form a forgiving sleeping surface for the hips and shoulders of side sleepers, yet the coils and transition foams in the bed also provide ample support to keep back and stomach sleepers in proper neutral alignment.

Combination sleepers will also be just fine as well. Not only are the top layers quite responsive, but the coils in the bed also give it some bounce, which makes it effortless to switch between positions.

Quick note regarding body size

Other than the discussion around firmness, we’ve stayed fairly quiet throughout this review so far regarding the subject of body types. In summary, not all mattresses are created equal.

Certain beds are better suited for different-sized individuals. To get right to it, all-foam beds (like the Original Bear and Bear Pro) are typically more ideal for people with lower or moderate body weight.

Hybrid beds, on the other hand, are usually viable options for people of all shapes and sizes. In other words, folks who have lower or moderate body weight have their pick of their litter, while folks who have higher body weight will, in almost all cases, want to opt for a hybrid mattress.

You might be asking yourself why. Well, the answer really has to do with coils. In general, coils are more durable and supportive than foam foundations.

This is important for people with higher body weight, because they apply a lot more strain and tension on beds compared to people with moderate body weight (i.e., they need that extra bit of support and reinforcement from the coils).

So, what does that mean in the context of this review? It’s simple. Out of the three Bear mattresses, the Hybrid is the most ideal option for people with higher body weight.

Quick comparison: Bear Mattress vs Hybrid vs. Pro

Now that you have background on each of the three different Bear mattresses, it’s time to see how they stack up against each other.

Below is a quick summary that outlines the major differences between the beds:

• Price. We realize that not everyone is on the same playing field as far as budget. Bottom line: If you’re short on money, there’s no question the Original Bear mattress is the way to go. You’ll likely save anywhere from $200 to $600 by sticking with the Original model.
• Design. The Original Bear and Bear Pro mattresses are all-foam beds, while the Bear Hybrid utilizes both foam and coils. If you’re concerned about durability or support, the Bear Hybrid will be your best option.
• Feel. This is a personal preference decision you’ll have to make. There’s no right or wrong answer. The Original Bear mattress has a resilient memory foam feel; the Bear Pro has more of a fluffy, moderate foam feel; and the Bear Hybrid has a plush pillow top feel. It really just boils down to what you personally like.
• Firmness. Although all three beds are fairly close on the firmness scale, there are some minor differences. In our opinion, the Original Bear is the firmest of the group, the Bear Hybrid is the softest, and the Bear Pro lands between the two.
• Body size. For people with lower or moderate body weight, all three Bear mattresses will suffice just fine. For people with higher body weight, we’d strongly recommend going with the Bear Hybrid.

Those are the big points of variance between the mattresses. Hopefully, we helped clear up any confusion. Keep reading for more points you’ll want to consider before making a final decision.

Other considerations for Bear beds

Celliant cover

One commonality between the three Bear mattresses is the use of Celliant in their respective covers. If you’re not familiar with Celliant and its benefits, allow us to give you a quick rundown.

First, you should know that Celliant is an infrared textile that has been deemed a medical device by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Essentially, it’s a patented technology that uses fibers to convert your body’s natural energy (i.e., heat) into infrared light, which is then transferred to the tissues and muscles within your body.

This transfer of infrared light is supposed to help expedite recovery times and increase tissue oxygen levels to improve overall well-being. What we can tell you is that our team members who do sleep on Bear products every night seem to think it works.

For example, Jeff on our team, who sleeps on the Bear Hybrid, says he can’t explain it, but he just seems to wake up refreshed and energized on a daily basis.

In fact, he says some mornings he wakes up with a slight tingle sensation emanating throughout his body.

Sleeping temperature

Although one of the benefits of Celliant is supposedly temperature regulation, we just don’t feel Bear mattresses actively cool sleepers down. Accordingly, we’d rate the three beds as temperature-even.

Just to be clear, this doesn’t mean we think the beds sleep warm either. All we’re saying is that, in our opinion, the mattresses maintain more of a neutral temperature throughout the night.

Please keep in mind sleeping temperature is affected by numerous factors, including but not limited to the type of pajamas you wear to bed, your home climate, and whether you like to cuddle with your significant other.

Motion suppression

Speaking of significant others, this topic is particularly relevant to couples or individuals who share their bed with a pet. Motion suppression pertains to how adept a particular bed is at deadening the movement of your partner.

The more your partner’s movements are suppressed by the bed, the less you’ll be disturbed and the better you’ll sleep. It’s a pretty simple formula.

Fortunately, the three Bear mattresses do a good job in this regard.

The Original Bear and Bear Pro are slightly better at dampening motion than the Bear Hybrid since they don’t contain coils (i.e., no bounce), but all in all, we don’t foresee couples having major issues with any of the beds.

Perimeter support

This is another important consideration for couples, especially those who prefer smaller beds like a Full or Queen. Perimeter support pertains to the reinforcement sleepers receive around the edges of the mattress.

With beds that have poor perimeter support, sleepers often feel like they need to stay toward the middle of the bed so that they don’t slip off the edge. You can see why this might cause an issue if you split a smaller-sized bed with a partner.

Luckily, the three Bear beds perform well in this regard as well. In this case, the Bear Hybrid actually provides the best edge support out of the three, but again, even the all-foam Bear models are viable.

Couples can comfortably disperse and use the entire surface area of all three Bear mattresses.

Overview of Bear customer policies

Considering bed-in-a-box mattresses are a fairly new concept, there’s a high likelihood you’re not familiar with how the purchasing process works. Accordingly, we thought it was a good idea to discuss the subject in more detail so you know exactly what to expect.

First, Bear mattresses come with free shipping. You won’t have to pay through the nose just to have your new bed delivered.

Keep in mind, they’re called bed-in-a-box mattresses for a reason, so don’t be surprised when the mattress you ordered online actually arrives roll-packed in a box.

Once you see the box has been delivered to your home, grab a friend and move it to your bedroom. The next steps include cutting open the box, removing the mattress, unrolling it out onto your bed frame, and discarding the protective plastic.

Once you complete these steps, you’ll immediately notice the mattress start to inflate. You’ll want to give the bed at least 24 hours to take its natural shape before sleeping on it.

Starting the day the bed is delivered, Bear allows customers to test their new mattress for 100 nights before making a conclusive decision of whether or not to keep it.

If you do end up liking your new Bear mattress, it comes backed by a 10-year warranty (the Bear Hybrid comes with a 20-year warranty).

If you end up disliking the bed during the trial period, you can return it for a full refund. Don’t worry, you won’t have to roll the mattress up and ship it back. The company takes care of that part.

All you simply have to do is call the company to initiate the return process. They’ll then schedule a time for the bed to be picked up from your home.

Once it’s been removed, the company will issue you a full refund. From start to finish, the typical return process takes anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks.

For the record, Bear isn’t the online mattress company that offers generous customer policies.

In fact, the free shipping, free returns, 100-night trial period, and 10-year warranty Bear offers with its beds is pretty standard in the industry.

The Mattress Finder team is composed of certified professionals who are passionate about helping consumers improve their sleep. We thoroughly test each mattress we review through a series of practical, hands-on inspections and assessments. We write every review expecting that our closest friends and family members rely on us for their mattress and sleep product decisions, so honesty and authenticity are core principles of our inspection process.