Whether you’re training for the next Olympics or trying to go to the gym more often, a good night’s sleep is important. In this unbiased Bear mattress review, I’ll examine how this mattress facilitates rest and recovery and check out its unique features.
The original Bear was designed for athletes, but whether you live an active lifestyle or Netflix marathons are your cardio, this mattress is a fantastic option. I personally tested this mattress in order to help you figure out whether it’ll be a good match for you.
Editor’s Note: I tested the Bear mattress with the Celliant infused cover.
Bear Original Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$786 - $1690
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Original Mattress
The Bear Original mattress sleeps cool and is quite comfortable. It's a particularly good option for athletes.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$786 - $1690
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Original Mattress
The Bear Original mattress sleeps cool and is quite comfortable. It's a particularly good option for athletes.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$786 - $1690
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Mattress Video Review
Bear Mattress Overview
Bear is known for its affordable and comfy mattresses. Bear boasts many high-quality mattresses which include the Bear Elite Hybrid and the Bear Star Hybrid.
The original Bear is what launched it all. It has many cooling features, offers excellent pressure relief and it helps promote muscle recovery.
The original Bear is a memory foam mattress. One of its signature elements is an optional, $200 cover woven with Celliant, which keeps sleepers cool, and some studies show improves blood flow. It’s also made with eco-friendly materials. Because of its balance of comfort and pressure relief, many types of sleepers will enjoy this mattress. But here’s a closer look at its pros and cons:
Pros of the Bear Mattress
- It works well for back sleepers who want a blend of comfort and support.
- Thanks to its soft comfort layer, it works well for many side sleepers.
- It’s a cooling memory foam mattress. The gel-infused comfort layers help pull heat away from the body.
Cons of the Bear Mattress
- Stomach sleepers may not get enough support on this mattress.
- Heavier side sleepers may “bottom out” on this bed.
- Those who want a bouncy, innerspring feel should look elsewhere.
Overall Rating
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches personally test each mattress in categories such as materials, comfort, cooling, and support. Hover over the icons to learn more about these different topics, or scroll down for a more detailed analysis on each one.
Note: Looking for a mattress that sleeps cooler? Check out our Best Cooling Mattresses for options with cooling features and great airflow.
Note: Looking for a mattress with stronger support and durability? Check out our Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag.
Bear Mattress Firmness and Feel
Let’s look at the firmness and feel to determine if this is the right mattress for you.
How Firm is the Bear Mattress?
The Bear is a medium-firm foam bed. At Mattress Clarity, we rank mattresses on a scale of 1-10, with 6.5 being average or medium firm. The original Bear comes in at a 6.5/10. This makes sense when you consider Bear’s construction. The top contains soft memory foam, but the transition and support layers feel firmer.
However, the firmness scale can differ from person to person. Heavier folks might find the mattress softer as they press through the layers, while lighter folks may think this mattress feels firmer.
Sleeping On The Bear Mattress
The Bear mattress offers a great balance of comfort and support, which is great news for back sleepers. When I slept on my back, I felt my hips gently sink into the top foam layer. Thanks to the high-density support foam underneath, I got plenty of lumbar support in this sleeping position.
Side sleepers should also have a great experience on the original Bear. When I rested on my side, I felt great pressure relief along my hips and shoulders. However, heavier folks might not feel as comfortable if they sleep on their side because they might sink too far into this mattress.
Some lightweight stomach sleepers may like this mattress, though most will find it too soft. I felt my hips sinking out of alignment when I rested on my stomach, which caused some lower back pain. If you tend to rest in this position, you may want to consider getting one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
What Does the Bear Feel Like?
The Bear Mattress has a classic memory foam feel. It allows you to sink into the mattress, but its firm transition layers stop you from getting stuck.
| Sleeper Weight | Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Lightweight (Under 130 lb) | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Average (130 – 230 lb) | Excellent | Excellent | Bad |
| Heavyweight (Over 230 lb) | Fair | Bad | Bad |
Is the Bear Mattress Good For Lightweight People (Under 130 lb)?
- Lightweight back sleepers should feel supported the entire night.
- Side sleepers will also feel nice pressure relief on the Bear mattress.
- Stomach sleepers who weigh around 100 lb might enjoy this mattress, but most will want to find a firmer mattress.
Is the Bear Mattress Good For Average Weight People (130 – 230 lb)?
- The mattress offers excellent spinal support and comfort for average weight back sleepers.
- Side sleepers who weigh closer to 130 lb will feel great pressure relief, especially near their shoulders and hips. However, side sleepers who weigh closer to 230 lb might need to find a more supportive mattress.
- Stomach sleepers should look elsewhere, as their hips will bow out on this mattress and they might experience lower back pain.
Is the Bear Mattress Good For Heavyweight People (Over 230 lb)?
- It works well for back sleepers who weigh less than 300 lb. Heavier people may want to get one of the best mattresses for heavy people.
- Heavier side sleepers will need to look elsewhere, as they might feel too much pain on pressure points.
- It’s not a good match for heavyweight stomach sleepers. People in this category will likely sink out of alignment and feel some lower back pain.
Bear Mattress Construction
The Bear’s construction influences how it feels—and why it’s so great for athletes. Let’s dive into its construction.
Cover
The original Bear’s optional cover is one of its signature features. The optional cover is woven with Celliant fabric, which some studies show aids in blood circulation and muscle recovery. It also allows folks to sleep cool and helps circulate airflow to make the mattress more breathable. However, it’s important to note that the Celliant cover costs an additional $200.
Comfort Layers
The original Bear has two comfort layers. The top layer is made of memory foam. This soft, thick foam is pressure-relieving and allows you to sink into the comfort of the mattress. It’s also gel-infused, another feature that helps you sleep cool throughout the night.
The second comfort layer is made of firmer transition foam. This layer offers lumbar support and makes it easier to move around in the middle of the night.
Support Layer
The support layer is made of a high-density polyfoam. This high-density foam not only offers support but helps with spinal alignment throughout the night. It also lends structure to the mattress. All of the foams in Bear are CertiPUR-US certified, so they are eco-friendly.
Mattress Height
The Bear mattress stands at 10” tall.
Bear Mattress Size Options and Price
For the most up-to-date pricing and size information, look at the chart below:
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Twin | 39" x 75" | $786.00 |
| Twin XL | 39" x 80" | $849.00 |
| Full | 54" x 75" | $911.00 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" | $998.00 |
| King | 76" x 80" | $1304.00 |
| California King | 72" x 84" | $1304.00 |
The Bear Original mattress sleeps cool and is quite comfortable. It's a particularly good option for athletes.
Bear Mattress Performance
Still unsure if the Bear should be your new mattress? Let’s look at how the original Bear performs.
Sleeping Hot or Cold
While memory foam mattresses tend to sleep hotter, the Bear mattress boasts several features to combat this tendency. The optional Celliant cover cools down the surface of the mattress while the graphite-gel infusions help dissipate heat. Overall, this is a breathable mattress that will sleep cool.
Motion Transfer
Thanks to its all-foam construction, the Bear mattress does a great job of absorbing motion. Partners shouldn’t disturb each other if they toss and turn in the middle of the night, making this a great mattress for couples.
Edge Support
The Bear’s edge support is good, but not as great as mattresses with coils. If you’re lying near the edge of the mattress, you should feel some decent support. The same should be true when sitting on the edge of the bed. However, if you bend down to tie your shoe, you might feel some give on the edge of the mattress.
Durability
Thanks to its high-quality materials, the Bear is a durable mattress. You can expect this mattress to last for many nights to come. However, it won’t be as durable as some other mattresses because of its all-foam construction.
Off-Gassing
As an eco-friendly mattress, there shouldn’t be any noticeable odors from this online mattress even right out of the box. It’s CertiPUR-US certified and low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), meaning this is a great choice for those looking for an eco-friendly mattress.
Noise
I didn’t notice any noise on the Bear mattress, probably due to its all-foam construction.
Sex
When looking for a mattress for sex, many people want something responsive and easy to move around on. While the Bear is easier to move around on than some foam mattresses, it is possible partners could still feel stuck in the top comfort layer. However, the firmer transition layer does give it some bounce so this would be a decent option.
Company Policies
Let’s look at the warranty, sleep trial, and return policy for Bear.
Warranty Info
The Bear mattress comes with a lifetime warranty.
Sleep Trial
Rest assured you have enough time to try out this mattress in the comfort of your own home thanks to Bear’s 365-night sleep trial period.
Return Policy
The Bear mattress comes with free shipping and returns.
Common Bear Mattress Complaints
Based on our research, most Bear mattress complaints have to do with the return process. Some customers reported it took a while to receive their refund after returning their mattress. Others noted it took Bear a couple of weeks to come and pick up the returned mattress.
How Does The Bear Mattress Compare To Other Mattresses?
Before buying a mattress, it’s important to compare it to other mattresses so you know you’re choosing the right one for you. Let’s look at how the original Bear compares to some of its major competitors.
Also, don’t forget to check out our Bear mattress comparisons to see how it stacks against other brands.
Bear vs Casper Original
Product
Firmness
Score
Product
Bear Original MattressFirmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10Score
Product
Casper Original MattressFirmness
Medium-firm: 7/10Score
Both these mattresses are all-foam, though Bear has more of a memory foam feel while Casper has more of a responsive mattress feel.
Bear is a softer mattress overall, though it’s still 6.5/10. The Casper mattress comes in at a 7/10, or slightly firmer than average. Bear is also more budget-friendly than the Casper mattress.
| Who should get the Bear Mattress? | Who Should Get The Casper Mattress? |
| People on a budget | Folks who enjoy a responsive foam feel |
| Back sleepers | People who want a firmer mattress |
| Hot sleepers | Light to medium weight combination sleepers |
Read the in-depth comparison of Bear vs Casper.
Bear vs Bear Pro
Product
Firmness
Score
Product
Bear Original MattressFirmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10Score
Product
Bear Pro Hybrid MattressFirmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10Score
Both of these mattresses are made by the same company, and they’re made with high-quality materials and foam. But these two mattresses aren’t exactly the same. The Bear Pro is a more deluxe version of the Bear mattress.
The Bear Pro feels more supportive than the Bear, though both have a balanced foam feel. The Bear and Bear Pro have a similar Celliant cover which helps with muscle recovery and cooling, though with the Bear Pro this Celliant cover is included at no additional cost. Both these mattresses are 6.5/10 on the firmness scale.
They also have similar comfort and support layers, though Bear Pro’s comfort layer is thicker for extra spinal support. The first comfort layer of the Bear Pro is also copper-infused memory foam instead of the graphite-gel-infused memory foam of the original Bear. Because of the added support in the Bear Pro, it’s also a better choice for larger sleepers and those who need extra support.
| Who Should Get The Bear Mattress? | Who Should Get The Bear Pro Mattress? |
| Those who want a more budget-friendly mattress | Sleepers who need extra spinal support |
| Lightweight sleepers | Heavier sleepers who need a more supportive mattress |
| Light and average weight side sleepers | Back and stomach sleepers |
Check our full Bear vs Bear Pro mattress comparison.
The Takeaway
The Bear Original mattress is an all-foam bed with a medium-firm feel. It contains gel-infused memory foam, which helps dissipate body heat. Thanks to its nice balance of comfort and support, it works well for many back and side sleepers. The Bear Original mattress isolates motion well, but it doesn’t have the best edge support. It’s also not a supportive option for heavyweight people.
FAQs
Is the Bear mattress worth it?
The Bear Original is a high-quality mattress with a great balance of comfort and support. It works well for many back and side sleepers.
Is the Bear Mattress good for back pain?
The Bear mattress is a good mattress for back pain, especially for average weight back sleepers. Its foam construction contours the body and promotes the proper spinal alignment.
Do you need a box spring with the Bear Mattress?
As an all-foam mattress, you don’t need a box spring with the Bear Original. Bear recommends not using one, as a box spring won’t create the even distribution this mattress needs.
How long will the Bear mattress last?
Since the Bear mattress is made with high-quality materials, it should last between seven and 10 years.