Meet Our Testing Team
Brad
Charles
Neil
Rachel
Recommended for...
- Sleepers who prefer minimal body-conforming. The Bear Hybrid has a responsive feel and does not conform very closely to the sleeper’s body. The mattress is best suited to those who enjoy sleeping “on” – as opposed to “in” – their bed.
- People who weigh 230 pounds or less. Although the Bear Hybrid earned positive feedback from most of our testers across different weight groups and sleep positions, the most favorable ratings came from those in the lightweight and average weight groups.
- Hot sleepers. Like other competing hybrids, the Bear Hybrid promotes steady airflow through the coil layer to help keep the mattress cool. As a result, the mattress offers excellent temperature neutrality and is ideal for people who tend to run hot at night.
- Couples. The Bear Hybrid is suitable for most co-sleepers due to its good motion isolation, relatively quiet coil system, and responsive surface for sex.
- Physically active individuals. The mattress has a cover made of Celliant fabric, a material intended to convert the sleeper’s body heat into infrared energy and help their body physically recover. This makes the Bear Hybrid a good choice for athletes and other people who exercise regularly, as well as those with physically demanding jobs.
Not Recommended for...
- Sleepers who like beds that conform closely. The Bear Hybrid offers some body-contouring, but does not provide the deep, pressure-relieving cradle normally associated with memory foam mattresses.
Our Video Review
Our testing crew evaluated the Bear Hybrid for pressure relief, edge support, and other performance factors. To see their findings, check out the video below.
Ratings Summary
Our testing tea conducted an extensive evaluation of the Bear Hybrid. Our review and rating process consists of three parts: in-house evaluation, external sleep testing, and data collection of verified owner experiences. To learn more about our review process, read our methodology here.
Our performance criteria and ratings for the bed are listed in the table below.
As you can see, the Bear Hybrid earned favorable ratings across all performance categories. For more details about each rating, check out our full breakdown below.
Sleep Position Ratings
As part of our ratings process, we evaluated the Bear Hybrid across different body types and preferred sleep positions. In addition to physical testing, we surveyed our sleep expert team and analyzed reviews from verified mattress owners and customers. Our findings are listed in the table below.
For more information on sleeping positions please see our guides for side, back, stomach, and combination sleepers.
Bear Hybrid Awards
Based on positive ratings from our testing teams and verified mattress owners, the Bear Hybrid has earned the following awards in our Mattress Guides.
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Best Mattresses for Athletes
Best for Heavyweight Sleepers for Best Mattresses for Athletes.
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Best Mattresses for Seniors
Best for Heavyweight Sleepers for Best Mattresses for Seniors.
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Best Mattresses for Shoulder Pain
Best for Average Weight Sleepers for Best Mattresses for Shoulder Pain.
How Is the Bear Hybrid Constructed?
Cover
The Bear Hybrid’s cover is made from a polyester blend infused with Celliant fibers. Celliant fibers are designed to absorb body heat from sleepers and convert the heat into infrared energy. By transmitting the energy back into the sleeper through their skin, the material can increase tissue oxygenation and help the body recover during the night. The cover is also engineered to provide a cool sleep surface.
The cover is also hand-quilted with 2 inches of gel-infused polyfoam. This material offers extra padding for the sleeper’s body, and can be especially beneficial for side-sleepers who like cushioning beneath their shoulders and hips.
Comfort Layers
The mattress has a 2-inch comfort layer of polyfoam. The material does not conform as closely as memory foam and is also more responsive. Bear Hybrid owners feel as though they are sleeping “on” – and not “in” – their mattress, as opposed to the deeper body cradle of memory foam.
Transitional Layer
A 1-inch layer of transitional polyfoam is located between the comfort layer and support core. This component acts as a buffer that prevents sleepers from sinking into the coil support layer, which has a much firmer and denser feel.
Support Layers
The Bear Hybrid has a support core made with 8-inch pocketed coils and a 1-inch layer of high-density base foam. These components help stabilize the entire bed to maintain even support for sleepers and prevent excessive sagging.
Although our testing found the Bear Hybrid’s coils did not reinforce the edges as much as support cores found in competing hybrids, this layer generates steady airflow to cool off the bed and keep it temperature-neutral. For more information about these attributes, check out our ‘Edge Support’ and ‘Temperature Neutrality’ descriptions in the ratings breakdown below.
Mattress Height
The Bear Hybrid measures 14 inches thick, making it a high-profile mattress. Most of the bed’s above-average height consists of pocketed coil and high-density polyfoam layers. As a result, the mattress feels fairly supportive and will not conform very closely to the body.
| Product Name | Firmness Options | Thickness | Support Core Components | Comfort Layer Components | Cover Components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Hybrid | Medium-firm (6) | 14″ | 8″ Pocketed Coils 1″ HD Polyfoam |
2″ Comfort Polyfoam 1″ Transitional Polyfoam |
Polyester and Celliant Fabric Blend Quilted with 2″ Gel-infused Polyfoam |
What Are the Firmness and Feel Like?
The Bear Hybrid is considered medium-firm and corresponds to a 6 on the 1-10 firmness scale. Softer foams in the cover and comfort layer help cushion the body but the mattress does not conform very closely. The surface is also fairly responsive, largely due to the bed’s hybrid construction.
As a result, the Bear Hybrid is best suited to those who prefer sleeping “on” their mattress, and is less suitable for people who enjoy the close body-hugging sensation of memory foam.
Ratings Breakdown
Performance Ratings
Next, let’s take a closer look at our performance ratings for the Bear Hybrid. These ratings are based on findings from our internal and external testing teams, as well as reviews from verified mattress owners.
Durability
The Bear Hybrid has been available for purchase since 2018. We have not had sufficient time to test this model across the average mattress lifespan of six to eight years. Our durability rating for this mattress is based on its quality of materials and construction, owner experiences, and Bear’s overall reputation.
We expect the Bear Hybrid to perform for about seven to seven and a half years before a replacement is needed. This projected lifespan is longer than average for a hybrid model and can be mostly attributed to the 8-inch pocketed coils, which are fairly thick compared to the coil systems found in competing hybrids and innersprings.
However, body impressions may develop in the sleep surface as the mattress nears the end of its lifespan. These impressions form due to foam deterioration, and can negatively affect how supportive the mattress feels. To protect against deep impressions, we recommend rotating the Bear Hybrid head-to-foot every three to six months.
Motion Isolation
To evaluate the Bear Hybrid for motion isolation, we asked two sleep testers to lie down on the mattress at the same time. One tester rolled around in bed while the other felt for movement transferring across the surface. Our testers found the Bear Hybrid isolated some motion but did not completely eliminate motion transfer.
All-foam mattresses usually offer the best motion isolation because they respond slowly to the sleeper’s body, allowing surface foams to absorb and minimize motion transfer very well. Hybrids made with thick foam layers may provide decent motion isolation, but most do not eliminate motion transfer due to their responsive coil systems.
Off-Gassing
Our testers noticed some mild off-gassing odor when unboxing the Bear Hybrid. However, they returned a few days later to re-evaluate the mattress and found the smells had completely dissipated. This finding appears to be consistent with most owner experiences, and we do not foresee any major odor-related issues with the Bear Hybrid.
All mattresses produce some odor when new. Certain mattress types – namely all-foam models – are associated with stronger and longer-lasting smells. Odor from hybrids, on the other hand, tends to dissipate rather quickly thanks to strong air circulation within the coil layers.
Pressure Relief
To evaluate the Bear Hybrid’s pressure-relieving abilities, our testers took turns lying on a sensory pad that tracks pressure build-up in sensitive areas of the body, such as the shoulders and hips. The testers also changed sleep positions to see if pressure increased or decreased while lying on their side, back, and stomach.
Our testers reported very good overall pressure relief from the mattress. The foam-padded cover provides adequate cushioning for side sleepers, which in turn improves spinal alignment and prevents added pressure. Back and stomach sleepers also experienced less pressure due to the bed’s balance of body-conforming and even support.
Temperature Neutrality
During their assessments of the Bear Hybrid, our testers noted excellent temperature neutrality. The mattress does not conform very closely to the body, resulting in good surface airflow. The pocketed coils also promote steady air circulation to keep the mattress cool. We recommend the Bear Hybrid to anyone who considers themselves a hot sleeper.
Hybrids generally excel at temperature neutrality due to strong airflow in their support cores. Comparatively, beds with all-foam support layers do not circulate air as well, causing them to trap heat and sleep uncomfortably warm for some.
Edge Support
To evaluate the Bear Hybrid for edge support, our testers sat along the perimeter as an owner might do when getting in and out of bed. Each tester experienced significant sinkage when sitting on the edges, suggesting weaker-than-average support compared to other hybrids.
Our testers also felt less secure when lying near the edges of the mattress to check for feelings of “roll-off.” This was particularly true for our heavier testers. Overall, the Bear Hybrid offers good edge support, but many competing hybrids have stronger coil systems and sink less around the edges as a result.
Noise
Our testers did not notice any noise when evaluating the Bear Hybrid. This is normal for a hybrid because pocketed coils are usually quieter than other coil types, such as bonnell or offset. The coils may begin to squeak and creak as the mattress nears the end of its lifespan, but we don’t expect any owners to experience significant noise-related sleep disruptions from this mattress.
Sex
The Bear Hybrid is fairly responsive and does not conform very closely. This makes the mattress ideal for couples who prefer springier mattresses for sex, and those who enjoy utilizing the entire surface of the bed. The foam-padded cover also offers decent traction.
Sleeper Ratings
The ideal firmness and thickness settings for a mattress largely depend on a sleeper’s body weight, shape, and preferred sleep position. In order to better inform our readers and avoid subjectivity in our review, our team evaluated the bed with sleep testers of varying body types and position preferences.
Lightweight Sleepers – Less than 130 lbs.
Overall, our lightweight sleep testers found the Bear Hybrid very comfortable. The most favorable ratings from this weight group came from stomach sleepers, who found the mattress very supportive and did not experience the uncomfortable sagging that is often associated with this sleep position.
The mattress also offers sufficient padding for side sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds, which can improve spinal alignment and prevent pressure from building up around the shoulders and hips. Back sleepers also noted a good balance of sag-free body-conforming and even support.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130 to 230 lbs.
Side sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds awarded an excellent rating to the Bear Hybrid. The bed offers ample padding in the cover and comfort layer to align the spine and alleviate pressure points. Back sleepers also found the mattress very comfortable and experienced little to no sagging.
Stomach sleepers enjoyed the Bear Hybrid, as well, but they experienced some sagging around the midsection. Many people carry a large portion of their weight in the stomach, and sleeping face-down can cause their stomach to sink too deeply into the bed. This may result in uneven support and added discomfort throughout the body, particularly in the neck and shoulders.
Heavyweight Sleepers – More than 230 lbs.
Our heavyweight sleep testers across all sleep positions awarded good ratings to the Bear Hybrid. Side sleepers enjoyed some cushioning but noted some added pressure. Back and stomach sleepers reported some minor sagging, but not enough to cause discomfort. All of our heavier testers felt somewhat unstable when sleeping near the edges.
Sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds typically prefer beds with medium-firm to firm surfaces. Softer beds are too prone to excessive sagging, and this can result in uneven support and added pressure for heavier individuals. Although our heavier testers found the Bear Hybrid reasonably comfortable, some may prefer beds with stronger coil support – especially around the edges.
Pricing and Discounts
- Twin $1,248
- Twin XL $1,373
- Full $1,498
- Queen $1,732
- King $1,998
- Cal King $1,998
Bear Coupons and Promos
Save 20% on a new Bear Hybrid mattress.
Use this checkout code = TUCK20
Other Bear Sleep Products
How Does the Bear Hybrid Compare to Other Beds?
When choosing a new mattress, we encourage all shoppers to compare different brands and models in order to find the most suitable option. In this next section, we’ll see how the Bear Hybrid compares to other Bear models and some similar hybrids from competing brands.
Bear Hybrid vs. Bear Mattress
Like the Bear Hybrid, the all-foam Bear Mattress includes a cover made from a Celliant fabric blend that converts the sleeper’s body heat into infrared energy and helps their body recover during the night. The Bear Mattress is slightly firmer than the hybrid, and offers a combined feeling of sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” the bed.
The Bear Mattress provides better temperature neutrality than many all-foam competitors, but the Bear Hybrid is still the cooler option for hot sleepers. The Bear Hybrid is also much more responsive, making it better for sex, while the Bear Mattress excells in motion isolation due to its slow-response comfort materials.
Although the Bear Hybrid is the more expensive option, its price-point is still much lower than the average hybrid model’s. The Bear Mattress may be a good option for sleepers who enjoy close body-conforming, while the Bear Hybrid will likely be better suited to hot sleepers and those who like more responsive surfaces.
Read our full Bear Mattress Review.
Bear Hybrid vs. Bear Pro
The Bear Pro is another all-foam mattress. Like the other two Bear models, the Pro is constructed with a performance Celliant-blend cover. Other components include copper-infused polyfoam and gel-infused memory foam comfort layers, a polyfoam transitional layer, and a high-density foam base.
Motion isolation is a strength of the Bear Pro, which responds very slowly to the sleeper’s body. However, the Bear Hybrid provides better support for heavier people, and also sleeps cooler due to better airflow through the mattress’s coil layer. In other categories, such as edge support and pressure relief, both mattresses performed comparably and received similar ratings from our testers.
The Bear Pro costs less than the Bear Hybrid. However, we recommend the latter for heavier individuals due to the hybrid’s stronger support system, as well as sleepers who tend to find all-foam beds too hot. The Bear Pro, on the other hand, may be a better choice for couples due to its superior motion isolation and lack of noise when bearing weight.
Read our full Bear Pro Mattress Review.
Bear Hybrid vs. Brooklyn Bedding Aurora
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora and Bear Hybrid share many design features, including a cover quilted with polyfoam and an 8-inch pocketed coil system. The Aurora’s top layer is infused with phase-change material to help the surface maintain a comfortable temperature. This component, coupled with the bed’s steady interior airflow, puts the Aurora on par with the Bear Hybrid for excellent temperature neutrality.
The Aurora is available in soft, medium, and firm settings. This selection accommodates a fairly wide range of sleepers in terms of body weight and sleep position, including those who don’t find the Bear Hybrid’s medium-firm setting very comfortable. The Aurora also conforms more closely to the sleeper’s body, resulting in better pressure relief.
The Bear Hybrid costs less than the Aurora, but both beds are reasonably priced compared to the average hybrid. We recommend the Aurora to anyone whose firmness preferences fall outside the medium-firm setting, but the Bear Hybrid’s Celliant cover makes it a better option for physically active people.
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Mattress Review.
Bear Hybrid vs. Casper Hybrid
The Casper Hybrid is a 12-inch model constructed with polyfoam and memory foam comfort layers. The mattress has a medium feel but the comfort layers are also somewhat responsive, making the Casper Hybrid suitable for sleepers who like sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” their mattress.
The Casper Hybrid’s softer feel allows it to conform closely, resulting in more pressure relief and better motion isolation than the Bear Hybrid. However, the Bear Hybrid’s coils are much thicker, giving the mattress more overall support. Due to its firmer comfort layers, the Bear Hybrid also has a longer expected lifespan.
The Bear Hybrid is slightly more expensive than the Casper Hybrid, but both are considered high-value hybrids due to below-average price-points. The Bear Hybrid is optimal for sleepers who enjoy floating on top of their mattress surface, while the Casper Hybrid may be more suitable for sleepers who enjoy closer body-conforming, as well as those with pressure-point pain.
Read our full Casper Hybrid Mattress Review.
Bear Hybrid vs. Saatva
The Saatva is a luxury innerspring constructed with a transitional layer of pocketed minicoils and a bonnell coil support core. This coil-on-coil design ensures consistent responsiveness and strong edge support. Sleepers feel as though they are floating on top of the mattress, giving the Saatva a similar feel to the Bear Hybrid.
One advantage of the Saatva is a wider design selection. Customers can choose from medium-soft, medium-firm, and firm settings, as well as 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch profiles. These options make the Saatva more suitable for a wider range of sleepers. However, our testing shows the Bear Hybrid is more comfortable and supportive for lighter individuals, particularly side sleepers.
The Bear Hybrid and Saatva are comparably priced, though customers should note the latter qualifies for free White Glove delivery in the contiguous U.S. We’ve found the Bear Hybrid sleeps cooler and isolates more motion transfer, but those who prefer medium-soft or firm settings may want to choose the Saatva instead.
Read our full Saatva Mattress Review.
Bear Hybrid vs. The WinkBed
Like the Saatva, the WinkBed is a luxury innerspring available in multiple firmness settings. Customers can choose from medium-soft, medium-firm, and firm settings for the standard model, which includes polyfoam and foam-encased minicoil comfort layers. A fourth option, the WinkBed Plus, offers a firm feel and swaps out the standard foam and minicoil layers for a latex comfort layer.
The WinkBed offers stronger edge support than the Bear Hybrid due to its zoned pocketed coils, which are thicker around the perimeter for added reinforcement against sinkage. However, the Bear Hybrid promotes more consistent airflow and sleeps cooler as a result. In other performance categories, such as pressure relief and durability, both models earned comparable ratings.
The Bear Hybrid costs significantly less than the WinkBed, and this may entice some budget-minded shoppers. However, the WinkBed may be the better option for sleepers who prefer a firmness setting other than medium-firm.
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Bear Hybrid FAQ
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Sleep Trial 120 nights
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Shipping Free to all 50 states, shipped in a box
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Warranty Lifetime
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Made In USA
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Where Can I Buy the Bear Hybrid?
The Bear Hybrid is available for purchase on the Bear website, but it is not sold on Amazon.com at this time. Bear operates a viewing-only brick-and-mortar showroom in Hoboken, NJ.
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Where Do They Ship?
Bear will ship mattresses to any address in all 50 states (but not Puerto Rico), as well as anywhere in Canada.
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White Glove Delivery?
White Glove delivery is available for Bear Hybrid orders in the contiguous U.S. This service costs $100 for in-home assembly. For an additional $50 ($150 total), delivery personnel will also remove the customer’s old mattress.
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Old Mattress Removal
Old mattress removal is available with White Glove delivery for an additional $50, bringing the delivery total to $150. This service is not available with standard shipping.
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Full Delivery Policy
The delivery policy for Bear mattresses is as follows:
- Standard Bear Mattress deliveries are provided through the FedEx. Once the mattress has shipped from the company’s warehouse, customers should coordinate all delivery details with FedEx.
- Mattresses will usually ship from the company’s warehouse within two to four business days of the original purchase, and reach the customer’s address within four to seven business days.
- UPS will deliver the mattress directly to the customer’s doorstep; an adult signature will not be required, and adults do not need to be present at the address during the delivery.
- In addition to standard shipping, Bear offers White Glove delivery for an additional surcharge of $100. This fee includes in-home mattress assembly. For an additional $50 ($150 total), delivery personnel will remove the customer’s old mattress.
- Bear does not ship mattresses to army/air post offices (APOs).
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Trial Period and Warranty Details
Trial Period and Guarantee: Bear offers a 120-night sleep trial on all mattresses.
- Customers may return the mattress within 120 nights of mattress delivery, though Bear requires a 30-night break-in period before returns can be initiated.
- Those who opt to return the mattress will receive a complete refund, and will not be required to pay mattress removal and transportation fees. Free mattress pickup services will also be provided.
Warranty: Bear offers a lifetime warranty for the Bear Hybrid.
- The warranty covers sagging or indentations in the sleep surface measuring 1.5 inches or deeper. Other covered defects include those that lead to premature deterioration.
- The warranty will not cover sagging or indentations that measure less than 1.5 inches deep. Bear will not repair or replace the mattress due to damage from improper use, nor does the warranty cover physical damage such as burns, cuts, or stains.
- The warranty is exclusively offered to the original purchaser, and an original receipts or proof of purchase will be required to file any warranty claims.
Company Information
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Customer Service
8 out of 10 owner experiences show customers have had a positive experience with Bear, irrespective of whether or not they liked their mattress.
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Company History
Bear was launched in 2014. The Bear Hybrid debuted in January 2018, and the Bear Pro followed in 2019.
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BBB Rating
Bear currently holds an ‘A+’ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
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Physical Stores
Bear owns a viewing-only showroom in Hoboken, New Jersey, where customers can try out Bear products.
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Contact Bear
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Find Bear on Social