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Bear Mattress Review

Written by Tuck Staff

Bear Mattress Review

The Bottom Line.

  • The Bear Mattress is constructed with pressure-relieving memory foam and a supportive, high-density base layer.
  • Excellent motion isolation ensures fewer disruptions for couples.
  • The bed’s Celliant fabric cover is designed to convert body heat into infrared energy to help the body recover.

Bear Mattress Overview

Bear Mattress Overview

Bear is a U.S.-based mattress and bedding accessory brand that first launched in 2015. The company specializes in products designed for people with active lifestyles. Currently, Bear offers three mattress models. This review will take an in-depth look at the Bear Mattress, the brand’s flagship all-foam model.

The Bear Mattress is constructed with comfort layers of gel-infused graphite memory foam and polyfoam, along with a polyfoam transitional layer and a high-density foam base. Altogether the mattress measures 10 inches thick. The surface has a firm feel, which corresponds to a 7 on the 1-10 firmness scale.

A standout feature of the Bear Mattress is its cover. The cover’s fabric blend includes Celliant fabric, a material engineered to convert body heat into infrared energy, then transmit it back into the sleeper through their skin. The process is intended to increase tissue oxygenation, which helps the body recover more quickly after workouts and other physically demanding activities. This in turn can improve overall sleep quality and duration.

Read on to learn all about the Bear Mattress. Our review includes full construction specs, current prices, and performance ratings based on owner reviews and our own product testing. We’ll also compare the mattress to other leading models with similar features and provide an overview of Bear’s shipping, return, and warranty policies.

Table of Contents

Full Video Review

Ratings Summary

Construction & Feel

Ratings Breakdown

Pricing & Discounts

Mattress Comparisons

 

Meet Our Testing Team
Alandrus
Alandrus
Athena
Athena
Brad
Brad
Sid
Sid
  • Sleepers who enjoy a balance of body-conforming and support. With a firm feel, the Bear Mattress contours to the body without sagging or hugging too closely. The result for most sleepers is a feeling somewhere in between sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” the mattress.
  • People who weigh 230 pounds or less. Although the Bear Mattress earned favorable ratings from our testers across different weight groups, the most positive feedback came from those in the lightweight and average weight groups.
  • Couples. The mattress isolates motion transfer very well and does not produce any noise, making it ideal for people who awaken easily due to their sleep partner’s movements.
  • Physically active people. The bed’s Celliant fabric cover is engineered to help the sleeper’s body recover during the night, which can be particularly beneficial for those who exercise regularly or have physically demanding professions.
  • Value seekers. Compared to other high-quality memory foam models, the Bear Mattress has a below-average price-point.

Not Recommended for...

  • Those who prefer deep body-conforming. Although the Bear Mattress contours to the body, it does not provide the same pressure-relieving cradle as beds with a more traditional memory foam feel.
  • People seeking a mattress with strong edge support. The Bear Mattress is prone to significant sinkage when people sit along the perimeter, and those who lie near the edges while sleeping report feelings of “roll-off.”

Video Review

Our testing crew evaluated the Bear Mattress for motion isolation, pressure relief, and other performance factors. To see their findings, check out the video below.

Ratings Summary

Our testing team conducted an extensive evaluation of the Bear Mattress. This 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 Mattress earned favorable ratings in most categories, and was a standout for motion isolation and noise. For a detailed look at each of these ratings, check out our full breakdown below.

Sleep Position Ratings

As part of our ratings process, we evaluated the Bear Mattress 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 Mattress Awards

Based on positive ratings from verified owners and our testing teams, the Bear Mattress has earned the following awards in our Mattress Guides.

How Is the Bear Mattress Constructed?

Bear Mattress Review

Cover

The Bear Mattress has a cover made from a blend of polyester and Celliant performance fabric. Celliant is designed to absorb body heat from sleepers, convert it into infrared energy, and transmit the energy back into the sleeper. This process is intended to improve blood circulation and promote physical recovery.

The cover is designed to create a cooling sleep surface. That said, the mattress may still trap some body heat and sleep somewhat warm due to its foam layers.

Comfort Layers

The Bear Mattress has a 2-inch comfort layer of gel-infused graphite memory foam. The material conforms to the sleeper’s body to a noticeable extent, but not as closely as memory foam layers found in many competing models. This creates a combined feeling of sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” the mattress.

Transitional Layer

A 2-inch transitional layer of polyfoam rests beneath the comfort layer. This component acts as a buffer that prevents sleepers from sinking into the firmer, denser support core.

Support Layers

The Bear Mattress has a 6-inch support core of high-density polyfoam. This component works with the transitional layer to reinforce and stabilize the entire mattress, maintaining an even plane for sleepers. That said, our testing revealed the bed’s support core does little to minimize sinkage along the edges. Check out our ‘Edge Support’ rating breakdown for more details.

Mattress Height

The Bear Mattress measures 10 inches thick, making it a medium-profile mattress. Denser polyfoam in the transitional and base layers constitutes most of the bed’s height. As a result, the mattress sacrifices comfort layer thickness and closer body-conforming for more overall support.

Product Name Firmness Level Thickness Support Core Components Comfort Layer Components Cover Components
Bear Mattress Firm (7) 10″ 6″ HD Polyfoam 2″ Gel-infused Graphite Memory Foam
2″ Transitional Polyfoam
Polyester and Celliant Fabric Blend

What Are the Firmness and Feel Like?

The Bear Mattress has a firm feel, and conforms moderately to the sleeper’s body without sinking very much. The bed is also fairly responsive compared to other memory foam beds, giving the surface a light bounce.

The Bear Mattress does not offer the same floating feel as most innersprings or hybrids, but the comfort layers do not form the same pressure-relieving body cradle as more traditional memory foam models. Rather, its combination of contouring and support creates a feeling somewhere in between sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” the mattress.

Ratings Breakdown

Performance Ratings

Next, let’s take a closer look at our performance ratings for the Bear Mattress. These ratings are based on findings from our internal and external testing teams, as well as reviews from verified mattress owners.

Durability

The Bear Mattress was first introduced in 2015. As a result, we have not had sufficient time to evaluate this model across the average mattress lifespan of six to eight years. Our durability rating is based on the bed’s quality of materials and construction, owner experiences, and Bear’s overall reputation.

We estimate the Bear Mattress will perform for about six and a half to seven years before it needs to be replaced. This expected lifespan is on par with the average memory foam mattress. The mattress is well-made and features a thick support system. However, the foam layers may begin to deteriorate as the mattress nears the end of its lifespan. This can lead to sagging, body impressions, and other wear-and-tear issues that impact how supportive the mattress feels.

To protect the bed’s surface from sagging and body impressions, we recommend rotating the mattress head-to-foot every three to six months.

Motion Isolation

Bear Mattress Review

To evaluate the Bear Mattress for motion isolation, we asked two testers to lie down on the mattress at the same time. One tester moved around while the other felt for motion transfer across the bed’s surface. The Bear Mattress exhibited excellent motion isolation during these assessments, as neither tester could feel any transfer.

Memory foam mattresses often excel at motion isolation. The comfort layers are slower to respond, allowing the material to absorb transfer and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the bed. The Bear Mattress is slightly more responsive than average, but its comfort layer still eliminates motion transfer.

Off-Gassing

Our testers noticed some initial off-gassing odor when unboxing the Bear Mattress. When they returned to re-evaluate the mattress a few days later, they found the smells had mostly dissipated. Owner experiences with the Bear Mattress also suggest odor is not a major long-term issue.

All mattresses produce off-gassing smells when they are removed from their packaging. All-foam mattresses tend to be smellier than other models because they emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which carry a distinct chemical odor. However, these smells usually dissipate from most beds in a matter of days, and the Bear Mattress is no exception.

Pressure Relief

Bear Mattress Review

Our testers evaluated the Bear Mattress for pressure relief by lying on a sensory pad that detects pressure build-up in the shoulders, hips, and other sensitive areas of the body. They also switched positions to see if pressure increased or decreased on their sides, back, and stomach.

Overall, the testers noted very good pressure relief but their experiences varied by weight. Those who weigh 230 pounds or less experienced consistent pressure relief with little to no added discomfort. Our heavyweight testers, on the other hand, noted some pressure in the shoulders.

Temperature Neutrality

Like many competing memory foam models, the Bear Mattress can be a heat trap for some sleepers. That said, the bed demonstrated good temperature neutrality. The mattress does not conform too closely, resulting in better surface airflow than models that form a deep cradle around the sleeper’s body.

Edge Support

Bear Mattress Review

To evaluate the mattress for edge support, our testers sat along the perimeter as an owner might do when getting in and out of bed. Testers across all weight groups noticed significant sinkage. They also took turns lying near the edges of the mattress to check for feelings of “roll-off.” Each of our testers reported some instability, especially those who weigh more than 230 pounds.

Many all-foam beds offer minimal edge support because their base layers are not robust enough to withstand sinkage. Comparatively, innerspring and hybrid models offer better perimeter reinforcement due to their sturdier coil support cores.

Noise

During our tests, the Bear Mattress was virtually silent when bearing weight. This is a common characteristic of all-foam beds. Other mattress types can be somewhat loud due to certain internal components, such as the squeaky coils in innerspring and hybrid models, or the motorized air chambers in airbeds.

Thanks to its noise-free design and excellent motion isolation, the Bear Mattress is ideal for people who awaken easily due to their sleep partner’s movements during the night.

Sex

The Bear Mattress does not conform as closely as other memory foam models, and feels more responsive. For many couples, these characteristics represent a happy medium for sex. The mattress has some springiness, allowing them to utilize the bed’s entire surface, but the comfort layer conforms deeply enough to provide 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, we evaluated the bed with sleep testers of varying body types and position preferences.

Lightweight Sleepers – Less than 130 lbs.

Bear Mattress Review

Overall, our lightweight sleep testers found the Bear Mattress reasonably comfortable. However, their experiences varied by sleep position. The most favorable ratings came from back-sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds. These testers experienced a very good balance of body-contouring and support, noting the bed alleviated pressure without sagging too much.

Our lightweight side-sleepers also reported good support, but found the mattress somewhat firm. Compared to softer beds, they did not feel the same cushioning beneath the shoulders and hips needed for even spinal alignment. Stomach-sleepers in this weight group experienced some sagging around the midsection, but also gave the mattress a good overall rating.

Lightweight sleepers generally prefer soft to medium-soft mattresses. Firmer beds do not conform as closely to their bodies, and this prevents them from experiencing optimal levels of pressure relief.

Average Weight Sleepers – 130 to 230 lbs.

Bear Mattress Review

The best overall ratings for the Bear Mattress came from sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds. Side-sleepers noted adequate padding beneath their shoulders and hips, resulting in even alignment, while back-sleepers appreciated the firm feel and even support. For stomach-sleepers, the mattress offered adequate body-conforming but also sagged a bit.

Average weight sleepers often find medium-soft to medium-firm beds most comfortable because they alleviate pressure while maintaining even support. Softer beds are prone to more sagging, while firmer beds do not conform closely enough to target pressure points.

Heavyweight Sleepers – More than 230 lbs.

Bear Mattress Review

Ratings were mixed for our heavyweight testers. Side-sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds felt some added pressure in the shoulders, while back-sleepers experienced sagging around the hips that made the mattress feel less supportive.

Our heavyweight stomach-sleepers experienced significant sagging. Uneven support is a common issue associated with this sleep position because many people carry a large portion of their weight in the stomach. As their bodies sink into the mattress, sleepers are more likely to develop neck and shoulder pain.

Heavier sleepers typically prefer medium-firm to firm mattresses. Softer beds sag too much, resulting in uneven support and added pressure. The Bear Mattress has a firm level firmness and some responsiveness, but our testing suggests it may be too soft for some people weighing more than 230 pounds – stomach-sleepers in particular.

Pricing and Discounts

  • Twin $748
  • Twin XL $811
  • Full $873
  • Queen $998
  • King $1,248
  • Cal King $1,248

Bear Coupons and Promos

Save 20% on a new Bear Mattress.

Checkout code = TUCK20

How Does the Bear Mattress Compare to Other Beds?


When searching for a new mattress, we urge shoppers to compare different brands and models in order to find their most suitable option. In this next section, we’ll see how the Bear Mattress stacks up against other Bear models and similarly constructed mattresses from competing brands.

Bear Mattress vs. Bear Hybrid

Like the Bear Mattress, the Bear Hybrid features a cover made with Celliant fabric to aid physical recovery for sleepers. The hybrid also has a deep comfort system along with extra foam padding quilted into the cover, resulting in very good pressure relief for most sleepers across different weight and position groups.

There are some notable differences, as well. The Bear Hybrid has thick pocketed coils to reinforce the comfort and transitional layers, resulting in better overall support. The coils also promote steady airflow to help keep the mattress cool, giving the hybrid better temperature neutrality than its all-foam counterpart. However, the Bear Mattress is less responsive and better and isolating motion transfer.

The Bear Hybrid is the more expensive option, but its price-point is much lower than the average hybrid model’s. Customers with a flexible budget should choose the hybrid if they prefer better cooling and a more responsive surface, while the Bear Mattress is better suited to couples.

Read our full Bear Hybrid review.

Bear Mattress vs. Bear Pro

The Bear Pro is an all-foam mattress with comfort layers of copper-infused polyfoam and gel memory foam. The bed has a medium-firm feel and does not conform as closely as the Bear Mattress, but each model offers very good pressure relief to most sleepers across different weight and position groups.

These models earned comparable ratings in other performance categories, including durability, temperature neutrality, and noise. Both beds also feature the Celliant-blend cover for faster physical recovery, though only the Bear Pro’s can be removed for cleaning. One key difference is responsiveness, as the Bear Pro has a bouncier feel than the Bear Mattress. As a result, the Bear Mattress provides better motion isolation. However, the Bear Pro’s firmer feel ensures stronger edge support.

The Bear Mattress costs less than the Bear Pro, but both models are fairly low-priced. Due to the many similarities between these beds, shoppers should base their decision on firmness, responsiveness, and motion isolation preferences.

Read our full Bear Pro mattress review.

Bear Mattress vs. The Casper

The Casper is a mixed-foam mattress constructed with polyfoam and memory foam comfort layers, along with a high-density polyfoam base. Like the Bear Mattress, the Casper offers excellent motion isolation for couples and very good pressure relief.

The Casper is a bit softer, and offers a more traditional memory foam feel akin to sleeping “in” the mattress. However, the firmer Bear Mattress is better suited to average weight and heavyweight sleepers. The Bear Mattress is also better for sex due to its more responsive surface, whereas the Casper is prone to excessive sagging during amorous activities.

The Casper and Bear Mattress have comparable price-points. Sleepers who enjoy a combination of sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” the mattress should opt for the Bear Mattress, while those who prefer a softer feel and closer conforming will likely find the Casper more comfortable.

Read our full Casper mattress review.

Bear Mattress vs. Loom & Leaf

The Loom & Leaf by Saatva is a luxury mattress made with 4.5 inches of memory foam comfort layers. Sleepers experience a deep, pressure-relieving cradle for their bodies, and this creates a feeling of sleeping “in” the mattress.

The Loom & Leaf is available in two firmness settings. The medium (5.5) option is very comparable to the Bear Mattress in terms of moderate body-conforming and a supportive feel, while the firm (8) option provides better support for heavier individuals. Beyond these differences, the Loom & Leaf and Bear Mattress are fairly similar.

Both beds provide very good pressure relief and isolate motion transfer very well. They also have weaker edges prone to deep sinkage when owners sit along the perimeter.

The Loom & Leaf is considerably more expensive than the Bear Mattress. However, all Loom & Leaf orders qualify for free White Glove delivery, which includes in-home setup and old mattress removal. The Loom & Leaf’s firm setting may also be the best option for heavier individuals.

Read our full Loom & Leaf mattress review.

Bear Mattress vs. Nectar Mattress

The Nectar Mattress is constructed with two memory foam comfort layers, along with a memory foam transitional layer. This makes it ideal for those who enjoy sleeping “in” the mattress, while the Bear Mattress is a better option for people who like a balance of body-conforming and even support.

The Nectar and Bear Mattresses both offer excellent motion isolation and do not produce any noise when bearing weight, making either a good option for people whose sleep is easily disturbed. The Nectar Mattress also sleeps relatively cool thanks to its low- and medium-density comfort layers, giving both models comparable temperature neutrality.

The Nectar and Bear Mattresses are both low-priced and considered high-value picks due to their quality of construction. We recommend the Bear Mattress for those who like a balance of sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” the bed, as well as physically active people who benefit from the Celliant-blend cover. Those who like a more traditional memory foam feel should opt for the Nectar Mattress instead.

Read our full Nectar Mattress review.

Bear Mattress vs. T&N Mint

The T&N Mint from Tuft & Needle is an all-polyfoam model constructed with a graphite- and gel-infused comfort layer, transitional polyfoam layer, and a 7-inch high-density foam base. The T&N Mint’s more robust support system, combined with its medium-firm feel, makes the mattress better suited to side-, back- and stomach-sleepers weighing 230 pounds or less.

Both beds offer a combination of sleeping “on” and sleeping “in” the mattress due to a good balance of body-contouring and support. Like the Bear Mattress, the T&N Mint also has a fairly responsive feel but also isolates motion very well, and both beds are silent when bearing weight.

The Bear Mattress is the less expensive model, but both mattresses are reasonably priced. The T&N Mint may be more comfortable for sleepers in the lightweight and average weight groups, but the Bear Mattress remains the better option for physically active people.

Read our full T&N Mint mattress review.

Bear Mattress vs. Leesa

The Leesa Mattress is an all-foam model that features comfort layers of polyfoam and memory foam on top of a high-density polyfoam base. The Leesa is medium-firm (6) on the 1-10 firmness scale.

Due to their similar construction, both beds are virtually silent when bearing weight. Motion isolation and pressure relief are also strengths of both mattresses. As is common among all-foam beds, edge support is a weak point of both models. Both beds received favorable ratings from our light and average weight sleep testers across all sleep positions. Our sleepers over 230 pounds, however, rated both beds lower, with a more dramatic difference for the Leesa.

The two beds are offered at a similar price-point, and both companies offer 100-night sleep trials and 10-year warranties. For more information on how these two mattresses differ, check out our full Bear vs. Leesa Mattress Comparison.

Read our full Leesa Mattress Review.

Read More Bear Mattress Comparisons

Bear Mattress FAQ

  • Sleep Trial 120 nights

  • Shipping Free to Contiguous U.S.

  • Warranty Lifetime

  • Made In USA

  • Where Can I Buy the Bear Mattress?

    The Bear Mattress is available on the Bear website, but at this time the mattress is not sold on Amazon.com. Bear operates a brick-and-mortar showroom in Hoboken, NJ, where sleepers can test out the mattress, but purchases must be made online.

  • 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. There is an additional $100 fee for addresses in Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada.

  • White Glove Delivery?

    White Glove delivery is available for Bear Mattress 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.

  • 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.

  • Full Delivery Policy

    The delivery policy for Bear mattresses is as follows:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Bear does not ship mattresses to army/air post offices (APOs).
  • Trial Period and Warranty Details

    Trial Period and Guarantee: Bear offers a 120-night sleep trial on all mattresses.

    1. Customers who return the mattress within 120 days will receive a complete refund, though Bear requires customers try out the mattress for a 30-night minimum before initiating returns. You 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 Mattress.

    1. 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.
    2. The warranty will not cover sagging or indentations that measure less than 1.5 inches deep. Additionally, the warranty does not cover physical damage such as burns, cuts, or stains.
    3. The warranty is exclusively offered to the original purchaser, and an original receipt or proof of purchase will be required to file any warranty claims.

Company Information

  • 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.

  • Company History

    Bear was launched in 2014.

  • BBB Rating

    Bear currently holds an ‘A+’ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

  • Physical Stores

    Bear owns a viewing-only showroom in Hoboken, New Jersey, where customers can try out Bear products.

  • Contact Bear

  • Find Bear on Social

Table of Contents