We Tested 3 of the Most Popular Bear Mattresses — Here Are Our Honest Thoughts

We get it: Shopping for a mattress is challenging. Not only do you have to consider lots of factors about the mattress itself, but you also have to wade through an overwhelming number of brands and retailers to shop at. It’s a crowded market, and can be difficult to differentiate them all.

One brand that actually manages to stand out from the competition is Bear, which specializes in mattresses designed for athletes — but even certified couch potatoes will love what Bear offers.

Curious to learn more? We tested out Bear mattresses for this installment of our Personal Shopper series, where our editors visit top retailers to test out their products in-store. Read on for our top two picks, including a supportive, eco-friendly mattress and a luxurious, customizable model that will make anyone happy.

Bear has been in the sleep market since 2015, when it launched its original Bear mattress. The brand markets itself toward people with active lifestyles, and its mattresses are designed with recovery in mind. You’ll find top-notch cooling features, zoned coil systems for extra support, and excellent edge support and motion isolation. Bear also offers a 120-night trial period and a limited lifetime warranty on all of its mattresses.

We’ve been covering Bear for years, and our editors have tested and reviewed many of its products. That includes the best-selling Elite Hybrid mattress (more on that below!) and the Bear Pillow, as well as a few mattresses that have since been discontinued. Because of the range of features seen in Bear mattresses, we recommend the brand especially for hot sleepers, couples, and those who are prone to back and joint pain.

We judged every Bear mattress based on the following criteria:

• Feel: Is the mattress firm, soft, or somewhere in between? Does it have extra cushioning? Is it comfortable no matter the sleep position?
• Support: Does the mattress effectively cradle pressure points? Does it feel comfortable to lie on?
• Materials: What is the mattress made from? Is it a hybrid mattress? Does it have cooling properties?
• Safety: Do the materials in the mattress have any certifications?

Each Bear mattress in this article was tested by style editor Emma Dangel. Emma started out on the marketing & brand partnerships team at Apartment Therapy in 2022, and transitioned over to the editorial team in 2025. She mainly covers decor news, style guides, and shopping tips, and has also worked on Apartment Therapy’s Small/Cool NYC event and the New/Next List. 

To write about these mattresses, Emma traveled to Phoenix to check out Bear’s mattresses in person. She was able to touch, lie on, and closely examine all of the brand’s offerings, plus got to see exactly what’s in each mattress.

Further insights on the Bear Original Mattress were provided by SEO director Adriana Velez, who oversees strategy for search-focused content on Apartment Therapy. She has had her Bear mattress for eight years, and considers it a good option for couples and those with active lifestyles.

Emma’s thoughts: The Elite Hybrid mattress is Bear’s most popular model, and I can absolutely see why. First, it comes in three different firmness levels, so you can really customize the right feel for you. I tested the medium level and found that it offered a great balance of plush comfort and firm support, making it ideal for all sleeping types and people who struggle with back pain.

It also has impressive cooling capabilities, thanks to the copper-infused memory foam and breathable coil system. It comes with a moisture-wicking cover, but hot sleepers can upgrade to a temperature-regulating cover made with infrared-responsive technology for an extra fee.

I noticed that it had solid edge support, and the individually encased coils provided excellent lumbar support and pressure relief. While I didn’t test this bed with a buddy, I was impressed that it comes with a layer of motion-absorbing foam to minimize motion transfer — perfect for couples or people like me who toss and turn while they sleep.

One thing to note is that this mattress has some height to it (it’s 14 inches tall), which gives it a luxurious feel but will need to be considered when shopping for a fitted sheet. Overall, this is my favorite Bear mattress due to its versatility, cooling abilities, and zoned support.

• Type: Foam hybrid
• Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 14 inches
• Firmness: Soft, medium, firm

Emma’s thoughts: Bear launched this latex hybrid mattress in 2024, and it’s a fantastic option if you’re looking for something made out of a more eco-friendly material than foam. If you’re unfamiliar with latex, it’s similar to foam but is bouncier, more breathable, and lacks a sink-in feel — plus, it’s more sustainable because it’s biodegradable and comes from a renewable resource.

I found this mattress to be distinctly bouncy and supportive, with excellent edge support and a firmer feel. Unlike the Elite Hybrid, you can’t customize the firmness level of the Natural, and I was initially worried that it would be too firm. While I do prefer foam, I was a lot more comfortable than I expected to be.

The main draw of this mattress is its eco-friendliness, and I definitely noticed the lack of fumes when opening it up. Beyond the latex layers, this mattress has an organic cotton cover and layer of individually encased coils that are zoned for appropriate support. While it’s not marketed as a cooling mattress because it lacks the temperature-regulating technology of the Elite Hybrid, both latex and cotton are naturally breathable materials that should keep you comfortable.

My only real complaint about this mattress is that I personally wish it were a little softer, but I do think I would sleep pretty well on it. If you’re focused on shopping sustainably, I absolutely recommend it.

• Type: Latex hybrid
• Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 13 inches
• Firmness: Medium-firm

Adriana’s thoughts: Although Emma didn’t get a chance to test Bear’s Original mattress herself, I’ve had it for eight years and can sing its praises. When I originally bought this mattress back in 2017, I was looking for a mattress to help with recovery from doing CrossFit, and this one definitely fit the bill. It offered excellent support and motion isolation, which helped both my husband and I sleep more soundly.

We got the version with the optional Celliant-infused cover, which helped a lot with temperature regulation — both for my husband who is a hot sleeper and for me when I went through perimenopause!

After years of use, it’s still comfortable and cooling, but I have begun to notice some sagging and reduced edge support and motion isolation. This isn’t surprising considering how long we’ve had it, especially since the rule of thumb is to replace your mattress every 7-10 years, and I absolutely would buy it again. 

In addition to its supportive and comfortable feel, I really appreciate the range of eco-friendly certifications it has (like Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US), as well as minimal off-gassing. I’m very sensitive to scent and didn’t notice any funky smells when I first opened this mattress, so I think it’s a good eco-friendly option, too. Considering the affordable price tag, this mattress is a no-brainer if you’re looking for an all-foam mattress that’s great for couples and those with active lifestyles.

One caveat: This mattress has changed a bit since I bought it. The original design included a graphite-infused gel memory foam layer and a responsive transition foam layer, while the current version has a gel memory foam layer without the graphite and Bear’s proprietary Dynamic transition foam. The newer version is even more supportive than the one I have, and is priced lower than what I paid for it back in 2017.

• Type: Foam
• Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 10 inches
• Firmness: Medium-firm