Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Review

Written by Loren Bullock, Certified Sleep Science Coach

Methodology

Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed hundreds of mattresses and sleep products for over eight years using hands-on testing. We assess each sleep product for comfort, support, cooling, firmness, pressure relief, and more. Learn more.

In This Article

Is this Bear Star the best hybrid for back sleepers? Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of this bed, plus our recommendation for you.

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Is the Bear Star Hybrid Mattress for You?

Who’s Going to Love the Bear Star Hybrid Mattress

• Back sleepers—Back sleepers tend to be middle-of-the-road sleepers. This means that they tend to sleep best on mattresses with balanced feels. And, fortunately for back sleepers, the Bear Star Hybrid has a great medium-firm balance of support and softness.
• Couples—Sharing a mattress doesn’t have to mean feeling your partner’s every toss and turn. If you and your partner are light sleepers, it’s worth noting that the Bear Star Hybrid has great motion isolation.
• Hot sleepers—The Bear Star Hybrid features a breathable coil base and a layer of cooling, copper-infused foam. Overall, the Bear Star Hybrid is a good pick for hot sleepers or sleepers who sweat a lot at night.

Who Should Steer Clear of the Bear Star Hybrid Mattress

• Heavyweight sleepers—Sleepers with bigger frames (over 230 lbs) tend to need more support from their mattress than lighter sleepers. That said, the Bear Star Hybrid’s medium-firm feel doesn’t quite make the grade in terms of firmness. So, we suggest heavyweight sleepers take a look at the Nectar Premier.
• Seniors—Despite featuring reinforced edges, the Bear Star Hybrid’s edge support isn’t anything to write home about. So, for seniors or any other sleepers who may benefit from a more supportive bed perimeter, we recommend checking out the Nolah Evolution.
• Side sleepers—Although the Bear Star Hybrid isn’t a super firm mattress by any means, it still doesn’t have ideal pressure relief for most side sleepers. Instead, for a hybrid bed with better shoulder and hip support, check out the Helix Midnight Luxe.

Want the bottom line? Skip to the Nerd’s Take below.

Video Review

Want to see for yourself how the Bear Star Hybrid performs? Join me in the Nerd Lab to get the ins and outs of this hybrid mattress:

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Firmness and Feel

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Firmness

Here at Mattress Nerd, we measure firmness on a scale of 1–10, where a “1” is softer than a teddy bear and a “10” is firmer than bricks. In this case, we found that this Bear’s firmness measures in at a 6/10 on our scale, or medium-firm. This level of firmness is ideal for the average sleeper and many lighter sleepers too. However, some heavyweight sleepers may need a bit more firmness.

What Does the Bear Star Hybrid Feel Like? 

So what does this Bear mattress actually feel like? Well, the Star Hybrid feels like a cross between an all-foam mattress and your typical hybrid bed. It’s bouncy, responsive, and lifted, but still has much of the softness and cushioning you’d expect from foam. Plus, although it’s not super cool to the touch, it has great temperature regulation.

What Sleeping Position Is Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Best For?

Body Type	Back Sleepers	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers
Lightweight < 130 lbs:	5	5	3
Average-Weight 130–230 lbs:	5	4	3
Heavyweight > 230 lbs:	5	3	3

1 = Very poor    2 = Not Good    3 = Fair    4 = Good    5 = Excellent

Back Sleepers

The best mattresses for back sleepers are neither too firm nor too soft—and they support the natural “S”-curve of the spine. The same is also true for the Bear Star Hybrid, making it a great choice for lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers are all about pressure relief, especially in key areas like the hips and shoulders. So, the best mattresses for side sleepers tend to be pretty cushioning and supportive. Unfortunately, the Bear Star Hybrid doesn’t quite make the cut in providing pressure relief for lightweight, average-weight, or heavyweight side sleepers.

Stomach Sleepers 

Unlike with side sleepers, stomach sleepers need firm mattresses with little give. In general, the best mattresses for stomach sleepers keep the hips secured and elevated. In this case, the Bear Star Hybrid is plenty firm for lightweight stomach sleepers and some average-weight sleepers, but heavyweight stomach sleepers will need more firmness.

Combination Sleepers 

Finally, the best mattresses for combination sleepers are bouncy and responsive, just like the Bear Star Hybrid. However, while lightweight and average-weight combination sleepers shouldn’t have any issues on this mattress, heavyweight sleepers may need more lift.

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Performance

Is the Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Cooling? 

When it comes to the best cooling mattresses on the market, this Bear bed isn’t all that exceptional for a hybrid, but even hot sleepers should be able to keep cool on the Bear Star Hybrid.

Edge Support 

For a hybrid mattress with reinforced edges, the Bear Star Hybrid’s edge support is pretty mediocre overall. So, if you’re someone who tends to sit or lie on the edge of your mattress, the Bear Star Hybrid might not be your first choice.

Responsiveness

Like we touched on earlier, the Bear Star Hybrid has excellent responsiveness, putting it at the top of any combination sleeper’s list.

Motion Isolation: Is it good for those who share a bed?

Not only does the Bear Star Hybrid have excellent responsiveness, it also has equally excellent motion isolation too—which is pretty rare in a hybrid bed. This by far makes it one of the best mattresses for couples.

Noise

Aside from the occasional sound of air in the mattress, the Bear Star Hybrid is virtually silent. Again, this is another point toward it being a great bed for couples.

Pain Relief

Based on how well this bed’s balanced feel works for back sleepers, we’d recommend the Bear Star Hybrid as one of the best mattresses for back pain. However, side sleepers are unlikely to get the same quality of pain relief on this bed.

Sex

The Bear Star Hybrid is pretty cool, responsive, and mostly quiet. So, if you plan on doing more than sleeping on this bed, we’re giving it a three out of three.

Off-Gassing

Bed-in-a-box mattresses (like the Bear Star Hybrid), and especially those that are all-foam, tend to off-gas when they’re first opened. This is common as your mattress begins to expand, and the smell, although noticeable, should clear within a few hours to a day.

Durability 

Hybrid beds like the Bear Star Hybrid are typically durable, thanks to their pocketed coils and reinforced edges. However, this Bear’s lack of solid edge support is a point against it here.

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Construction: What’s it made of?

The Bear Star Hybrid is a 13” bed that features a quilted mattress cover, cooling copper-infused memory foam, and a set of individually-wrapped pocketed coils. Also, all of the foams in Bear mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified for low emissions and non-toxic materials.

How Much Does the Bear Star Hybrid Cost?

Mattress Size	Price	Dimensions	Height	Weight
Twin	$1498.00	38” x 75”	13”	60 lbs
Twin XL	$1598.00	38” x 80”	13”	60 lbs
Full	$1698.00	54” x 75”	13”	80 lbs
Queen	$1998.00	60” x 80”	13”	110 lbs
King	$2298.00	76” x 80”	13”	140 lbs
California King	$2298.00	72” x 84”	13”	140 lbs

For the best pricing on Bear mattresses, see our Bear Mattress Coupons or the Bear Original, featured in our Best Mattress Under $1000 list.

How Do the Policies Measure Up?

Shipping & Unboxing

Bear currently ships the Bear Hybrid free to all 50 states as a bed-in-a-box. Most Bear orders arrive within one to three weeks. When it arrives, your new mattress needs to be carefully removed from the box and allowed to expand for a day or so.

Warranty

The Bear Hybrid comes with a lifetime warranty, which is much and longer than the warranties offered by most other online mattress companies. The warranty covers visible sagging, indentations, and physical flaws.

Trial Period & Returns

Bear offers customers 120 nights to test out their new mattress and decide if it’s the right fit for their body and sleeping preferences. If you want to exchange your mattress for a new model, you must do it within the 120-night sleep trial period. This applies to returns as well.

Keep in mind that Bear requires customers to sleep on the bed for at least 30 nights prior to making a decision. This is known as a break-in period, which allows you to get used to the mattress just like you would a new pair of running shoes.

Bear will arrange a free pickup and refund you the full cost of the mattress if you decide to return it within the trial period. You won’t be charged shipping fees for returning the mattress.

Addressing Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Complaints

Too Soft

Several buyers of the Bear Star Hybrid have complained that this bed felt much too soft and did not provide adequate support. While we found that this Bear had a medium-firm feel in our tests, we also noticed that the mattress was lacking in edge support and didn’t have adequate support for heavyweight sleepers.

Lack of Pressure Relief

Also, some sleepers have complained that the Bear Star Hybrid didn’t have enough pressure relief and caused pain. While we didn’t find this to be the case at all for back sleepers, we did find that side sleepers of all sizes may have issues with getting adequate hip and shoulder relief.

Comparing Different Bear Mattresses

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress vs. Bear Original Mattress

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For…	Bear Original Mattress Is Best For…
Couples	Budget shoppers
Back sleepers	Firm mattress fans
Hot sleepers	Sleepers needing pressure relief

Unlike the Bear Star Hybrid, the Bear Original is an all-foam mattress that’s actually firmer, while still providing better pressure relief. On the other hand, the Bear Star Hybrid has more motion isolation for couples, better back support, and more temperature control for hot sleepers. That said, the Bear Original is the more affordable bed.

Check out our full Bear Original Mattress Review here.

Bear Star Hybrid vs. Bear Pro Hybrid

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress is Best For:	Bear Pro Hybrid Mattress is Best For:
Couples	Back Sleepers
Combination Sleepers	People Seeking Pressure Relief
Shoppers Looking For A Medium-Firm Mattress	People With Active Lifestyles

Check out our full Bear Pro Mattress Review to learn more. 

Comparing Bear to the Competition

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress vs. Saatva Mattress

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For…	Saatva Mattress Is Best For…
Heavyweight back sleepers	Sleepers wanting firmness options
Soft mattress fans	Side sleepers
Couples	Seniors

Between these two hybrid mattresses, the Bear Star is the softer of the two mattresses, although the Saatva comes with more firmness options. Furthermore, while the Saatva offers stellar edge support for seniors, the Bear Star Hybrid is a more motion-isolating bed. And, finally, the Bear Star Hybrid is a better choice for heavier back sleepers, while the Saatva is best for side sleepers.

Check out the full Saatva Classic Mattress Review here.

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress vs. Helix Midnight Mattress

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For…	Helix Midnight Mattress Is Best For…
Back sleepers	Side sleepers
Couples	Seniors
Combination sleepers	Sleepers needing pressure relief

The Bear Star Hybrid and the Helix Midnight are both hybrid mattresses with a medium-firm feel, but they differ in that the Helix is best for side sleepers and those needing pressure relief, while the Bear offers more support for back sleepers and combination sleepers. Finally, although the Helix has more edge support for seniors, the Bear has more motion isolation.

Check out our full Helix Midnight Mattress Review here.

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress vs. WinkBed Mattress

Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For…	WinkBed Mattress Is Best For…
Back sleepers	Firm mattress fans
Couples	Stomach sleepers
Budget shoppers	Side sleepers

Comparing these two hybrids, the WinkBed is much firmer than the Bear, making it a better choice for stomach sleepers. However, the WinkBed has more pressure relief for side sleepers too. On the other hand, the Bear has the most support for back sleepers, it has motion isolation for couples, and it’s more affordable as well.

Check out our full WinkBed Mattress Review here.

Bear Star Hybrid FAQs

Is the Bear Star Hybrid good for heavy people?

The Bear Star Hybrid won’t work for all heavyweight individuals. It scored best for back sleepers, at a 4 out of 5 on pressure map test. However, it didn’t score as well for stomach and side sleepers of larger body types.

Does the Bear Star Hybrid need a box spring?

No, the Bear Star Hybrid does not need a box spring. Bear actually recommends that you do not use a box spring with the Bear Star because it won’t distribute weight evenly enough. Instead, try a slatted foundation, platform bed, or adjustable base.

How thick is the Bear Star Hybrid Mattress?

The Bear Star Hybrid is a tall boy, okay? That thing is 14″ tall, so make sure to invest in some deep-pocketed sheets before your mattress arrives. A thicker mattress will provide more support than a thinner model.

The Nerd’s Take: What’s the Bottom Line?

The Bear Star Hybrid is a medium-firm hybrid mattress that features a great balance of motion isolation and responsiveness. Also, this bed is a top choice for back sleepers too. However, the Bear Star Hybrid doesn’t have the best pressure relief for side sleepers, nor does it have the edge support you might expect from a hybrid mattress.

The Nerd’s Scores for the Bear Hybrid Mattress

Performance Factor	Out of 5
Motion Isolation	4.5
Pressure Relief	3
Ease of Movement	5
Edge Support	3
Temperature Control	4
Durability	4

Compare Bear Mattresses to More Brands 

• Bear vs. Brooklyn Bedding
• Bear vs. Casper
• Bear vs. Helix
• Bear vs. Layla
• Bear vs. Leesa
• Bear vs. Nectar
• Bear vs. Nolah
• Bear vs. Purple
• Bear vs. Tuft & Needle
• Bear vs. WinkBed