Bear Hybrid Mattress Review

Is the Bear Hybrid Mattress for You?

Who’s Going to Love the Bear Hybrid Mattress

• Back sleepers
• Combination sleepers
• Couples and those who sleep with a partner or pet

Who Should Steer Clear of the Bear Hybrid Mattress

• Heavyweight stomach sleepers—Check out the Leesa Sapira Hybrid instead; it’s better suited for heavy stomach sleepers.
• Side sleepers—Check out the Saatva Classic instead; the Plush Soft version is better suited for side sleepers.
• Budget shoppers—Check out the Brooklyn Bedding Bowery Hybrid instead; it’s better suited for budget shoppers.

Video Review

Bear Hybrid Mattress Firmness and Feel

Bear Hybrid Mattress Firmness

On a firmness scale of 1–10, where 1 is the softest, the Bear Hybrid firmness level is a 6/10. It has a medium to medium-firm firmness level that should appeal to many sleepers—we actually refer to this as the “universal firmness level.”

A 6/10 mattress typically works best for lightweight and average-weight back and side sleepers, as well as lightweight stomach sleepers. However, due to how the Bear Hybrid relieves pressure from the hips and shoulders, we do not recommend this mattress to the average side sleeper—but more on that later.

What Does the Bear Hybrid Feel Like? 

The softer foams in the pillow-top cover and top comfort foam layer give the Bear Hybrid a plush, cushioned feel, even though the mattress doesn’t conform closely to the body. This means you won’t feel like you’re sinking too far into the mattress.

The surface is also pretty responsive, thanks to the coil system in the support layer and the stretchy quilted cover fabric. The overall feel falls somewhere between sleeping “on” the mattress and sleeping “in” it. You definitely won’t get the feel of sinking deeply into the bed’s layers like you would on a memory foam mattress, but the pillow-top layer lets you “nestle” in just a bit. 

This makes for a pretty cozy experience regardless of your sleeping position, and also makes it a good choice if you’re shopping for a mattress for a heavy sleeper.

What Sleeping Position Is the Bear Hybrid Best For?

Body Type	Back Sleepers	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers
Lightweight < 130 lbs:	4	4	2
Average-Weight 130–230 lbs:	5	4	3
Heavyweight > 230 lbs:	4	2	3

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

Back Sleepers

The Bear Hybrid is a solid mattress for back sleepers of all body types. The bed provides an amazing balance of gentle body-conforming in the top foam layer and even support for lightweight and average-weight sleepers. Heavyweight sleepers shouldn’t experience any sagging in the hips or shoulders thanks to the mattress’ above-average support.

Side Sleepers

Even though the mattress is the optimal firmness for lightweight and average-weight side sleepers, you may be surprised to find that it does not provide the pressure relief needed in the hips and shoulders. When we tested this mattress with our pressure map, there was pressure buildup in the sensitive joints that dig into the mattress while side sleeping, even in the heavyweight category. 

However, the top layer is really soft, so if you don’t have hip or shoulder pain, this bed could still work for you. If you’re not sure that the Bear Hybrid is best for you, see our best mattresses for side sleepers.

Stomach Sleepers 

Even though it isn’t technically a firm mattress, the Bear Hybrid has coils that offer enough support to keep the spine of lightweight and average-weight stomach sleepers in proper alignment. This means that you shouldn’t experience much sinking in the hips and midsection on this mattress, which, when present, can cause back pain. We recommend the original Bear mattress as the best mattress for stomach sleepers, but the Bear Hybrid is a great mattress for back pain, no matter what sleep position. 

Keep in mind that the likelihood that this mattress sags in the stomach sleeping position is dependent on your weight. If you’re a heavyweight sleeper, you may feel minor sagging in the hip area, but it shouldn’t present much of an issue, especially if you switch to other positions throughout the night.

Combination Sleepers 

The supportive layers of the Bear Hybrid should create an optimal mattress for combination sleepers to stay comfortable throughout the night. The medium-firm firmness helps this mattress suit lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight people of multiple sleeping positions without sacrificing support or comfort.

Bear Hybrid Mattress Performance

Is The Bear Hybrid Mattress Cooling? 

Two layers of the Bear Hybrid are dedicated to cooling the mattress. The hypersoft cooling-gel foam delivers a cool sensation directly under your body, and responsive transition foam increases airflow, so heat doesn’t get trapped inside the mattress. 

As a hybrid mattress, the additional coil system will also enhance breathability and ensure temperature regulation throughout the night. For similar recommendations, see our picks for the best mattresses for hot sleepers.

Edge Support 

Edge support and motion isolation are essential in the best mattresses for couples. The coils of a hybrid mattress increase edge support by distributing weight evenly on top of the mattress. Bear takes this one step further by making the coils around the edge more supportive for optimal edge support.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness is how well a mattress allows you to move around on the surface. The Bear Hybrid features pocketed coils and responsive foam that allow the mattress to have some extra bounce. As a result, combination sleepers should enjoy good mobility on this mattress.

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

Motion transfer can be detrimental to good sleep for couples who are light sleepers. If you feel your partner’s movements through the night, it could wake you up and disrupt your sleep cycle. 

Hybrid mattresses are usually great at responsiveness by sacrificing motion isolation, but that is not the case with the Bear Hybrid. The foams in the Bear Hybrid will absorb motion as partners move throughout the night, so you shouldn’t feel too much motion from the opposite side of the bed.

Noise

We found the Bear Hybrid’s coils to be relatively silent as we moved around on the mattress surface. Just be aware that if your mattress is noisy, it could be your foundation rather than your mattress.

Pain Relief

If you suffer from hip or shoulder pain from your mattress, it could be due to a lack of pressure relief. When we rolled out the pressure map on the Bear Hybrid, we did notice some pressure point buildup in the hips and shoulders, so that is something to be aware of.

Back pain usually stems from misalignment of the spine. The good news is the Bear Hybrid showed us great spinal alignment for side sleepers of all body types.

Sex

Couples shopping for a mattress may want to consider whether or not it’s a good surface for sex. The responsiveness of the layers of foam combined with the bouncy coils makes the Bear Hybrid a good surface for adult activities.

Off-Gassing

Off-gassing refers to the chemical-ly, fresh-can-of-paint smell you may experience when you first unbox a mattress. While this isn’t harmful, it’s not pleasant when you’re trying to sleep. Luckily, we noticed little to no off-gassing after unboxing the Bear Hybrid.

Durability

The Bear Hybrid’s high-density support foam is great for durability, especially if the weight of two sleepers rests on top of the mattress each night.

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

The Bear Hybrid is a medium-firm mattress made with cooling gel foam, pressure-relieving foams, pocketed coils for added support, and a unique Celliant technology cover. All of the foams in Bear mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified for low emissions and non-toxic materials.

Layer #1—Hand-Quilted Celliant Fiber Top: This hand-quilted Celliant cover is made of a polyester blend that’s infused with Celliant fibers. The brand claims Celliant is designed to absorb body heat and convert it into infrared energy. The transmitting of that infrared energy back to the sleeper’s body increases oxygenation and helps sleepers with muscle recovery at night.

Layer #2—Cooling-Gel Foam: The top layer of the Bear Hybrid features 2” of gel-infused polyfoam that offers extra padding and creates that plush pillow top surface.

Layer #3—Comfort Foam: The comfort layer of the mattress is 2” of polyfoam. It doesn’t conform closely to the body like memory foam, but it provides some contouring. It’s a little more responsive than memory foam, making it easier for combination sleepers to change positions.

Layer #4—Transition Foam: Next is a 1” transition layer of polyfoam that buffers the sleeper from sinking into the dense coil support layer at the bottom of the mattress.

Layer #5—Edge Coil System: Pocketed coils provide the primary support for the Bear Hybrid. Pocketed coils isolate motion better than interconnected (aka innerspring) coils. This mattress also features more supportive coils along the edges to provide great edge support. The coils also help keep the bed temperature neutral by allowing for better airflow. 

Layer #6—High-Density Support Foam: The final layer is a dense, 1” layer of foam that provides overall structure to the mattress.

How Much Does the Bear Hybrid Cost?

MATTRESS SIZE	SIZE	HEIGHT	PRICE	WEIGHT
Twin	39″ x 75″	14”	$1,095	60 lbs
Twin XL	39″ x 80″	14”	$1,295	60 lbs
Full	54″ x 75″	14”	$1,495	80 lbs
Queen	60″ x 80″	14”	$1,695	110 lbs
King	76″ x 80″	14”	$1,995	140 lbs
California King	72″ x 84″	14”	$1,995	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 two to seven business days. 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.

For more information, read our Bear mattress warranty breakdown.

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 Hybrid Mattress Complaints

• Firmer Than Expected: A few reviewers noted that this mattress arrives firmer than advertised. Because of the pillow top layer, customers may expect it to feel plush. This is not the case in our experience. If you’re worried about this bed being too firm, we recommend you check out the soft version of the Saatva Classic mattress instead.
• Causes Back Pain: Some customers noted having back pain after sleeping on this mattress for a few nights. It’s important to remember that there is a 30-night break-in period, which gives your body time to break in the mattress and adjust to the feel of a new sleeping surface. If, after 30 nights, you’re still experiencing back pain in the morning, we recommend using your trial period for a free return—and check out the WinkBed mattress, which offers better pressure relief.

Comparing Different Bear Mattresses

Bear Hybrid vs. Bear Original

Bear Hybrid Mattress is Best For:	Bear Original Mattress is Best For:
Couples	Lightweight & Average-Weight Sleepers
Combination Sleepers	People Seeking A Firmer Mattress
Shoppers Looking For A Medium-Firm Mattress	People With Active Lifestyles

Check out our full Bear Mattress Review to learn more.

Bear Hybrid vs. Bear Pro

Bear Hybrid Mattress is Best For:	Bear Pro 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 Hybrid vs. Saatva Classic

Bear Hybrid Mattress is Best For:	Saatva Classic Premier Mattress is Best For:
Couples	Back & Stomach Sleepers
Combination Sleepers	People With Back Pain
People Looking For A Medium-Firm Mattress	Hot Sleepers

Check out our full Saatva Mattress Review for the full scoop.

Bear Hybrid vs. Helix Midnight

Bear Hybrid Mattress is Best For:	Helix Midnight Mattress is Best For:
Couples	Lightweight & Average-Weight Side Sleepers
Combination Sleepers	People Seeking Pressure Relief
Shoppers Looking For A Medium-Firm Mattress	Hot Sleepers

Read our full Helix Midnight Mattress Review for more details.

Bear Hybrid vs. WinkBed

Bear Hybrid Mattress is Best For:	WinkBed Mattress is Best For:
Couples	Average-Weight & Heavyweight Sleepers
Combination Sleepers	Side Sleepers
Shoppers Looking For A Medium-Firm Mattress	People Seeking A Softer Mattress

Read our full WinkBed Mattress Review for the full scoop.

Bear Hybrid Mattress FAQs

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

We love this bed’s versatility: it suits many sleepers. Whether you’re lightweight or heavyweight, a back sleeper or a combination sleeper, it’s pretty likely that the Bear Hybrid mattress can give you a good night’s sleep. The only drawbacks of this bed are its price and lack of pressure relief.

The Nerd’s Scores for the Bear Hybrid Mattress

Performance Factor	Out of 5
Motion Isolation	4
Pressure Relief	3
Ease of Movement	5
Edge Support	4
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