Bear Elite 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

From our hands on testing, we have all the facts and knowledge about the Bear Elite mattress, including its performance in all our testing categories such as motion isolation and temperature regulation.

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Is the Bear Elite Mattress for You?

Who’s Going to Love the Bear Elite Mattress

• Hot sleepers
• Athletes
• Back sleepers

Who Should Steer Clear of the Bear Elite Mattress

• Heavyweight stomach sleepers—For a firmer mattress, check out the Helix Plus Mattress Review.
• Seniors—Instead, take a look at the WinkBed Mattress Review for a bed with even stronger edge support
• Budget shoppers—For a more affordable bed meant for athletes, check out the Bear Mattress Review.

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

Bear Elite Mattress Video Review

Want to see this Bear in action? Join Loren in the Nerd Lab to learn more:

Bear Elite Mattress Firmness and Feel

Bear Elite Mattress Firmness

At Mattress Nerd, we rate firmness on a scale of 1–10, where a 1 is the softest possible and a 10 is harder than trying to sleep on a real bear. So, the Bear Elite comes in at a pretty average 6/10.

This firmness level works great for the average sleeper and for most sleeping positions; however, heavier sleepers may want to opt for something firmer. Fortunately, the Bear mattress does come with three firmness options: Luxury Plush (the softest), Luxury Firm (a medium 6/10 firmness), and Extra Firm.

What Does the Bear Elite Feel Like? 

The Bear Elite has a good balance of sink and lift, meaning that the mattress’s hand-quilted top layer has enough cushioning to feel soft but also gives enough support from the coils below. That said, while lying on this mattress, you can’t feel the coil support layer under you.

Moving on to temperature, the Bear Elite’s cover is cool to the touch and the whole mattress has airflow, thanks to the cooling foam and breathable coil layers. Lastly, the mattress is also copper infused, which helps regulate body temperature and prevent overheating.

What Sleeping Position Is Bear Elite Mattress Best For?

Body Type:	Back Sleepers	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Combination Sleepers
Lightweight< 130 lbs:	5	4	4	4
Average-weight130–230 lbs:	5	3	4	4
Heavyweight> 230 lbs:	5	2	4	4

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

Back Sleepers

The best mattresses for back sleepers work by keeping the natural “S” curve of the spine aligned. And, regardless of whether you’re a heavyweight, average-weight, or lightweight sleeper, the Bear Elite Hybrid’s supportive foam will have plenty of cushioning and support for your back.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need a bed that is firm enough to support their weight but also soft enough to cushion the shoulders and hips. And, the standard Bear Elite mattress works great for all sleepers types, lightweight, average-weight and heavyweight sleepers. That said, some heavier sleepers still may want to upgrade their bed’s firmness level for extra support.

See more: Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

Stomach Sleepers 

The best mattresses for stomach sleepers are firm enough to keep your hips from sinking down, which in turn keeps your spine aligned. For lightweight stomach sleepers, the standard Bear Elite can hold the weight of their hips up, but average-weight and heavyweight sleepers will feel their hips lacking support, which will put more strain on their back.

Combination Sleepers 

Lastly, combination sleepers sleep best on mattresses that are responsive, allowing them to change positions easily throughout the night. Since the Bear Elite’s foam and coil construction is super bouncy and supportive, this shouldn’t be an issue.

See more: Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers

Bear Elite Mattress Performance

Is the Bear Elite Mattress Cooling? 

For athletes especially, having a cooling mattress can be the key to a good night’s sleep. Like many of the other best cooling mattresses, the Bear Elite is made from breathable coils and cooling foam that keep your body temperature regulated the entire night.

Edge Support 

If you can lie or sit on the edge of your bed without it sagging down, then your mattress has solid edge support. Having this in a mattress can be extra important for couples who like to spread out—it’s important for seniors too. And, since the Bear Elite mattress has reinforced coils around its edges, its edge support is pretty solid. That said, other hybrid mattresses, like the Saatva, do offer better support.

See more: Best Mattresses For Seniors

Responsiveness

If you’re a combination sleeper, then having a responsive mattress is at the top of your list. In this case, the Bear Elite mattress, despite having a softer mattress cover, has outstanding responsiveness and bounce.

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

Motion isolation is the opposite of motion transfer—how much you can feel your partner tossing and turning in bed next you. If you plan on sharing your Bear Elite bed with a partner, you should be set on motion isolation. This mattress’s foam top layers absorb and muffle most unwanted movement.

See more: Best Mattresses for Couples

Noise

Just like how the Bear Elite’s foam comfort layers stifle unwanted movement, they also cover up any noise. So, while some innerspring mattresses can creak when you lie on their springs, the Bear Elite is comfy and quiet too.

Pain Relief

The Bear Elite is a bed made especially for athletes, and pain relief is key to rest and recovery. That said, this mattress offers great pain relief, but it isn’t anything out of the ordinary. While the Bear Elite keeps your muscles supported and relaxed with its copper-infused memory foam, it won’t be a fix for preexisting pains or injuries.

Sex

Like we said, the Bear Elite is made for muscle recovery—but that isn’t the only thing this bed is good for. The best mattresses for sex are quiet, responsive, and cooling; and the Bear Elite is all three.

Off-Gassing

Many bed-in-a-box mattresses can have a strong “new mattress smell”, especially right after you unbox them. However, the Bear Elite has pretty much zero smell, and the bed is GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US certified against any toxins or harmful emissions.

Durability

The Bear Elite is built to last for any athlete’s career. Since this mattress has reinforced coils around its edges, individually wrapped coils, and a killer Lifetime warranty, you can expect to enjoy it for much longer than the average seven-year mattress.

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

The Bear Elite is designed to promote muscle recovery and temperature regulation for resting athletes. With a hybrid construction of memory foam, zoned foam, and pocketed coils, you’ll get a balance of softness, airflow, and medium-firmness.

How Much Does the Bear Elite Mattress Cost?

Mattress Size	Price	Dimensions	Height	Weight
Twin	$	38” x 75”	14”	60 lbs
Twin XL	$1960.00	38” x 80”	14”	60 lbs
Full	$2108.00	54” x 75”	14”	80 lbs
Queen	$2305.00	60” x 80”	14”	110 lbs
King	$2762.00	76” x 80”	14”	140 lbs
California King	$2762.00	72” x 84”	14”	140 lbs

Want to get the best deal on your next Bear Elite mattress? Check out the Bear Coupon Page.

How Do the Policies Measure Up?

Shipping & Unboxing

Once you order your Bear Elite hybrid mattress, it’ll ship for free to anywhere in the United States (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) through FedEx. When the Bear Elite arrives at your home (likely after seven to 10 business days), you can unbox it, ideally with the help of a friend. But, if you want extra help, Bear offers white glove delivery, and they’ll pick up your old mattress too.

Warranty

How Long Does the Bear Warranty Period Last?

Bear has different warranty lengths depending on which mattress you buy. Both the Bear Original and Bear Pro models have 10-year limited warranties, while the Bear Hybrid has a 20-year limited warranty. 

If your warranty claim is approved, Bear covers the entire cost to replace or repair the mattress for the first 10 years—including shipping. After 10 years, Bear no longer covers the Bear Original or Bear Pro, and only pays a portion of the cost to fix the Hybrid model. 

Also, after 10 years you’ll be required to pay the transportation fees for the Hybrid along with the following percentage of your original purchase:

• 11th year: 55%
• 12th year: 60%
• 13th year: 65%
• 14th year: 70%
• 15th year: 75%
• 16th year: 80%
• 17th year: 85%
• 18th year: 90%
• 19th year: 95%

Bear Mattress Model	Warranty Period
Bear Original Mattress	10 years
Bear Pro Mattress	10 years
Bear Hybrid Mattress	20 years

What is covered by the Bear Warranty?

Visible Body Impressions of 1.5” or More

When you get up in the morning, there may be a body impression in the top layer. If this indentation is 1.5” below the quilted cover, it likely interferes with restful sleep. Bear considers this a material defect—but not if the dip goes away within a few minutes after you get out of bed. 

Physical Flaws in the Foam Layers

If you experience cracking or splitting memory foam layers and treat your mattress well, that’s a sign of defective foam. Whether the issue is with the memory foam comfort layer or the high-density support foam base layer, it may impact both mattress longevity and how well you sleep. 

Mattress Cover Defects

Most issues with a mattress cover are caused by user error, but if the Celliant cover isn’t in great shape when you first get the bed, or if the seams start to unravel despite proper care, the warranty covers it. 

What the Bear Mattress Warranty Does Not Cover

• Change in Firmness Level
• Small Imperfections
• Tears, Burns, or Other Damage You Create
• Shallow Surface Impressions
• Discomfort
• Off-Gassing Odor
• Sagging or Other Damage Caused by Improper Mattress Support
• Muscle Recovery

What Could Void My Warranty? 

• Not using a proper support system, which can vary by size (ex: a Queen size mattress will probably need center support, while a Twin size won’t). Contact Bear to ensure that your adjustable base or bed frame is sufficiently supportive. 
• Leaving your bed in its shipping box for more than 30 days.
• Bed bugs, mold, or other infestations leaving the mattress in an unsanitary condition. 
• Physical abuse or damage, including things like tears, burns, spills, and cuts. 
• Not rotating your mattress from head-to-toe once per month for the first six months and once every other month thereafter. 
• Selling the Bear mattress, buying a showroom floor model, or buying it from someone other than Bear or one of their approved partners.  
• Inappropriate washing of the Bear mattress or its cover.

How Does the Bear Warranty Measure Up? 

The Bear warranty period is on par with the industry standard, but the coverage during that period is not. The first aspect of the warranty that isn’t up to the online mattress standard is that sags and impressions aren’t covered until they’re 1.5” deep. Most brands cover indentations at 1”, while the most generous policies cover them even sooner. 

Another warning sign about the warranty is how often Bear expects you to rotate your mattress. Most companies recommend rotating their mattresses every six months, with some brands claiming that their foams are so durable that you don’t have to rotate them at all. But Bear can void your warranty if you don’t rotate the bed from head-to-toe monthly for the first six months and every other month after that. We’re not sure how they would prove that you didn’t rotate your bed, but they say not doing could cost you coverage.

Finally, Bear’s 20-year warranty for their Hybrid mattress isn’t much better. This warranty has the same issues outlined above, and it’s prorated—meaning you must pay a portion of the cost to replace the bed after 10 years. The amount that you pay—between 55% and 95% of the initial cost—is pretty high. 

Filing A Warranty Claim with Bear

To file a warranty claim, gather the following information and send it to claims@bearmattress.com:

• Proof of purchase with the date and name of the original purchaser 
• A photo of the law tag showing that it hasn’t been removed or altered 
• Photos of the mattress, bed frame, and defect (FYI: You must use a tailor tape if the defect involves a body indentation or other dimensional claim.)  

If Bear opts to replace your mattress, you may need to donate or dispose of the old mattress and provide proof of pick up or drop off to qualify for a replacement. 

Trial Period & Returns

If you aren’t sure you want to keep your Bear Elite mattress, you’ll have a 120-night sleep trial during which you can ask for a full refund and free pick up at any time.

Addressing Bear Elite Mattress Complaints

• Temperature control: A few Bear Elite buyers have complained that they’ve had issues with overheating and sweating on their mattress, despite claims from Bear that the Elite is a cooling bed. That said, each layer of the mattress is designed for temperature regular, with copper-infused foam, breathable coils, and airy support foam. And, while this construction is consistent across all of the three different firmness options for the Elite, the softest (Luxury Plush) does retain more heat than the other two.
• Lacking edge support: Some sleepers have complained that the Bear Elite has poor edge support and that the bed sags near its perimeter. However, the Elite does have reinforced coils around its perimeter which are designed to improve durability around the edges. This mattress doesn’t have the single strongest edge support on the market, but shoppers should be wary of defects if their Bear Elite has noticeably lacking edge support.

Comparing Different Bear Elite Brand Mattresses

Bear Elite Mattress vs. Bear Hybrid Mattress

Bear Elite Mattress Is Best For…	Bear Hybrid Mattress Is Best For…
Sleepers needing pressure relief	Seniors
Shoppers wanting more firmness options	Budget shoppers
Back sleepers	Hot sleepers

Both the Bear Elite and Hybrid are medium-firm hybrid mattresses; however, the Bear Hybrid’s stronger edge support is ideal for seniors, while the Elite’s extra cushioning is best for back sleepers. Also, while the Hybrid mattress is more affordable, the Elite offers three different firmness options.

Check out the full Bear Hybrid Mattress Review.

Bear Elite Mattress vs. Bear Mattress

Bear Elite Mattress Is Best For…	Bear Mattress Is Best For…
Couples	Lightweight back sleepers
Hot sleepers	Stomach sleepers
Seniors	Budget shoppers

Between these two Bear mattresses, the Elite has stronger edge support and cooling, which is ideal for seniors and hot sleepers, and it also has better motion isolation for couples. That said, the Bear mattress is more affordable and works better for lightweight back sleepers, and it’s slightly firmer.

Check out the full Bear Mattress Review.

Bear Elite Mattress vs. Bear Pro Mattress

Bear Elite Mattress Is Best For…	Bear Pro Mattress Is Best For…
Seniors	Foam mattress fans
Back sleepers	Budget shoppers
Couples	Average-weight side sleepers

Finally, the Bear Elite, while more expensive, has stronger edge support for couples and seniors in addition to more motion isolation. On the other hand, sleepers who prefer the feel of an all-foam mattress will also prefer the Bear Pro to the Elite.

Check out the full Bear Pro Mattress Review.

Comparing Bear Elite Brand to the Competition

Bear Elite Mattress vs. Nectar Mattress

Bear Elite Mattress Is Best For…	Nectar Mattress Is Best For…
Back sleepers	Couples
Combination sleepers	Foam mattress fans
Hot sleepers	Sleepers wanting a contouring mattress

The Bear Elite is a hybrid mattress with a more responsive feel for combination sleepers and better cooling for hot sleepers. On the other hand, the Nectar is all-foam and lacks cooling, but has better motion isolation and contouring than the Bear Elite.

Check out the full Nectar Mattress Review.

Bear Elite Mattress vs. Purple Mattress

Bear Elite Mattress Is Best For…	Purple Mattress Is Best For…
Sleepers preferring an innerspring mattress	Budget shoppers
Couples	Hot sleepers
Seniors	Lightweight sleepers

The Bear Elite comes with more firmness options than the Purple mattress, but the Purple mattress works better for lightweight sleepers and hot sleepers. On the other hand, while the Purple mattress is more affordable, the Elite has better edge support and motion isolation for seniors and couples.

See the full Purple Mattress Review.

Bear Elite Mattress vs. Helix Midnight Mattress

Bear Elite Mattress Is Best For…	Helix Midnight Mattress Is Best For…
Combination sleepers	Lightweight side sleepers
Stomach sleepers	Budget shoppers
Shoppers wanting more firmness options	Seniors

Both the Bear Elite and Helix Midnight mattresses are hybrid beds, but the Helix is more affordable and has better edge support for seniors. Also, the Helix’s firmness level works better for lightweight side sleepers. That said, the Bear Elite has three firmness options and has more responsiveness for combination sleepers.

See the full Helix Midnight Mattress Review.

Bear Elite Mattress FAQs

Do I Put My Bear Elite On a Box Spring?

No. Bear recommends putting your Bear Elite mattress on a solid foundation, like a hard bed platform, the floor, or sturd bed slats. Putting your Bear Elite on a box spring can cause unevenness in the mattress’s support which can lead to damage over a long period of time.

Is the Bear Elite Mattress Non-Toxic?

Yes. The Bear Elite’s memory foam and coil layers are made in America from nontoxic and eco-friendly materials. Additionally, the Bear Elite is CertiPUR-US-certified and GREENGUARD-certified against any toxic or environmentally unsafe emissions. Also, this bed is certified against having any fiberglass in its construction.

How Long Does the Bear Elite Last?

The Bear Elite is made from durable pocketed coils and has a reinforced perimeter, meaning that this bed will last longer than the average mattress’s lifespan, which is about seven years. Instead, the Bear Elite should last over 10 years, and it comes with a Lifetime warranty.

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

The Bear Elite is a cooling and cushioning hybrid mattress that’s great for sleepers, athletes, and couples wanting a durable bed. For lightweight and heavyweight sleepers, the Bear Elite comes with a harder and softer set of firmness options too.

The Nerd’s Scores for the Bear Elite Mattress

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

Haven’t made a decision yet? Check out these comparisons:

• 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

Loren Bullock

Certified Sleep Science Coach

About Author

Loren is the Editor and Lead Reviewer at Mattress Nerd. She has prioritized sleeping for as long as she can remember, rarely deviating from seven to nine hours each night. As an editor on Mattress Nerd and a Certified Sleep Science Coach, Loren aims to help people achieve optimal sleep health and pick the best sleep accessories for their needs.

Combination Sleeper

Education & Credentials

• Certified Sleep Science Coach