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Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid Comparison
Both Bear mattresses are great options for active sleepers; read on to see which one is best for you.
Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid Overview
The Bear Original is an all-foam bed that’s great for back sleepers needing pressure relief and sleepers wanting a firmer foam mattress. On the other hand, the more expensive (but also more durable) Bear Hybrid offers better cooling, motion isolation, and edge support.
| Bear Original is best for… | Bear Hybrid is best for… |
| Sleepers needing pressure relief | Hot sleepers |
| Budget shoppers | Couples |
| Firm mattress fans | Seniors |
Who Should Choose the Bear Original Mattress?
- Sleepers needing pressure relief—As an all-foam bed, the Bear Original is great for back and stomach sleepers needing pressure relief on their spine.
- Budget shoppers—Although both beds are made by Bear, the Bear Original can cost up to $900 more for the same size.
- Firm mattress fans—Don’t let the Bear Original’s all-foam design fool you—this bed is plenty firm and lifted.
Who Should Choose the Bear Hybrid Mattress?
- Hot sleepers—Hybrid beds are generally more cooling, and the Bear Hybrid is no exception. If sleeping cool is your top priority, then the Bear Hybrid is an easy choice.
- Couples—Despite having a support layer of bouncy coils, the Bear Hybrid has good motion isolation for light sleeping couples.
- Seniors—Thanks to its durable hybrid design, the Hybrid offers solid edge support for seniors or any sleeper who sits or lies near the edge of their mattress.
Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid: Top Similarities
- Responsiveness—You might think a set of coils would make the Bear Hybrid more springy, but both Bear mattresses feature an outstanding ease of movement.
- Side sleepers—Unfortunately, neither mattress is a great choice for side sleepers: they’re both too firm and
- Average sleepers—Regardless of which Bear mattress you choose, you’ll get a similar experience if you’re an average-weight sleeper (130 lbs to 230 lbs).
Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid: Top Differences
- Price—Both Bear beds come with the same company policies, but the Hybrid is much more expensive than the Original.
- Temperature control—Thanks to layers of cooling foam and pocketed coils, the Bear Hybrid offers much better temperature control than the Original.
- Motion isolation—That said, the Bear Original offers great motion isolation. You’re much less likely to feel your partner tossing and turning on this bed.
Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid: Firmness & Feel Differences
Now that we’ve covered the biggest differences between these two Bear mattresses, let’s cover how they feel:
What’s the Firmness Of the Bear Original & Bear Hybrid Mattresses?
At Mattress Nerd, we like to rate mattress firmness on a firm-o-meter, a simple scale of 1–10, where a 1 is softer than air and a 10 is harder than bricks. With that in mind, the Bear Original clocks in at a 7/10 and the Bear Hybrid at a 6/10.
These two firmness levels fall under “medium-firm”, meaning they can work for most sleepers, but lightweight sleepers (especially side sleepers) may find this much firmness too uncomfortable.
What Do the Bear Original & Bear Hybrid Mattresses Feel Like?
The Bear Original has a much firmer feel than the typical foam mattress, so you won’t feel yourself “sinking” down into as much. In fact, you can stay on top of the Original quite easily.
For the Bear Hybrid, this bed has a more middle-of-the-road firmness that’ll appeal to more sleeper types. That said, although this bed is softer than the Original, its hybrid design doesn’t provide as much pressure relief.
What’s It Like to Sleep On the Bear Original & Bear Hybrid Mattresses?
Both beds offer similar feels for average-weight sleepers, but lightweight sleepers will prefer the Bear Original more, while heavyweight sleepers will prefer the more supportive Bear Hybrid slightly more.
The Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid Mattresses By Body Type
Bear Original Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Bear Hybrid Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| 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
Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 lbs)
For average-weight sleepers, back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and side sleepers will get the same performance across the board on either the Bear Original or Bear Hybrid. This is because, while having different constructions, the Hybrid’s softer (but more supportive) hybrid build and the Original’s firmer (but more contouring) build more or less cancel out.
Heavyweight Sleepers (> 230 lbs)
For heavyweight back sleepers, the Bear Hybrid’s denser and more solid design provides better support for the lower back. However, for stomach sleepers and side sleepers, once again, these two Bear beds perform very similarly, but neither are great.
Lightweight Sleepers (< 130 lbs)
For lightweight back sleepers and stomach sleepers, the Bear Original is the way to go. This is because the Original’s more contouring foam design offers a great combination support and softness, cushioning your back and hips while keeping them from sinking. For lightweight side sleepers, both beds again are identical–but they’re both much too firm of this kind of sleeper.
Differences In Mattress Construction
Both Bear mattresses feature a similar construction that includes gel-infused and supportive foam layers, but the Bear Hybrid also features an additional support layer of pocketed coils. Also, the Bear Hybrid is a much thicker and denser mattress, measuring in at 13” tall compared to the 11” tall Bear Original.
| Bear Original Mattress Materials | Bear Hybrid Mattress Materials |
| Breathable mattress cover | Breathable mattress cover |
| Gel-infused memory foam | Gel-infused foam |
| Transition foam | Comfort foam |
| High-density support foam | Transition foam |
| Pocketed coils | |
| High-density support foam |
Cover
Both of these Bear beds feature a Celliant woven mattress cover that is breathable and helps sleepers recover after intense workouts. How does it work? This cover absorbs body heat and redirects it as infrared light back into your body, improving your recovery and rest.
Comfort Layers
Below the mattress cover is a couple inches of gel-infused polyfoam that absorbs pressure points from your body above and also redirects heat away from your body.
Next up, in the Bear Hybrid only, is another two inches of comfort foam; however, unlike standard memory foam, this layer is actually quite bouncy and responsive.
Support Layers
Getting into the support layers of these Bear beds, both mattresses feature a layer of transition foam that cushions that body and adds more contouring between the sleeper and the base of the bed. At the very bottom of each bed is a firm layer of high-density polyfoam too. The purpose of this layer is to provide a durable foundation to each mattress and more firmness too.
Lastly, above the polyfoam base (in the Bear Hybrid) is a layer of pocketed coils that help increase ventilation and responsiveness throughout the bed.
Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid Pricing
| Size | Bear Original Prices | Bear Hybrid Prices |
| Twin | $786.00 | $1498.00 |
| Twin XL | $849.00 | $1598.00 |
| Full | $911.00 | $1698.00 |
| Queen | $998.00 | $1998.00 |
| King | $1304.00 | $2298.00 |
| California King | $1304.00 | $2298.00 |
For exclusive discounts on both beds see our Bear mattress coupons.
Bear Original vs. Bear Hybrid Mattress Performance Ratings & Differences
Temperature
Hybrid beds tend to be cooler than all-foam beds because of their ventilation. This is true for the Bear and Bear Hybrid too: since the Hybrid has more airflow through its pocketed coils, this bed is the better option for hot sleepers.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is when your partner tosses, turns, or gets up to go to the bathroom and wakes you up in the process. So, if you’re sharing a bed (and you’re a light sleeper), then we recommend going with the Bear Hybrid, which has a more dense and motion-isolation design.
Edge Support
When it comes to the best mattresses for seniors, or couples, edge support can be especially important because it allows sleepers to sit or lie on the perimeter of their mattress without falling off or damaging it. In this case, the Hybrid’s support layer of pocketed steel coils offers more stability and durability than the all-foam Bear Original.
Pressure Relief
Although the Bear Original is actually firmer than the Hybrid, the bed’s all-foam design offers more contouring and pressure relief, making it a better fit for lightweight sleepers by taking pressure off of their hips and shoulders.
Pain Relief
The best mattresses for back pain relief depends on your body type and sleeping position. Generally, however, the Bear Original offers great pain relief and recovery for average-weight and lighter back and stomach sleepers, while the Hybrid is better for heavier back sleepers. That said, neither mattresses are ideal for hip or shoulder pain.
Durability
Thanks to a thicker, more solid design, plus a support layer of steel coils, the Bear Hybrid is the more durable mattress of the two, meaning you can expect to enjoy it well past the average mattress lifespan of seven years. However, regardless of which Bear bed you choose, you’ll still be entitled to the company’s Lifetime warranty.
Shipping, Returns, & Warranties
Since these beds are both from Bear, you’ll be getting the same policies either way. Let’s take a closer look:
Currently, Bear offers free shipping everywhere in the contiguous United States, and your mattress will arrive at your doorstep as a bed-in-a-box. Lastly, Bear only offers contact-free delivery, meaning you’ll need to unpackage your bed.
Once you’ve set up your Bear mattress, you’ll have a 120-night trial, at any point during which you can request to return your bed for free. However, if you do decide to keep your bed, Bear offers a Lifetime warranty that covers any flaws or indentations in your mattress.
Other Models Available
Bear Pro Hybrid Mattress
The Bear Pro Hybrid is one of Bear’s newer mattresses. With four layers, including a copper-infused comfort layer designed for enhanced cooling, the Pro offers more support than the original Bear mattress.
Product Details
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Sleep Trial
120 nights
Warranty
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Side Sleepers
This bed offers pressure relief at both the shoulders and hips, making it a great fit for side sleepers.
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
Bear’s Elite Hybrid mattress is made for athletes—but it’s great for hot sleepers, seniors, and couples too. The Bear Elite also has a medium firmness plus two more firmness options.
Product Details
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Sleep Trial
120 nights
Warranty
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Hip Pain
This bed should be comfortable for anyone struggling with hip pain since it contours the hips and keeps them supported.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Trek RV Mattress
If you’re outfitting your RV or van, the Bear Trek RV mattress is a cozy memory foam option. It’s made with a top layer of gel-infused memory foam and supportive base foam. The fabric cover is breathable and cooling.
Product Details
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Sleep Trial
100 nights
Warranty
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Our Final Take
The Bear and Bear Hybrid have similar performances for average-weight sleepers, but the Hybrid is slightly better for heavyweight sleepers, while the Original is best for lighter sleepers. That said, the all-foam Original is firmer than the Hybrid, but the Hybrid offers better motion isolation and cooling.
Bear Original & Bear Hybrid FAQs
Should You Put a Bear Mattress on a Box Spring?
No. Bear does not recommend that you place your mattress on a box spring because they’re beds require an even and solid surface for maximum support and durability. However, you can place your Bear bed on a hard surface such as a bed frame, a platform, or a floor.
How Do I Unbox My Bear Mattress?
To set up your Bear bed, bring the box into a selected room and (with another person) unpackage the mattress, giving it several hours to fully expand. Additionally, once you’ve received your bed, you should plan on opening it within three weeks to a month after it’s arrived.
Do I Flip My Bear Mattress?
No. Bear mattresses are one-sided and should not be flipped. However, while not necessary, you can rotate your Bear mattress to keep it as durable and fresh as possible. Rotating your bed every few months can help prevent unequal wear and tear (such as indentations and sagging from occurring).