Bear vs. Bear Pro Mattress Comparison
Note: The Bear Pro mattress has been discontinued as of February 2024. We’re working hard to bring an updated review and will update the page accordingly. In the meantime, links to the Bear Pro have been changed to the Bear Star Hybrid mattress.
Both Bear mattresses are all-foam and great for athletes, but read on to see which one is best for you.
Bear vs. Bear Pro Overview
These two Bear mattresses have similar constructions and performance, but the Bear Original is firmer and more lifted, while the Bear Pro is a thicker bed with more motion isolation for couples and pressure relief for side sleepers.
| Bear is best for… | Bear Pro is best for… |
| Firm mattress fans | Side sleepers |
| Combination sleepers | Couples |
| Seniors | Hot sleepers |
Who Should Choose the Bear Mattress?
- Firm mattress fans—Both of these Bear beds are all-foam, but the Bear Original is noticeably firmer than the Bear Pro, making the better choice for sleepers wanting a more solid mattress.
- Combination sleepers—If you’re a restless sleeper who tends to change positions throughout the night, the more firm Bear Original offers better ease of movement.
- Seniors—For seniors who sleep or sit near the edge of their mattress, the Bear Original offers better edge support, meaning it’s more supportive and durable around its perimeter.
Who Should Choose the Bear Pro Mattress?
- Side sleepers—Side sleepers tend to do better on beds that are more cushioned and soft, making the Bear Pro the better choice for side sleepers wanting pressure relief on their hips and shoulders.
- Couples—Sharing a bed with a restless sleeper can keep you up too. However, the Bear Pro’s great motion isolation absorbs any unwanted movement during the night.
- Hot sleepers—The Bear Pro may be the thicker of the two beds, but its layers all feature cooling materials like graphite and copper, giving this mattress the edge in cooling.
Bear vs. Bear Pro: Top Similarities
- Back sleepers—Both of these Bear beds offer outstanding pressure relief for back sleepers who are average-weight or lighter. This is because the foam comfort layers of both mattresses contour well to the natural “S” shape of the sleeper’s spine.
- Heavyweight sleepers—Since foam is generally a less supportive material, and both beds are all-foam, heavyweight sleepers (over 230 lbs) may want a more solid mattress.
- Durability—Also, foam isn’t the most durable material either. So, regardless of whether you choose the Original or Pro, you can expect about average durability from either bed.
Bear vs. Bear Pro: Top Differences
- Responsiveness—Combination sleepers will notice that the Bear Original is much more responsive and lifted than the Bear Hybrid. This is because the Original is firmer and has fewer “sinking” layers of polyfoam.
- Temperature control—That said, the Bear Hybrid offers better temperature control than the original Bear thanks to its extra cooling layers.
- Side sleepers—Across the board, side sleepers will prefer the Bear Hybrid’s softer feel and extra contouring polyfoam, which relieves pressure on the side.
Bear vs. Bear Pro: Firmness & Feel Differences
We’ve run through the basics of these two Bear mattresses, but let’s talk more about how they actually feel.
What’s the Firmness Of the Bear & Bear Pro Mattresses?
At Mattress Nerd, we like to measure firmness on a scale of 1–10, where a 10 is the firmest and a 1 is like sleeping on a teddy bear. For these Bears however, the Original measures in at a 7/10 on our firmness scale, and the Bear Pro measures in at a 6/10.
Generally, these two firmness measures fall under “medium-firm”, but lightweight sleepers will notice the difference and will likely prefer the softer Bear Pro. For heavier sleepers, however, the Pro firmness level will feel too soft.
What Do the Bear & Bear Pro Mattresses Feel Like?
The biggest difference in feel between these two beds is that the Bear Original feels much more lifted and firm than you might expect for a memory foam bed. On the other hand, the Bear Hybrid has more of the contouring softness that’s typical of polyfoam mattresses.
What’s It Like to Sleep On the Bear & Bear Pro Mattresses?
Both of these Bear mattresses are great for back sleepers who are average-weight and lighter, while the Bear Pro is the better choice for side sleepers. However, the more firm Bear Original is the better choice for stomach sleepers.
[Publisher: Insert a photo of our tester on each mattress in between the paragraphs for Mattress A and Mattress B.]The Bear vs. Bear Pro Mattresses By Body Type
Bear 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 Pro Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 2 | 3 |
1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent
Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 lbs)
For average-weight sleepers, both the Bear Original and the Bear Hybrid are great for back sleepers, but stomach sleepers will likely prefer the Original more. This is because the Original offers more firmness and lift, which is key for stomach sleepers who don’t want their hips to sink down into the bed. Lastly, for side sleepers, the Bear Pro is by far the better option since it’s softer and has better pressure relief for the hips and shoulders.
Heavyweight Sleepers (> 230 lbs)
Next up, heavyweight back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and side sleepers will all get similar experiences from these two Bear mattresses. This is because heavyweight sleepers will find they need more support than either bed offers, making neither of them ideal.
Lightweight Sleepers (< 130 lbs)
Last, but not least, lightweight back sleepers will be comfortable on either Bear bed, thanks to their contouring foam, but stomach sleepers will actually prefer the Bear Original. This is because, like with average-weight sleepers, the Original’s more firm design offers better support. Lastly, for side sleepers, the softer Bear Pro takes the lead by a wide margin, due to its softer feel.
Differences In Mattress Construction
These two polyfoam Bear beds have plenty in common, but the Bear Pro features an additional layer of copper-infused foam, which is designed to help athletes recover more efficiently. As a result of this extra foam, the Bear Pro measures in at a foot tall, while the Bear Original is 10” tall.
| Bear Mattress Materials | Bear Pro Mattress Materials |
| Breathable Celliant cover | Breathable Celliant cover |
| Gel memory foam | Copper-infused foam |
| Transition foam | Gel memory foam |
| High-density support foam | Transition foam |
| High density support foam |
Cover
First off, the Bear Original and the Bear Pro have a breathable Celliant mattress cover that is designed to wick away excess body heat and reemit it back into the body for muscle recovery. However, if you’re a hot sleeper, this infrared won’t cause you to heat back up again.
Comfort Layers
In terms of similarities, both the Original and the Pro feature a gel memory foam layer that includes cooling graphite gel and pressure relief for and contouring, for cool and restoring sleep.
However, the Bear Pro also has an extra layer of comfort foam that’s infused with copper. This copper infusion offers antimicrobial properties and helps to regulate temperature too.
Support Layers
Getting down toward the bottom of these two beds, the Original and the Hybrid both have a layer of transition foam, which is more solid than the comfort foam above and has a bouncy feel. This support layer works by keeping your body from sinking too far down into the foam layers of these mattresses.
Finally, at the very bottom, both beds also have a layer of high-density polyfoam. This super firm layer adds some solidness and firmness to the mattress, making it more durable and supportive.
Bear vs. Bear Pro Pricing
| Size | Bear Prices | Bear Pro Prices |
| Twin | $ | $ |
| Twin XL | $ | $ |
| Full | $ | $ |
| Queen | $ | $ |
| King | $ | $ |
| California King | $ | $ |
For exclusive discounts on both beds see our Bear mattress coupons.
Bear vs. Bear Pro Mattress Performance Ratings & Differences
Temperature
Neither Bear mattress is one of the best mattresses for hot sleepers, but hot sleepers will definitely find the Bear Pro more cooling due to its additional cooling layers of graphite and copper infused foam.
Motion Transfer
Once again, the Bear Pro takes the lead here on motion isolation. Specifically, the Bear Pro is a thicker mattress with more layers of foam, so, naturally, it’s better at absorbing unwanted movement. Overall, the Bear Pro is one of the best mattresses for couples who sleep light or toss and turn.
Edge Support
Going back to the Bear Original, this mattress offers more solid edge support than the Bear Pro. This is because the Original is all around firmer than the Pro. So, thanks to its strong support, the Original is one of the best mattresses for seniors or sleepers who lie near their bed’s edge.
Pressure Relief
This one depends on your sleeping position, but the Bear Pro offers better pressure relief for side sleepers. However, stomach sleepers will also find that the Bear Original is better at reducing pressure on the hips and back. Overall, the Pro is more pressure-relieving for lightweight sleepers.
Pain Relief
Neither of these mattresses are ideal for side sleepers or stomach sleepers looking for pain relief, but the Bear Pro and Bear Original are great for back sleepers (especially under 230 lbs) looking for excellent contouring and support.
Durability
While foam isn’t known for being the most durable material, due to sagging and warping, the Bear Pro comes out on top due to it being two inches thicker. Nonetheless, both beds come with a Lifetime warranty that protects against any defects or indentations.
Shipping, Returns, & Warranties
The Original and Pro are both made by Bear, so you’ll be getting the same policies either way. First off, these Bear mattresses come with free shipping anywhere in the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) and will arrive at your doorstep as a bed-in-a-box.
From there, you can rest easy with a 120-night trial period, during which you can request to return your Bear bed for free if you don’t wish to keep it. But, if you do want to keep your Bear mattress around, you’ll be entitled to a Lifetime warranty that covers any defects or indentations in your bed.
Other Models Available
This mattress is no longer available for purchase. To help you find your next mattress, check out our list of the best mattresses available on the market now.
Our Final Take
The Bear Pro is the better choice for side sleepers, hot sleepers, and couples. This is because the Pro has better pressure relief for the hips and shoulders, has more cooling layers, and absorbs unwanted movement better. On the other hand, the Bear Original is firmer, offers better edge support for seniors, and is more supportive for stomach sleepers.
Bear & Bear Pro FAQs
How Do I Unpackage My Bear Mattress?
Once your Bear mattress has arrived as a bed-in-a-box at your doorstep, you’ll want to get an extra pair of hands to help you move it into a room of your choosing. From there, carefully cut open the box with scissors and wait for the bed to finish expanding.
Is the Bear Mattress Good For Back Pain?
Yes. Both the Bear Original and the Bear Pro are foam beds designed for recovering athletes, and both beds feature several comfort layers of contouring foam that reduce pressure on the lower back. Generally, both of these Bear beds are ideal for back sleepers who are under 230 lbs.
Which Bear Mattress Is Best?
This depends on your sleeping style and body type. Between the Bear Original and Bear Pro, the Original is a better choice for combination sleepers and stomach sleepers, but the Bear Pro is softer and better suited for side sleepers. That said, neither foam bed is great for heavyweight sleepers.
