In this mattress comparison, we break down the differences, similarities, and pros and cons of the Helix Midnight and Bear Original mattresses to help you make a confident decision between the two.
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Bear vs. Helix Mattress Comparison
The Bear Original is a memory foam mattress designed specifically for athletes. It has an all-foam design and a Celliant cover that’s designed to improve blood flow and recovery. The Helix Midnight is one of six mattresses in Helix’s standard line of hybrid beds. It’s the most popular of the six, thanks to its balanced, medium-firm feel.
Both mattresses work well for lightweight and average-weight back or stomach sleepers, and the Helix Midnight is a good option for side sleepers. If you overheat at night, the Helix Midnight will provide better airflow and cooling. If active recovery, blood circulation, and relief from aches is your priority, go with the Bear. Keep reading to learn more.
Comparing Bear Mattress & Helix Midnight
Differences
- Cover Material: The Helix Midnight’s cover, while breathable and soft, takes a back seat in comparison to other features of the mattress. Alternatively, the Bear’s Celliant cover is one of the bed’s main highlights. Celliant yarn is said to improve blood flow, keep you cool, and encourage active tissue recovery.
- Cooling Features: Both mattresses sleep cool relative to comparable models, but the way they achieve it is different. The Helix Midnight has a breathable cover and coil base layer. The Bear’s Celliant cover and gel-infused comfort foam help it sleep cooler than conventional memory foam beds.
- Side Sleeper Support: We recommend only the Helix Midnight to side sleepers, since it has a softer feel and more sinkage around pressure points than the Bear. For more pressure-relieving options, consider one of the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Similarities
- Balanced Feel: Both mattresses offer a balance of comfort and support. Their comfort layers provide pressure relief while the transition and base layers add support and responsiveness.
- Pricing: The Bear and Helix Midnight mattresses are both lower cost mid-range mattresses. The Queen size Bear and Midnight are priced within $100 of each other.
- Back Sleeper Support: Both of these beds are well-suited to back sleeping, thanks to soft top layers and supportive transition and base layers.
Best for: athletes and regular exercisers, people who enjoy a balance of conforming and support, and value shoppers. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Best for: athletes and regular exercisers, people who enjoy a balance of conforming and support, and value shoppers. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Best for: athletes and regular exercisers, people who enjoy a balance of conforming and support, and value shoppers. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Mattress
Read Bear Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Mattress
Read Bear Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Mattress
Read Bear Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
Who the Bear Mattress is Best For
Best For…
- Athletes and regular exercisers: If you want the health benefits of Celliant technology—like boosted oxygen levels, faster recovery, and relief from aches–go with the Bear.
- People who enjoy a balance of conforming and support: The Bear has an accommodating feel that isn’t too soft or too firm for the average sleeper.
- Value shoppers: The Bear mattress is made with high-quality materials and a thoughtful design, but boasts a lower price point than the average bed-in-a-box brand.
May Not be Best For…
- Heavier stomach sleepers: If you sleep strictly on your stomach and weigh more than 230 lbs, you may need a more supportive bed with coils that can provide lift throughout the torso. Check out our roundup of best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
- People who sleep very hot: The Bear’s all-foam construction won’t make it quite as cool or breathable as a hybrid mattress, which could cause discomfort if you sleep particularly hot.
Read our full Bear mattress review to learn more!
Best for: lightweight and average-weight sleepers, side and back sleepers who like a balanced feel, and hot sleepers. Best for: lightweight and average-weight sleepers, side and back sleepers who like a balanced feel, and hot sleepers. Best for: lightweight and average-weight sleepers, side and back sleepers who like a balanced feel, and hot sleepers.
Helix Midnight Mattress
Read Helix Midnight Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Helix Midnight Mattress
Read Helix Midnight Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Helix Midnight Mattress
Read Helix Midnight Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Who the Helix Midnight is Best For
Best For…
- Lightweight and average-weight sleepers: If you weigh less than 230 lbs, you should feel comfortable and supported in almost any position on this mattress.
- Side and back sleepers who like a balanced feel: The Helix Midnight’s top layer of memory foam will conform around your hips, shoulders, and low back, while the individually-wrapped coils lift your spine into a healthy position, making it an especially good match for side and back sleepers.
- Hot sleepers: The Helix Midnight sleeps noticeably cool thanks to its breathable cover, cool top layers, and the airflow through the coil support layer.
May Not be Best For…
- Most heavyweight sleepers: If you don’t weigh much more than 230 lbs, you could get away with the Helix Midnight. However, most people who are heavier will need a firmer model made specifically for larger people. The only exception is side sleepers who weigh less than 300 lbs.
- Most strict stomach sleepers: Most stomach sleepers will find the Helix Midnight too soft. You may experience the hips dipping down, indicating you need a firmer mattress.
Read our full Helix Midnight mattress review to learn more!
Deciding Between Bear & Helix
Firmness / Feel
Brand Bear Performance By 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 |
Brand Helix Midnight Performance By Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Average weight (130 – 230 lbs): | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 3 | 4 |
1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent
The Bear mattress is around a 7/10 on the firmness scale, with 10 being very firm. This makes the Bear a little firmer than average. The top layer of memory foam is soft, but its viscous, contouring feel is balanced by the firmer, bouncier transition foam and support layers right underneath. On the mattress, you’ll feel a touch of pressure relief from the memory foam but the spine should feel supported.
The Helix Midnight is a medium-firm mattress with a 6/10 firmness level. It’s Helix Sleep’s most popular hybrid model for a reason. It offers an even more balanced mix of comfort, support, and pressure relief than the Bear. It’s comfortable in all sleeping positions, and provides the sensation of sleeping “in” the mattress.
Motion Isolation
If you sleep with a partner and are concerned about feeling their movement throughout the night, the Helix Midnight does a better job of minimizing motion transfer. The top memory foam layer absorbs a good amount of movement, and we even consider the Helix Midnight LUXE (the upgraded version of the Midnight) to be one of the best mattresses for couples.
Surprisingly, we felt a lot of movement on the surface of the Bear. Normally, we’d expect better motion isolation from a memory foam mattress.
Edge Support
Edge support is important if you like sitting on the edge of your bed or if you share a smaller mattress with a partner. You should feel secure sitting or lying around the edges of the Helix Midnight, but we noticed more sinkage when sitting along the sides of the Bear Original.
Pressure Relief
The amount of pressure relief you experience on either mattress will depend on your weight and sleeping position. The Bear Original offers excellent pressure relief for lightweight and average-weight sleepers, but it doesn’t have a deep-sinking feel. If you want a touch of pressure relief while feeling supported along the spine, we recommend the Bear.
The Helix Midnight is a slightly different story. It can offer pressure relief for the same body types (average-weight and lightweight), and it has the cushioning needed for side sleeping without bunching up around the shoulders and hips.
Spine Alignment
During our spinal alignment test, we observe how well a mattress supports good posture while lying down. We pay extra attention to how well the bed supports our testers’ lumbar region (lower back) and keeps the testers’ spine a neutral posture. Like pressure relief, the ability to achieve healthy spinal alignment on either bed depends on your body type and sleeping position.
Either bed can support lightweight and average-weight individuals, but the Helix Midnight, which has coils and a slightly firmer feel, is better for keeping heavyweight sleepers aligned. It also keeps side sleepers spines in a healthier position. The Bear mattress is probably not supportive enough for folks over 230 lbs, but otherwise provides excellent spinal alignment for back and stomach sleepers.
Related: Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers
Durability
Both mattresses feature quality materials and durable constructions, so we expect both to last at least seven years. Between the two, we think the Helix Midnight will last longer. Both brands offer 10-year mattress warranties for these models.
Temperature
The Bear and Helix Midnight boast several design features to help you get a cool night’s sleep. The Bear has a Celliant cover that helps cool down the surface of the mattress, and the comfort foam has a graphite-gel infusion to help dissipate heat. The Helix Midnight has a layer of coils for improved airflow and a breathable cover.
You can also upgrade to the Helix Midnight LUXE version, which has more cooling features and is one of our top picks for best cooling mattress.
| Cover | Celliant Yarn Cover |
| Comfort Layer | Gel & Graphite Infused Memory Foam (2”) |
| Transitional Layer | Polyfoam (2”) |
| Support Layer | High-Density Polyfoam (2”) |
| Mattress Thickness | 10″ |
The Bear Original is an all-foam mattress that measures 10” tall. It has a firmer-than-average feel but offers some pressure relief in the memory foam layer.
The three layers of foam are encased in a Celliant cover, which is said to convert body heat into infrared light that encourages blood flow and circulation in the sleeper. This is followed by a thin comfort layer of gel and graphite infused foam, giving the sleeper gentle contouring without much sinkage.
The transition layer is a bouncy polyfoam that will make it easy for the sleeper to change positions at night and get in and out of bed. The Bear’s support foam is high-density polyfoam, which lends structure to the mattress.
Helix Mattress Construction
| Cover | Polyester Cover |
| Comfort Layer | Gel-Infused Memory Plus Foam (2”) |
| Transitional Layer | Helix Dynamic Foam (1”) |
| Support Layer | Pocketed Coils (8”) & High-Density Foam (1”) |
| Mattress Thickness | 12″ |
The Helix Midnight shares a similar construction to the other Helix models, but like each of the Helix designs, it has a unique feel and firmness. The Midnight offers a balanced feel with pressure point relief.
The non-removable cover is soft to the touch, and it’s designed to be breathable to help with cooling. On top of the Midnight is a layer of the brand’s proprietary Memory Plus Foam. This foam has a medium firmness and should help with pain relief. Below that is a layer of responsive polyfoam, which acts as a transition layer and gives the bed a little bounce.
The base of the Midnight is individually-wrapped coils on top of a thin layer of high-density polyfoam. These base layers give the bed a lifted, durable feel. It measures 12” thick, which is about average for a hybrid.
Sizing & Price Comparisons
| Mattress Size | Bear Price | Helix Price |
| Twin | $695 | $699 |
| Twin XL | $695 | $799 |
| Full | $895 | $949 |
| Queen | $995 | $1,099 |
| King | $1,095 | $1,449 |
| Cal King | $1,095 | $1,449 |
Want a lower price? Check out some Bear mattress coupons and Helix mattress coupons.
Shipping and Returns
Bear
Bear offers free shipping to the contiguous U.S. The company will ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada for a $100 fee. White glove delivery is also available in the contiguous U.S. for an additional $100 fee. This service includes in-home assembly, and you can request to have your old mattress removed for an extra $50.
The mattresses are shipped through FedEx and usually arrive within seven business days after purchase. Once it arrives, you’ll have a 100-night sleep trial to test out the mattress at home. Bear requires you to test the mattress for at least 30 nights prior to initiating a return. If you return it, you’ll receive a complete refund, and mattress pickup services are provided for you.
The Bear Original comes with a 10-year limited warranty that begins on the date of purchase. It covers sagging, indentations measuring 1.5” or deeper, and issues related to the mattress cover. If a defect is discovered, Bear will repair or replace the mattress at no extra cost.
Related: Bear Mattress Warranty
Note: When shopping for online mattresses, if you purchase through Amazon instead of the company website, you may have a different trial period and return policy.
Helix
The Helix Midnight ships as a bed-in-a-box via UPS Ground and typically arrives within seven business days after the order is placed. Helix ships free to all 50 states. Shipping to Canada is also available for $250. White glove delivery is not offered, but you can request old mattress removal for an additional fee of $75.
Once the Midnight arrives, you have a 100-night sleep trial with a 30-night break-in period. After 30 days have passed, you can return the mattress if you’re not satisfied with it. Helix also offers the option to add a new comfort layer at no extra cost. This layer can make the mattress firmer or softer. If you’re still not satisfied, you can return the mattress for a full refund, and Helix will coordinate pickup.
The Midnight comes with a 10-year warranty. Helix will repair or replace mattresses with defects at their sole discretion. The Helix mattress warranty covers indentations 1” or deeper, physical defects that cause the materials to split or crack, and manufacturing flaws in the cover. If you notice a defect, you must ship the mattress to Helix at your own expense. If the mattress is deemed defective, Helix will repair or replace it and reimburse you up to $100 for shipping costs.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a luxury cooling version of the original Helix Midnight mattress. It works for people of all sleep positions and body types. Read our full review to learn more about this bed.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a luxury cooling version of the original Helix Midnight mattress. It works for people of all sleep positions and body types. Read our full review to learn more about this bed.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a luxury cooling version of the original Helix Midnight mattress. It works for people of all sleep positions and body types. Read our full review to learn more about this bed.
Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress
Read Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Warranty
15-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress
Read Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
15-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress
Read Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
15-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Read Helix LUXE mattress reviews to learn more.
The Helix Sunset features a plush memory foam layer with a soft, contouring feel that's especially good for side sleepers. Memory foam purists will love its classic "sinking" effect that cradles the body as if you're sleeping "in" the mattress.
The Helix Sunset features a plush memory foam layer with a soft, contouring feel that's especially good for side sleepers. Memory foam purists will love its classic "sinking" effect that cradles the body as if you're sleeping "in" the mattress.
The Helix Sunset features a plush memory foam layer with a soft, contouring feel that's especially good for side sleepers. Memory foam purists will love its classic "sinking" effect that cradles the body as if you're sleeping "in" the mattress.
Helix Sunset Mattress
Read Helix Sunset Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Helix Sunset Mattress
Read Helix Sunset Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Helix Sunset Mattress
Read Helix Sunset Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Read Helix Sunset mattress review to learn more.
More Bear Mattresses
The Bear Hybrid mattress captures all the most coveted features in a mattress and jam packs them into this state-of-the-art hybrid. The cooling gel memory foam continuously carries away heat, promising you a cooler, more restful night’s sleep.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Bear Hybrid mattress captures all the most coveted features in a mattress and jam packs them into this state-of-the-art hybrid. The cooling gel memory foam continuously carries away heat, promising you a cooler, more restful night’s sleep.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Bear Hybrid mattress captures all the most coveted features in a mattress and jam packs them into this state-of-the-art hybrid. The cooling gel memory foam continuously carries away heat, promising you a cooler, more restful night’s sleep.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Hybrid Mattress
Read Bear Hybrid Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Hybrid Mattress
Read Bear Hybrid Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Hybrid Mattress
Read Bear Hybrid Mattress Review
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Read Bear Hybrid mattress review to learn more.
The Bear Pro is one of Bear's newer all-foam mattresses. With four foam layers, including a copper-infused comfort layer designed for enhanced cooling, the Pro offers more of a cradling feeling than the original Bear mattress.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Bear Pro is one of Bear's newer all-foam mattresses. With four foam layers, including a copper-infused comfort layer designed for enhanced cooling, the Pro offers more of a cradling feeling than the original Bear mattress.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Bear Pro is one of Bear's newer all-foam mattresses. With four foam layers, including a copper-infused comfort layer designed for enhanced cooling, the Pro offers more of a cradling feeling than the original Bear mattress.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.
Bear Pro Mattress
Read Bear Pro Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Pro Mattress
Read Bear Pro Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Pro Mattress
Read Bear Pro Mattress Review
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
See Bear Pro mattress review to learn more.
Haven’t made a decision yet? Check out these other 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
- Nectar vs. Brooklyn Bedding
- Nectar vs. Casper
- Nectar vs. DreamCloud Premier
- Nectar vs. GhostBed
- Nectar vs. Layla
- Nectar vs. Leesa
- Nectar vs. Loom & Leaf
- Nectar vs. Lull
- Nectar vs. Nolah
- Nectar vs. Puffy
- Nectar vs. Purple
- Nectar vs. Tempur-Pedic
- Nectar vs. Tuft & Needle
- Nectar vs. WinkBed
Our Final Take
Both the Helix Midnight and the Bear Original are excellent options. Each has its bells and whistles, is well made, and can suit a relatively wide variety of body types and sleeping positions.
Go with the original Bear if you want the more affordable mattress option with a traditional memory foam feel and Celliant cover for active recovery. Go with the Helix Midnight if you want a slightly more neutral, responsive feel, the added airflow of a pocketed coil support layer, and have a larger budget.
