Despite the many similarities between the Bear Mattress and the Leesa Original Mattress, there are subtle differences that you should know before making a purchase.
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Bear vs Leesa Mattress Comparison
Comparing Bear & Leesa Mattresses
The Bear Mattress and the Leesa Original Mattress are both all-foam sleep options. The Bear Mattress is more suited for combination sleepers, hot sleepers, couples and athletes. The Leesa Original, although a memory foam mattress that can suit all sleeping positions, has an additional bounce that balances out the traditional memory foam hug.
Differences
- The Bear Mattress is firmer than the Leesa.
- The Leesa Mattress accommodates all kinds of sleepers, but the Bear may not be as best for side sleepers looking for a softer, contouring feel.
- The Bear’s Celliant cover allows it to promote faster muscle recovery for athletes.
Similarities
- Both mattresses are 100% foam.
- Both mattresses come with identical 100-night trial periods and 10-year warranties.
- Both mattresses are great for couples that share a bed, as memory foam mattresses as a rule provide great motion isolation.
The Original Bear Mattress
Designed for people with active lifestyles, the Original Bear mattress is Bear’s flagship model. It features foams that work well for sleepers of all positions and sizes and a standout cover whose fabric blend includes Celliant, which converts body heat into infrared energy to promote muscle recovery.
Score
4.8
/
5.0
Firmness
7
Trial period
100 nights
Reason to buy
Promotes muscle recovery
Who the Bear Mattress is Best For
Best For…
- Athletes
- Hot sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Couples
-
May Not be Best For…
- Heavyset individuals
- People who desire ultra-firm mattresses
- People who don’t like pure memory foam mattresses
-
Read our full Bear mattress review to learn more!
Leesa
The Leesa mattress adapts to all sleep positions and most body types. With its cooling foam and additional layers that both hug and support you, it's no wonder customers love sleeping on their Leesa.
Who the Leesa Mattress is Best For
Best For…
- All sleep positions
- Couples
- Sleepers who like medium-firm mattresses
-
May Not be Best For…
- Heavier sleepers
- People who prefer innerspring mattresses
- Strict stomach sleepers
-
Read our full Leesa mattress review to learn more!
Deciding Between Bear & Leesa
Firmness / Feel
Mattresses are rated on a firmness scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most firm and 1 being the softest. Softer mattresses are better for side sleepers who need their shoulders and hips cradled, while firmer mattresses are better for stomach and back sleepers in need of hip, shoulder, back and neck support. The Bear Mattress is a 7/10 on the firmness scale, making it better for combination sleepers, and the Leesa is a 6/10, allowing it to accommodate most sleep positions. Strict stomach sleepers may want something firmer than the Leesa in order to keep their spine aligned on top of the mattress.
Motion Isolation
When we shift positions or get in and out of bed, that motion can transfer across the surface, potentially disturbing those sharing our bed. That is why couples will want a mattress with a high level of motion isolation. Both mattresses demonstrate a great level of motion isolation, making them ideal for couples.
Edge Support
Over time, as we get in and out of bed, this can cause the edges of the mattress to sag and lose their shape. A mattress with a high degree of edge support will mitigate this. Both mattresses offer some edge support, but may begin to sink in over time because of the memory foam construction.
Pressure Relief
Depending on your sleep position and the materials used in the mattress, different mattresses deliver varying levels of pressure point relief. Both mattresses offer a decent amount of pressure relief, but strict stomach sleepers – and those who are plus-sized – may find the Leesa mattress to be a little lacking. It’s softer, more hugging nature may cause the hips of stomach sleepers to sink and fall out of alignment, especially if they’re on the heavier side. However, side sleepers should receive enough contouring around their shoulders and hips on the softer Leesa mattress.
Spine Alignment
Spinal alignment is one of the keys to a good night’s sleep. You need a mattress that will encourage spinal alignment to ensure you don’t wake up with back pain or neck pain. For combination sleepers, the Bear Mattress is your best bet. The Bear’s responsive transition foam will adapt to fit your position as you move. Its higher firmness will also create a supportive surface for back and stomach sleepers. The Leesa Original Mattress will help with spinal alignment for all sleep positions, unless you’re a strict stomach sleeper.
Durability
A mattress is designed to keep its structure and shape for a very long time, but different mattresses come with varying levels of durability. Both mattresses are built with quality materials and are designed to maintain their structural integrity, but memory foam tends to break down a bit faster than hybrid or innerspring beds.
Temperature
Modern mattresses are built to keep you cool while you rest, but some do a better job than others. The Bear Mattress is much better at keeping sleepers cool due to the graphite in the memory foam. The Bear’s top layer of gel and graphite infused memory foam draw heat away from the sleeper, preventing it from becoming trapped in the mattress. The Leesa’s comfort layer is also breathable, but it does not have extra cooling additions like the Bear.
Bear vs. Leesa Mattress Construction
| Bear Mattress | Leesa Original Mattress | |
| Cover | Celliant fibers | Organic cotton cover |
| Comfort Layer | Graphite gel-infused foam | LSA200 cooling foam |
| Response Layer | Bouncy response foam | N/A |
| Transitional Layer | Transitional foam | Contouring memory foam |
| Support Layer | Support foam | Dense polyfoam |
| Mattress Thickness | 10 inches | 10 inches |
Bear Construction
The Bear Mattress features four layers of foam topped by a Celliant fiber cover that is designed to not only reflect infrared light, but to also absorb heat. It should keep hot sleepers cooler throughout the night while encouraging blood flow and circulation, allowing for faster muscle recovery while you rest. The top layer is made of graphite-infused memory foam that further absorbs heat and pushes it away from your body to keep you cool.
The next layer is bouncy and responsive foam to provide pressure relief for your back, shoulders, and hips while also keeping your spine aligned. The third memory foam layer also assists with pressure relief and provides support to the overall mattress. The base layer is made of supportive memory foam to ensure the mattress retains its structure and shape for a long time.
Leesa Construction
The Leesa Original Mattress’s top layer is made of cooling LSA200 foam that feels similar to latex. It provides a healthy amount of bounce and cooling, allowing it to accommodate any sleep position. The comfort layer is made of contouring memory foam that addresses pressure points and provides exceptional pressure relief on sensitive areas. The dense base layer is made of polyfoam, which supports the overall mattress and helps it stay strong and stable for years to come. To understand more about these materials, read our Latex vs Memory Foam article.
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Shipping and Returns for Bear & Leesa
Bear
Bear mattresses ship for free across the continental 48 United States. After placing an order, the new mattress should arrive within 4 to 7 business days.
New Bear mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial, so that you can try out your mattress for approximately 3 months to see if it’s right for you. If you don’t like your mattress, you can initiate a return for a full refund.
Leesa
Leesa ships its mattresses for free all over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Once you place your order, you can expect to receive your new mattress within 3 to 6 business days.
Your Leesa mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial period. For 100 nights, you can test out the mattress and see if it’s right for you. If you find anything a customer doesn’t like about the mattress, they can initiate a return, no questions asked. The only caveats to this policy is that there is a $100 fee to return mattresses from Alaska or Hawaii. Also, Leesa requires a 30-day waiting period after the date of delivery before returns can be initiated. This is due to the fact that many foam mattresses require a brief break-in period.
Bear Hybrid
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.
See Bear Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.
Bear Pro 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.
Read our full Bear Pro Mattress Review to learn more.
More Leesa Mattresses
Leesa Hybrid
This luxury hybrid mattress combines supportive coils with premium foam for cradling and comfort. The foam is perforated to reduce heat trapping, and the coils provide excellent edge support.
See our full Leesa Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.
Leesa Legend
The Leesa Legend is an upgraded take on the hybrid mattress. Considered a luxury hybrid mattress, it features two sets of coils for added support, topped with cradling foam and an organic cotton cover.
Read our full Leesa Legend Mattress Review to learn more.
If you’re still not sure which mattress is for you, check out some of our other comparisons:
Our Bear vs. Leesa Final Review
The Bear Mattress is made for athletes, combination sleepers, hot sleepers and couples. It’s designed with some high-tech features for cooling and recovery, including a graphite and gel infusion and a Celliant fiber cover. The Leesa Original Mattress is meant for almost all sleep positions except strict stomach sleepers. It’s great for couples and for others who desire extra bounce in their mattress. Either way, these are two great all-foam mattresses for the money.
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