Layla vs. Bear Mattress Comparison
The Layla is a flippable memory foam mattress that includes both a soft side and a firm side, each with copper-infused foams for temperature neutrality. The Bear is a medium-firm memory foam mattress with a Celliant cover designed for active recovery and better sleep.
In this mattress comparison, we dig into the differences, similarities, price points, and constructions of the Layla and Bear mattresses. Keep reading to learn which is the best mattress for you.
Want to know how we review our mattresses? Read up on our testing methodology.
Layla vs. Bear Overview
Layla and Bear are both popular mattress brands that cater to different types of sleepers. Here’s a brief overview of the main distinctive features of each mattress.
| Layla is best for… | Bear is best for… |
| Shoppers who want a flippable design | Budget shoppers |
| Memory foam lovers | Traditional memory foam lovers |
| Hot sleepers | Athletes and regular exercisers |
Who Should Choose the Layla Mattress?
- Shoppers who want a flippable design: In a way, Layla’s flippable construction offers essentially two beds in one. The softer side offers excellent pressure relief—especially for side sleepers—and the firm side has a denser feel that’s great for all sleeping positions, but especially for back sleepers.
- Soft memory foam lovers: If you’re on the fence about memory foam or just dislike the viscous, sinking feeling of traditional memory foam beds, Layla’s airy, fluffy memory foam feel might be perfect for you. The foam used in the Layla is a bit more responsive than traditional memory foam, especially on the firm side.
- Hot sleepers: Layla’s cooling cover and airy memory foam layers help you keep cool all through the night.
Who Should Choose the Bear Mattress?
- Budget shoppers: The Bear is almost always more affordable than the Layla mattress after discounts are applied, so it’s better for shoppers who want to stretch their dollars. A Queen size can go for as little as $700 with coupon codes.
- Traditional memory foam lovers: The Bear has a viscous memory foam feel that’s probably closer to the memory foam you may have tried in the past. However, it is firm. You’ll experience pressure relief regardless of your weight and sleeping position, but the heavier you are, the more you’ll sink into the bed’s top layers.
- Athletes and regular exercisers: The cover of the Bear contains a material called Celliant, which is designed to improve recovery and circulation. This can be beneficial for professional athletes and active individuals.
Layla vs. Bear Mattress Video Comparison
Here’s a closer look at the top similarities and differences between the two popular foam mattresses.
Layla vs. Bear: Top Similarities
- Cooling features: Both beds have comfort layer foams with cooling agents. The Bear mattress uses graphite, and the Layla mattress uses copper.
- Support: Since both beds feature a polyfoam support core rather than coils, neither is supportive enough for heavyweight individuals. Both will also have some sinkage around the edges.
- Side sleepers: Both mattresses accommodate side sleepers very well and can provide ample amount of support, comfort, and cushion on the hips and shoulders.
Layla vs. Bear: Top Differences
- Discounts and Pricing: Though both companies run promotions frequently throughout the year, Bear tends to offer steeper discounts, so you’re likely to save more money on the Bear regardless of when you purchase it.
- Memory foam feel: Though the memory foam in both beds is detectable, they feel rather distinct. The Bear combines gentle memory foam with denser polyfoam for a lifted surface that still provides a little give. Layla’s memory foam sinks in a bit more: But it doesn’t have the same viscosity as traditional memory foam, so it has a fluffier feel.
- Celliant cover: The Bear has a Celliant cover that’s designed to promote recovery and circulation, so it may appeal more to active people like athletes and those who work out often.
Layla vs. Bear: Firmness & Feel Differences
In this section, we’ll talk about how Layla and Bear compare against each other when it comes to firmness and feel.
What’s the Firmness Of the Layla & Bear Mattresses?
When getting a new mattress, one of the most important factors you need to consider is mattress firmness because it’s paramount to your overall sleeping experience. It’s best to consider which firmness level is suited to your dominant sleeping position and body type to get the most support and comfort out of your mattress.
On a firmness scale going from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest), we rated Layla’s soft and firm sides a 4/10 (medium-soft) and 6.5/10 (medium-firm), respectively. On the other hand, the Bear mattress scores a firmer 7/10.
What Do the Layla & Bear Mattresses Feel Like?
The differences in feel between the Layla and the Bear can be attributed to the beds’ firmness levels and the types of foams used in their constructions.
Layla’s soft side has the most classic memory foam feel because it has the thicker memory foam comfort layer of the two sides. The Layla’s firm side and the Bear are a little more comparable, but the Bear is slightly firmer. The Bear also has a dense feel that combines lift with pressure relief, and the firm side of the Layla has a fluffy, airy feel that you sink into.
What’s It Like to Sleep On the Layla & Bear Mattresses?
Having two sleeping sides makes Layla a versatile mattress option for all sleeping positions. But when it comes to side sleepers, Layla excels because of its super soft and pressure point-cradling memory foam layers. For back and stomach sleepers, the firm side can provide plenty of comfort and support. However, some heavier folks may feel there’s a lack in support, so it’s something to consider.
The Bear mattress is also a great mattress choice for most sleeping positions. However, since it’s on the firmer side, some side sleepers may find it too firm for comfort. Back and stomach sleepers, however, will find plenty of comfort and support for the spine in Bear’s firm memory foam layers.
The Layla vs. Bear Mattresses By Body Type
Layla Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Bear Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 2 | 4 |
1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent
Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 lbs)
Average weight back sleepers will probably get better spinal support from Bear than Layla’s firm side because of its firmer nature.
But for average weight side sleepers, Layla outperforms Bear because of its soft, pressure point-cradling memory foam layers.
Average weight stomach sleepers will need a mattress firm enough to keep their hips from sinking and going out of alignment with their spine, so in this case, Bear is the better recommendation.
Average weight combination sleepers will find both mattresses responsive and easy to move around on. But for the best comfort, they should pick a mattress based on which mattress can accommodate their dominant sleeping position.
Heavyweight Sleepers (> 230 lbs)
Heavyweight back sleepers will probably fare better on the firmer Bear over Layla. However, expect to feel some excess sinking, which may be bad for your spine. We recommend looking at firmer and more supportive mattresses, like the ones in our best mattresses for back sleepers list.
For heavyweight side sleepers, you’ll need extra support to keep the hips and shoulders from sinking, and the Bear brings just enough support for that.
Since both mattresses may struggle a bit when accommodating heavyweight stomach sleepers, we don’t recommend either. Instead, we think you should go for firmer mattresses in our best mattresses for stomach sleepers list.
Most heavyweight combination sleepers may find themselves sinking in too much on either mattress, which may make it hard for them to move around. We recommend looking for more responsive mattresses, like our picks in our best mattresses for combination sleepers.
Lightweight Sleepers (< 130 lbs)
Both mattresses perform relatively well for lightweight back sleepers, so we think either pick is a good choice. It’s just a matter of choosing based on preference for feel.
Layla outperforms Bear a lot when it comes to accommodating lightweight side sleepers. Layla (its soft side, specifically) provides good side support and pressure relief for a good night’s sleep.
Lightweight stomach sleepers will probably have the same experience on both mattresses. That is, both mattresses will probably provide the right amount of comfort and support to keep the hips elevated and aligned.
Both Layla and Bear are responsive foam mattresses, so lightweight combination sleepers won’t have trouble picking. It’s best to choose a mattress that accommodates your dominant sleeping position to get the best comfort possible.
Differences In Mattress Construction
Both Layla and Bear are popular mattress options standing 10″ thick. However, Layla has a hybrid foam construction, whereas Bear has an all-foam one. Here’s a closer look at their mattress construction.
| Layla Mattress Materials | Bear Mattress Materials |
| Polyester-Viscose Blend Cover | Breathable Celliant Cover |
| 3” Copper-Gel Memory Foam (soft side) | 2” Graphite-Gel Memory Foam |
| 2” Max Airflow Support Foam | 2” Responsive Transition Foam |
| 4” Support Core Foam | 6” High-Density Support Foam |
| 1” Copper-Gel Memory Foam (firm side) | – |
Cover
Layla’s polyester-viscose blend cover is infused with Thermo-Gel, which is a cooling gel that helps regulate body heat. Bear’s patented Celliant cover is designed, according to Bear, to help speed up muscle recovery and improve performance by improving blood flow.
Comfort Layers
Layla’s comfort system is made of copper-infused memory foam, with the soft and firm sides measuring 3″ and 1″, respectively. Bear’s comfort layer is made from graphite gel-infused memory foam that’s designed to keep the sleeper cool all night long.
Support Layers
Both mattresses use high-density foam support layers. Layla’s support layer stands 4″ thick, while Bear’s is thicker at 6″.
Layla vs. Bear Pricing
| Size | Layla Prices | Bear Prices |
| Twin | $ | $ |
| Twin XL | $ | $ |
| Full | $ | $ |
| Queen | $ | $ |
| King | $ | $ |
| California King | $ | $ |
For exclusive discounts on both beds see our Layla mattress coupons and Bear mattress coupons.
Layla vs. Bear Mattress Performance Ratings & Differences
Temperature
These mattresses sleep fairly cool when compared to the average memory foam bed. The Layla incorporates copper—which has natural cooling properties—to aid in breathability. The Bear’s Celliant cover and graphite-infused memory foam are designed to do the same. If you sleep very hot, however, we recommend an innerspring or hybrid mattress that will offer adequate airflow through the coil layer.
Motion Transfer
Both beds limit motion transfer exceptionally well. This is typical of memory foam mattresses, which have slower response times. You shouldn’t be able to feel the movements of a partner on either mattress.
Edge Support
The Bear and the Layla are prone to significant sinkage when you sit along the perimeter. If you need the full surface area of the mattress or want to lie near the edges when you sleep, we recommend a hybrid or innerspring mattress instead. The coils in a hybrid or innerspring will provide additional support throughout a mattress, especially along the edges.
Pressure Relief
The amount of pressure relief you experience on a mattress depends on your weight and sleeping position.
In general, both mattresses should provide enough pressure relief for lightweight and average-weight sleepers. People who want a deeply conforming mattress should choose the soft side of the Layla. The firm side of the Layla offers balanced pressure relief for almost any sleeping position, and the denser, firmer Bear offers subtle pressure relief for back sleepers and average-weight sleepers.
Pain Relief
Pain relief is directly tied to how well a mattress relieves pressure. If you’ve ever woken up feeling sore, there’s a chance your mattress is the cause.
For those experiencing shoulder or side pain, Layla’s soft side provides excellent pressure relief and cushion to alleviate the pains and aches. And for those with lower back or back pain, we think the Bear mattress does a fantastic job at distributing the pressure and providing relief.
Durability
The Bear and the Layla seem to be on par with the industry averages for memory foam mattresses. They should last roughly seven years with nightly use. But if you’re looking for an ultra-durable mattress, a hybrid bed could come with a longer lifespan.
Shipping, Returns, & Warranties
Layla
Layla provides free shipping in the contiguous 48 U.S. Layla also gives you a 120-day sleep trial where you can apply for a free return and full refund after two weeks and before four months. Each mattress also gets a Layla Lifetime warranty that covers indentations, sagging, and factory and material defects.
Bear
Bear provides free shipping in the contiguous U.S. Each mattress comes with a 120-day sleep trial and a Lifetime warranty that covers material and design defects but only under certain conditions.
More Layla Mattresses
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.
More Bear Mattresses
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.
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
Since these memory foam mattresses have so much in common, from cooling features to price points and firmness levels, the decision largely comes down to feel. If you want a flippable memory foam bed, go with the Layla. If you prefer an airy, fluffy memory foam feel as opposed to the traditional memory foam feel, we also recommend the Layla. The Bear is best for people who want a dense, yet traditional memory foam feel. It’s also great if you want to test out the power of the Celliant cover for active recovery and better circulation.
Layla & Bear FAQs
Where is Layla manufactured?
Layla mattresses are all made in California, U.S.A., but they construct and source their materials from all over the U.S.
How long will a Bear Mattress last?
Expect your Bear mattress to last you around 8 to 10 years with proper mattress care and maintenance. However, this all depends on the daily stress and wear and tear your mattress goes through. Regularly clean and care for it to maximize your mattress’s lifespan.
Do you have to flip a Bear Mattress?
No need. Bear mattresses are specifically constructed with one sleeping side. Sleeping on its support side will be detrimental to the comfort you’ll feel. You can rotate the mattress, though.
Is Layla Mattress good for back pain?
The Layla Mattress is likely a good choice for folks with back pain. According to the pressure maps we’ve conducted, Layla mattresses provide excellent pressure and pain relief for those suffering from back pain. Since Layla comes with two firmness levels, back sleepers have more options to suit their preferences.
