Finding the right bed-in-a-box mattress can be difficult. There are so many quality options out there, and you want to make sure you are finding the right mattress for you.
If you have narrowed down your search to the Bear mattresses, you’re already in good shape. You can choose from the Bear mattress or the Bear Hybrid mattress. While they are both great mattresses, they really are made for different types of sleepers.
Which is right for you? Read on for my full comparison.
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Key Similarities
- The mattresses are made by the same company.
- They come with similar customer service terms.
- They are similar in terms of firmness.
- They are both cooler sleeping mattresses.
- They both feature a Celliant cover, which could help athletes recover more quickly.
Key Differences
- The Bear is more affordable than the Bear Hybrid.
- They feature very different materials in their construction.
- The Bear has a memory foam feel, while the Bear Hybrid has a hybrid pillow-top feel.
Bear Construction
- The mattress is 10” tall.
- The cover is soft and is woven together with Celliant.
- First, there is a layer of graphite-gel memory foam.
- This is followed by a transition layer with a fair amount of bounce.
- Finally, the base layer is 6.5” of a high-density support foam.
Read the full Bear mattress review.
Bear Hybrid
- The mattress is 14” tall.
- The cover is soft and woven with Celliant fiber. It is also quilted with cooling-gel foam.
- Then, you have 2” of Premium Comfort Foam.
- Next, there is 1” of Responsive Transition Foam.
- Below this is 8” of a Quantum Edge Coil System.
- Finally, the base is 1” of High-Density Support Foam.
Read the full Bear Hybrid review.
Construction Differences/Notes
- Both mattresses have Celliant covers. This material is designed to help you sleep cooler. In addition, it may increase blood flow, helping you recover from a workout more quickly.
- The coils in the Bear Hybrid should make it a more supportive mattress. The coils should be able to support more weight than the base polyfoam layer in the Bear. This means the hybrid should be a better match for larger people or those who have extra support needs.
- The construction of these two mattresses gives them a different feel. The Bear has slow-moving memory foam on top, so you sleep “in” the mattress. The Bear Hybrid has more of a plush pillow-top feel where you sleep on top of the mattress.
- It should be easier to move around on the Bear Hybrid mattress. You don’t sink in as far as you do on the Bear, and the mattress is more responsive overall.
- While these are both cooler-sleeping mattresses, the Bear Hybrid should be more breathable. The coils allow for a good amount of airflow, while the base polyfoam in the Bear does not.
- The Bear Hybrid costs more than the Bear, but you do get more out of the Bear Hybrid mattress.
Firmness/Feel Differences
In terms of firmness, I thought both mattresses were close to a 6.5/10, or medium in terms of firmness. I will note that you might have a different experience on the Bear mattress if you are a larger person. You could press through the memory foam and feel some more firmness, especially when on your side.
Here is how I feel while sleeping on the Bear mattress:
- Lying on my back, I feel very nice on the Bear mattress. My hips sink in the right amount, and I feel good overall support. I am also feeling some nice contouring from the top layer.
- When I lie on my side, I am getting some great pressure relief. I sink into that layer of soft memory foam and feel very little pressure on my shoulders and hips.
- However, when I am stomach sleeping, I am not getting enough support. Most stomach sleepers will want a mattress that is more supportive than the Bear.
Here is how I feel while sleeping on the Bear Hybrid mattress:
- While back sleeping, the Bear Hybrid is a great match for me. Again, my hips sink in the right amount. I am feeling even better support on the Bear Hybrid. Back sleepers, especially those of heavier weight, should prefer the Bear Hybrid.
- Moving to my side, I am once again feeling nice pressure relief. The top layer of the Bear Hybrid is quite plush, and I feel almost no pressure on my shoulders and hips.
- When stomach sleeping, the Bear Hybrid is also not supportive enough. Stomach sleepers will want a more supportive mattress.
The mattresses have very different feels. The Bear mattress has that classic memory foam feel where you slowly sink into the mattress. It will feel more like you are sleeping “in” the mattress.
The Bear Hybrid, on the other hand, has a more responsive hybrid feel. While the top is plush, you will sleep on top of the mattress. It should be easier to move around on the Bear Hybrid.
See more of what I thought of the Bear’s firmness and feel in the video below.
Now, see what I thought of the Bear Hybrid.
Motion Transfer Differences
If you sleep with a partner, it’s always important to think about motion transfer. When you lie down on the mattress and your partner moves around on the others side, will this movement disturb you?
When comparing the Bear and Bear Hybrid, the Bear handles motion transfer better. It has a very soft layer of memory foam on top, a material that’s known for isolating motion. During my tests, I saw much less disturbance on the Bear mattress.
The Bear mattress could be a great mattress for couples.
See how the Bear handles motion transfer in the video below.
Now, compare this to the Bear Hybrid.
Edge Support Differences
Whether you want a couples mattress or just want to be able to use every square inch of your bed, it is smart to consider edge support. When you sit or lie down near the edge of your mattress, will you feel secure?
Between these two mattresses, the Bear Hybrid features better edge support. The coils do not compress so much when I sit near the edge. When I am lying down, I feel less like I am going to roll off the mattress.
You can see the edge support differences in the photos below.
Marten’s Take
Marten is a staff writer for us. He has a much different body type than me: He is 6’7″ and weighs about 230 lb; I am 5’9″ and 160 lb. Here is what he thought about these mattresses:
I said the Bear was a 7 or 7.5/10, and the Bear Hybrid was a 7/10.
Here is how I felt while sleeping on the Bear:
- When I am back sleeping on the Bear, I feel good overall support. My hips sink in but not too far. I am also feeling some good contouring.
- Moving to my side, I am feeling some serious pressure on my shoulders and hips. I am pressing through that top layer and hitting the support layers beneath. It is not the best match for side sleeping.
- While stomach sleeping, I am not getting enough support on the Bear. My hips bow in, and I get out of alignment.
Here is how I felt on the Bear Hybrid:
- When I lie on my back, I feel great support on the Bear Hybrid. My hips sink into the tufted top layer, and the coils offer great support beneath that. Even as a larger person, I am getting enough support on the Bear Hybrid.
- While side sleeping, I sink in and feel some decent pressure relief on my shoulders and hips. The mattress is a better match for side sleeping.
- When I am stomach sleeping, I am not properly supported. My hips are bowing in, just as they did on the Bear.
If you are a heavier back sleeper, both mattresses could work for you. If you are a much heavier back sleeper, I would go with the Bear Hybrid. Heavier side sleepers should lean toward the Bear Hybrid as well. Heavier stomach sleepers might want to look elsewhere.
Marten’s experience is pretty much what I expected. He pressed right through the Bear’s top memory foam layer and hit the support layers. Because of this, he felt some more pressure on his shoulders and hips. It appears the Bear Hybrid is a better match for larger people like Marten (unless they sleep on their stomach).
Pick Bear If …
- You want a more affordable mattress. Between the two mattresses, the Bear is much more affordable. These mattresses have a similar firmness and they are both very high-quality. If you think both mattresses could work, choosing the Bear could save you around $500 or $600.
- You want a classic memory foam feel. If you like to slowly sink into your mattress and like the quicksand feel of memory foam, the Bear is the better choice. It allows you to sink in quite a bit and has that classic memory foam feel.
- You are a lightweight person. If you are on the lighter side, the Bear mattress should work for you. Lighter people don’t have the support needs of larger people, so the Bear should be supportive enough. Because of this, lightweight sleepers can save a good amount of money by picking the Bear.
Pick Bear Hybrid If …
- You have extra support needs. If you’re looking for a more supportive mattress, the Bear Hybrid should work for you. The coils offer more support than base polyfoam, so you should definitely feel better support on the Bear Hybrid.
- You are a larger person. If you are on the heavier side, the Bear Hybrid should be a better choice. The mattress is more supportive overall, and the coils should be able to handle much heavier weights. Larger people should go with the Bear Hybrid.
- You prefer to sleep on top of your mattress. If you like a more responsive mattress, the Bear Hybrid should be a good pick. While lying on the Bear Hybrid, you don’t sink in too far. You sleep on top of the mattress so it is very easy to move around. If you prefer a responsive mattress, the Bear Hybrid is the way to go.
RELATED: Best Hybrid Mattress
Overall
All in all, it shouldn’t be hard to choose between the Bear and Bear Hybrid.
The Bear mattress is a good match for lightweight people and those who like a memory foam feel. The Bear Hybrid should work for larger people and those who prefer to sleep on top of their mattress.
Leave any questions you have about these mattresses in the comment section below!
The post Bear Vs. Bear Hybrid Mattress Comparison – Which Is Right For You? appeared first on Mattress Clarity.