So, you’re looking for a memory foam mattress that’s soft enough to contour your body, firm enough to provide much-needed relief, and cool enough to keep you from overheating? We found one that could deliver all three!
The Bear Original mattress is a popular choice for many sleepers. But if you’re not up to speed, it’s one of the best-performing all-foam mattresses making waves on the bed market. It’s also one of the most underrated as it has plenty of convenient and comfortable features packed into one great-value product.
In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at the Bear mattress by testing it for ourselves and seeing if our results align with what we’ve been advertised. This mattress is recommended for active people, but how does it perform in providing a restful night?
For those of you who prefer a more visual experience, here is a video review from Sleep Advisor’s YouTube channel. To get a comprehensive overview of DreamCloud’s Bear Mattress, you may still want to check out our article below.
Overview: The Bear Original Bear Mattress Protector Review
The Bear Original mattress is an all-foam mattress designed to provide all-around relief and comfort to those with active lifestyles. It is a vital mattress with important properties such as the gel-infused memory foam top layer that cushions the body’s pressure points and keeps it relaxed. Not only does it make the sleeper comfortable, but it also includes Bear’s signature open-cell response properties designed to increase airflow throughout it. Celliant fabric, a state-of the-art Celliant cover for the mattress, is strong enough to keep the body from overheating.
The Bear Original is a bed-in-a-box product with a medium-firm comfort level. Most people prefer medium-firm mattresses regardless of their type or construction. However, this mattress is unique because it has a slightly bouncey feel. The Bear mattress is one of the popular offerings from its namesake company, established in 2014 with the primary purpose of creating bed apparatus geared toward athletes, first responders, frontliners, and other individuals who maintain a proactive sense of living.
Who are the best users of Bear Original?
- Those who are looking for an all-foam mattress at a valuable price
- Those who prefer sleeping on memory foam but don’t like the ever-sinking feeling associated with it
- Those who sleep hot, especially after a full day of work or intensive activity
- Back sleepers who prefer a mattress that is firm, supportive, and can alleviate pressure points
- Couples sharing a bed with someone who is restless at night or who doesn’t want any disturbances may have a problem.
Who shouldn’t use Bear Original?
- Those who are looking for a bouncier bed – all-foam mattresses, including the Bear Original, are notorious for not being too springy
- People who appreciate beds with stable edges support may be interested in these beds.
- Side sleepers of light weight may find this mattress too firm for them.
- Average-weight stomach sleepers who may find this too soft for their liking
- Heavyweights who prefer sleeping flat, whether it’s on the back or the stomach
How Does the Bear Original Feel?
Is it going to give you the relief that you need from your aches and pains? How much will it sink your body? Is it as cool and comfortable as its makers claim? These are the pressing questions we wanted to answer. We tested the Bear mattress for firmness, pressure relief, and cooling abilities.
Firmness
What we do here in ranking mattresses is usually through a scale from 1 to 10, with one being super soft, five medium, and ten extremely firm. Based on what we found while testing the Bear Original, we can confidently say that its comfort level is between medium and firm. 7 to be exact.
Bear has stated that its mattress is medium-firm. Considering the use of memory foam, which has gained notoriety for its sinking feel on the body, the overall construction still somehow manages to be sturdy and stable. Bear Original features a thick layer high-density foam as the foundation. This material is solid and not as flexible as spring coils.
This mattress has more benefits by having the material underneath the memory foam. The top layer may be pliable enough to shape the sleeper’s silhouette, but, thankfully, it’s countered by a more rigid foundation underneath, creating what appears to be a perfect balance. While we have experienced many issues with memory foam mattresses, this one was not. We felt like we were sleeping on the surface of the Bear, not beneath it.
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Pressure relief
The Bear Original combines the softness and strength of high-density foam with the flexibility of memory foam to create a balanced mattress. It can provide sufficient pressure relief for most sleepers. There’s no excessive pressure buildup found while we tested using a heat map, no matter the type of sleeping position.
We are impressed by its incredible pain relief abilities, but we must also mention that it is only available to a small number of people. Average-weighted people, in particular, may find the Bear mattress to be much more suited to their needs. For heavyweights and lightweights, the experience may vary – some may feel more firm whenever they sleep on the sides, while others may feel too much pressure that it leans more towards discomfort. Bear Mattress Protector Review
Temperature
As previously mentioned, the Bear mattress has open-cell foam, gel infusion, and Celliant fabric, all combined to keep the body cool enough that it doesn’t overheat. Although all-foam mattresses are not known for having the best insulation, this mattress performed admirably in maintaining the temperature at least to a neutral level. It is not too hot nor too cold.
Although we cannot guarantee that the Bear Original will have the same cooling properties of an innerspring or hybrid mattress as other mattresses, the three insulation features can be enough to soothe anyone after a long day. They’re also enough to keep the couple from getting too heated – two bodies are prone to heat up faster on the mattress than one. The Bear mattress is a great option for couples looking for an all-foam cooling bed at a reasonable price.
Analyse of Sleep and Body Type
How effective will the Bear mattress bring much-needed comfort to the light, average, and heavy sleepers?
Testing the Bear Original in Various Sleep Positions
On the Back
The Bear Original has proven yet again in providing the best back relief for most sleepers. This mattress is suitable for light-weight people. It has a healthy mix of support and conformity to help them feel comfortable while lying flat. Those of average weight will appreciate it even more as it gives them the best-optimized care they truly deserve.
In the case of heavyweight sleepers, however, the Bear may not work well in their favor. They shouldn’t expect the all-foam mattress to conform to their bodies like their lighter- or average-weight counterparts. It usually ends up in sinkage, which doesn’t sound nice especially if you move often. We also noticed on the heatmap that the pressure points were higher then the rest.
On the Stomach
The Bear offers remarkable benefits for stomach sleepers. While some people may experience a positive collective experience when they sleep flat on their stomachs, others may feel the surface is too soft to offer pressure relief for their hips or keep their spine straight.
This position is comfortable for both average and light-weighted people. At first, they may find the Bear to have the appropriate support on the stomach. The mattress is all foam, so sinkage and softness may be inevitable. For heavyweight individuals, sleeping on the Bear with their stomachs laid flat on the surface will not bring them the benefits they crave. Like sleeping on the back, they often feel sinking and have higher pressure points. Bear Mattress Protector Review
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Sides
The Bear’s feelings on the individual while they sleep on one side or the other is similar to lying flat on their stomachs. Some lightweights may find the surface too firm for their liking, while others may receive the pressure relief they need on the shoulders and hips. Average sleepers, meanwhile, would likely say the same thing.
Heavyweights will not appreciate how the Bear feels while sleeping on the side as much as they want. According to a few of our testers, while they experienced the support and comfort from the mattress, the firmness, sinkage, and high-pressure point outweigh the pros.
Combination Sleeping Positions
Regardless of body weight, we found that the Bear Original should work okay with most individuals who usually sleep in a combination of positions. Based on our observations, it was adept enough to deliver comfort and relief to the testers even when they slept in altered postures. In regards to changing positions, there is a possibility that some sleepers may have slight difficulties in the movement since the mattress, after all, has a top layer of memory foam.
Mattress Performance
It doesn’t stop there! Aside from the main tests, we also analyzed how well the Bear Original performed in terms of other factors, such as motion transfer, ease of movement, and more. For couples wondering if the mattress will serve them benefits, you should check this one out!
Motion Transfer
A perfect mattress needs to have a great deal of motion isolation that will be helpful when you’re asleep and wish not to be disturbed by movement. Since the Bear’s all-foam layers are designed to absorb motion and dampen the vibrations caused by it, it does exceptionally better than, say, innerspring mattresses.
Mobility made easy
Considering the types of foam used, the Bear doesn’t conform to the body as much as the softer ones, yet is unable to deliver the floating feeling as the other beds do. The ease of movement for light and average sleepers is 50/50. Heavy sleepers will most likely have difficulty maneuvering on the surfaces.
Edge Support
Edge support measures how strong the perimeter of the bed is, especially in supporting two or more bodies. Strong edge support is good for couples and groups. The Bear was able to maintain adequate stability around its edges, even though it is not as strong than innerspring models.
Sex
Memory foam or all-foam mattresses have drawn flak for not being the best beds to use for sexual activity. However, the Bear was more responsive to rapid movements and didn’t conform as well as other foam mattresses. Therefore, we conclude that it performs well even during sex.
Unboxing and Off-Gassing
The Bear is a bed in a box mattress. This means that there will be some off-gassing and compression after you open the packaging. All-foam mattresses are known for their strong and sometimes unpleasant odors. These are caused by volatile organic compound (VOC). Bear Mattress Protector Review
The Bear is no different, but since the foam materials used are GreenGuard Gold and CertiPUR-US-certified, the off-gassing smells go away much faster compared to other all-foam beds.
Construction
Bear Original mattress measures 10 inches thick. It is made up of three layers of unique foam, each one being a different type.
Top comfort layer – This is the first of three layers. It’s a graphite gel memory foam which provides pressure relief and contouring to the body’s silhouette. With a thickness of 2″, it is also packed with open-cell cooling abilities to regulate the sleeper’s temperature – something traditional memory foam often lacks.
Transitional middle layer – Below the memory foam comfort layer is a transitional response foam that’s also 2″ thick. Made to be soft and firm at the same time, it helps to keep the body from sinking. The sleeper will feel like they’re laying on top of more than into the surface of the mattress.
Foundation layer – Holding the Bear altogether is a thick high-density support foam. With a height of 6″, it serves as a firm and stable foundation for the sleeper’s body to rest on.
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The three layers of the Bear Original are wrapped in a Celliant fabric mattress cover. Celliant fabric is an FDA-approved fiber material that helps speed up recovery time for individuals while they sleep. It also features design elements that improve blood circulation. It is soft to the touch and produces enough airflow to keep the body from overheating. The Bear mattress is marketed as a mattress for athletes, high-energy professionals and others who are active.
Prices and sizes
Available in all standard sizes, the Bear mattress is a specially-designed bed that you can get at a range of valuable prices. The Bear mattress is not the most budget-friendly, but it’s also not very expensive. Here is a full list of sizes and their corresponding prices offered with the Bear Original:
MATTRESS SIZE | PRICE (BEFORE DISCOUNT) |
Twin | $748 |
Twin XL | $811 |
Full | $873 |
Queen | $998 |
King | $1,248 |
Cal King | $1,248 |
Split King | $1,622 |
Final verdict on the Bear Original Mattress
After going through a series of tests, we can confidently say that the Bear Original packs a punch when it comes to delivering comfort, relief, and peace of mind to those who appreciate it. This mattress is a great choice for people who like to sleep on memory foam and want to be able to move quickly. Designed with recovery in mind, it has plenty of features that are enough to attract active individuals who are looking for a mattress that can give them what they need.
While we can admire how well it performs on most sleepers, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that it may not be fully suitable for heavyweight sleepers. Many mattresses will have limitations. The Bear Original mattress has a lot of great features and a very affordable price. This is why you should buy it! Bear Mattress Protector Review
FAQ Bear Mattress Protector Review
Where can I purchase the Bear Original?
You can buy the Original mattress online at Bear’s official online store at bearmattress.com, as well as find its limited sizes through their Amazon store. You can visit their showrooms in the following states/territories to see the Bear mattress in person:
- New Jersey (Bernardsville and Hoboken)
- New York (New York City metropolitan area)
- Florida (Miami)
- Washington, DC (metropolitan area)
Bear offers free shipping on all mattresses. How does Bear ship to me?
Bear offers free shipping on all models, even the Bear Original. This applies to Canada and the US mainland. Residents in Alaska, Hawai’i, and Puerto Rico will still need to pay additional transportation costs. The Bear mattress comes compressed in a box within 2-7 business days from your first purchase.
Is it possible to return the Bear mattress?
The 120-night trial period for the Bear Original mattress is risk-free. Bear’s customer service hotline can be contacted if you are not completely satisfied with the mattress’s performance. The team will then pick up the mattress from your household free of charge.
Does the Bear come with a warranty?
The Bear is covered by a lifetime warranty. This applies only to mattresses purchased from authorized sellers. The warranty covers workmanship and material defects such as 1.5-inch deep indentations, splits, cracks, and cracks in foam foundation. There are additional terms and conditions. Bear Mattress Protector Review