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 can deliver all three of those things!
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. This mattress is also one of the best-valued, as it offers many convenient and comfortable features in one 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 Vs Tuft & Needle Mattress
Bear Original is an all-foam mattress that provides comfort and relief for active people. 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. The state-of-the-art Celliant fabric covers the mattress, making it powerful enough to prevent 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 the most popular products from the company named after it. It was created in 2014 with the sole purpose of making bed apparatus that can be used by athletes, first responders, frontline workers, and others who have a proactive way of living.
Who are the ideal users of the Bear Original?
- For those who want an all-foam mattress at an affordable price
- People who like to sleep on memory foam, but aren’t averse to the sinking sensation 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 who share the same bed with one who tends to get restless at night and the other who doesn’t want to be disturbed
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.
- Lightweight side sleepers who may find this mattress to be too firm
- Average-weight stomach sleepers who may find this too soft for their liking
- Heavyweights who prefer to sleep flat, on their stomachs or backs, are called heavyweights
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
We use a scale of 1-10 to rank mattresses. One is super soft, five are medium and ten are 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. The Bear Original has a thick layer of high-density foam foundation, and high-density material is characteristically solid and not as pliable as spring coils.
Placing that material under the memory foam gives this mattress more positives. 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. We have had plenty of issues when testing on memory foam mattresses, but not on this one. The Bear made us feel like we were sleeping ‘on’ the surface rather than ‘into’ 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. As a result, it can provide adequate pressure relief that most sleepers may enjoy. 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. The Bear mattress may be more suitable for average-weight people. 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 Vs Tuft & Needle Mattress
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?
The Bear Original is tested in various sleeping positions
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. It will be appreciated by those of average weight, as they get the best-optimized support and comfort.
The Bear might not be a good choice for heavyweight sleepers. They shouldn’t expect the all-foam mattress to conform to their bodies like their lighter- or average-weight counterparts. Sinkage is a common result, especially for those who move frequently. Additionally, we observed on the heat map that the pressure points were higher than the rest.
Stomach
While the Bear delivers remarkable benefits to most back sleepers, stomach sleeping is different. 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. They may initially find the Bear to be supportive enough for their stomachs. The mattress is all foam, so sinkage and softness may be inevitable. Heavyweights should not sleep on the Bear with their stomachs flat on the ground. They often feel like they are sinking and have more pressure points than if they were sleeping on their backs. Bear Mattress Vs Tuft & Needle Mattress
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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. The majority of average sleepers would agree with this assessment.
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. According to our tests, the Bear Original was able to provide comfort and relief for all positions. 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. This is a great place to start if you are unsure if the mattress can be used for your partner’s benefit.
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. The Bear’s all foam layers absorb and dampen vibrations. This makes it a superior choice to innerspring mattresses.
Ease of Movement
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. We found the Bear to have adequate stability around the edges, although not as strong as the innerspring models.
Sex
All-foam and memory foam mattresses are not recommended for sexual activity. In the case of the Bear, however, we observed that it didn’t conform as much as other foam beds and that it’s more responsive to quick changes of movement. We conclude that the Bear is capable of performing well during sex.
Unboxing and Off-Gassing
Because it is a bed-in-a-box mattress, expect the Bear to have an off-gassing and decompression period after you cut open the wrapped packaging. All-foam mattresses have gained a reputation for emitting strong, sometimes unpleasant odors caused by volatile organic compounds (VOC). Bear Mattress Vs Tuft & Needle Mattress
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
The Bear Original mattress is 10 inches thick and is comprised of three layers, each of which is a uniquely different kind of foam.
Top comfort layer – The first of these three layers is a graphite-gel memory foam that’s known to provide pressure relief and contouring along 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, there’s a 2″ thick transitional response foam. It is both soft and firm, helping to prevent 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 – This is the thick, high-density foam that holds the Bear together. It has a height of 6 inches and serves as a solid foundation for the body of the sleeper to rest on.
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All three layers of the Bear Original are wrapped together by a mattress cover made out of Celliant fabric. Celliant is an FDA-regulated fiber material formulated to help speed up the individual’s recovery period while they rest, with design elements to 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.
Pricing and Available 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 (PRIOR TO 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. It’s a solid choice for those who prefer sleeping on a memory foam surface, but also like to move as swiftly as possible. 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.
It is admirable how it works on most people, but it might not be suitable for heavier 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 Vs Tuft & Needle Mattress
FAQ Bear Mattress Vs Tuft & Needle Mattress
Where can I purchase the Bear Original?
Bear’s online store bearmattress.com sells the Original mattress. You can also order it in limited sizes from 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 region)
Does Bear offer free shipping for all its mattresses? And how does it ship to my location?
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. Within 2-7 business days of your initial purchase, the Bear mattress will be delivered in a box.
Is there any way for me to return the Bear mattress?
The Bear Original mattress is covered by a 120-night risk-free trial period. Bear’s customer service hotline can be contacted if you are not completely satisfied with the mattress’s performance. The team will then collect the mattress from you at no cost.
Does the Bear come with a warranty?
The Bear comes with a lifetime warranty, which only applies to mattresses purchased through authorized sellers, including the website. 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 Vs Tuft & Needle Mattress