Summary: After switching from a softer mattress to the Bear Elite Hybrid in a medium firmness, I’ve noticed fewer restless nights of sleep. I find myself sleeping comfortably in positions I don’t usually sleep in, like on my back or belly, and the mattress is easy to move around on without too much motion transfer. I’ve also experienced shorter recovery times after strenuous exercise. If you’re looking for performance- and recovery-forward sleep, Bear has a variety of options at a range of price points that all offer support without sacrificing comfort!

Pros: 

  • The Bear Elite Hybrid helps with how quickly my hips and shoulders recover after strenuous exercise, and I don’t wake up with any aches or pains. Even Bear’s less expensive models like the Bear Original ($649 for a queen) offer similar benefits.
  • The Elite Hybrid model uses cooling properties like copper-infused foams and phase change materials to help hot sleepers find a bit more comfort. I can personally attest to this, I’m a lot less sweaty these days!
  • This mattress offers great support for various sleeping positions, which is especially nice for me as a combination sleeper. I also appreciate the motion isolation and edge support.
  • I like the zoned coils, which means there are thicker coils underneath key sleeping spots, and find this mattress pleasantly on the firmer end of “medium” without sacrificing comfort. The tufted topper is a nice touch that mixes a bit more softness to the mix.
  • Bear Mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, made with CertiPUR-US® certified foams, and have a fiberglass-free fire barrier so you can sleep safely. (I actually got to watch the foams get poured and cured when I visited the factory in person, so cool!)

Cons:

  • The Bear Elite Hybrid does run more than twice as expensive as the brand’s Bear Original, but offers more technological features for cooling and recovery. The Bear Original is great for budget-conscious shoppers but be aware that it may sleep a bit hotter and firmer, since it’s entirely foam.
  • The Elite Hybrid is touted as amazing for side sleepers, but I’m not personally sold on it; I find myself more interested in sleeping on my back or stomach instead. I think it may be that I’m on the lighter side so the mattress does feel a little more firm for my body.
  • If you’re looking for a range of fully organic certifications, you might want to check elsewhere — however, the mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, and made with CertiPUR-US® certified foams. As someone who is currently prioritizing performance, this aligns with my values!

I’ve always been an unfussy sleeper, but something has changed this year as I barrel toward my 35th birthday (with all the talk about perimenopause lately, I can’t help but wonder —  is this a preview of what’s to come?).

“I’ve always been an unfussy sleeper, but something has changed this year as I barrel toward my 35th birthday.”

Suddenly I am tossing and turning a bit more, and kicking off comforters and sheets more than I ever have. As someone who has always at least needed to keep my feet covered by at least a bed sheet thanks to my horror-movie-induced fear of someone or something grabbing my feet while I sleep, my newly-bared toes are telling.

There’s no doubt about it: I am now a hot sleeper. And I am willing to do things I’ve never done before to mitigate it — like sleeping without blankets or (gasp) sleeping on my back instead of my side. Or, like testing out a new mattress.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of touring a mattress factory owned and operated by the 3Z family of brands, where I got the opportunity to lay on mattresses from Bear, Birch, Leesa, and more. Being able to experience a number of online-forward brands in person was extremely enlightening and helpful as I refine my sleep preferences. As I hopped from mattress to mattress, I felt a little like Goldilocks, finding some too firm, some too soft, until — hey now that one’s just right.

“As I hopped from mattress to mattress, I felt a little like Goldilocks, finding some too firm, some too soft, until — hey now that one’s just right.“

I found myself circling back to the Bear brand mattresses, as I was intrigued by the support they offered without sacrificing the right amount of softness. In fact, after a long factory tour, I almost caught myself dozing off in the mattress showroom. I was also delighted to be able to sleep on a Bear Natural for two nights while I was in Scottsdale, Arizona for the tour — an exciting chance to give the brand’s newest eco-friendly option a go.

But this time around, I had to make a longer-term decision — what mattress should I try in order to get my best sleep not just for a few days, but for the long haul? Since recovery-focused support and cooling features are my priorities right now, I opted for the brand’s most premium offering, the Bear Elite Hybrid.

Large stacks of foam sheets on blue pallets in a spacious warehouse with high ceilings and overhead lights.
Person lying on a mattress in a showroom filled with neatly arranged mattresses on display.
(L) I toured a 3Z mattress factory, where I got the opportunity to lay on mattresses from Bear, Birch, Leesa, and more. (R) I was drawn to the Bear brand mattresses, with their perfect balance of support and softness that almost put me to sleep in the showroom! Please enjoy my running mascara, it was a long day. 

What makes Bear Mattress different?

Bear Mattress was founded with the mission to improve sleep quality, especially for folks with physically demanding lives who need a little extra support recovering from their day to day. The brand is dedicated to finding cutting-edge technology and materials so you can sleep easy — and wake up with fewer aches and pains. Plus, they aim to do this as responsibly as possible thanks to the certifications and standards they hold themselves to.

“The brand is dedicated to finding cutting-edge technology and materials so you can sleep easy — and wake up with fewer aches and pains.”

All of Bear’s mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which is the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standard for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air. This ensures you’ll get the lowest emissions and off-gassing, especially compared to non-certified mattresses from big box stores.

The foams used in Bear Mattress are also CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning they’ve been made without ozone depleters, harmful flame retardants, mercury, lead, formaldehyde, phthalates, and contain low VOCs at less than 0.5 parts per million.

And all Bear mattresses contain a fiberglass-free fire barrier which saves you from various health issues — from respiratory to skin irritation — that can arise from fiberglass exposure. Instead, Bear uses a high-quality Whispershield fabric to fireproof their mattresses.

Stack of white mattress springs wrapped in fabric loaded into a production machine in a factory setting.
White polypropylene geogrids are spread out on a gray floor, showcasing their grid-like structure and interlocking design.
Bear mattresses are made without harmful chemicals and toxic materials, but they also use cutting-edge technology like zoned coil support and natural copper-infused foams to assist in optimal recovery and cooling. All of the springs are made in-house at the Arizona factory, which is also where all the sewing, assembly, and foam pouring happen!

Plus, these mattresses are all made in the USA! As someone who was able to tour the factory firsthand, I got to see a well-organized, efficient, and clean manufacturing space.

“As someone who was able to tour the factory firsthand, I got to see a well-organized, efficient, and clean manufacturing space.”

Bear is also well-loved thanks to its accessible price. The Bear Original offers excellent support for its price (around $650 for a queen), and if you’d like more features you can upgrade to the Natural, the Pro Hybrid, the Star Hybrid, or the Elite Hybrid.

Some of the additional “bells and whistles” you can find on these models include zoned coil support (coil thickness varies based on where your body aligns on the mattress), phase change materials (PCM), natural copper-infused foams, and optional Celliant® fibers for increased recovery and cooling. Phase change materials, something I’ve never heard of before, do already have cooling attributes so whether you go with Celliant or not you’ll be sure to sleep a bit less hot than usual.

Setup and first impressions

After placing the order for my Bear Elite Hybrid, my mattress shipped quickly as I anticipated; while I was visiting the factory I was excited to see each mattress is made to order, so there’s no excess inventory sitting in the warehouse going to waste. Seriously — the mattresses go from production, to packaging, and get a packing label slapped on them at the very end of the conveyor belts before being loaded onto FedEx trucks.

“Each mattress is made to order, so there’s no excess inventory sitting in the warehouse going to waste.”

When my Bear mattress arrived, I was away from home but I got a shipping notification that it had been delivered to the downstairs courtyard of my building. The box is sturdy and reasonably bulky, seeing as I had ordered a king-size, so it made sense that my FedEx driver didn’t haul it up by himself. I ambitiously attempted to push the mattress up my single flight of stairs by myself, but even my best tricks and leverages didn’t work. I learned, later, that this mattress is 140 pounds — so it is not a solo endeavor.

“This mattress is 140 pounds — so it is not a solo endeavor.”

After recruiting two gentlemen to carry the box up for me (I was still sore from my attempt), I was able to scoot the box into my bedroom and handle the rest of the setup myself, although I would still recommend having a second set of hands.

I sliced the first layer of plastic, trying as hard as I could not to puncture the inner vacuum-sealed layer or the mattress itself, and let it unfold out onto my slatted bed frame. I realized I had, unfortunately, sliced a bit of the vacuum-sealed part and the mattress began to expand before I had the chance to flip it to the correct orientation. Let’s just say a lot of sweat went into flipping and rotating the mattress by myself. If you do attempt setup on your own, make sure the white tufted side is on top!

A rolled up mattress is partially unwrapped from plastic packaging inside an open cardboard box, placed on the floor next to a white cabinet.
A rolled-up mattress in plastic wrapping is placed on a wooden slatted bed frame.
The king size mattress was enormous at 140 lbs. The tightly packed vacuum-sealed mattress was tricky to unpack by myself without accidentally puncturing the seal that kept it from expanding.

As it unfurled (a quick and very satisfying process to watch fyi), I noticed an *ever* so slight scent which I attributed to the plastic packaging materials. It dissipated quickly, and wasn’t noticeable by the time I went to sleep but if you’re highly sensitive to smells, you may want to crack a window or turn on a fan.

The mattress expanded and fit perfectly into my king-size bedframe. After about ten minutes, I flopped onto the mattress and felt my back ease up, grateful for a little rest and support.

A woman stands next to an upright mattress in a bedroom. She wears a blue top and leopard print shorts. The room appears to be in the process of being furnished.
A person with light hair and a neutral expression lies on a quilted surface, wearing a light-colored sleeveless top.
Flipping the Bear mattress made it clear that this was not the soft and floppy mattresses I was used to. Setting it up by myself was a very intense workout for sure!

Is the Bear Elite Mattress comfortable?

In short — ask the drool stains on my pillow. But the longer answer here is that the Bear Elite is certainly firmer than previous mattresses I’ve owned, but the cushy top offers softness without sacrificing stability. I’ve noticed that I stay asleep more consistently throughout the night, and even stopped waking up anxious before my alarm. For context, my previous mattress is a medium-firm one, clocking in at 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, and the Bear Elite Hybrid that I chose is rated at a 6 out of 10. I’m still undoubtedly a medium-firm kinda gal, but I do like how this offers ever so slightly more support (versus sinking in).

“I’ve noticed that I stay asleep more consistently throughout the night, and even stopped waking up anxious before my alarm.”

While I’m not a high-performance athlete, I have been hiking, walking, and spontaneously dancing a lot more than I have in previous years. (I also started walking to Mordor in January and I’m 850 miles into my journey.) My Bear mattress does feel like a contributing factor in how quickly my hips and shoulders recover after strenuous exercise, and I don’t wake up with any aches or pains.

There was a bit of an adjustment period with the deep tufts, which dip about an inch into the mattress. No more precariously balancing a cup of coffee on the top of my bed anymore, I suppose. But the tufts do provide airflow underneath me and help alleviate my night sweats — a worthwhile tradeoff if you ask me.

Bedroom with green walls featuring two beds, one with a blue mattress labeled "Elite Hybrid" and the other bare. The room has a wall-mounted air conditioner, white curtains, and a framed painting.
A hand with a wedding ring presses down on a white, tufted mattress to test its firmness.
The tufted top took a little getting used to, compared to my previous mattress (seen on the left), which was smooth-ish on top.

I have found this mattress to offer better edge support than my previous mattresses, which have been a little on the softer side. As someone who frequently crawls across the mattress to reach my cat’s forehead for kisses, I’ve noticed that we both don’t go sliding off the side as much as we used to. Plus, the motion isolation is great and I rarely know when Nova has jumped onto the bed to wake me up in the morning. Until, at least, she meows right in my face and attempts to bite my eyebrow.

“My Bear mattress does feel like a contributing factor in how quickly my hips and shoulders recover after strenuous exercise, and I don’t wake up with any aches or pains.”

I also spend more time in bed in the mornings, but not scrolling like I usually do. Instead of being tempted back into sleep after I wake up by a plush mattress, I wake up and sit reading in my bed with coffee. (As someone who is usually more comfortable on a couch or at a table, this is something new for me.)

And even though the Elite Hybrid comes highly recommended for side sleepers, I notice that I sleep in positions I’ve never slept in before. This mattress has me sleeping a lot more on my belly and my back than my sides, although I do still sometimes have to go through my Spiderman ritual of every position before I settle in for the night. Basically, this bed is built different and I’m enjoying discovering more about my sleepy self.

Is the Bear Elite Hybrid worth it?

Outside of its comfort, Bear’s mattress comes clearly well-constructed. After it unfurled and I needed to flip it, I noticed how it doesn’t fold when I try to move it — the softer mattresses I’ve had previously can get a little floppy when I go to move them.

I got to see the construction firsthand when I toured the 3Z factory, and I can personally attest to how thoughtfully the materials are selected and used, and how skilled the sewists are when it comes to connecting the edges just right. I don’t have any current concerns about the durability and the longevity of this mattress!

“I can personally attest to how thoughtfully the materials are selected and used, and how skilled the sewists are when it comes to connecting the edges just right.“

So, is it worth the investment? Coming in at around $1499 for a queen-sized mattress, the Bear Elite Hybrid is certainly a luxury purchase compared to the other models that Bear offers. However, the additional cooling layers and zoned spring support do elevate it well above the all-foam Original mattress for folks who sleep hot or who need additional recovery support. If you’re a combination sleeper, you’ll likely find the Bear Elite Hybrid to be an easy bed to get comfortable in. You might even find yourself falling asleep in the first position you try, like I have!

If you are looking for something more budget-friendly, I do recommend the Bear Original based on my brief test earlier this year — just be aware that this model will sleep a little more hot because it is entirely foam and does not offer varying firmness options. (A queen size currently clocks in at just under $650 and still maintains the same certifications as the higher-priced mattresses Bear offers). Or, if you prefer more certifications and natural materials, you might like the Bear Natural. I did note that the Natural slept a little hot when I tested it for two nights, but that also could have had something to do with the sunburn I was nursing at the time.

A sunlit bedroom with a blue Bear Elite Hybrid mattress, crumpled tan bedding, two wall lamps, and a framed artwork on the green wall.
A person is lying on a bed with arms outstretched, in a room with green walls, wall art, and a Bear Elite Hybrid mattress. Light spots are visible on the walls.
For me, this mattress is a keeper, though you will need to decide if you are more interested in high-performance tech over certain certifications.

One of the biggest drawbacks here comes down to a matter of certifications. As far as sleeping on a nontoxic mattress, I’m personally satisfied with the GREENGUARD Gold Certification, as well as the CertiPUR-US Certified foam and fiberglass-free fire barrier. However, you can find mattresses at similar price points that have certifications like OEKO-Tex, GOLS, and GOTS — but you won’t get the technical benefits of things like Celliant fabric and copper-infused cooling layers. This one comes down to personal preferences and values when it comes to sleep goods!

“You can find mattresses at similar price points with more certifications — but you won’t get the technical benefits of things like Celliant fabric and copper-infused cooling layers.”

Looking back, I do wish I would have opted for the Celliant fabric in addition to the responsive top layer fabric, just to experience whether or not that has a further impact on cooling and recovery. I did get a chance to feel the Celliant fabric during my factory tour and it was smooth and cool to the touch. (Hey, if I’m not going to go the organic route, then my next priority is performance and durability!)

“Overall, my Bear Elite Hybrid mattress is a keeper.”

Overall, my Bear Elite Hybrid mattress is a keeper. The medium firmness does seem to sleep a little more firm than others at the same ranking (of 6 out of 10 on firmness), but the additional layers of copper-infused foam and tufted regenerative fabric do offer a little extra cush.

I’m determined to continue — and even increase — my level of activity in day-to-day life, and this mattress is going to help me take it to the next level.

THIS STORY IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT BEAR

Emily McGowan  She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits and cat, or gaming. Say hi on Instagram!