Bear Elite vs. Star vs. Pro vs. Original vs. Natural

In This Comparison
Which Mattress Should You Buy? | Compare the Mattresses | Performance Tests

Which Mattress Should You Buy?

The mattresses earning the title for “best overall” from each brand have the highest overall performance. Overall performance is determined by scores from 8 different categories including cooling, motion transfer, response time, edge support, sex performance, pressure relief, off-gassing, and company.

Sinkage and bounce are also taken into consideration, but they are not direct scoring factors.

Between all of the Bear models, the top recommendation for sleepers is overwhelmingly the Bear Elite Hybrid.

Best Mattress by Category

Before we get into the gritty details, let’s honor some specific mattresses first. The mattresses featured below performed exceptionally well when considering each individual category listed.

Best For	Bear
Overall	Bear Elite Hybrid
Side Sleepers	Bear Elite Hybrid
Stomach or Back Sleepers	Bear Elite Hybrid
Heavy People	Bear Elite Hybrid
Cooling	Bear Elite Hybrid
Affordable	Bear Star Hybrid
Back Pain	Bear Elite Hybrid
Sex	Bear Elite Hybrid
Soft Mattress	Bear Elite Hybrid (soft version)
Medium-Firm Mattress	Bear Elite Hybrid (medium version)
Firm Mattress	Bear Elite Hybrid (firm version)

The table below shows the overall performance score of every mattress we’ve tested from each brand. In total, 5 mattresses were tested at the time of this brand comparison.

After comparing 5 Bear mattresses, the brand average score is 8.51. The average price for a Bear mattress is $1,254 (for a queen).

All Bear Mattresses Tested

Bear Mattresses	Score	Mattress Type	Read Review	Check Price
Bear Elite Hybrid	9.26	Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price
Bear Natural	8.42	Latex Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price
Bear Original	7.47	Foam	Read Review	Check Price
Bear Pro Hybrid	8.51	Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price
Bear Star Hybrid	8.89	Memory Foam Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price

Moving on, let’s talk about specific performance categories. Depending on what factors are most important to you, individual mattresses may rise above others. The table below looks at 10 testing categories and highlights the top-performing mattresses in those particular tests.

Factor	Winner	Score
Best Overall	Bear Elite Hybrid	9.26
Best Cooling	Bear Elite Hybrid	10
Most Sinkage	Bear Star Hybrid	2.69″
Least Sinkage	Bear Original	1.60″
Lowest Motion Transfer	Bear Star Hybrid	8.5
Fastest Response Time	Bear Natural	10
Most Bounce	Bear Natural	16.46″
Least Bounce	Bear Original	8.44″
Best Edge Support	Bear Elite Hybrid, Bear Natural, Bear Star Hybrid	9.5
Best for Sex	Bear Natural	9.8
Best Pressure Relief	Bear Elite Hybrid	10
Least Off-Gassing	Bear Natural, Bear Star Hybrid	8.6

Looking at all available mattresses we’ve tested, Bear ranges in firmness from 4.5 to 7.5 out of 10. This more accurately represents the range on the Bear Elite Hybrid.

The other 4 mattresses Bear sells (excluding the Elite) only have a single firmness option that has a narrower range from medium (5.5) to medium-firm (6.5).

Check the table below to see the details of each mattress.

Firmness	Rating	Feel
Bear Elite Hybrid	4.5, 6, 7.5	Soft, Medium-Firm, Slightly Firm
Bear Natural	6	Medium-Firm
Bear Original	6.5	Medium-Firm
Bear Pro Hybrid	5.5	Medium
Bear Star Hybrid	6	Medium-Firm

Not sure which firmness you need? Your ideal mattress firmness depends on two major factors—sleeping position and body weight. With the right firmness, your body and spine will maintain proper alignment when sleeping.

Lightweight sleepers or those who sleep on their side tend to need a softer mattress. By comparison, heavier sleepers or those who sleep on their back or stomach tend to need more support and a firmer feel.

Now, let’s start our deep dive into the 3 most popular Bear mattresses across our 10 performance categories.

Bear Mattresses

• Bear Original
• Bear Elite Hybrid
• Bear Star Hybrid

The table below shows overall scores as well as scores from the individual testing categories.

Factor	Bear Original	Bear Elite Hybrid	Bear Star Hybrid
Overall Score	7.47	9.26	8.89
Cooling	6.0	10	9.0
Motion Transfer	6.7	7.7	8.5
Response	9.0	8.5	8.3
Edge Support	8.0	9.5	9.5
Sex	8.2	9.5	8.6
Pressure Relief	7.0	10	9.0
Off-Gassing	8.1	8.3	8.6
Company	9.4	9.4	9.4

This second table shows the data from each test we analyze. We use this data to compare each mattress to others within the brand as well as to compare with over 390+ mattresses we’ve tested to date.

Factor	Bear Original	Bear Elite Hybrid	Bear Star Hybrid
Price (Queen)	$599	$1,578	$1,499
Cooling	Mediocre	Outstanding	Excellent
Sinkage – Depth	1.60″	2.66″	2.69″
Sinkage – Feel	Very Minimal	Very Deep	Very Deep
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	12.42 m/s²	10.05 m/s²	8.28 m/s²
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.3 sec.	0.4 sec.	0.3 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.9 sec.	1.0 sec.	1.8 sec.
Bounce – Height	8.44″	10.70″	9.05″
Bounce – Feel	Moderate	High	Moderate
Edge Support – Sitting	2.75″	3.00″	3.00″
Edge Support – Lying	Mediocre	Excellent	Excellent
Comfort Layer Thickness	3.00″	5.00″	4.00″
Mattress Thickness	10.00″	14.00″	13.00″
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	7 days	6 days	5 days
Trial	120 nights	120 nights	120 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime

For cooling performance, the three Bear mattresses had mixed performance, as a brand. Individually, there was one mattress with exceptional cooling.

On average, the Bear mattresses earned a cooling score of 8.3, with scores as low as 6.0 and as high as 10.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding cooling.

Cooling Test	Score	Baseline	Max. Temp.	Ending Temp.
Bear Original	6.0	82.4°	92.5°	88.2°
Bear Elite Hybrid	10	76.5°	89.6°	82.2°
Bear Star Hybrid	9.0	70.0°	88.3°	76.6°

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (after 5 minutes) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Below, you can watch a video of how the heat dissipates on each mattress during our cooling test. For this test, we lie on the mattress for 15 minutes, get off the mattress, and then take periodic surface-level temperature measurements.

The average cooling score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.6. By this metric, the average Bear mattress is not as good as the average mattress we test. However, this is largely due to the outlier, mediocre performance of the Bear Original ($599).

The Bear Star Hybrid earned an excellent score of 9.0, and the Bear Elite mattress is among the few we’ve tested with a perfect 10/10 score. As the more expensive models, these have features that the Original does not. Most notably, their hybrid design includes open, breathable pocketed coils, as opposed to closed support foam.

The Bear Star comes with a special cooling cover that uses Celliant technology, which is meant to vastly improve cooling performance. The Bear Elite Hybrid comes standard with phase change materials sewn into its cover, but it also has the option to swap that out for the Celliant cover at an additional $100.

They also include copper-infused foam in their topmost layer, which is another method mattress makers use to draw heat away from the surface and dissipate it more quickly.

So, while we can’t wholly endorse Bear mattresses for top-tier cooling performance across the board, we can say that their more expensive models, like the Bear Elite and Bear Star Hybrid, are some of the best we’ve seen at Naplab.

Sinkage is a preferential factor, so there are no scores to say one model is objectively better than another. However, we use sinkage measurements to inform the type of feel that is best suited for certain types of sleepers.

Again, we see a divide with the more affordable Bear Original and the more expensive Star Hybrid and Bear Elite Hybrid. The former has very minimal sinkage, while the latter has very deep sinkage.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding sinkage.

Sinkage Test	Sinkage Feel	Sinkage Depth
Bear Original	Very Minimal	1.60″
Bear Elite Hybrid	Very Deep	2.66″
Bear Star Hybrid	Very Deep	2.69″

The level of sinkage for each mattress is documented in the images below.

The average sinkage depth across all mattresses tested to date is 2.23″. We rate this measurement as “moderate,” and it is suitable for most sleeping positions and body weights.

That said, back and stomach sleepers usually prefer less sinkage, which better maintains proper alignment of their spine. The Bear Original (1.60″) offers this sort of dynamic with a slight contour around one’s body. You’ll feel more like you’re floating on top of the mattress, rather than being sunken into it.

On the other hand, side sleepers generally enjoy a deeper level of sinkage, as that typically translates to better pressure relief and higher contour. For deeper sinkage, opt for the Bear Elite Hybrid (2.66″) or the Bear Star Hybrid (2.69″).

When it comes to motion transfer, we analyze the potential for movements to disturb sleepers who share a mattress. Bear mattresses lean towards high motion transfer, and would not be the best choice for couples who are sensitive to this issue.

The three mattresses in this comparison earned an average motion transfer score of 7.6, with scores ranging from 6.7 to 8.5.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding motion transfer.

Motion Transfer Test	Score	Acc. Range
Bear Original	6.7	12.42 m/s²
Bear Elite Hybrid	7.7	10.05 m/s²
Bear Star Hybrid	8.5	8.28 m/s²

The level of motion transfer on each mattress is also documented in the videos below.

The average motion transfer score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.2.

Unlike with cooling, where one outlier brought down the average, two of the Bear models perform significantly worse than the average mattress. The Bear Original had the highest motion transfer level, which I would strongly recommend against buying if you share a bed.

The Bear Elite Hybrid has more than average motion, but it’s not as problematic as the Original.

Among these three Bear models, those sensitive to their partner’s movements should opt for the Bear Star Hybrid. It’s no miracle worker for those extremely light sleepers, but it should be suitable for most people.

When it comes to response time, Bear mattresses are good to great. We see extremely good speeds to mostly rebound back to their original shape, but less impressive scores to fully recover.

The three Bear mattresses earned an average score of 8.6, with scores ranging from 8.3 to 9.0.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding response.

Response Test	Score	Mostly Recovered	Completely Recovered
Bear Original	9.0	0.3 seconds	0.9 seconds
Bear Elite Hybrid	8.5	0.4 seconds	1.0 seconds
Bear Star Hybrid	8.3	0.3 seconds	1.8 seconds

The level of responsiveness for each mattress is documented in the videos below.

The average response score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.8. Compared to this, Bear mattresses are slightly slower than the average mattress. However, this is largely felt in that final recovery, as noted above.

That “stuck” feeling you get on a slow mattress will likely never be felt by any of the Bear mattresses. The Bear Original is the most responsive mattress due to the minimal sinkage it provides. It’s hard to feel stuck in a mattress if you’re not really “in” the mattress in the first place.

The Bear Elite Hybrid and Bear Star Hybrid have deep sinkage, so the potential to feel trapped within the many foam layers was there, yet may only be partially felt in that last bit of recovery.

In the end, these speeds are far from bothersome, but there are undoubtedly more responsive mattresses on the market. The Bear Natural, which uses latex foam, is among the fastest we’ve tested to date, for example.

Moving along, let’s discuss larger movements. Generally speaking, Bear mattresses have moderate levels of bounce.

On average, we measured a bounce height of 9.4″ across the three Bear mattresses, with a range from 8.44″ to 10.70″.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding bounce.

Bounce Test	Bounce Feel	Bounce Height
Bear Original	Moderate	8.44″
Bear Elite Hybrid	High	10.70″
Bear Star Hybrid	Moderate	9.05″

The level of bounce for each mattress is documented in the videos below.

The average bounce across all mattresses tested to date is 8.76″.

It’s no surprise that the Bear Original, which has an all-foam design, had the lowest level of bounce. At 8.44″, it still remains within my ideal range for general ease of movement (between 8 – 12″).

The Bear Star Hybrid uses pocketed coils, yet it does not have much more bounce height than the Original. The thick comfort layer, which includes a 2″ pillow top cover, appears to remove a lot of energy from the rebound.

The Bear Elite is a solid notch above the others and has a level of bounce that’s right in my sweet spot between 8 and 12″. This level aids movement without feeling overly trampoline-like. However, there are some sleepers who prefer a calmer, softer surface, who may not enjoy this feel.

Mattresses with more bounce are better for ease of movement and increase sex performance. However, higher bounce also typically creates a higher level of motion transfer. So there are pros and cons when it comes to bounce.

For edge support, I lie on and sit on the edge of each mattress to measure the support and compression at the edge. The Bear mattresses are exceptional when it comes to sitting support, but a bit mixed for lying support.

The three Bear mattresses earned an average edge support score of 9.0, with scores between 8.0 and 9.5.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding edge support.

Edge Support Test	Score	Sitting Sinkage	Lying Support
Bear Original	8.0	2.75″	Mediocre
Bear Elite Hybrid	9.5	3.00″	Excellent
Bear Star Hybrid	9.5	3.00″	Excellent

The level of edge support is documented in the images below.

The average edge support score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.7, which makes the Bear mattresses better by comparison. However, we see a difference between pricing tiers.

For sitting support, each mattress had incredibly low measurements of compression at the edge, with the Bear Original having the least amount. Of course, it’s easier to have less edge compression with less material to compress.

However, when it came to lying support, I simply did not feel safe sleeping at its edge for fear of sliding off. This was not a problem on the more expensive Bear models.

The Bear Elite and Bear Star Hybrid both use pocketed coil units that are reinforced with a thicker gauge around the perimeter of the mattress. This makes a huge difference in offsetting their thick pillow top covers.

If you routinely use the edge of your bed for getting ready in the morning or are frequently exiled to the last few inches of your mattress by a tyrannical sleeping partner, then these Bear mattresses should work well for you.

Speaking of amorous activities, our sex score is derived from a weighted formula that factors bounce, edge support, noise, pressure relief, and cooling.

When it comes to sex, Bear mattresses range from good to exceptional.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding sex.

Sex Test	Sex Score	Bounce	Edge Support	Noise	Pressure Relief	Cooling
Bear Original	8.2	7.8	10	10	7.0	6.0
Bear Elite Hybrid	9.5	9.2	10	10	10	10
Bear Star Hybrid	8.6	8.1	10	8.0	9.0	9.0

The average sex score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.2. Compared to this, Bear mattresses are better than average. The Bear Original has the lowest score, which is still merely tied with the average.

High bounce and a supportive edge are the most important factors, as they make up 60% of the score. The Bear Elite Hybrid is the best mattress for sex, due to having perfect scores in 4/5 categories. Bounce could be a little higher to help reduce the strenuousness of the activity, but most couples should find it fantastic.

Now let’s discuss pressure relief – arguably, the most important performance factor for a mattress. Bear mattresses have a slightly average pressure relief score, across these three popular models.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding pressure relief.

Pressure Relief Test	Score	Comfort Layer	Support Layer
Bear Original	7.0	3.00″	7.00″
Bear Elite Hybrid	10	5.00″	9.00″
Bear Star Hybrid	9.0	4.00″	9.00″

The average pressure relief score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.6.

Once again, we see the Bear Original unable to keep up with its more expensive counterparts. Granted, there is roughly a $1,000 difference between these models. Pressure relief is often one of the biggest differentiators in quality.

The Bear Elite Hybrid has the highest pressure relief score of 10/10. Its 5.00″ of comfort material appears to be the ideal level for this brand, as the Bear Star Hybrid received a slightly lower score with a slightly thinner comfort layer.

The average comfort layer thickness we’ve seen to date is 4.26″, based on over 390 mattresses.

The materials included in each mattress are documented in the images below.

Bigger doesn’t always mean better, as the quality of materials and the overall design play a big role in creating a good comfort dynamic. What we see demonstrated on the Bear Elite Hybrid is a tried and true formula, where these factors meet to earn its top-tier score.

The foams used in the comfort layer of Bear Star Hybrid don’t exceed a 2.5 PCF, so it makes sense how another could make a difference. Furthermore, the Bear Original does not include this 2.5 PCF memory foam and is only 3.00″ in its comfort layer.

Suffice to say, you usually get what you pay for when it comes to pressure relief. Even so, the Bear Elite Hybrid is an exceptional deal at its $1,578 (queen size) price tag.

For off-gassing, we assess the initial smell after unboxing each mattress and measure the length of time it takes for that smell to dissipate.

Bear mattresses each have a strong initial synthetic smell, which is overwhelmingly the norm with bed-in-the-box mattresses. However, they finish off-gassing slightly faster than average.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding off-gassing.

Off-Gassing Test	Score	Initial Smell	Smell Duration
Bear Original	8.1	Strong	7 days
Bear Elite Hybrid	8.3	Strong	6 days
Bear Star Hybrid	8.6	Strong	5 days

The average smell duration across all mattresses tested to date is 7.13 days.

This means the Bear Original is just about tied with the average smell duration, which is not a surprise, due to its all-foam design.

The 8.00″ of pocketed coils used in the hybrid models creates a bit of advantage, as now there’s only 4 – 5″ of foam or textile material to off-gas. Granted, denser often takes longer, but we know the densest foam material in these mattresses is 2.5 PCF, which is nothing crazy.

In the end, most sleepers should find the smell duration on the Bear mattresses suitable. Even if the Bear Star Hybrid is the fastest by a day, it’s not significant enough to recommend over the Bear Elite.

If you are particularly sensitive to synthetic odors, you may want to opt for a bed that comes uncompressed. Alternatively, you can unbox your mattress in a separate room in your residence and wait for it to finish off-gassing before replacing your existing mattress.

Finally, let’s discuss the broader company policies that may influence your shopping decisions.

Bear is now owned by 3Z, which also owns Helix and Brooklyn Bedding. As such, starting on 02/01/2025, they have many of the same terms and conditions.

Bear offers a 120-night trial period, a lifetime warranty, free shipping, free returns, and they are made in the USA.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding company policies.

Company	Bear
Score	9.4
Trial Period	120 nights
Warranty	10 years
Shipping	$0
Returns	$0
Country of Origin	USA

These policies are incredibly consumer-friendly based on our experience testing 397+ mattresses from 106 different brands.

The average trial length is 173 nights, and the average warranty is 13 years, excluding 41% of mattresses that offer lifetime warranties (a good chunk of this last number is due to 3Z brands).

Bear Testing Data

Mattress Name	Overall Score	Cooling Score	Motion Transfer Score	Response Time Score	Edge Support Score	Sex Score	Pressure Relief Score	Off-Gassing Score	Company Score	Type	Thickness	Firmness	Sinkage	Bounce	Trial (days)	Ships To	Price (Queen)	Read Review
Bear Elite Hybrid	9.26	10	7.7	8.5	9.5	9.5	10	8.3	9.4	Hybrid	14.00"	Soft Medium-Firm Slightly Firm	2.66"	10.70"	120 nights	USA, Canada	$1,578	Review
Bear Star Hybrid	8.89	9.0	8.5	8.3	9.5	8.6	9.0	8.6	9.4	Memory Foam Hybrid	13.00"	Medium-Firm	2.69"	9.05"	120 nights	USA	$1,499	Review
Bear Pro Hybrid	8.51	9.0	6.7	9.1	8.2	8.4	9.0	7.8	9.4	Hybrid	10.00"	Medium	2.42"	8.69"	120 nights	USA	$899	Review
Bear Natural	8.42	8.0	6.1	10	9.5	9.8	8.0	8.6	9.4	Latex Hybrid	13.00"	Medium-Firm	2.13"	16.46"	120 nights	USA	$1,699	Review
Bear Original	7.47	6.0	6.7	9.0	8.0	8.2	7.0	8.1	9.4	Foam	10.00"	Medium-Firm	1.60"	8.44"	120 nights	USA	$599	Review