Bear’s documented strength is exceptional cooling. Tom’s Guide calls the Bear Elite Hybrid the best cooling mattress of the more than 120 it has tested, finding that its Celliant-infused cover has exceptional thermal effusivity, quickly pulling heat away from the body. Its reviewer said that five months after testing, it was still her favorite mattress. Tom’s Guide also reported that it kept its lead tester comfortably cool through a warm Texas July. Bear is based in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Bear’s lineup spans budget to premium. The 14-inch Elite Hybrid comes in soft (5/10), medium (6/10) and firm (7/10), and Tom’s Guide lists a queen with the Celliant cover at a $2,427 MSRP, often discounted to about $1,578. The Bear Original is the most affordable, an all-foam mattress that Tom’s Guide lists at $998 for a queen, often about $648 on sale, and praised for motion isolation and value. AARP’s older adult testers found that all testers had better overall pressure relief on the Elite Hybrid. Bear also makes the Bear Hybrid and Bear Cub kids’ mattresses. Every Bear mattress ships free, with a 120-night trial, a limited lifetime warranty and free returns, per Tom’s Guide.
On Trustpilot, Bear scores an excellent 4.6 from 149 reviews, with 77% five-star ratings. Trustpilot’s AI summary says reviewers praise the clear website, smooth ordering and exceptional comfort and support. Allen Kernion (5 stars) said he’s on his third Bear mattress because his children and exes wanted to keep the earlier ones. Natalie Legel (US, 5 stars) returned to Bear after more than 10 years on her first one. Susan (US, 5 stars) said her back and shoulder pain disappeared, and praised the waterproof cover. Several reviewers mention teacher discounts.
The honest caveat: Tom’s Guide notes the Elite Hybrid lets you feel your partner move and is beaten by rivals on edge support. Trustpilot’s summary flags shipping delays, wrong items and missing parts of bundled orders. Andrew Deal (US, 2 stars) said his mattress never shipped on time with no tracking, though a manager eventually issued a full refund. Valrie Bogaert (US, 2 stars) reported stitching coming apart. One reviewer wanted more independent research on Celliant. Bear hasn’t replied to negative Trustpilot reviews.
Quick Highlights
✅ Tom’s Guide’s best cooling mattress of 120+ tested
✅ Celliant cover pulls heat away quickly, per Tom’s Guide
✅ Three firmness options on the Elite Hybrid
✅ Bear Original often about $648 for a queen
✅ Better pressure relief on the Elite, per AARP testers
✅ Trustpilot rating of 4.6 from 149 reviews
✅ 120-night trial with free returns, per Tom’s Guide
✅ Limited lifetime warranty
✅ Free shipping
✅ Teacher discounts, per reviewers
✅ Repeat buyers after 10+ years
✅ Kids’ Bear Cub mattress
❌ Motion transfer on the Elite Hybrid, per Tom’s Guide
❌ Weaker edge support than rivals, per Tom’s Guide
❌ Shipping delays and missing bundle items, per reviewers
❌ Stitching issue, per a reviewer
❌ Limited independent research on Celliant
❌ Hasn’t replied to negative Trustpilot reviews
❌ Elite Hybrid MSRP over $2,000
Why Trust This Review
This review draws on 149 Trustpilot reviews of Bear (TrustScore 4.6) and its AI summary, testing from Tom’s Guide, AARP, NCOA, This Old House and GoodBed, and Bear product information. Bear hasn’t invited Trustpilot reviews recently. Tom’s Guide earns affiliate commissions and runs exclusive discount codes. Prices change often with sales.
Sleep health note: Bear markets Celliant for recovery, but evidence for such benefits is still developing, so treat cooling as the main proven advantage. If you have back or joint pain, consult a doctor about firmness and use the trial period fully. GlossGirly has no commercial relationship with Bear that affects this verdict.
Full Review Breakdown
Cooling Performance
Cooling is Bear’s standout feature. Tom’s Guide’s tests found the Elite Hybrid with Celliant cover has exceptional thermal effusivity, removing heat from the bed quickly, and it ranks the Elite as the best cooling mattress it has tested. A Tom’s Guide reviewer who sleeps hot as an active runner said the Celliant upgrade was worth it.
Customers agree. Natalie Legel noted Bear was one of the first companies to offer a cooling mattress, and returned after a decade.
Models and Firmness
The Elite Hybrid is Bear’s premium 14-inch hybrid, in soft, medium and firm. Tom’s Guide found the medium comfortable in any position. AARP recommends the Elite’s medium-firm feel for average-weight sleepers, though the Original scored slightly higher in pressure relief for that group.
The Bear Original is a 10-inch, all-foam option that AARP notes is one of the few it tested under $1,000. Tom’s Guide found it comfortable for back, front and side sleeping, though lighter people may need time to break it in. GoodBed found the Bear Hybrid has better edge support and suits heavier people better than the Original.
Pricing, Trial and Warranty
Tom’s Guide lists the Elite Hybrid queen with Celliant at $2,427 MSRP, often about $1,578 after 35% off, and the Original queen at $998, often about $648. Bear runs frequent sales of 30% to 40%. NCOA notes white-glove delivery starts at about $100.
Every order includes free shipping, a 120-night trial, a limited lifetime warranty and free returns, per Tom’s Guide. Reviewers mention teacher discounts, and Shane Bermingham (US, 5 stars) said a rep found him a deal within his budget.
Ordering, Delivery and Service
Most reviewers praise Bear’s website and ordering. Shaun Hull (US, 5 stars) said the mattress selection tools helped him choose the perfect mattress. Hannah Ihns (US, 5 stars) said a rep quickly fixed a wrong-size order and kept her discount.
Delivery can be uneven. Andrew Deal said his mattress shipped late without tracking and he couldn’t get answers by email or phone, though a manager later refunded him in full. Trustpilot’s summary notes missing promotional bundle items and foundation parts. Track your order and escalate if shipping stalls.
Best Products Worth Buying
Bear’s premium 14-inch hybrid, which Tom’s Guide calls the best cooling mattress of more than 120 tested. Available in soft, medium and firm. Best for hot sleepers, athletes and those wanting premium comfort. Trade-offs: some motion transfer and weaker edge support than rivals.
Bear’s affordable all-foam mattress, praised by Tom’s Guide for motion isolation and value. Josh Fernandez (US, 5 stars) said it greatly improved his sleep and recovery after labor-intensive workdays. Best for budget buyers and couples. Trade-offs: firmer feel may need breaking in for lighter sleepers.
A mid-range hybrid with memory foam over pocketed coils. GoodBed found it has better edge support than the Original and suits heavier sleepers. Best for those wanting coil support at a mid-range price. Trade-offs: fewer premium features than the Elite.
Bear’s kids’ mattress, which Sleepopolis rates good for athletic kids. Jess Perreault (5 stars) chose it for a child’s first big-kid bed after researching non-toxic, hypoallergenic options. Best for growing kids. Trade-offs: confirm firmness suits your child.
What Customers Actually Think
“This is my third Bear mattress. Not because they’ve worn out, because my children and exes have all wanted to keep them.” — Allen Kernion, Trustpilot reviewer (5 stars, Bear mattress)
“I have no more back or shoulder pain nor ‘tired body’ upon waking.” — Susan, Trustpilot reviewer (US, 5 stars, Bear mattress)
“We bought a Bear mattress over 10 years ago.” — Natalie Legel, Trustpilot reviewer (US, 5 stars, Bear mattress)
“Fulfillment and communication were genuinely poor.” — Andrew Deal, Trustpilot reviewer (US, 2 stars, Bear Elite Hybrid and Foundation)
“I also noticed that the stitching was coming apart after just a few uses, which was really disappointing.” — Valrie Bogaert, Trustpilot reviewer (US, 2 stars, Bear product)
Is It Worth It?
Yes, especially for hot sleepers. The Elite Hybrid is one of the best cooling mattresses tested, and the Original offers strong value on sale. Buy during frequent 30% to 40% sales, and track delivery closely.
Competitors Table
Feature | Bear | Nolah | WinkBeds | Helix | Leesa | Brooklyn Bedding |
Trustpilot rating | 4.6/5 (149 reviews) | 4.4/5 (63 reviews) | 4.1/5 (417 reviews) | 4.4/5 (236 reviews) | 4.5/5 (272 reviews) | 4.6/5 (207 reviews) |
Cooling strength | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
Budget option | Original (~$648 queen sale) | Original | No | Midnight | Original | Signature |
Trial | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 120 nights |
Warranty | Limited lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10–15 years | 10 years | 10 years |
Free returns | Yes | No ($99) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies |
FAQs
Is Bear a good mattress for hot sleepers?
Yes. Tom’s Guide calls the Elite Hybrid the best cooling mattress it has tested.
How much is a Bear mattress?
The Original queen is about $648 on sale, and the Elite Hybrid queen about $1,578.
What is Celliant?
A fabric technology Bear uses in its covers, marketed for cooling and recovery.
Does Bear offer free returns?
Yes, within its 120-night trial, per Tom’s Guide.
Does Bear have a teacher discount?
Several reviewers say they received one.
Final Verdict
Bear makes one of the best cooling mattresses available, with the Elite Hybrid topping Tom’s Guide’s tests, while the Original offers solid comfort at a budget price. Loyal repeat customers and a 4.6 Trustpilot score back up its reputation.
The trade-offs are some motion transfer and edge support on the Elite, plus occasional delivery hiccups. Buy on sale and track your order. For hot sleepers, Bear is a top choice.
Scorecard
Category | Score |
Cooling | 9.6/10 |
Comfort & Support | 8.8/10 |
Pressure Relief | 8.6/10 |
Motion Isolation & Edges | 7.2/10 |
Product Range | 8.6/10 |
Trial & Warranty | 9.0/10 |
Delivery & Service | 7.4/10 |
Value for Money | 8.8/10 |
Overall | 8.4/10 |
