Mary is a product-content marketer who applies a pedigree in journalism, human-centered design, and cultural trends to inform strategy. Prior to Sleep Doctor, Mary led editorial and creative at ESPN and Rad Power Bikes. She likes to build and grow things, and break and fix things, and only sometimes in that order.
Firmness Options: Medium (5), Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
At a Glance
The versatile Bear Elite Hybrid offers strong all-around performance and exceptional pressure relief. Powered by its hybrid design, the Bear Elite Hybrid adapts to your body, giving essential support even as you adjust from one sleeping position to another.
Launched in 2022, the Bear Elite Hybrid has quickly risen up the ranks of highly regarded hybrid mattress options. It consistently wins sleepers over with its combination of pocketed coils and copper-infused memory foam, so our testing team decided to bring it into our test lab to see just how well it stacks up.
In our evaluation, the Bear Elite Hybrid met or exceeded our expectations. It effectively balanced cushioning, comfort, and spinal support. The choice of three firmness levels made it easier for sleepers of all weights and sleep positions to find a model that met their needs.
We take an in-depth look at everything you need to know about the Bear Elite Hybrid, including its materials, design, pricing, and performance ratings.
Choose Luxury Plush if:
Choose Luxury Firm if:
Choose Extra Firm if:
– you weigh under 130 pounds or prefer a softer sleep surface.
– you weigh under 230 pounds, sleep on your back or side, or like a balance of support and cushioning.
– you weigh over 230 pounds, sleep on your stomach, or enjoy a firmer sleep surface.
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Testing Team Takeaways
To test the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress, we had three people on our testing team each take the bed home with them for one week. Here are their initial observations.
Jackson Lindeke
Executive Product Director
190 pounds
Side sleeper
Showers before bed
I was really satisfied with the way that the Bear Elite Hybrid worked for me. It reduced impact around my hips and shoulders, which is important for me as a side sleeper. And the mattress still felt sturdy and had a touch of bounce.
Daniel Noyed
Senior Product Editor
165 pounds
Back sleeper
Dunks head in ice water to wake up
While some mattresses with memory foam feel too soft to me, that wasn’t an issue with the Bear Elite Hybrid. It kept my lower back supported, letting me settle in for quality sleep.
Brad Nehring
Senior Product Analyst
215 pounds
Side sleeper
Sleeps with a weighted blanket
Like Jackson, I really appreciated how much this mattress was able to gently hug my hips and shoulders to relieve pressure without ever feeling unstable or excessively soft.
Sleeping Style and Body Weight
Bear Elite Hybrid – Luxury Plush
Sleeper Type
Under 130 lbs
130-230 lbs
Above 230 lbs
Side Sleepers
8.5/10
8/10
6.5/10
Back Sleepers
7.5/10
7/10
5.5/10
Stomach Sleepers
6/10
5.5/10
5/10
Bear Elite Hybrid – Luxury Firm
Sleeper Type
Under 130 lbs
130-230 lbs
Above 230 lbs
Side Sleepers
7.5/10
8.5/10
7.5/10
Back Sleepers
7/10
7.5/10
7/10
Stomach Sleepers
6.5/10
6/10
5.5/10
Bear Elite Hybrid – Firm
Sleeper Type
Under 130 lbs
130-230 lbs
Above 230 lbs
Side Sleepers
6/10
7/10
7.5/10
Back Sleepers
6.5/10
8/10
8/10
Stomach Sleepers
7/10
7.5/10
7.5/10
Side Sleepers
The Bear Elite Hybrid’s balance of cushioning and stability makes it a great choice for most side sleepers. It offers the pressure-relieving benefits of memory foam, which gently hugs the hips and shoulders, but it doesn’t suffer from the bothersome sinkage that affects many foam mattresses.
In our testing, the medium (5) model was best for side sleepers under 130 pounds, the medium firm (6) was best for sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, and the firm (8) gave the best results to side sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds.
Back Sleepers
Based on the findings from our test lab, the Bear Elite is a solid but not spectacular option for most back sleepers. Our testers felt that the mattress was comfortable in general, but it was essential for them to pick the right firmness so that their lower back and midsection got proper support.
Back sleepers over 230 pounds will find that the two softer models have too much hug and plushness. Back sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds were a better match for the medium firm (6) or firm (8) option. Sleepers under 130 pounds appreciated the extra cushioning from the medium (5) model.
Stomach Sleepers
The firm (8) model of the Bear Elite Hybrid works well for most stomach sleepers. It has enough firmness and stability to support the midsection, and even though it has a memory foam top layer, it didn’t feel suffocating to the stomach sleepers in our testing.
In contrast, the two softer models of the Bear Elite Hybrid are likely to lack support for most stomach sleepers over 130 pounds. For those under 130 pounds, the mattress can strike a solid balance between support and cushioning.
Mattress Performance
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Motion Isolation
7
/ 10
Luxury Plush: 7.5 / 10
Luxury Firm: 7 / 10
Firm: 6.5 / 10
“In my experience, the motion isolation on the Bear Elite was solid. I could feel some vibrations from the other side of the bed but nothing that would jar me awake.” – Jackson
The Bear Elite Hybrid shows considerable ability to prevent vibrations from traveling across the surface of the mattress. Its memory foam layer only reacts where weight is directly applied, which helps keep movement from causing ripple effects that spread to the other side of the bed.
However, the bounce of the coils can cause some motion transfer, especially on the firm model that has a reduced amount of contouring.
Pressure Relief
8
/ 10
Luxury Plush: 8 / 10
Luxury Firm: 8 / 10
Firm: 7 / 10
“The pressure relief from this mattress was really impressive. As a back sleeper, I especially liked the firm and luxury firm models, which kept my body well-aligned while cushioning my lower back.” – Danny
The Bear Elite Hybrid offers excellent pressure relief that stems from its comfort system and the zoned, pocketed coils in its support core.
In our testing, it was side and back sleepers who tended to get the best pressure relief and support. That said, stomach sleepers liked the firm (8) model that maintained a flat, stable surface with just enough cushioning for the midsection.
Temperature Control
7
/ 10
Luxury Plush: 6.5 / 10
Luxury Firm: 6.5 / 10
Firm: 7 / 10
“I wouldn’t say that this mattress was extremely cool, but it also didn’t feel excessively hot. I noticed only a bit of heat retention from the foam, but it might be an issue if you’re a really hot sleeper.” – Jackson
This mattress doesn’t feel overwhelmingly hot, but it also probably shouldn’t be the top choice for hot sleepers. The copper-infused foam makes it slightly cooler than some other memory foam mattresses, but heat can still collect in and around the foam.
The risk of overheating is highest on the Luxury Plush model because it has the closest contouring around the skin, which may make it harder for heat around the body to dissipate during the night.
Edge Support
7.5
/ 10
Luxury Plush: 7 / 10
Luxury Firm: 7.5 / 10
Firm: 8 / 10
“The edge support of the Bear Elite Hybrid was excellent while sleeping. It felt a little softer when sitting on the edge of the bed, but it still felt stable. – Brad
Reinforced edges in the support core help give this mattress a solid rating for edge support. While you’ll notice foam compression around the perimeter, it’s not so significant that you’ll feel like the mattress is giving out beneath you.
Of the three different firmness options, edge support is clearly strongest in the firm (8) model and weakest in the one with a firmness level of medium (5).
Ease of Movement
6.5
/ 10
Luxury Plush: 6.5 / 10
Luxury Firm: 6.5 / 10
Firm: 7 / 10
“On the firm model, the bounce from the coils made it feel like a non-issue to adjust my body’s position. The added contouring of the softer models can impede some movement, though.” – Brad
When you need to switch your sleeping position or adjust your body’s alignment on the mattress, you generally won’t encounter much resistance. Sleepers over 230 pounds may find that there’s less ease of movement, especially on the softer models. But in most cases, the springiness from the thick layer of pocketed coils enables relatively easy movement on the surface of the Bear Elite Hybrid.
Off-Gassing
7
/ 10
“Like most mattresses with multiple foam layers, the Bear Elite gives off a light odor right after you set it up. But I could barely detect any smell after a day or so.” – Danny
In our testing, we found that the Bear Elite had about average off-gassing compared to most other hybrid mattresses. The foam layers emit a bit of a smell, but it shouldn’t persist for more than 24 hours. There’s no health risk from this limited off-gassing, and turning on a fan or opening a window can help the smell dissipate more quickly.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is 14 inches tall and has four interior layers. The top layer is made of memory foam that is infused with copper intended to resist heat buildup. This material gives the Bear Elite Hybrid solid cushioning, pressure relief, and motion isolation.
The next layer is a responsive polyfoam that enhances cushioning but also works to prevent excess sinkage into the mattress. The third layer is made of individually-wrapped metal coils that are reinforced to be more robust around the perimeter. The fourth and bottom layer is made with high-density polyfoam to absorb vibrations and noise.
The mattress cover is a quilted fabric treated with a phase change material that promotes temperature neutrality. For an additional charge, you can add Celliant fabric to the cover for extra temperature regulation and muscle support.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is available in three firmness options that Bear labels as Luxury Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm . On our 1-10 firmness scale, these correspond to medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8).
Firmness
Medium – 5 Medium Firm – 6 Firm – 8
Mattress Type
Hybrid
Construction
Cover Material:
Quilted cover with phase change material (optional Celliant fabric add-on)
The Bear Elite is available in a split king size In addition to the six standard mattress sizes. While its price may exceed the budget of some shoppers, it is in line with other mattresses of similar design and quality.
Sizes
Dimensions
Height
Weight
Twin
39″ x 75″
14″
60 lbs.
Twin XL
39″ x 80″
14″
60 lbs.
Full
54″ x 75″
14″
80 lbs.
Queen
60″ x 80″
14″
110 lbs.
King
76″ x 80″
14″
140 lbs.
California King
72″ x 84″
14″
140 lbs.
Split King
38″ x 80″ (2 pc.)
14″
120 lbs.
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability
The Bear Elite Hybrid is available in all 50 states. It can be purchased online from the Bear website. The mattress is also available in dozens of Bear’s partner showrooms across the United States.
Shipping
Shipping is available to all U.S. states. Shipping is free in the contiguous U.S. and is also available for an extra charge for residents of Hawaii and Alaska.
The mattress is shipped in a compact box that will be delivered to your front door. Once the mattress is removed from the box and its plastic packaging, it will decompress to retake its full size. For larger sizes, it may take two or three people to carry the box and properly set up the mattress.
Additional Services
A White Glove delivery service is available through Bear. You can select the specific services you need, including new mattress setup, removal of an old mattress, and/or installation of a bed base. The price of this service varies based on the specific services provided.
Sleep Trial
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes with a 120-night sleep trial. The company requires that you try the mattress for 30 nights before requesting a return. If you decide that you don’t want to keep the mattress, the company will pick it up and issue you a full refund.
Warranty
Bear offers a lifetime warranty for the Elite Hybrid. If the mattress has a defect at any time, the company will replace it at no cost to you. Covered defects do not include typical wear and tear or damage that results from negligence or accidents.
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Mary is a product-content marketer who applies a pedigree in journalism, human-centered design, and cultural trends to inform strategy. Prior to Sleep Doctor, Mary led editorial and creative at ESPN and Rad Power Bikes. She likes to build and grow things, and break and fix things, and only sometimes in that order.
