Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Review

Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Review
✔️Last updated: September 2023
✔️ Customer Rating: 4.5/5 | |
✔️ Mattress Advisor Score: 8.9/10 | |
✔️ Type: Hybrid | |
✔️ Firmness: Soft, medium, and firm options | |
✔️ Free Shipping & Returns | |
✔️ 120-Night Sleep Trial | |
✔️Lifetime Warranty |
Get 35% off + $400 in Free Accessories
Overview: Bear’s Elite Hybrid is a high-end bed that uses Phase Change Material (PCM) and copper-infused foam to keep you cool at night. Made in the U.S., this mattress uses CertiPUR-US certified foams and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Who Is the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Best For?
Bear Elite Hybrid is best for: | Bear Elite Hybrid may not be best for: |
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Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Review Highlights
There’s not much to growl about with the Bear Elite Hybrid. This luxury mattress excelled in almost all our evaluations, making it the perfect choice for those wanting a well-rounded mattress. As a hybrid, it aims for the best of both worlds, providing great comfort and support.
Keep reading to see if this mattress is the right fit for you as we dive into its highlights, materials, and purchasing information.
What We Love About the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
- Set-up is a breeze with the stitched handles that allow you to easily lift and move the mattress around.
- Bear lets you take control of the firmness of your bed, offering three comfort levels: soft, medium, and firm.
- From its CertiPUR-US certified foam layers to the sleep recovery technology made from natural minerals, the Bear Elite Hybrid is a great eco option. It’s even GREENGUARD Gold certified and fiberglass-free.
Testing Scores
Here at Mattress Advisor, we rate each factor on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best. Then we calculate our final score using a weighted average. Learn more about our review process.
Mattress Advisor Test | Score (Out of 10) |
Shipping | 8.5 |
Trial Period | 9 |
Return Policy | 8 |
Warranty | 10 |
Set-Up | 9 |
Motion Transfer | 8.5 |
Edge Support | 7.5 |
Pressure Relief | 9 |
Spine Alignment | 9.5 |
Responsiveness | 9 |
Cooling | 8 |
Durability | 8.5 |
Customer Service | 10 |
Social Impact | 9 |
⭐Total Score for the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress: 8.9/10⭐
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Spine Alignment: You don’t have to worry about slouching on this mattress since it keeps the spine in a near-perfect neutral position.
- Pressure Relief: The Bear Elite Hybrid’s unique five-zoned cut foam offers excellent pressure relief in major pressure point areas and contours well to the body.
- Responsiveness: This mattress is very responsive, making switching between positions as easy as counting sheep.
❌ Cons
- Edge Support: Despite being a hybrid mattress with a coil system, the Bear Elite had pretty average edge support.
- Off-Gassing: Like most bed-in-box mattresses, the Bear Elite Hybrid has a slight off-gassing smell when unboxed but should go away within a few hours.
Motion Transfer
When it comes to motion transfer, the Bear Elite Hybrid did a pretty good job. Our testers could only feel each other move slightly. If you’re a light sleeper and share your bed with a partner, consider one of our best mattresses for couples.

Spine Alignment
Keeping your spine in a neutral position at night is just as important as sitting up straight during the day. The Bear Elite Hybrid’s combination of foam and coils allows it to give you the right support you need to keep your back straight, earning it a 9.5/10 for spine alignment.
Edge Support
Despite having a reinforced coil system around the mattress perimeter, the Bear Elite Hybrid had average edge support. When sitting on the edge, there was a decent amount of dipping. We did however notice that the edge felt stronger when lying on the edge, making it still a great option for the average sleeper.

Pressure Relief
Pressure relief looks at how well a mattress supports major pressure point areas of the body, like the hips and shoulders. This is important for those with muscle pains or athletes looking for a mattress with great recovery.
When our lightweight tester lay on their side, the map showed mostly blues and greens, with some yellow in her shoulder area. Similarly, the back was mostly blue and green.

Our heavier tester had some yellow in the hip area when lying on their side. However, when lying on their back, the map was all blue and green.

Product Details
Where Does It Fall on the Firmness Scale?
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes in three different firmness levels: soft, medium, and firm. We tested the medium option, which we pegged as about a 6/10 on the firmness scale. This is slightly softer than the industry standard for medium-firm. The soft option falls at about a 5/10 on the firmness scale and the firm falls at a 7/10.

Does Bear Elite Hybrid Sleep Cool?
When it comes to cooling, the Bear Elite Hybrid does a pretty good job thanks to its coil system. This promotes breathability and makes it less prone to trapping heat like all-foam mattresses. Bear also uses PCM and infuses its foam with copper to keep the bed cool. We did, however, feel it wasn’t as cool as some of the other cooling mattresses we’ve tested and noticed it didn’t have much of a cool-to-the-touch feel.

What Sleeping Positions Does It Work For?
Since the Bear Elite Hybrid comes in three different firmness options, it works well for all sleeping positions. The mattress does a good job of providing pressure relief and support for side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers. Plus, it scored high in responsiveness, making it a great choice for combination sleepers.
However, some heavyweight stomach sleepers may not get the support they need in their hips. Consider one of our top mattresses for heavy people instead.

How Much Weight Does the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Support?
Bear doesn’t spell out a weight capacity on their mattresses. Since this is a hybrid mattress, it can hold more weight than a traditional memory foam mattress.
What Foundations or Bed Frames Are Compatible?
The Bear Elite Hybrid does best when lying on a hard, flat surface. This includes bed frames, platform beds, and adjustable bases. Bear doesn’t recommend using a traditional coil box spring since it doesn’t give the proper support the Bear Elite Hybrid needs.

Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Materials
Unlike the Bear Original, which is an all-foam mattress, the Bear Elite Hybrid combines layers of foam with spring coils. Take a look at the layers making up the Bear Elite Hybrid.

- Hand-Quilted Cover: A super soft hand-quilted cover made up of Celliant fiber and PCM fabric helps keep you comfortable and cool.
- Copper-Infused Memory Foam: The first layer of the Bear Elite Hybrid uses copper to maintain a cool sleeping surface.
- Zone Comfort Foam: This layer offers pressure relief in the five zoned sections to help provide lumbar support and relieve muscle tension.
- Pocketed Spring Coil System: Individually encased pocketed spring coils reduce motion and respond to your body’s pressure.
- High Density Support Foam: The final layer provides support to the entire mattress and ensures durability.
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Sizes, Dimensions, and Pricing
Size | Dimensions | Weight | Price* |
Twin | 38” x 75” x 14″ | 60 lbs | $1,893 |
Twin XL | 38” x 80” x 14″ | 60 lbs | $1,960 |
Full | 54” x 75” x 14″ | 80 lbs | $2,109 |
Queen | 60” x 80” x 14″ | 110 lbs | $2,305 |
King | 76” x 80” x 14″ | 140 lbs | $2,762 |
Split King | 76” x 84” x 14″ | 120 lbs | $3,920 |
Cal King | 72″ x 84″ x 14″ | 140 lbs | $2,762 |
*Prices listed are standard without sales or Mattress Advisor exclusive discounts. Click the Check Price button below to see the best price for the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress.
What’s Unboxing Like?
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes compressed in a large cardboard box delivered right to your door so you don’t have to leave your house and go to a store. We found it was very easy to unbox and took its shape fairly quickly. There was a slight off-gassing smell, but this should go away pretty quickly after letting it air out.

Purchase Details
Learn about what shipping and other purchase details look like with Bear.
Policy | Details |
Delivery | Free delivery, arrives within 7-10 business days |
Trial Period | 120-night sleep trial |
Warranty | Lifetime warranty |
Return Policy | Free returns |
Financing | Available through Affirm and Splitit |
Shipping and Delivery
Like most bed-in-box mattress companies, Bear offers free shipping through FedEx Ground to the US lower 48 states. Those living in Alaska and Hawaii have additional shipping fees, which are non-refundable.
When checking out, you can choose between requiring a signature or not during delivery. Shipping typically takes 7 to 10 business days.
Sleep Trial Period
Bear offers customers a 120-night sleep trial to test out their mattresses, starting the day the mattress arrives. They recommend trying it out for at least 30 days since that’s the typical length for a mattress break-in period.
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Warranty
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes with a lifetime warranty for the full period the original purchaser owns the bed. This covers any visible indentations equal or greater than 1.5″ despite a proper foundation use and any physical flaws due to manufacturing defects that cause the foam to split.
If Bear deems your mattress is defective, they will replace your mattress with a brand new one of the same model and size for no additional fee. The lifetime warranty limits one replacement per mattress purchase.
Bear Customer Service
Getting in contact with the Bear customer service team is easy. Try one of the following methods:
- Call 844-311-0035
- Email support@bearmattress.com
- Live chat on the Bear website
The customer service representative team is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EST).
Return Policy
If you decide during your sleep trial that the Bear Elite Hybrid isn’t for you, you can initiate a free return. The Bear team will arrange a pickup and help you locate a local charity near you to take it to. Returns can be made any time after the 30-day break-in period as long as it’s during your 120-night trial period.
Where can I try out the Bear Elite Hybrid?
In addition to testing out the Bear Elite Hybrid during the 120-night sleep trial, you can visit a showroom or a partner store. Bear has showrooms in locations including:
- Austin, Texas
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- Phoenix
You can also try out a Bear mattress at greater metro locations around New York, Boston, Detroit, and Washington, D.C. Use Bear’s locator map to find a showroom or store near you.
Is the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress eco-friendly?
The Bear Elite Hybrid uses CertiPUR-US certified foam and has met the Greenguard Gold certification. This means it is made without ozone depleters or heavy metals and meets strict air quality standards.
How can I clean the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress?
To clean the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress, use warm water and mild detergent. Bear advises using water sparingly.
They suggest cleaning your mattress at least twice a year to help get rid of bacteria, mold, allergens, and dust mites. This can also help extend your mattress’s lifespan. You also can use a mattress protector to ensure a clean mattress.
Is the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress made in the U.S.?
Yes! The Bear Elite Hybrid mattress is manufactured in the U.S. and uses materials made in the U.S.

Is the Bear Elite Hybrid Right for You?
Decision time! We think this mattress would make a great addition to your home if you tend to have back pain and want the option to pick your mattress’s firmness. At the end of the day, think about your sleep environment, budget, and ideal customer service before making your final choice.
Sleep Environment
As you consider the Bear Elite Hybrid, it’s important to think about how it would work with your lifestyle. For those that sleep with a partner, child, or pet, it’s important to have a bed with good motion isolation. This helps ensure you don’t wake up from any late-night bathroom breaks or disturb your partner. The Bear Elite Hybrid scored 8.5/10 in this category, meaning it would work for most sleepers. If you find you are easily woken up by noises, you want to consider a mattress with a higher motion isolation score.
Another important factor in your mattress decision journey is whether it regulates temperature well. As a hybrid, it promotes breathability and has some nice added bonuses like the PCM and copper-infused foam layers. However, we felt the mattress wasn’t the coolest mattress we’ve tested.
Budget
One factor to keep in mind is that the Bear Elite Hybrid comes at a higher price than others in the market. With a queen-size model starting at $2,111, it’s not a great option for those on a tight budget.
Bear does, however, offer financing through Splitit. They also have regular sales that can help get the price more within your reach. For a more affordable hybrid, consider the Leesa Original Hybrid mattress, which costs about 25% less.
Customer Experience
Finally, think about what you want your customer experience to be like during your purchase journey. Bear offers a 120-night sleep trial which is similar to the industry standard of 100 days. If you want some more time to try it out during all the seasons, consider the DreamCloud mattress, which comes with a 365-night sleep trial.
When it comes to warranty, Bear is extremely generous. They offer lifetime coverage, so you’re good for the duration of owning your mattress.

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