Written by Livvi DiCicco, CSSC
If you’re on the hunt for a comfy hybrid mattress with some impressive cooling features, you might want to take a look at the Bear Elite Hybrid. Our team has tested more than 500 mattresses, and this is one of our favorites, so we recently re-tested it to get the most accurate, up-to-date evaluation.
We’ve helped over 35,000 people find their new mattress match over the 11 years we’ve been in operation. Are you looking for a plush-but-supportive, luxurious hybrid with a medium feel? Are you a dedicated back sleeper? Looking for bounce but also an undisturbed night’s rest? If any of these sound familiar, then the Bear Elite Hybrid bed might be the perfect mattress for you.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is Bear’s most high-end mattress. It offers luxury features, like zoned support and extra height, while still offering the temperature regulation Bear mattresses are known for. Based on our testing results, we’d recommend this mattress to average-weight side and back sleepers, as well as hot sleepers. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, check out the Bear Star Hybrid. Learn more in our video review.
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress Performance: My Overall Rating
Our testing methodology encompasses a wide variety of performance categories both objective and subjective. We ask testers of different sizes, shapes, and preferences to give their thoughts and opinions on each mattress we try.
For the Bear Elite Hybrid, we found particularly excellent results in response and edge support, contributing to the bed’s overall score of 4.4 out of 5. Though the mattress lagged behind in the cooling category, I found it to be a relatively well-rounded bed that should suit plenty of sleepers, which we’ll dive further into below. To find out more about what goes into each specific mattress performance rating, hover your cursor over a test category to see its definition.
Watch Us Test the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
I Recommend The Bear Elite Hybrid For…
- Back sleepers – All of our testers tended to gravitate toward sleeping on their back on the Bear Elite Hybrid, thanks to its balance of pressure relief and support.
- Combination sleepers – The springs in this bed give it major bounce and responsiveness, so combination sleepers should be able to reposition without feeling “stuck” in the bed’s pillowy surface.
- Couples – Despite this responsiveness, the bed impressed us with its ability to absorb motion, something light sleepers who share the bed should enjoy.
I Don’t Recommend The Bear Elite Hybrid For…
- Stomach sleepers over 230 pounds – The Medium Bear Elite Hybrid likely will feel too soft to support sleepers in this category. They might even struggle to feel comfortable on the Firm model of this bed, and should look for something even firmer, like an 8 on the firmness scale.
- Super-hot sleepers – Though our testers pushed back against the bed’s low cooling score, I still wouldn’t discount it. If you sleep super hot, you may want to check out a hybrid with a thinner comfort layer, or consider upgrading to the bed’s Celliant cooling cover.
- Budget shoppers – As a luxury mattress that costs nearly $2,000 for a queen, the Bear Elite Hybrid isn’t exactly the best option for sleepers looking to stretch their dollar. You might consider looking at Bear’s affordable foam bed, the Bear Original.
How Firm is the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress?
At Mattress Clarity, we rate firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest, and 10 being the firmest. Typical mattresses fall around medium-firm, which we categorize as about 6.5/10 on our scale. The Bear Elite Hybrid’s Medium model, which we tested, came in just a touch softer at 6/10. The pillow top provides plenty of cushioning and sink, but there’s still some firmer support below, thanks to the innerspring unit.
If this sounds too soft or firm for you, the Bear Elite Hybrid also comes in Soft and Firm options to better tailor the bed to your needs. The Soft model is likely to fall around a 5 or 5.5 on our scale, while I’d assume the Firm model is closer to a 7 or 7.5.
How Well Did the Bear Elite Hybrid Perform?
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how the Bear Elite Hybrid performed in each of our tests. We also compared Bear’s scores to the averages we’ve gathered over our years of testing.
| Test | Performance | Average |
| Firmness | 6/10 – Medium | 6.6/10 – Medium-Firm |
| Side Sleeper Comfort | Good | – |
| Back Sleeper Comfort | Excellent | – |
| Stomach Sleeper Comfort | Good | – |
| Pressure Relief | 4/5 | 3.8 |
| Edge Support | 4.6/5 | 4.1 |
| Cooling | 2.5/5 | 4 |
| Motion Isolation | 4/5 | 3.9 |
| Response | 5/5 | 4.2 |
| Sinkage Depth | 3″ | 3.12″ |
| Sinkage Rating | Moderate | Moderate |
| Bounce Height | 14″ | 17.89″ |
| Bounce Rating | Moderate | Moderate |
| Noise | 5/5 | 4.5 |
| Sex | 4.9/5 | – |
| Trial Period | 4/5 | 4.3 |
| Warranty | 5/5 | 4.6 |
How Does the Bear Elite Hybrid Feel for Different Body Types and Sleeping Positions?
The Medium model of the Bear Elite Hybrid is surprisingly versatile. We compiled the following table based on the experience and opinions of our testers. Generally, back sleepers of all body types should sleep comfortably on this mattress. Sleepers under 130 pounds should fare well in each position on this medium-feel bed, while those over 230 pounds will likely feel too much sinkage on their side or stomach to be comfortable.
| Sleeper Weight | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Light (under 130 lbs) | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Average (130-230 lbs) | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Heavy (over 230 lbs) | Good | Excellent | Unpleasant |
Heavyweight Tester – 6’7”, 270 lbs
“As a larger person, I had a pretty nice experience on this mattress. I tested the medium model and it was a good fit for back and side sleeping. However, even with the zoning in its construction, I did not feel enough support under my hips while stomach sleeping.” – Marten Carlson
Average-weight Tester – 5’5”, 170 lbs
“I thought this bed was pretty nice on my stomach. It has a little bit of give around the chest and belly, but overall keeps you very supported. The pillow top is also nice enough to sleep on without a pillow, which I recommend fellow stomach sleepers do.” – Livvi DiCicco
Lightweight Tester – 5’7”, 120 lbs
“The mattress has a soft pillow top, so even though it feels pretty firm there’s plenty of cushion. I could feel some firmer support coming from below the pillow top, so my spine felt supported enough to maintain its natural curve.” – Cait Giddings
Bear Elite Hybrid In-Depth Test Results
Pressure Relief
As our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a quadruple board-certified physician specializing in pulmonary and sleep science, puts it, “Pressure relief is one of the most important things when it comes to ensuring comfortability in a mattress, as a bed that doesn’t relieve pressure instead causes pain and discomfort to build up in sensitive areas.” This is why we have multiple testers of different weights lie down on a mattress on their side and back, the two sleeping positions where pressure relief is most important.
We also use a specialized mat to record where pressure builds up on the body. After a few seconds, we have a thermal outline of our tester on the bed’s surface, which is color-coded to show the amount of pressure in each area. Blues and greens are signs of low pressure, while reds and yellows are signs of high pressure. Generally, we want to see more of the former. The mat also records the overall pressure buildup across the entire surface, a number we can compare with the average mattress pressure to see how much a person is sinking into a mattress and how comfortable it will feel over time.
Overall, our testers didn’t quite enjoy the Bear Elite while side sleeping. The overall pressure relief score came out to a low 3/5 for this position. Our heavyweight tester, Matt Schickling, explained how he reached this rating: “I feel pressure building in both my shoulder and neck, but it’s almost odd how it’s building up there and not lower down on my body.” Despite this, he still felt some contouring on his hips, and said his hips didn’t feel out of alignment.
On his back, he was much more comfortable, and gave the pressure relief a perfect 5/5. The map was all blue around his hips, and he agreed that he felt little-to-no pressure there, calling it “surprising” after the experience he had on his side. Overall, he felt that his spine was properly aligned, and his only complaint was a slight buildup of pressure in his lower back. However, he noted, “It’s so slight I might not even notice it if you weren’t asking.” There’s most likely little chance of this causing back pain over time. Matt finished his review by recommending it wholeheartedly for heavy back sleepers.
Cait commented that she really enjoyed this bed on her back in her notes, and though I only lay on the Bear Elite Hybrid for a few minutes, I also really liked the pressure relief. It definitely filled in my lower back for lumbar support, keeping the pressure off my hips. Ultimately, the Bear Elite Hybrid’s overall pressure relief score of 4/5 is definitely owed to how good it feels on your back.
Edge Support
My fellow tester Cait Giddings performed most of the performance tests for the Bear Elite Hybrid, including edge support. For this test, we judge how secure the perimeter of this mattress is when we sit and lie down directly on it. This is an important metric to know for sleepers who like to spread out on the surface and folks with mobility concerns. It also speaks to how likely the mattress is to start sagging over time, a way of judging its overall durability.
Cait was overall quite impressed with the Bear Elite Hybrid’s edge support. After sitting on the edges, she said, “It was so easy to get out of this bed that I felt like I essentially bounced out.” The support kept up as she cycled through each sleeping position on the edge of the bed. She added, “I felt like I could lie on the absolute farthest reaches of the bed without sliding or rolling out.”
We also tested the mattress’s edge support by placing weights along the edge and measuring how much the perimeter sank. Again, the Bear Elite Hybrid performed well here, standing up to more than 100 pounds of weight with relative ease. These results contributed to an overall edge support score of 4.6/5, a marker of exceptional edge support.
Cooling
Hot sleepers looking to spend less money on air conditioning might want to look for a cooling mattress. We evaluate a bed’s temperature-regulating ability not only by what’s in it, but how it performs in our cooling test. In this test, we use a thermal gun to measure the surface temperature of the bed. First, we take the temperature before anyone lies down on it, then again after we’ve had a quick rest on the bed for about seven minutes. From here, we’ll take a look at the overall increase and use that to calculate our final score.
The Bear Elite Hybrid went from 68.9 degrees to 81.5 degrees, for a whopping 12.6-degree increase. This is nearly double the typical 6- or 7-degree increases we see from beds with average cooling capability. Cait, who performed this test, was shocked to see the results. She noted, “I didn’t feel the mattress heat up at all while I was lying there.” She explained that she considers herself a “perpetually cold” sleeper, but still pushed back against the overall score of 2.5/5. “I wouldn’t describe this bed as ‘sleeping hot,’ despite its thermal gun results,” she finished.
Motion Isolation
Motion isolation refers to how well a bed stifles movement before it travels across the surface and potentially disturbs whomever is sleeping on the other side of the mattress. This can be an important factor for light sleepers and couples who share the bed to consider.
We test motion isolation in two ways: First, we place a glass of water on one side of the bed, and then move around on the other. We get in and out of bed, switch positions, roll around, etc. However much the water ripples or the glass wobbles reveals how much motion is traveling across the surface. Cait, who performed this test, said, “There were some small ripples in the water when I got in and out of bed, but not enough to make the cup teeter or the water slosh.” This is a sign of overall low motion transfer.
We also try out the mattress with another tester, who moves around on the other side of the bed as we lie there blindfolded, raising our hand when we feel their movement. Cait could feel it when her partner got in and out of bed, but she added, “When she simply lay down next to me, I could barely feel it—I don’t think I’d be awakened or disturbed by that level of movement.” These findings led her to rate overall motion isolation for the Elite Hybrid at a 4/5.
Response
Response refers to how fast the bed springs back to its original shape. It’s a close relative of bounce, so they’re usually used interchangeably. Response is most important for folks who need ease of movement on the surface of their mattress, like combination sleepers or sexually active folks. Therefore, we test responsiveness by moving around on the surface of the bed and judging how seamless it feels.
Cait found switching between each sleeping position went without much difficulty. She explained, “The soft pillow top gave me plenty of cushion but I didn’t sink very far into it.” She praised the bed’s bouncy spring core for the way she could easily roll around, ultimately giving the bed a perfect response score of 5/5. This makes it one of the best mattresses for combination sleepers.
Sinkage: Moderate
Sinkage sounds like a bad thing, but it depends on your personal preference. If you’re like me, you might like a mattress that feels like you’re “on top” of it, so you’d prefer lower sinkage. But if you like the iconic hug of memory foam, you might like a bed with high sinkage.
We measured the Bear Elite Hybrid’s sinkage at about 3 inches, which we consider “moderate” sinkage and is about average. This means you should get some contouring, but not so much cradling that you feel “stuck” in the surface of the bed. It’s also a sign that the bed is unlikely to start sagging over time, since it can bear weight very well.
Bounce: Moderate
Bounce is a good metric to determine how easy it will be to move on the surface of a bed, and perhaps good to know if you have kids who like jumping on the bed. We measure bounce by dropping a 15-pound ball from a height of six feet onto the bed’s surface, and then recording how high it rebounds.
For the Bear Elite Hybrid, we recorded a bounce height of 14 inches. This is just a smidge below our average bounce height for all beds we’ve tested, but still a fairly moderate bounce. It’s likely dampened by the plush pillow top on top, but as we’ve mentioned, the Bear Elite Hybrid has a pretty responsive surface, so bounce shouldn’t be an issue.
Noise
During testing, our testers didn’t notice any creaking from the springs or crunchy sounds from the foams. So, we gave it a perfect 5/5 score. Of course, it is possible that over time as the springs wear down, they might start to creak, but we’d say the risk of this is pretty low.
Sex
Sexually active sleepers may prioritize buying a mattress that makes nighttime activities more seamless, and therefore more enjoyable. They’ll likely want a bed that’s bouncy, has good edge support, and stays relatively quiet. To get an overall score for how well a mattress will work for sex, we take into account how the bed performed in each of these categories.
The Bear Elite Hybrid scored two perfect scores in response and noise, alongside a high 4.6/5 score for edge support, resulting in an overall score of 4.9/5. This means that you should be able to move around on the surface without any unwanted creaking, and use the full surface area of the bed without worry of sliding off.
Adjustable Base Compatibility
We test mattresses that are advertised as adjustable-base friendly with one of such bases we have in the studio. For the Bear Elite Hybrid, so long as you have weight on top of the mattress (two people, for example), it conforms relatively well to the base. We were able to maneuver the head and foot of the mattress despite the coil unit that makes up the bulk of the mattress.
Bear Elite Hybrid Customer Experience Scores
We rate customer service based on a combination of the trial period and warranty, as well as any experience we had unboxing the mattress. The latter can include how heavy or cumbersome the bed is to move, or whether it off-gasses (the chemical smell you might notice when unwrapping a manufactured good that came straight from the factory).
Trial Period
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes with a 120-night sleep trial. This is longer than the 100-night sleep trial you find with many other mattresses. However, some brands offer as long as 365 nights for their sleep trial, so we gave Bear’s trial period a respectable 4/5 score.
You have to sleep on your mattress for at least 30 nights if you want to start the return process. After 120 nights, it is too late to return the mattress. It’s important to note that only one mattress can be returned per household, but returns are free. You can receive a full refund or switch the bed out for a different firmness level.
Warranty
You receive a limited lifetime warranty with your Bear Elite Hybrid mattress. Some competitors only offer a 10-year or 15-year warranty, so Bear gets a very high score here. However, “limited” implies some exceptions, so we docked half a point—leading to an overall warranty score of 4.5/5.
The warranty covers any manufacturing defects or premature sagging in the foams and coils. It does not cover standard wear and tear. Also, if your firmness and comfort preferences change over time, that will not be covered.
Off-Gassing
The Bear Elite is a bed-in-a-box mattress, so it did off-gas a bit, as we often expect. When our testers first opened it, they commented on a slight chemical smell. But don’t let the odor deter you—this smell faded away within 48 hours when the bed was left in a well-ventilated room.
Bear Elite Hybrid Construction
The Bear Elite Hybrid is, of course, a hybrid mattress with foam and coils, but there’s a lot going on inside it. Let’s take a closer look at exactly what it’s made of.
Mattress Height & Weight
The Bear Elite Hybrid is about 14 inches tall and can weigh anywhere from 60 to 120 pounds. For reference, a queen-size Elite Hybrid weighs about 110 pounds. This is fairly standard for a high-end hybrid, but I’ll note that the bed looks and feels pretty lofty in the studio.
Materials
As mentioned, the Bear Elite Hybrid is made with multiple foam comfort layers and an innerspring unit. All foams in the bed’s construction are both CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified to meet standards for low emissions and harmful chemicals. The Bear Elite Hybrid is also a fiberglass-free mattress.
Layers
The Bear Elite Hybrid has a hand-quilted cover that feels soft and luxurious. The exterior is made with phase change material, which is one of the most effective cooling fabrics available. In my experience, it was cool to the touch. You can also opt for a Celliant cover, which could also help with temperature regulation, as Celliant purportedly helps muscle recovery by converting excess body heat into rejuvenating infrared energy.
The first comfort layer consists of copper-infused memory foam. Copper is great for two reasons: It’s cooling, and it’s antimicrobial. Underneath is a layer of transition foam, which offers some support and more pressure relief while keeping you from sinking too far into the mattress. Together, the plusher top layers create a bit of a pillow-top feel.
For the bulk of the bed’s support, you’ll find a layer of pocketed coils underneath the foam layers. These springs give the mattress a responsive feel and make it easier to move around on top of the bed. They are also zoned, firmer in the center for more support under the lumbar arena and individually wrapped to allow for airflow. On the bottom of the mattress is a layer of high-density support foam for stability.
How To Try and Buy The Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress
If you think the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress is right for you, your best option is to buy it through the brand’s website. You can also use our coupons in this review to get the best deal on the Bear Elite Hybrid. Clicking on those coupon links will take you directly to the Bear brand page.
Once you purchase the mattress, Bear will ship the mattress directly to you, and you can unbox it and sleep on it after it has expanded and off-gassed. Also, since you can’t really try the mattress before you buy, Bear offers a 120-night sleep trial. During this time, you can really decide if this mattress is right for you. If, after 30 nights, the mattress just isn’t doing it for you, you can return for a full refund.
Bear Elite Hybrid Prices & Sizes
Note: Prices do not reflect any coupons or discounts.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Twin | 38” x 75″ | $1893.00 |
| Twin XL | 38″ x 80″ | $1960.00 |
| Full | 54” x 75” | $2108.00 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” | $2305.00 |
| King | 76” x 80″ | $2762.00 |
| California King | 72” x 84” | $2762.00 |
How The Bear Elite Hybrid Compares
As mentioned, we’ve reviewed hundreds of beds aside from the Bear Elite Hybrid. You might be curious to know what else is out there, and I wouldn’t blame you. Here’s a few other beds we’ve tried that earned high ratings, including another Bear mattress that might pique your interest:
- Bear Star Hybrid – More Affordable Model
- Helix Midnight Luxe – Plusher, Cooler Hybrid
- Saatva Classic – More Innerspring Feel
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Bear Elite Hybrid vs. Bear Star Hybrid
The Bear Elite Hybrid is an upgraded version of the Bear Star Hybrid mattress. The Bear Star Hybrid is only available in one option, medium-firm. So, if you want something softer or firmer, the Bear Elite Hybrid, with its three firmness options, will be your best bet. However, because of this customization and more advanced materials in its construction, the Bear Elite Hybrid is going to cost more than the Bear Star Hybrid.
Both beds are considered “cooling” mattresses, though the Bear Star Hybrid actually performed better in the studio. Where they’ll really differ is their pressure-relieving ability. Our testers found the Bear Elite Hybrid to be much more contouring, so it should be a better match for back and side sleepers. Stomach sleepers or those with bigger bodies might prefer the Bear Star Hybrid’s supportive feel.
Read more in our Bear Star Hybrid mattress review.
Bear Elite Hybrid vs. Helix Midnight Luxe
The Helix Midnight Luxe is another luxurious hybrid mattress with a similar design to the Bear Elite Hybrid. They both feature tall, supportive zoned coils topped with multiple layers of foam and a bit of a pillow top. That being said, the pillow top is more pronounced on the Helix Midnight Luxe and offers a plusher feel than the Bear Elite Hybrid. For reference, I liked stomach sleeping on the Bear Elite Hybrid, but I noticed more sinkage in my hips when I tested the Midnight Luxe.
The Midnight Luxe did perform better in the cooling department, and I thought it felt noticeably cool-to-the-touch, so I’d recommend it for hot sleepers. However, the Midnight Luxe does cost a bit more than the Bear Elite Hybrid, so it may not be the best budget option.
Read more in our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review.
Bear Elite Hybrid vs. Saatva Classic
The Saatva Classic is a very popular hybrid innerspring mattress that also features coils and a plush pillow top. Like the Bear Elite Hybrid, the Saatva also comes in multiple firmnesses. And, the Saatva also boasts a breathable design.
That said, the Saatva has a more traditional look and feel, and costs a bit more than the Bear Elite Hybrid. If you want to feel more “on top” of your mattress, the Saatva will be a good choice. The Saatva doesn’t have great motion isolation, though, so you might prefer the Elite Hybrid if you’re a light sleeper with a restless partner.
Read more in our Saatva Classic mattress review.
Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress FAQs
How firm is the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress?
The Bear Elite Hybrid mattress has a medium firmness. We specifically rated it at a 6/10 on our firmness scale, which is a touch softer than the industry standard medium-firm (6.5/10).
Where can I buy the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress?
The easiest way to purchase a Bear Elite Hybrid mattress is straight from Bear’s website. The brand offers free shipping in the U.S. and a 120-night sleep trial to sweeten the deal.
How long do Bear Elite Hybrid mattresses last?
Most mattresses last between 7 to 10 years, but the Bear Elite Hybrid is built with high-quality materials and backed by a limited lifetime warranty, speaking to its longevity. We’d say that you should be able to get at least 15 years out of this bed.