Bear vs Casper Mattress Comparison: Which Is Best?

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If someone is picking between the Bear and the Casper mattresses, it may be difficult to make up their mind, because they are both popular mattresses with quality components.

At first, it may seem like they are a lot of similarities between the two mattresses, but there are in fact noticeable differences as well.  This Bear vs Casper mattress comparison will go through the construction of both mattresses and highlight the main takeaways consumer should know about before making a decision.

Product
Firmness
Score
Amerisleep AS3 Mattress Review
Amerisleep AS3 Mattress
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
4.1/5
Bear Original Mattress
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
3.8/5
Amerisleep AS3 Mattress Review
Product
Amerisleep AS3 Mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Score
4.1/5
Product
Bear Original Mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Score
3.8/5

Bear vs Casper: Top Similarities

  • They are both all-foam mattresses that have similar thicknesses.
  • They both incorporate memory foam in their construction and have similar base layers.
  • They generally have similar levels of firmness.

Bear vs Casper: Key Differences

  • Casper has zoned support, while the Bear has a more uniform feel across the mattress.
  • Bear incorporates Celliant (a unique fabric that may aid sleep and athletic recovery) in its optional, $200 cover, while Casper has a more standard fabric cover.
  • The Bear has memory foam on top, while the Casper has it in the second layer.
  • The Bear has more of a classic memory foam feel, while the Casper has a balanced foam feel where sleepers sink into the mattress but not too much.

A close shot of the design of the Bear Original mattress

Bear Construction

  • The mattress is 10” tall and features four separate foam layers.
  • The cover is soft and, if you’re willing to pay an extra $200, is woven together with Celliant, which is a fabric that can potentially bring sleepers certain health benefits.
  • First, there is a 1.5” layer of graphite-gel memory foam, which gives the mattress its softness and body contouring.
  • This is followed by 1” of a latex-like comfort foam to prevent sleepers from sinking into the mattress too far.
  • Next, there is 1” of a transitional performance foam to act as a buffer between the comfort and support layers.
  • Finally, the base layer is 6.5” of a high-density support foam, which is pretty standard on the market.

Bear Original Mattress

The Bear Original mattress sleeps cool and is quite comfortable. It's a particularly good option for athletes.

Clarity Score 3.8/5

Material

Foam

Trial Period

120 nights

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Bear Original Mattress

The Bear Original mattress sleeps cool and is quite comfortable. It's a particularly good option for athletes.

Clarity Score 3.8/5

Material

Foam

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Trial Period

120 nights

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Bear Original Mattress

The Bear Original mattress sleeps cool and is quite comfortable. It's a particularly good option for athletes.

Clarity Score 3.8/5

Material

Foam

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Trial Period

120 nights

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

A cross section shot of the Casper Original's construction

Casper Construction

  • The mattress is 10” tall and features four distinct foam layers.
  • The cover is soft and thin and doesn’t affect the overall feel of the mattress too much.
  • The first layer is 1.5” of a breathable, latex-like foam that is soft and is very resilient.
  • Next, there are 1.5” of a high-density memory foam that gives the mattress additional pressure relief and body contouring.
  • Then there are 1.5” of a zoned transition foam that is firmer in the middle and softer underneath the shoulder area.
  • Finally, there are 5” of a durable support foam that is pretty standard for all-foam mattresses.

Casper Original Mattress

casper original hero

Casper mattresses work well for all sleeping positions, thanks to its unique zoned support system.

Clarity Score 3.7/5

Material

Foam

Trial Period

100 nights

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

"From the delivery of the box to the magical unfolding of the king size mattress to the first time laying on the bed, all smiles here! I have traveled for work for years, often sleeping on different beds at different hotels night after night."

Paul, Casper customer
Average Customer Rating
4.4/5
Watch Our Video Review

Casper Original Mattress

casper original hero

Casper mattresses work well for all sleeping positions, thanks to its unique zoned support system.

Clarity Score 3.7/5

Material

Foam

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Trial Period

100 nights

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

"From the delivery of the box to the magical unfolding of the king size mattress to the first time laying on the bed, all smiles here! I have traveled for work for years, often sleeping on different beds at different hotels night after night."

Paul, Casper customer
Average Customer Rating
4.4/5
Watch Our Video Review
casper original hero

Casper Original Mattress

Casper mattresses work well for all sleeping positions, thanks to its unique zoned support system.

Clarity Score 3.7/5

Material

Foam

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

Trial Period

100 nights

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

"From the delivery of the box to the magical unfolding of the king size mattress to the first time laying on the bed, all smiles here! I have traveled for work for years, often sleeping on different beds at different hotels night after night."

Paul, Casper customer
Average Customer Rating
4.4/5
Watch Our Video Review

Construction Differences and Notes

  • They both have soft and thin covers, but Bear offers a $200 Celliant cover, which may help with blood flow and cooling.
  • While they both have memory foam in them, the Bear has it on top, which gives it more of a classic memory foam feel, so that sleepers slowly sink into the mattress.
  • The zoned support in the Casper makes it firmer in the middle of the mattress. This makes it ideal for combination sleepers, because it is softer around the shoulders and firm under the hips. This also gives it more of a balanced foam feel where sleepers sink into the mattress but not too much.
  • In terms of breathability and durability, the mattresses should be about the same with no noticeable differences.

Firmness and Feel Differences

Looking at firmness, the Bear felt like a 6.5/10 and the Casper felt like a 6/10. They are very close in terms of firmness, but they do perform differently when it comes to support and pressure relief.

This is mostly because the Casper has zoned support, and the Bear does not. The zoned support system makes the center of the mattress firmer, so there is extra support for the hips. At the same time, the mattress stays soft under the shoulders, which is ideal for side sleeping.

All told, the Casper supports me when I am on my back while relieving pressure when I am on my side. However, I do need more support when I am on my stomach, so a firmer and more supportive mattress may be preferable.

The Bear is supportive when I am on my back. Also, when I am on my side, I really sink into the mattress and feel little pressure on my shoulders and hips. It is not supportive or firm enough when I move to my stomach

In terms of feel, the Bear has a bit of that classic memory foam feel. It isn’t a very thick layer of memory foam, but it is soft and lets people sink in a bit. The Casper has more of a responsive, balanced foam feel where sleeper sink into the mattress but not too much.

See the memory foam feel of the Bear in the video below:

See how the zoned construction feels and how the Casper feels overall in the video below:

Motion Transfer

In my opinion, both of these mattresses do a great job of cutting down on motion transfer, making them great options for couples. The Bear and Casper both have memory foam in them, which is known for isolating motion quite well. It may also be helpful to see how these mattresses stack up to others by reading our other popular Bear and Casper comparisons like Bear vs Layla and Casper vs Tuft & Needle.

See how the Bear stops motion transfer in the video below:

See how well the Casper isolates motion in the video below:

Edge Support Differences

Between the two mattresses, I think the Casper does a better job with edge support. When I sit on the edge of the mattress, I feel more secure leaning over to tie my shoes.

Lying down near the edge, I feel less like I am going to roll off the Casper mattress.

People can see the edge support differences in the photos below.

A man sits near the edge of the Bear mattress

A man sits near the edge of the Casper mattress

Marten’s Take

Marten is a staff writer for us and has a much different body type than me: He is 6’7″ and weighs about 230 lb; I am 5’9″ and 160 lb. Here is what he thought about these mattresses and how appropriate they are for heavier sleepers:

In terms of firmness, I said both mattresses were about a 7/10.

Starting on my back on the Bear, I feel good overall support. On my side, I feel some pressure on my shoulders and my hips, and on my stomach, the mattress is a bit too soft for me. I feel like I am bowing at my hips and would prefer a firmer and more supportive mattress.

On my back with the Casper, I feel good support on my back. I feel the zoned support holding my hips up. On my side, I feel better on the Casper than I did on the Bear. It’s a little softer on my shoulders because of the zoned support. On my stomach, the zoned support is working and keeping me from bowing in at the hips, so it’s a decent match in that position.

If someone is a heavier back sleeper, either mattress could work for them. If someone is a heavier side sleeper, it’s going to be softer on the Casper. Finally, if someone is a heavier stomach sleeper, they choose the Casper as well because of the zoned support.

While Marten and I agreed that the Casper and Bear give good support for back sleepers, he had a different experience side sleeping on the Bear. He pushed through that thin comfort layer and engaged the firmer layers beneath. Because of this, he felt more pressure on his shoulders and hips. I am not surprised he thought the mattress was firmer than I did because of the differences in weight.

Who Should Pick Bear…

  • Those who are looking for a more affordable option- If money is a deciding factor, the Bear is the way to to go. It has a lower price point than the Casper.
  • People who prefer a classic memory foam feel- If someone likes the feeling of sinking into their mattress and being enveloped by their mattress, the Bear is the better choice. It has that slow, sinking quality because it includes memory foam in the top layer.
  • Those who want a mattress that’s a bit firmer- While these mattresses are similar in terms of firmness, I think many people will agree that the Bear is the firmer of the two. If someone likes their mattress a little firmer, they should definitely choose the Bear.

RELATED: Best Memory Foam Mattresses

Who Should Pick Casper…

  • Combination sleepers- The zoned support system in this mattress gives people pressure relief when they’re on their side and support when they’re on their back and stomach. If someone moves around at night and sleep in numerous positions, the Casper should serve them well.
  • People who prefer a balanced foam feel- If someone likes to sleep “on” their mattress and move around easily, the Casper is the better bet. The comfort layer is quite responsive, so people get some pressure relief without feeling “stuck.”

RELATED: Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers

Overall

While these two mattresses may have similar firmnesses, they really are designed for different sleeping styles and preferences. If someone likes a classic memory foam feel with a bit more firmness, I think the Bear is the better choice. If someone is a combination sleeper and they like a balanced foam feel, the Casper should be the way to go.

Please leave any specific comments or questions about the Bear or the Casper in the comment section below.

Joe Auer

Joe Auer is the editor of Mattress Clarity. He mainly focuses on mattress reviews and oversees the content across the site. He likes things simple and takes a straightforward, objective approach to his reviews. Joe has personally tested nearly 250 mattresses and always recommends people do their research before buying a new bed. He has been testing mattresses for over 5 years now, so he knows a thing or two when it comes to mattress selection. He has been cited as an authority in the industry by a number of large publications. When he isn't testing sleep products, he enjoys working out, reading both fiction and non-fiction, and playing classical piano. He enjoys traveling as well, and not just to test out hotel mattresses! Joe has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Columbia University.