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Who doesn’t want a mattress that promises high-quality performance at a great price? I know I do. The Original is Bear’s budget-friendly offering. So far, all the Bear mattresses I’ve tried have been more than adequate. But does the same hold true for the Bear Original mattress? Read on to find out.
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Bear Original Review and Performance Test Results
Pros
- Excellent motion isolation
- Greenguard Gold certified
- Offers firm, responsive support
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Not suitable for heavier-set stomach sleepers
- Poor temperature regulation
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Our experience with the Bear Original Mattress
Underwhelming is one particular word that comes to mind when I think about the Bear Original.
The one notable standout feature is its motion isolation (which is near perfect), making it an excellent choice for couples.
But other than that everything just seems to fall flat when it comes to overall performance.
Bear mattresses usually already come with a Celliant cover (example: the Elite Hybrid), which allegedly helps with muscle recovery and cooling, but the Original (to cut costs, I guess) only includes it as an add-on that you have to pay extra for. This drives the mattress’ cooling capabilities way low.
In this day and age where you can find affordable mattresses that offer a lot in terms of comfort, cooling, and pressure relief, the Bear Original isn’t my first choice.
Firmness
The Bear Original sits on a 7 on the mattress firmness scale, giving it a medium-firm feel. While this level of mattress firmness is suitable for back and stomach sleepers, it can be a little too firm for petite side sleepers.
The Bear Original is an all-foam mattress which means it won’t be able to provide enough support for heavier-set people, especially those who sleep mostly on their stomachs since it can throw their spinal alignment off balance.
Cooling Test
We rate the Bear Original a 5 out of 10 when it comes to temperature regulation.
The Bear Original does contain cooling gel-infused memory foam as well as a (supposedly) breathable cotton cover, but it still retains a significant amount of heat the longer you lay on the bed making it quite uncomfortable to sleep on, especially if you’re the type of sleeper who tends to sleep extremely hot.
Be forewarned.
Motion Transfer Test
We rate the Bear Original a 9.5 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.
For all its shortcomings I have to say that the Bear Original performs brilliantly well when it comes to deadening any cross mattress movement.
I did not feel any motion transfer whatsoever when I tried the mattress out with a partner.
But then again, most all-foam mattresses absorb movement pretty well so this is a bit of a given.
Edge Support Test
We rate the Bear Original a 6 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.
As an all-foam mattress, the Bear Original does not contain any reinforced edges. While some all-foam mattresses feature firmer foam edges to help with edge support, the Bear Original does not. This means its edge support is below average.
You will roll off the bed if you’re the type of sleeper who likes sleeping close to the edge.
Pressure Relief Test
We rate the Bear Original a 6.5 out of 10 when it comes to pressure relief and comfort.
I have to be honest – this rating would be a bit higher if only the mattress was a tad bit softer to accommodate strict side sleepers.
But because it’s pretty firm, side sleepers won’t get enough compression and pressure point relief.
It is, however, contouring and pressure-relieving enough for strict back and stomach sleepers.
Construction
There are only three layers in the Bear Original mattress. These layers come enclosed in a cotton cover that’s both soft and durable.
The first layer is made up of memory foam that’s infused with cooling gel and is open-celled, which is supposed to help with heat retention and airflow.
The second layer is made up of Bear’s own Dynamic foam that’s more responsive than traditional memory foam and helps provide support and compression.
The base layer is made up of higher density foam that helps hold all the layers together while also providing stability and durability.
Durability
Like with all Bear mattresses, I can safely say that the Original is made with high quality materials that can stand the test of time with proper care and mattress maintenance.
Sizes
The Bear Original comes in seven standard mattress sizes including a Split King.
It measures 10 inches in thickness and is compatible with most bed frames, foundations and bed bases including an adjustable base.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
- Split King
Financing
Bear Sleep offers financing for all of their mattresses through Affirm.
Shipping
Bear Sleep offers free shipping for all of their mattresses within the continental United States.
Trial Period
The Bear Original mattress comes with a 120 night risk-free trial period.
Return Policy
At any time within the 120 night trial you should find that the Bear Original is not the right mattress for you, you can return it for a full refund.
To initiate the return process, you need to contact Bear customer service via email. They will then walk you through the entire process of Bear’s return policy.
Once the company confirms that they’ve received the shipment, you will receive a full refund through the mode of payment you used when you purchased the mattress.
Warranty
Bear Sleep offers a lifetime warranty for all of their mattresses.
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Evolution of the Bear Original and Previous Versions
The Bear Original has not undergone any changes or iterations since it was first introduced into the online mattress market.
About Bear
Based in New Jersey, Bear offers high-quality mattresses that integrate Celliant fibers into their mattress covers to help with sleep and muscle recovery.
A lot of top athletes in the pro sport world recommend and endorse Bear mattresses.
Bear Mattress also offers other bedding products such as pillows, sheets, blankets, mattress toppers and cribs.
Contact Bear Customer Service
You can contact Bear Sleep customer service through phone, email or through the chat support page on Bear Sleep’s original website.
- Phone – (844) 311-0035
- Email – support@bearmattress.com
Similar Mattresses to Consider
If the Bear Original doesn’t sound like the mattress that you’re looking for, you can try out the latex Bear Natural or you can check out these other alternatives.
Bear Star Hybrid
If you’re looking for something more cooling and with better edge support, check out the Bear Star Hybrid.
Similar in construction to the Bear Original but with the addition of pocketed coils, the Star Hybrid can accommodate heavier-set sleepers and provide them with the support that they need.
Unlike the Bear Original though, the Star Hybrid features a Celliant cover as well as reinforced edge coils, which massively helps with both cooling and edge support.
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Novilla Bliss
If you want something softer that’s also very affordable, check out the Novilla Bliss mattress.
An all-foam mattress (just like the Bear Original), the Novilla Bliss absorbs all motion transfer making it a great option for those who share a bed.
It also has a softer surface which is perfect for strict side sleepers.
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Egohome Black
If you want something that can suit most sleeper types, check out the Egohome Black mattress.
The Egohome Black comes in two different firmness options – a medium-soft and a medium-firm – which means it can accommodate all sleeper types from strict side sleepers and combination sleepers to back and stomach sleepers.
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Additional Resources: Learn More About the Bear Original
Where to buy Bear Original
While you can purchase the Bear Original at Walmart, both in-store and online, but the best place to buy it is from the official Bear Mattress website where you can get full customer service support.
Conclusion
Bear mattresses are generally well-made and are constructed from premium quality materials that are Greenguard Gold certified. But their most affordable option – the Bear Original – seems to fall short on overall performance.
It offers great motion isolation but is lacking in everything else such as cooling, edge support and comfort.
There are better budget-friendly options out there.
How We Rate Mattresses
We personally test and rate mattresses using the following strict quantitative criteria:
- Comfort
- Structural integrity and durability
- Firmness and support
- Cooling capabilities
- Pressure relief
- Edge support
- Motion isolation
Learn more about our mattress rating process and methodology here.
Michelline loves nothing more than a cozy bed, with a stack of books at her side. She loves getting lost when she travels, can bake an entire British afternoon tea from scratch, is obsessed with all things analogue and does calligraphy on the side. She currently suffers from mild insomnia and is more than happy to be your guinea pig, so you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding out what works best for you.
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