Hate replacing your mattress? Bear might change your mind

Let’s be honest, it’s easy to get complacent when it comes to the mattress in your life.

Once you’ve forked over heaps of cash, had the bulky thing delivered, and flopped it onto the bed base, you’ll likely never want to go through the process again. Who cares if you don’t sleep well? Going through all that nonsense a second time sounds like an absolute nightmare.

At least, that was my naive thought process — I’m a layperson when it came to lying down — until I tried Bear Mattress for the first time.

I have since seen the light.

The delivery and unboxing of my new, queen-sized, medium firmness elite hybrid mattress was so simple that I didn’t mind the hassle at all. In fact, against all odds, I actually enjoyed the process.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that its mattresses just might be the closest approximation to a plush hotel bed I’ve ever slept on that didn’t come with a nightly charge. It’s robust, contours my body in ways I never thought possible, and basically just feels like upgrading from coach to first class.

About Bear Mattress

The company, which has been around for over ten years, prides itself on its high-quality products.

Just a few of its top-sellers include the world-class luxury Elite Hybrid, premium pillow top Star Hybrid, signature comfort Pro Hybrid and all-foam Bear Original.

What makes these stand out from the rest of the pack, though, is its advanced cooling, five-zoned support technology, and gel foam and coils.

Yes, I’m aware that might all sound like mumbo jumbo, but what the company is really trying to say is that Bear Mattresses “accommodate all body types, sleep positions and personal feel preferences,” according to its blog.

Also, its proprietary five-zone support coil system Triple-Stranded Pocketed Coil Technology, “provides just the right amount of support in all the right places. Each zone in the Elite Hybrid specializes in specific pressure points, offering up to 4x the relief. The high gauge coils in the center provide the added lumbar support for where sleepers need it most.”

Having slept on the bed for over a month now, I can confirm that I’ve never had such a positive home sleep experience.

Why is that? Let’s discuss.

Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress

The mattress I procured was a queen-sized, medium-firmness Elite hybrid. Just a few perks Bear provides include its fiberglass-free promise, a 120-night trial period (not a bad return policy), a limited lifetime warranty, world-class customer service, and free shipping. Not too shabby, considering that every time you lay down, your life is already a little better.

This particular make and model, which happens to be Bear’s most popular, typically runs customers $2,427 before discounts apply.

Mattress type: Hybrid (foam and coils) | Feel: Luxury Plush (medium), Luxury Firm (medium-firm) and Firm | Material: Quilted cover with phase-change material (optional Celliant fabric), copper-infused memory foam, polyfoam, zoned pocketed coils with reinforced perimeter, high-density polyfoam base | Height: 14 inches | Number of layers: Five-layer construction | Sleep trial: 120 nights (free returns after a 30-night break-in period) | Free Shipping: Yes (within the contiguous U.S.) | Warranty: limited lifetime warranty

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Bear mattress review

Before we go to bed, we need to talk about Bear’s ingenious step-by-step unboxing order of operations that ensure you don’t miss a thing.

Once the heavy Bear box arrived in my apartment building, I carried the 110-pound behemoth to the bedroom and got right to work. Luckily, I had a partner in Bear’s box, which wisely had instructions listed on each flap instead of on some small slip of paper buried deep under the mattress.

So, I followed these simple instructions, and once the product was free from its elaborately wrapped tape, I let the queen-sized, medium firmness elite hybrid mattress breathe.

The Unboxing

Slowly but surely, the Bear aired out and unfurled itself. The process was truly a sight to unfold… or rather, behold. For around a minute, the beast stretched its metaphorical legs and found shape. Honestly, this short show was almost worth the price of admission, and I didn’t smell any off-putting gas scents.

Now that the mattress was set in place, all that was left was the most important part: lying down.

Matt Levy

That night, my side-sleeping wife and I flopped onto the bed, and a wave of elation washed over me.

“This is my bed?” I thought. I honestly couldn’t believe it. Yes, I know that may sound false, but believe me when I tell you that I’m speaking my honest truth here.

As a lifelong side sleeper, I can say with full confidence that the Bear mattress is as supportive and forgiving on your back as advertised. Additionally, the motion transfer between my wife and I is almost nonexistent; movement barely registers, and even with over a month on the mattress, sleep is still more exciting than ever.

If you dig a little deeper, it’s easy to see why the Bear mattress is so special. Its “cool to the touch, hand-quilted cushion cover” is made from phase-change material or PCM fabric for all-night cooling while also providing lush comfort without that sinking-in feeling.

Matt Levy

PCM fabric is designed to absorb, store, and release heat as needed to help regulate body temperature. By responding to shifts in body heat, it creates a more consistent and comfortable sleep climate, something brands use to enhance cooling performance.

Simply put, you’ll feel spring fresh all night. Below that, you’ll find copper-infused memory foam that eliminates unwanted body heat and individually encased coils that offer balanced support.

The fact that the company throws in two soft yet sturdy Cirrus Cloud Pillows is icing on the cake. It doesn’t make sense, but they’re fluffy and firm, which is something I didn’t know I needed, but they have since become essential.

My only real gripe is that the mattress is quite high. It’s a small complaint but one that should be noted. If you’re on a Bear, you’ll likely be a bit more elevated than you were before. Thankfully, though, Bear has plenty of support around the edges should you find yourself hugging the sides.

Also, my wife noted that you may want to buy longer and/or wider sheets for the Bear since it’s fuller than your average mattress. Plan accordingly.

Here’s the finished product:

Matt Levy

The final verdict

This mattress is 1000% worth the hassle, the money, and any other roadblocks that may be preventing you from purchasing.

The setup is more straightforward (and more fun?) than it has any right to be, prices are generously discounted at the moment, and the sleep experience is heavenly. If you’re debating a mattress upgrade, Bear is an excellent option.

How we tested

We don’t take our deep sleep lightly. To give you an idea of how we tested the Bear hybrid mattress, here’s the criteria we deployed each sleep cycle:

• Comfort Level: I assessed how the mattress felt in various sleeping positions like back, side, and stomach.
• Pressure Relief: I paid close attention to any pressure points, particularly in areas like the shoulders, hips and lower back.
• Motion Isolation: If you sleep with a partner, this is a biggie. I tested how well the mattress absorbed movement, which is crucial to ensuring sound sleep without midnight wake-ups by your sleep partner.
• Edge Support: I sat and lay down on the edge of the mattress to see if it felt stable and secure. For the record, the Elite hybrid has reinforced edge coils that ensure the strength and overall integrity of your mattress, so sleepers feel supported lying near the side.
• Temperature Regulation: Depending on the make of the mattress, I took note of how warm or cool the mattress felt.
• Durability: I considered the materials used to ensure the mattresses would maintain its shape and comfort level.
• Trial Period and Warranty: I made sure to check the length of the trial period and warranty terms. A key strategy I used is as follows: the longer the sleep trial, the more confident the brand is in its product.

FAQs

The New York Post’s Victoria Giardina penned a comprehensive roundup of a number of mattress brands — including Bear — and addressed concerns sleepers may have. Here’s what she wrote:

“It’s important to consider your build (height/weight) and your sleep position (side, back, stomach, combination) when choosing a mattress,” said Logan Foley, Sleep Science Coach and Managing Editor at the Sleep Foundation. “For instance, a sleeper who is 5-feet-1-inch and weighs less than 130 pounds could find a mattress more firm than someone who is 6-feet-1-inch and over 230 pounds.”

“When buying online, a consumer won’t have access to a customer service representative to help them with their specific sleep needs,” Foley said. “This means they need to be more aware of what they want in a mattress than someone who shops in-store.”

Overall: The Sleep Foundation suggests a medium soft firmness level for sleepers under 130 pounds, medium firmness between 130 and 230 pounds, and extra-firm for sleepers over 230 pounds.

How to choose a mattress firmness based on sleep position

• Side sleepers should look for a medium-firm mattress made of polyfoam or memory foam, providing above-average contouring to the body and also helping those who wake up with body aches.
• Back and stomach sleepers may consider a firmer latex mattress that offers less contouring and more bounce.
• Combination sleepers are looking for a medium to medium-firm mattress found in hybrid mattresses that combine innerspring support and the comfort of foam.

How often should you replace a mattress?

Typically, it’s recommended to replace your mattress every seven to 10 years, but this can vary based on several factors. For instance, different materials have different lifespans. Innerspring mattresses may need replacement sooner than memory foam or latex mattresses, and pillowtop mattresses cannot be flipped, limiting their versatility.

Additionally, if you’re noticing your sleep quality starting to dwindle, it may be time for a replacement. If you start waking up with aches and pains or not feeling rested, it may indicate your mattress is no longer supportive.

Weight changes or shifts in sleeping position can also affect how well a mattress works for you. Curious what else is out there? Check out the New York Post’s best mattress sales and deals.

Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.

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