Bear Original Mattress Review - My Experience After 6 Years and 5 Real World Tests
The Bear Original is the brand’s core all foam mattress, designed for active sleepers who treat sleep like recovery. This review includes pricing, specs, videos, performance notes, and my long term experience after six years.
Disclosure
I received a free Bear mattress for review. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.
Best for
- Back sleepers and stomach sleepers who like a medium firm feel
- Couples who want low motion transfer
- Hot sleepers who want cooling focused foam features
- Active people who want a recovery oriented cover concept
Not ideal for
- People who need very strong edge support
- Sleepers who prefer a bouncy coil feel
- Those who want ultra plush sink in softness
Shop Bear Original
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Bear Original pricing
Typical MSRP pricing by size (update if your current promo pricing is different).
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| Twin | $549 |
| Twin XL | $649 |
| Full | $699 |
| Queen | $799 |
| King | $999 |
| Cal King | $999 |
Pricing changes frequently. If you want perfect accuracy, replace this table with current promo pricing.
Bear Original specs
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | All foam mattress |
| Height | 10 inches |
| Firmness | Medium firm |
| Cover | Celliant performance fabric |
| Cooling features | Graphite gel memory foam |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
| Made in | USA |
Ordering the Bear Original
Ordering is straightforward. After checkout, you receive tracking so you can plan for delivery and coordinate removing your old mattress. The direct to consumer flow is smooth from order to doorstep.
Unboxing and first impressions
The Bear Original arrived compressed and expanded quickly after unboxing. In feel and build quality, it competes well with other popular all foam mattresses in the medium firm range. The biggest differentiator is Bear’s active lifestyle focus and Celliant cover concept.
Videos
Unboxing and hands on footage.
Construction
Below are the foam specs you provided. These densities and thicknesses help evaluate support and long term durability.
| Layer | Material | Density | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Graphite gel memory foam | 4.0 lb | 1.5 in |
| Transition | Response foam 1 | 3.0 lb | 1.0 in |
| Transition | Response foam 2 | 3.0 lb | 1.0 in |
| Support | High density support foam | 1.8 lb | 6.5 in |
5 real world tests
Test 1: Firmness and alignment
The Bear Original lands medium firm for most sleepers. It works especially well for back and stomach sleeping because the transition foam keeps hips from dipping too far.
Test 2: Pressure relief
The top memory foam layer provides contouring without excessive sink. Average weight side sleepers usually get good shoulder and hip relief, while very lightweight side sleepers may want a softer surface.
Test 3: Cooling
Graphite gel foam does a better job than standard memory foam at managing heat. Foam will never feel like coils, but this is a cooler all foam option when paired with breathable sheets.
Test 4: Motion transfer
Motion isolation is strong. Movement gets absorbed quickly, which is one of the main reasons couples like all foam mattresses.
Test 5: Edge support
This is the main tradeoff. Sitting on the edge compresses more than it would on a hybrid. Sleeping near the edge is fine, but frequent edge sitting is better on a coil reinforced perimeter.
Bonus: Recovery positioning
The key value for active people is consistent alignment. If you wake up with a cranky back after hard training, a stable medium firm feel can be a better recovery match than ultra plush foam.
My experience after 6 years
I have slept on the Bear Original for over six years, which gives a long term perspective most reviews cannot offer. The mattress has held its shape well. There is no visible sagging, and support feels consistent across the surface.
Comfort has remained similar to year one. It still reads as medium firm and continues to work well for back sleeping and combination sleeping. I have not experienced alignment issues over time.
Cooling performance has stayed solid. While no foam mattress sleeps ice cold, the graphite gel layer and breathable cover do better than traditional memory foam. Paired with breathable sheets, heat buildup has never been a deal breaker for me.
Motion isolation is still excellent, which is especially helpful if you share the bed. The one thing that has not changed is edge support. Like most all foam mattresses, the perimeter compresses more when sitting.
Overall, after six years of use, the Bear Original has exceeded my expectations for longevity, comfort retention, and value.
Trial and warranty
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong motion isolation for couples
- Medium firm feel supports back and stomach sleeping well
- Cooling features help reduce foam heat buildup
- Great long term durability for an all foam mattress
- 120 night trial and lifetime warranty
Cons
- Edge support is weaker than most hybrids
- Some light off gassing is possible after unboxing
- Not as bouncy as coil mattresses
- If you want a plush feel, you may prefer a softer model
Bear and Good Sports
In 2017, Bear partnered with the non-profit Good Sports to help provide opportunities for kids to participate in sports, with a giveback tied to sales. This aligns with Bear’s athletic positioning.
Bear Mattress timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Bear founded with a focus on mattresses designed for active people. |
| 2015 | Market launch and early recognition tied to Celliant cover technology. |
| 2016–2017 | Product expansion with hybrid options and broader lineup. |
| 2018 | CertiPUR-US foam standards and continued quality improvements. |
| 2019 | More awards and recommendations from sleep publications. |
| 2020 | Direct to consumer strength during the work from home surge. |
| 2021+ | Ongoing expansion and focus on product refinement and sleep tech. |
Bear Original mattress FAQs
Is the Bear Original good for athletes?
Yes. The Bear Original is designed for active sleepers and offers balanced support, pressure relief, and a recovery focused cover concept.
Does the Bear Original sleep hot?
It sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam thanks to graphite gel foam and a breathable cover, but hot sleepers should still pair it with breathable sheets.
Is the Bear Original good for side sleepers?
Many side sleepers do well on it, especially those who prefer a slightly firmer feel. Lightweight side sleepers may want more cushioning.
How long does the Bear Original mattress last?
Based on long term use, it can last well beyond five years with proper support. It is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Is there fiberglass in the Bear Original?
Bear states that its mattresses do not use fiberglass as a fire barrier and instead use alternative fire resistant materials.