After Dozens of Mattresses, This Is the One I Finally Slept Best On

I might not be a mattress expert, but I certainly know a fair amount about good sleep. So I was thrilled when DTC (direct-to-consumer) mattress brand Bear invited me to check out their mattress factory and showrooms last fall, to try out their designs and learn more about how their mattresses are made. 

After three days of living my Goldilocks dreams and testing countless mattresses, I was even more thrilled to get the chance to test out my favorite, Bear’s Elite Hybrid Mattress, at home! It’s been just about two months now, and I think it’s safe to say that this one’s *juuuust* right.

The Elite Hybrid is Bear’s most popular model, and for good reason. The 14-inch mattress is meticulously engineered with six layers of materials designed to keep almost anyone comfortable, no matter what your sleep preferences may be. I got the model with the Celliant Infused Cooling Cover, and as someone who would sleep inside a refrigerator if she could, I can say that it really does work. It adds the perfect pillowy layer of comfort to the top, too. 

Next, the foam layers. I actually saw them “pouring” foam at the factory (did you know foam was pourable?), which they do several times a day. They even have a foam chemist! The two varieties in this mattress are the copper-infused memory foam, which helps with cooling and also has antibacterial properties, and dynamic transition foam, which provides ergonomic support and contours to the body.

The bottom layer, other than the thin high-density foam backing, consists of coils. Smaller reinforced coils surround the edge of the mattress, making for strong edge support. So even if your partner or your pet seems to take up 80% of the bed most nights, you’ll be comfortable lying close to the sides. The larger, encased coils inside that layer have higher gauges in the center for better lumbar support, and help with motion isolation. 

While I enjoyed my last mattress very much, it was a little too thick for my liking; it made the bed really tall, and made finding fitted sheets difficult. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that shaving a few inches off the depth didn’t mean I had to sacrifice any comfort. I don’t generally have much trouble sleeping either, to be totally transparent — but I definitely noticed that with the Elite Hybrid, I was waking up in the mornings pain-free and full of energy. 

This mattress is a great, safe choice for people who might not know what kind of sleeper they are. While other publications have named this model “best for back pain” or “best for side sleepers,” as a certified back/stomach/side sleeper, I’m here to say it might just be best for everyone. And it’s easy on your wallet, too — starting at $1,485 for a queen, this is a really reasonably priced mattress for the quality of the materials and the level of engineering that goes into it.

It’s also worth calling out that this mattress is delivered directly to your door in a box. With a little help from a friend just to get it up the stairs to my apartment, I was otherwise able to set this mattress up all by myself. And no, I don’t lift. Like, at all. So this makes Bear a great option for apartment dwellers! Just DON’T release it from the vacuum seal until you’ve gotten it into place … trust me.

The Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress is a great choice for almost anyone. I feel totally confident saying YES, just do it! It’s got a little bit of something for everyone — and with custom firmness levels, I think this mattress is a real crowd-pleaser. That also makes it a great option for a guest room or for kids. You can skip the trip to the showroom, and take it from me: Not much else can beat the Bear Hybrid Elite.

You can shop Bear mattresses at several of your favorite retailers:

• Bear
• Walmart
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Overstock.com