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Overall Rating
7.5
35% off + 2 free pillows at Bear. Code: SF35
Price Range:
$1,494 – $3,248
Mattress Type: Latex Hybrid
Firmness Options: Medium Firm (6)
Pros & Cons:
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Zoned coil system enhances lumbar support
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Reinforced perimeter adds greater edge stability
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Balanced medium firm feel accommodates most sleep positions and body types
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Bouncy surface allows some motion transfer
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Contains synthetic components, which may not appeal to eco-conscious shoppers
Bear is a New Jersey-based mattress company that caters to athletes and other sleepers with active lifestyles. The flagship Bear Original uses an all-foam design, while the Bear Elite Hybrid, the Bear Star Hybrid, and the Bear Pro Hybrid pair foam comfort layers with supportive coils.
The Bear Natural Mattress is the company’s first latex hybrid model. This medium firm (6) bed incorporates natural materials and measures 13 inches thick. Compared to the brand’s other mattresses, the Bear Natural stands out by being the only model in the line that includes natural latex. This also gives it the highest price tag of any Bear model.
We put the Bear Natural through a series of tests at our Seattle-based lab and also had team members personally sleep on the bed. We’ll share our results and other key construction specs and company policies to help you decide if it’s a good fit.
Testing Team Takeaways
To test the Bear Natural Mattress, we had three people on our testing team each take the bed home with them for one week. Here are their initial observations.
Tom Ryan, PhD
Head of Product Testing
Side sleeper
210 pounds
Uses multiple alarms
The latex layers on the Bear Natural give you the slightest feeling of sinking in, but the surface really held my body on top of the bed — a bit of a floating sensation. My lumbar region was well supported and it was easy to move around the surface of the bed.
Daniel Noyed
Senior Product Editor
Back sleeper
165 pounds
Likes to dunk head in bowl of ice water in the morning
I agree with Tom here that the ″floaty″ feel of this bed really stands out. The Bear Natural is on the softer side for a latex hybrid, so I feel like I sank in a bit more than I expected to, but after a minute or two it was like I was floating on my back in water.
Logan Foley
Editorial Director
Side sleeper
140 pounds
Has too many dogs in the bed
The Bear Natural is a new latex hybrid that hits all the right marks. It’s cushioning and bouncy from the latex comfort layer and supportive in all the right places from the zoned coils. The fact that it’s made from nontoxic and natural materials is the icing on the cake.
Side Sleepers
Most of our testers who sleep on their sides enjoyed the Bear Natural’s medium firm (6) feel and moderate contouring. The natural Talalay latex adds buoyant cradling to relieve pressure without restricting movement, while the polyfoam layer lets sleepers sink in without pressing against the support core. Thanks to the core’s zoned pocketed coils, our testers also felt that the bed helped them maintain good spinal alignment.
Testers over 130 pounds who sank into the surface a bit more deeply noted better pressure relief, but most team members under 130 pounds still felt comfortable lying on their sides.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers on our testing team found that the Bear Natural’s cotton quilting, Talalay latex, and polyfoam worked together to cushion and contour their bodies while cradling the lumbar region to support good posture. Meanwhile, the coil core’s zoning prevented their hips from sinking excessively and misaligning the spine.
The Bear Natural’s medium firm feel was most suitable for our back sleepers under 230 pounds. While most testers over 230 pounds also received adequate support, those who carry more weight around their hips said they prefer a firmer mattress.
Stomach Sleepers
The Bear Natural earned the highest marks for stomach sleeping from our testers under 130 pounds, who praised its balanced, medium firm surface. They felt that the even plane supported their posture well, though some testers over 130 pounds noted that their lower back bent slightly.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
The floating sensation of the Bear Natural also helps to carry movement across the bed. It’s not the most noticeable effect, but you’ll feel it if your partner is tossing and turning. – Tom
The Bear Natural Mattress’ moderate motion isolation is on par with many latex hybrid designs.
Because the top layer uses Talalay latex, which is naturally springy, some vibrations spread across the surface. The secondary polyfoam layer dampens the movement, though, and the individually pocketed coils help to minimize additional motion transfer.
We don’t expect this level of movement to cause problems for most sleepers, but those who wake up easily may notice it more.
The Bear Natural’s cushy for a latex bed, and that definitely helps take the edge off as you lay on it. The floaty-ness under the cushioning doesn’t help with sore spots as much as memory foam, though. – Danny
Thanks to its combination of cushioning and contouring, the Bear Natural Mattress’ pressure relief is similar to many of the best latex mattresses.
The cotton quilting cover softens the surface, while the Talalay latex comfort layer cradles the sleeper without hugging them too closely. Finally, the zoned pocketed coils target pressure relief and spinal support.
As a really hot sleeper, I was pretty happy on the Bear Natural. Coil cores have plenty of room for airflow, and latex is usually pretty breathable. – Danny
The Bear Natural Mattress offers temperature control that’s in line with some of the best hybrid mattresses.
The organic cotton cover lets air circulate in and out of the mattress to limit heat retention. Additionally, air moves relatively freely through the Talalay latex layer and coil core to keep the sleep surface at a more neutral temperature.
The Bear Natural’s coil core is rather strong. The edges provide plenty of pushback, bringing the bed’s edge support in line with other hybrid models. – Tom
The Bear Natural Mattress has stable edges thanks to coils that reinforce the core’s perimeter. The resulting usable surface area may appeal to couples and sleepers with mobility issues who need to sit before getting into or out of bed.
Most testing team members were able to lie along the sides of the bed without feeling like they were about to roll off. Those over 230 pounds felt slightly less secure.
I loved how bouncy this bed was. You can really feel the latex at work while you move around on it. – Logan
The Bear Natural’s latex hybrid design is quite responsive and helpful for facilitating movement. The buoyant Talalay latex layer spreads compression over the surface and springs back to its original shape when the sleeper moves so they don’t feel stuck in their own body impression. The coil core also adds bounce.
Our testers felt they could easily change positions and move across the mattress’ surface, making the Bear Natural well suited to active sleepers and those with mobility issues.
The Bear Natural had some smell to it fresh out of the box, but it wasn’t too offensive and it faded pretty quickly. – Logan
Off-gassing smells typically come from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during synthetic foam manufacturing. These smells generally don’t have time to air out if the mattress ships compressed, so it’s common to experience them after unboxing a new mattress.
The Bear Natural Mattress contains two foam layers that may emit such odors, and latex can also have a slight rubbery smell. Our testers detected only a mild odor when unpacking the Bear Natural in our lab, and they reported that it dissipated almost completely within 24 hours.
Bear Natural Mattress Coupon
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
35% off + 2 free pillows at Bear. Code: SF35
The Bear Natural Mattress is a medium firm latex hybrid. It measures 13 inches thick, making it a high-profile model that may require deep pocket sheets.
A Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton cover wraps around the mattress. This allows air to permeate the material and dissipate heat from the sleep surface. The top of the cover is also quilted for subtle cushioning.
The topmost comfort layer consists of natural Talalay latex. This material simultaneously contours to the sleeper while limiting sinkage to relieve pressure and promote good posture. Next is a polyfoam layer that adds to the cradling effect and limits motion transfer.
The support core consists of pocketed coils that move independently of one another to reduce the spread of vibrations. The coils are also zoned for extra lumbar support, while reinforced perimeter springs provide stronger edge support. The coil system rests on a polyfoam base that stabilizes the mattress.
In addition to using GOTS-certified cotton, the Bear Natural Mattress holds eco-INSTITUT, GREENGUARD Gold, and CertiPUR-US certifications, verifying that it meets third-party consumer safety standards.
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Firmness
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Medium Firm – 6
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Mattress Type
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Latex Hybrid
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Construction
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Cover Material:
Organic Cotton
Comfort Layer:
Talalay Latex
Polyfoam
Support Core:
Pocketed Coils
Polyfoam
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Mattress Prices and Sizing
The Bear Natural Mattress falls toward the higher end of the average price range for a mattress. However, it’s right around the average price for a hybrid or a latex model, which use more expensive materials and construction methods than all-foam beds.
The Bear Natural is available in the six standard mattress sizes, as well as split king.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
35% off + 2 free pillows at Bear. Code: SF35
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability The Bear Natural Mattress is available through the official Bear website. Bear mattresses are also sold at select brick-and-mortar retailers throughout the U.S.
Shipping When purchased directly from Bear, the Bear Natural Mattress ships for free within the contiguous U.S. Nonrefundable shipping fees may apply for orders to Alaska and Hawaii.
The mattress is compressed, rolled, and shipped in a box via FedEx. Orders typically arrive within 3 to 10 business days. The box is dropped off wherever the customer ordinarily receives large packages.
Additional Services Bear offers White Glove delivery through a third-party hauling and furniture removal company. New mattress installation and old mattress removal cost $175. Alternatively, you can purchase new mattress setup or old mattress removal separately for $100 each. Additional service packages are available for bed base installation or removal.
Sleep Trial When ordered directly from the company, the Bear Natural Mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial for first-time purchasers after a 30-night break-in period. Returns are eligible for a full refund within the trial window.
Warranty The Bear Natural Mattress comes with a limited lifetime warranty. The nontransferable policy covers visible indentations 1.5 inches deep or more and flaws that cause the foam to crack or split. To qualify as a defect, the damage must not be due to abuse or misuse of the bed.
Bear offers to replace the mattress if a qualifying defect arises. While the customer is responsible for return shipping charges upfront, the company will cover transportation costs if it verifies that there’s a qualifying defect.
Still have questions?
Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Written By
Daniel Noyed,
Senior Product Editor
Danny is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with an in-depth knowledge of sleep health. He has tested hundreds of mattresses and sleep products.
Learn more about our Editorial Team
