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Written by
Lauren Fountain
Bear is an online “mattress-in-a-box” brand that has been in business since 2014. The company currently offers three individual mattresses. This review will focus on the Bear Pro.
The Bear Pro is constructed with comfort layers of copper-infused polyfoam and gel memory foam over transitional and base layers of dense polyfoam. The mattress has a medium firm feel that corresponds to a 6 on the 1-10 firmness scale. It measures 12 inches thick, making it a high-profile model.
A notable feature of the Bear Pro is its cover made with Celliant, an innovative material engineered to promote healthy tissue oxygenation, regulate your body temperature, and help the body recover after strenuous activities. Other Bear models, such as the flagship Bear Original and Bear Hybrid, also have Celliant covers.
Does the Bear Pro sound like the right mattress for you? Keep reading our Bear Pro mattress review to learn all about this model in terms of construction, pricing, performance ratings, and sleeper recommendations.
Watch the video below to see how the Bear Pro Mattress performed when put to the test in the Sleep Foundation Lab.
The Bear Pro is considered a “mixed-foam” mattress because it features comfort layers with two different types of foam. The top comfort layer is made from copper-infused polyfoam. This material is fairly responsive, creating a light bounce on the surface of the mattress. Copper also has natural cooling properties to help the foam maintain a comfortable temperature.
The second comfort layer is gel memory foam. This material offers closer body-contouring than the polyfoam in the top layer. As a result, you’ll notice a combination of conforming and responsiveness when lying on the Bear Pro. This balanced feeling is common with mixed-foam mattresses.
The Bear Pro also contains a transitional layer made of dense polyfoam, followed by a 7-inch support core of high-density polyfoam. These two layers stabilize the entire mattress to keep your body on an even plane and prevent you from sinking too deeply. However – as is the case with many all-foam models – the Bear Pro has weak edge support. You’ll probably notice some sagging along the perimeter when getting on and off the mattress.
As is the case with other Bear mattresses, the Bear Pro is encased in a cover made with Celliant fabric. This cutting-edge material is designed to absorb body heat, convert it into infrared energy, and transmit the energy back into your body through your skin. This process is intended to increase your tissue oxygenation, improve your blood circulation, regulate your temperature, and help your body recover after workouts and other physical activities.
Measuring 12 inches tall, the Bear Pro is considered a high-profile model.
The Bear Pro Mattress is constructed of four layers, including a two-layer comfort system, a transition layer, and a support layer. All of these layers consist of foam, though the exact composition varies between layers to provide a balance between contouring and support.
Celliant fabric
1″ Copper-Infused Polyfoam
1.5″ Memory Foam (Gel-Infused)
2.5″ Polyfoam
7″ HD Polyfoam
The Bear Pro’s price-point is in line with the average mixed-foam model from an online mattress brand. Compared to other Bear models, the Bear Pro has a mid-level price-point. It costs more than the flagship Bear Original, and less than the Bear Hybrid.
When buying your Bear Pro, you’ll have the option to bundle this mattress with a Bear Mattress Protector and/or the Bear Foundation and Frame. Purchasing these items in a bundle will cost less than buying them individually.
Standard ground shipping is free for customers in the contiguous U.S. Those who live in Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada must pay additional delivery fees. Full-service White Glove delivery – which includes in-home setup and old mattress removal – is also available for an extra charge.
| Sizes | Dimensions | Height | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin | 39" x 75" | 12" | 60 lbs. | $998 |
| Twin XL | 39"x 80" | 12" | 60 lbs. | $1,123 |
| Full | 54" x 75" | 12" | 70 lbs. | $1,248 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" | 12" | 80 lbs. | $1,373 |
| King | 76" x 80" | 12" | 100 lbs. | $1,623 |
| California King | 72" x 84" | 12" | 100 lbs. | $1,623 |
SleepFoundation readers receive 2 free pillows, a sheet set and a mattress protector (up to a $325 value) with a purchase of a mattress
The Bear Pro isolates motion very well. Both foam comfort layers absorb movement from sleepers and eliminate most transfer across the surface. This can reduce sleep disruptions and ensure a good night’s rest for you and your partner. The mattress is completely silent, too.
All-foam mattresses typically excel at motion isolation compared to other mattress types built with more responsive components, such as latex layers or steel coils. The Bear Pro’s top polyfoam layer has a light bounce to it, but the material still minimizes transfer to a noticeable extent.
The Bear Pro offers a medium firm feel. The polyfoam and memory foam layers conform closely and evenly. Those who are 230 pounds or lighter – particularly side and back sleepers – should experience more pressure relief.
People who weigh more than 230 pounds may sink a bit too much and feel added pressure points in their shoulders, hips, and other sensitive areas. If you fall into this weight group, then a firmer and more supportive mattress will probably be better suited to your body.
The Bear Pro is constructed with a Celliant fabric cover that can help regulate your temperature by absorbing heat from your body, converting it into infrared energy, and transmitting this energy back into you through your skin. The bed’s copper-infused polyfoam comfort layer may also offset heat absorption to help the surface remain cool.
That said, many people find that all-foam beds like the Bear Pro retain and trap too much body heat, causing the mattress to sleep warm in the process. If you weigh more than 230 pounds, you may also sink deeply and feel excessively hot.
The Bear Pro’s edge support is fair at best. Like other all-foam mattresses, this model tends to sink quite a bit when you sit or sleep near the perimeter. This can make getting on and off the bed somewhat difficult – especially for people who weigh more than 230 pounds – and you may not feel very secure sleeping near the edges.
As the foam breaks down over time, expect the Bear Pro’s perimeter sinkage to worsen. If you share your bed with a partner, this may confine both of you to the center of the mattress.
The Bear Pro tends to sink a bit if you move across the surface when getting in and out of bed. However, the mattress has a medium firm feel and will feel more stable than all-foam beds built with softer comfort layers. People who weigh more than 230 pounds will probably have a tougher time moving on the Bear Pro compared to folks who weigh 230 pounds or less.
The Bear Pro offers some surface-level responsiveness but its comfort layers still conform a bit. For many couples, these attributes are ideal for sex. The mattress won’t sink too deeply or restrict your movements, but the bed’s moderate conforming ensures decent traction. The bed is also completely silent, making it discreet for sex if there are other people sleeping in the next room.
However, the Bear Pro’s lack of edge support may be a downside for some couples. An unstable perimeter that is prone to sinkage may make it difficult for you and your partner to use the entire surface of the mattress.
After unboxing the Bear Pro, you’ll probably notice some strong off-gassing odor. This is a common occurrence for mattresses with foam layers. The foam releases particles known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that carry a chemical-like smell many people find unpleasant.
The mattress may continue to emit odor for several days after it’s been removed from its packaging. We recommend letting the mattress air out in a well-ventilated room before sleeping on it. Expect most of the smells to dissipate within a week or so. Most Bear Pro owners don’t have an issue with long-term odor. The bed has GREENGUARD Gold certification, which means it has been tested for harmful VOCs.
Your experience with the Bear Pro will partially depend on your body type and preferred sleep position.
Side Sleepers: Side sleepers generally prefer softer mattresses that provide cushioning for their shoulders and hips. Padding these areas supports and aligns the spine, which in turn can reduce pressure points throughout the body.
The Bear Pro’s medium firm feel means that the surface may not feel plush enough for side sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds, while those who weigh more than 230 pounds may sink a bit too much into the mattress. However, side sleepers who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds should experience comfortable body-contouring, even support, and excellent pressure relief.
Back Sleepers: The back sleeping position naturally promotes spinal alignment. For many of these sleepers, the best mattress will conform closely enough to alleviate pressure points while remaining even across the surface. We expect back sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds to feel most comfortable on the Bear Pro. These individuals will sink a bit into the mattress but its dense transitional and support layers will prevent excessive sinking.
If you are a back sleeper who weighs 130 pounds or more, then you may not find the Bear Pro as supportive. This is especially true for those who weigh more than 230 pounds. The medium firm feel ensures more support than you’d feel on a softer mattress, but the bed may still sink a bit too deeply beneath your back, hips, and other areas where you carry a greater amount of weight.
Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleeping can be problematic for some. We tend to carry a fair amount of weight in our stomachs, and sleeping face-down can cause excessive sinkage and added aches and pains in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. The Bear Pro’s medium firm design should provide adequate support for stomach sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds, but most will still feel at least some sinkage.
For stomach sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds, the Bear Pro will most likely feel too soft. They may experience excessive sinkage around the midsection and added pressure points as a result. Stomach sleepers in this weight group typically prefer mattresses with exceptionally robust support systems, such as innersprings and hybrids with thick coil layers.
| Under 130 lbs. | 130-230 lbs. | Above 230 lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side Sleepers | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Back Sleepers | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Stomach Sleepers | Good | Good | Fair |
SleepFoundation readers receive 2 free pillows, a sheet set and a mattress protector (up to a $325 value) with a purchase of a mattress
The Bear Pro is exclusively sold on the Bear website. This model is not available through any third-party retailers or online marketplaces, including Amazon.com. Bear operates one viewing-only showroom in Hoboken, NJ, where you can test out the mattress in person, but all purchases must be made online.
Bear will ship the mattress anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. However, only orders within the contiguous U.S. will qualify for free ground shipping. Other customers must pay added delivery charges based on their specific location.
The Bear Pro is compressed, wrapped in plastic, and vacuum-sealed for shipping. This process, also known as “roll-packing,” allows the manufacturer to fit the mattress into a standard shipping box.
Depending on where you reside, the mattress should reach your address within two to seven business days of your original order. Bear ships products through FedEx. You may be able to coordinate a specific delivery date using the FedEx Delivery Manager, which is free of charge. You won’t need to be home or sign for the package when the mattress arrives.
Before unboxing the Bear Pro, carry the package to the room where you plan to use it. Remove the box and plastic wrapping with a knife and watch the mattress expand. It should reach its full shape in 24 to 48 hours. To avoid damaging the mattress, Bear recommends unboxing it within 90 days of the delivery date.
White Glove delivery is available for a flat fee of $150. This service includes in-home assembly of the Bear Pro (along with a Bear bed base if you order one) and removal of your old mattress and base, foundation, or box spring. The $150 charge is non-refundable should you decide to return the mattress.
Bear offers a 365-night sleep trial for the Bear Pro. Customers who are dissatisfied with the mattress may return the bed for a full refund, though Bear requires an initial 30-night break-in period before refunds can be initiated. Bear does not charge a restocking or processing fee for mattress returns, and the company will arrange for free pick-up of the returned mattress.
The Bear Pro comes with a lifetime warranty. The warranty applies only to the original owner of the mattress and may not be transferred. Recognized defects include sagging or body impressions in the surface that measure 1.5 inches or deeper, as well as physical flaws in the mattress that cause its foam layers to split or crack prematurely. Defects that result from an improper foundation or misuse of the mattress are not covered.
Certified Sleep Coach
Lauren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with extensive experience researching and testing a wide variety of sleep products.
Certified Sleep Coach
Lauren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with extensive experience researching and testing a wide variety of sleep products.
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