Product
Firmness
Score
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Product
Firmness
Score
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Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed hundreds of mattresses and sleep products for over eight years using hands-on testing. We assess each sleep product for comfort, support, cooling, firmness, pressure relief, and more. Learn more.
Is this Bear Star the best hybrid for back sleepers? Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of this bed, plus our recommendation for you.
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Want the bottom line? Skip to the Nerd’s Take below.
Want to see for yourself how the Bear Star Hybrid performs? Join me in the Nerd Lab to get the ins and outs of this hybrid mattress:
Here at Mattress Nerd, we measure firmness on a scale of 1–10, where a “1” is softer than a teddy bear and a “10” is firmer than bricks. In this case, we found that this Bear’s firmness measures in at a 6/10 on our scale, or medium-firm. This level of firmness is ideal for the average sleeper and many lighter sleepers too. However, some heavyweight sleepers may need a bit more firmness.
So what does this Bear mattress actually feel like? Well, the Star Hybrid feels like a cross between an all-foam mattress and your typical hybrid bed. It’s bouncy, responsive, and lifted, but still has much of the softness and cushioning you’d expect from foam. Plus, although it’s not super cool to the touch, it has great temperature regulation.
Body Type | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers |
Lightweight < 130 lbs: | 5 | 5 | 3 |
Average-Weight 130–230 lbs: | 5 | 4 | 3 |
Heavyweight > 230 lbs: | 5 | 3 | 3 |
1 = Very poor 2 = Not Good 3 = Fair 4 = Good 5 = Excellent
The best mattresses for back sleepers are neither too firm nor too soft—and they support the natural “S”-curve of the spine. The same is also true for the Bear Star Hybrid, making it a great choice for lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Side sleepers are all about pressure relief, especially in key areas like the hips and shoulders. So, the best mattresses for side sleepers tend to be pretty cushioning and supportive. Unfortunately, the Bear Star Hybrid doesn’t quite make the cut in providing pressure relief for lightweight, average-weight, or heavyweight side sleepers.
Unlike with side sleepers, stomach sleepers need firm mattresses with little give. In general, the best mattresses for stomach sleepers keep the hips secured and elevated. In this case, the Bear Star Hybrid is plenty firm for lightweight stomach sleepers and some average-weight sleepers, but heavyweight stomach sleepers will need more firmness.
Finally, the best mattresses for combination sleepers are bouncy and responsive, just like the Bear Star Hybrid. However, while lightweight and average-weight combination sleepers shouldn’t have any issues on this mattress, heavyweight sleepers may need more lift.
When it comes to the best cooling mattresses on the market, this Bear bed isn’t all that exceptional for a hybrid, but even hot sleepers should be able to keep cool on the Bear Star Hybrid.
For a hybrid mattress with reinforced edges, the Bear Star Hybrid’s edge support is pretty mediocre overall. So, if you’re someone who tends to sit or lie on the edge of your mattress, the Bear Star Hybrid might not be your first choice.
Like we touched on earlier, the Bear Star Hybrid has excellent responsiveness, putting it at the top of any combination sleeper’s list.
Not only does the Bear Star Hybrid have excellent responsiveness, it also has equally excellent motion isolation too—which is pretty rare in a hybrid bed. This by far makes it one of the best mattresses for couples.
Aside from the occasional sound of air in the mattress, the Bear Star Hybrid is virtually silent. Again, this is another point toward it being a great bed for couples.
Based on how well this bed’s balanced feel works for back sleepers, we’d recommend the Bear Star Hybrid as one of the best mattresses for back pain. However, side sleepers are unlikely to get the same quality of pain relief on this bed.
The Bear Star Hybrid is pretty cool, responsive, and mostly quiet. So, if you plan on doing more than sleeping on this bed, we’re giving it a three out of three.
Bed-in-a-box mattresses (like the Bear Star Hybrid), and especially those that are all-foam, tend to off-gas when they’re first opened. This is common as your mattress begins to expand, and the smell, although noticeable, should clear within a few hours to a day.
Hybrid beds like the Bear Star Hybrid are typically durable, thanks to their pocketed coils and reinforced edges. However, this Bear’s lack of solid edge support is a point against it here.
The Bear Star Hybrid is a 13” bed that features a quilted mattress cover, cooling copper-infused memory foam, and a set of individually-wrapped pocketed coils. Also, all of the foams in Bear mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified for low emissions and non-toxic materials.
Mattress Size | Price | Dimensions | Height | Weight |
Twin | $1498.00 | 38” x 75” | 13” | 60 lbs |
Twin XL | $1598.00 | 38” x 80” | 13” | 60 lbs |
Full | $1698.00 | 54” x 75” | 13” | 80 lbs |
Queen | $1998.00 | 60” x 80” | 13” | 110 lbs |
King | $2298.00 | 76” x 80” | 13” | 140 lbs |
California King | $2298.00 | 72” x 84” | 13” | 140 lbs |
For the best pricing on Bear mattresses, see our Bear Mattress Coupons or the Bear Original, featured in our Best Mattress Under $1000 list.
Bear currently ships the Bear Hybrid free to all 50 states as a bed-in-a-box. Most Bear orders arrive within one to three weeks. When it arrives, your new mattress needs to be carefully removed from the box and allowed to expand for a day or so.
The Bear Hybrid comes with a lifetime warranty, which is much and longer than the warranties offered by most other online mattress companies. The warranty covers visible sagging, indentations, and physical flaws.
Bear offers customers 120 nights to test out their new mattress and decide if it’s the right fit for their body and sleeping preferences. If you want to exchange your mattress for a new model, you must do it within the 120-night sleep trial period. This applies to returns as well.
Keep in mind that Bear requires customers to sleep on the bed for at least 30 nights prior to making a decision. This is known as a break-in period, which allows you to get used to the mattress just like you would a new pair of running shoes.
Bear will arrange a free pickup and refund you the full cost of the mattress if you decide to return it within the trial period. You won’t be charged shipping fees for returning the mattress.
Several buyers of the Bear Star Hybrid have complained that this bed felt much too soft and did not provide adequate support. While we found that this Bear had a medium-firm feel in our tests, we also noticed that the mattress was lacking in edge support and didn’t have adequate support for heavyweight sleepers.
Also, some sleepers have complained that the Bear Star Hybrid didn’t have enough pressure relief and caused pain. While we didn’t find this to be the case at all for back sleepers, we did find that side sleepers of all sizes may have issues with getting adequate hip and shoulder relief.
Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For… | Bear Original Mattress Is Best For… |
Couples | Budget shoppers |
Back sleepers | Firm mattress fans |
Hot sleepers | Sleepers needing pressure relief |
Unlike the Bear Star Hybrid, the Bear Original is an all-foam mattress that’s actually firmer, while still providing better pressure relief. On the other hand, the Bear Star Hybrid has more motion isolation for couples, better back support, and more temperature control for hot sleepers. That said, the Bear Original is the more affordable bed.
Check out our full Bear Original Mattress Review here.
Bear Star Hybrid Mattress is Best For: | Bear Pro Hybrid Mattress is Best For: |
Couples | Back Sleepers |
Combination Sleepers | People Seeking Pressure Relief |
Shoppers Looking For A Medium-Firm Mattress | People With Active Lifestyles |
Check out our full Bear Pro Mattress Review to learn more.
Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For… | Saatva Mattress Is Best For… |
Heavyweight back sleepers | Sleepers wanting firmness options |
Soft mattress fans | Side sleepers |
Couples | Seniors |
Between these two hybrid mattresses, the Bear Star is the softer of the two mattresses, although the Saatva comes with more firmness options. Furthermore, while the Saatva offers stellar edge support for seniors, the Bear Star Hybrid is a more motion-isolating bed. And, finally, the Bear Star Hybrid is a better choice for heavier back sleepers, while the Saatva is best for side sleepers.
Check out the full Saatva Classic Mattress Review here.
Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For… | Helix Midnight Mattress Is Best For… |
Back sleepers | Side sleepers |
Couples | Seniors |
Combination sleepers | Sleepers needing pressure relief |
The Bear Star Hybrid and the Helix Midnight are both hybrid mattresses with a medium-firm feel, but they differ in that the Helix is best for side sleepers and those needing pressure relief, while the Bear offers more support for back sleepers and combination sleepers. Finally, although the Helix has more edge support for seniors, the Bear has more motion isolation.
Check out our full Helix Midnight Mattress Review here.
Bear Star Hybrid Mattress Is Best For… | WinkBed Mattress Is Best For… |
Back sleepers | Firm mattress fans |
Couples | Stomach sleepers |
Budget shoppers | Side sleepers |
Comparing these two hybrids, the WinkBed is much firmer than the Bear, making it a better choice for stomach sleepers. However, the WinkBed has more pressure relief for side sleepers too. On the other hand, the Bear has the most support for back sleepers, it has motion isolation for couples, and it’s more affordable as well.
Check out our full WinkBed Mattress Review here.
The Bear Star Hybrid won’t work for all heavyweight individuals. It scored best for back sleepers, at a 4 out of 5 on pressure map test. However, it didn’t score as well for stomach and side sleepers of larger body types.
No, the Bear Star Hybrid does not need a box spring. Bear actually recommends that you do not use a box spring with the Bear Star because it won’t distribute weight evenly enough. Instead, try a slatted foundation, platform bed, or adjustable base.
The Bear Star Hybrid is a tall boy, okay? That thing is 14″ tall, so make sure to invest in some deep-pocketed sheets before your mattress arrives. A thicker mattress will provide more support than a thinner model.
The Bear Star Hybrid is a medium-firm hybrid mattress that features a great balance of motion isolation and responsiveness. Also, this bed is a top choice for back sleepers too. However, the Bear Star Hybrid doesn’t have the best pressure relief for side sleepers, nor does it have the edge support you might expect from a hybrid mattress.
Performance Factor | Out of 5 |
Motion Isolation | 4.5 |
Pressure Relief | 3 |
Ease of Movement | 5 |
Edge Support | 3 |
Temperature Control | 4 |
Durability | 4 |