We retested our Top 5 mattresses — here’s how the two best cooling beds compare in 3 key areas
Type: Innerspring hybrid
Firmness level: Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm
Height: 11.5″ or 14.5″
Trial period: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
MSRP (queen): $2,179 at Saatva
Type: Hybrid
Firmness level: Soft, Medium, Firm
Height: 14″
Trial period: 120 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
MSRP (queen): $2,284 at Bear
The Saatva Classic and Bear Elite Hybrid are the two coolest mattresses we’ve tested — but how do they compare beyond temperature regulation? We’re taking a look at how they compare in pressure relief and motion isolation — two major factors that contribute to the overall comfort of a mattress — based on our revised mattress methodology.
After a rigorous round of re-testing, the Saatva Classic and Bear Elite Hybrid secured their spot our best mattress guide, scoring above average in nearly every major testing category. However, each mattress has a different approach to comfort — one is mostly springs, whilst the other one is a hybrid with foams and specialist cooling materials.
If you’re hoping to save money, both are regularly discounted in the monthly mattress sales, although you can expect to spend less for the Bear Elite Hybrid overall. (On the other hand, the Saatva Classic comes with more enticing extras, including a one-year warranty and complimentary in-home delivery.)
Quick comparison
In a rush? Here’s a topline overview of how the Saatva Classic and Bear Elite Hybrid mattresses compare:
- The Bear Elite Hybrid and Saatva Classic tie for first in temperature regulation among our best mattress contenders.
- For specialized cooling, choose the Bear Elite — especially with an upgraded cover that actively turns body heat into infrared energy.
- The Saatva Classic takes a standard approach to temperature regulation with a spring-based design and an organic cotton cover.
- Both mattresses offer variable firmness and provide plenty of pressure relief, but the Saatva Classic is better at isolating movement.
- The Bear Elite Hybrid is the more affordable of the two, but you’ll find either mattress on sale every month.
Saatva Classic vs Bear Elite: Temperature regulation
When we talk about ‘cooling’, we’re generally referring to temperature regulation, which is how well a mattress can maintain a neutral climate throughout the night.
The construction and materials of a mattress affect how well it prevents heat buildup. (Hybrid mattresses are typically better at regulating temperature than all-foam beds due to the increased airflow from their springs.) The Bear Elite Hybrid is a dedicated cooling mattress, with materials specifically designed to help lower your core temperature and promote quality sleep.
There’s a copper-infused foam comfort layer that absorbs and releases body heat whilst contouring the body. A moisture-wicking, cool-to-the-touch HydroCool cover comes standard; however, for our Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress review, we tested the upgraded cover made with Celliant, which absorbs body heat and then reflects it as infrared energy to aid in muscle recovery.
Subjectively speaking, our lead tester, Eve Davies, claims she benefited from the Celliant upgrade as she not only slept soundly, but also felt energetic during her training runs for a marathon. Per our Sleep Lab data, the Bear Elite Hybrid with Celliant absorbed the most heat upon contact — yet it also shed heat quicker than any other mattress we put through the same test.
Interestingly, the Saatva Classic tied the Bear Elite Hybrid’s temperature regulation score, with a perfect 5 out of 5. Saatva’s approach to cooling is different than Bear’s, relying on a double layer of springs and an organic cotton cover to help the mattress breathe. There’s minimal foam, as well, save for the lumbar crown and a dense foam border to boost edge support.
During our objective tests, the Saatva Classic recorded the second-highest cooling rate (right behind the Bear Elite) and had the lowest maximum temperature increase, which suggests this mattress doesn’t hold onto heat. That data reflects the experience of our testers, Claire Davies and Ruth Jones, who didn’t overheat when they slept on the Saatva Classic at their homes.
These two hybrids share the top step on the podium when it comes to temperature regulation, so it’s easy for us to recommend either one for that purpose. But there are a couple of other categories to consider to ensure you’re buying the right cooling mattress for your sleep needs.
Saatva Classic vs Bear Elite: Pressure relief
A buildup of pressure that leads to soreness is another common sleep disrupter, so it’s important to find a mattress with the right amount of give under the parts of your body that come into contact with the surface. A mattress with good pressure relief will soothe those areas so you don’t wake up in pain.
We measure pressure relief in our lab tests by placing a 25kg weight where a sleeper’s shoulders would normally be positioned and recording how far the surface sinks after five minutes. In our real-world tests, our home testers provide feedback on their comfort level after at least one month of reviewing.
No mattress we’ve tested has scored higher for pressure relief than the Saatva Classic (10/10). Our Luxury Firm Saatva Classic hardly gave under pressure during our objective weight test — and we recorded a recovery time of less than a second, meaning it contours to position switches almost instantly.
Our panel rated Saatva’s pressure relief highly. Tester Lauren Jeffries noted a ‘weightless’ sensation no matter how she lay, even when on her stomach. However, another member of the testing panel, Ruth Jones, mentioned that she would have appreciated a softer mattress for side sleeping. (The Saatva Classic is available in Soft or Firm, as well.)
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In a close second in pressure relief is the Bear Elite Hybrid, scoring a 9/10 in this category. During our objective test, the 25kg weight sank the surface area around the shoulder by 4.5 inches (versus 4.6 inches for the Saatva Classic) — although the Bear Elite’s recovery time was just over a second slower due to the top foam layers.
We slept on a Bear Elite Hybrid in Medium; our testers found it best for side sleeping and comfortable for back sleeping. However, our stomach sleeping tester noticed pressure buildup in her lower back due to her hips sinking too low, but like the Saatva Classic, the Bear Elite also comes in Soft or Firm feels.
Another trait these mattresses share is dedicated lumbar support to keep the spine aligned and alleviate pressure in the lower back. The Saatva Classic features a lumbar zone comprising reinforced support springs, gel memory foam, and tri-zoned quilting. The Bear Elite uses a five-zoned ergonomic design, with higher-gauge coils in the center.
These are the top two performing mattresses for pressure relief we’ve scored, so it’ll come down to which you prefer: the near weightless sensation of the Saatva Classic, or the Bear Elite Hybrid’s more pronounced contouring.
Saatva Classic vs Bear Elite: Motion isolation
Whether you share a bed with a partner or a pet, you’ll want your mattress to absorb as much movement as possible so you’re not disturbed awake — in other words, motion isolation. Traditionally, memory foam mattresses excel in this area over hybrids, although the latter can be effective at this, too.
We measure motion isolation by dropping a 5kg slam ball into a drop zone to simulate situations such as a pet climbing into bed or your partner turning over — then record the movement with an accelerometer. We measure the initial impact and how long it takes for the surface to settle (the decay rate).
When we performed the drop test during our Saatva Classic Mattress review, it took about 8 milliseconds to reduce the impact and nearly two seconds to limit the motion transfer. Among hybrids, Saatva rated the highest in both metrics.
Some of our testers sleep with someone and/or a pet. Head tester Claire Davies shared a queen-size Saatva Classic with her husband and toddler — both of whom are fidgety sleepers. Whilst she did feel their movements, they weren’t forceful enough to totally disrupt her sleep.
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As for the Bear Elite Hybrid, it took about nine seconds for the surface to fully absorb the impact of the slam ball. That’s the highest amount we measured among our top five overall mattresses. The decay rate was 3.5 seconds, which also ranks last out of the group of five. That indicates a noticeable level of motion transfer.
In our real-world tests, two of our testers got into bed and started tossing and turning. According to their feedback, the Bear Elite did a very good job of absorbing the impact of the other person getting into bed, but it was more obvious to the other person when someone was switching sleep positions. (Note that we tested a full-size Bear Elite Hybrid, which has a smaller surface area than a queen.)
Another benefit of choosing Saatva over Bear is the option to buy a split king, which is essentially two twin XL beds pushed together. This creates a separate surface on each side of the bed, with a barrier between them.
The Saatva Classic is the clear winner in this category, and we’d recommend it over the Bear Elite Hybrid if you have restless bed partners. But if you sleep solo, or you and your partner aren’t very active during the night, you’ll fare well with the Bear Elite Hybrid.
Is either mattress right for you?
Both the Saatva Classic and the Bear Elite Hybrid excel at keeping sleepers cool — but beyond that, which one should you choose?
The Saatva Classic is a handcrafted luxury mattress that excels in pressure relief and motion isolation, key areas that affect your overall comfort. It comes in three firmness levels as well as two height profiles (11.5″ and 14.5″, allowing you to customize it further to suit your space and mobility level.
We recommend the Saatva Classic for anyone who wants a ‘weightless’ feel. The lack of foam, combined with double coils, makes for a responsive surface that lets you switch positions and get up easily. It’s also remarkably breathable without relying on specialized materials that can drive up the cost of cooling mattresses.
We found little fault with the Saatva Classic, but if you and/or your partner are on the larger side, it might not be supportive enough. The total weight capacity is 600lbs, which is slightly above average. Take a look at our guide to the best mattresses for heavy people for mattresses with an enhanced weight capacity.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is the more affordable of the two, even after adding the Celliant cover upgrade. Pressure relief and temperature regulation are on par with the Saatva Classic, but thanks to the added foams, you’ll experience more of a sink-in feel — almost like that of a lush hotel mattress.
But like the Saatva Classic, you can also choose the tension level you want for the Bear Elite Hybrid. This allows it to accommodate a wide range of sleepers, although at 14.5″ tall, it could be too imposing for some spaces. Motion transfer is also more noticeable, so take note if you have a fidgety co-sleeper.
Either way, you’ll avail of a lifetime warranty, as well as ample time to try them at home. (Saatva offers a one-year trial; Bear’s is 120 nights.) Saatva also provides free white glove delivery to a room of your choice. Bear also offers in-home setup and removal for a fee.
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